Camping options near Lone Tree, Iowa provide river access and outdoor recreation along Iowa's eastern border. Most RV campgrounds near Lone Tree, Iowa operate during warmer months between April and October. Tent camping areas are available at several facilities, though they typically offer fewer amenities than RV sites.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Shady Creek offers excellent Mississippi River fishing access, with campers noting the location's advantages. "Nice location to spend time fishing, watching sunsets, and paddle. Near Wild Cat Den State Park," reports James M. from Shady Creek.
River paddling: The confluence of major waterways creates paddling opportunities from Ferry Landing. "Great isolated camping at river edge where Iowa and Mississippi rivers meet! Paddling, fishing, hiking in bottom land forests. Look out for insects," notes James M. about Ferry Landing - Mississippi River.
Local exploration: Campgrounds serve as convenient bases for exploring nearby attractions. Bob M. from Shady Creek recommends: "Spent 2 nights here. Impressed with the cleanliness of the place. Very quiet at night, even though the place was packed. Close to groceries, fuel. We spent a morning at a Farmers Market in Davenport, about 20 miles away."
What campers like
Riverside views: Waterfront sites rank consistently high in camper preferences. According to Donna T., "Site #12 with electric hookup was in my opinion the best site. Right on the back of the mighty Mississippi. Very clean friendly stay" at Shady Creek.
Level concrete pads: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained sites at Shady Creek. Gary P. observes: "Never seen a park where every pad was level like this one. Electric was 30/50 at each site and water was dispersed through out the park, but often too far for a hose to reach."
Swimming pools: During summer months, pool access becomes a valued amenity. At Little Bear Campground, campers enjoy this feature with Todd C. noting it's "Very cute campground right off highway. I called while traveling and Mike was very accommodating. Full hookups and showers. Even got a pool."
What you should know
Train noise: Railroad tracks near some campgrounds cause notable noise disruption. At Shady Creek, David D. warns: "Only negative was that there is a train track real close and a lot of crosses, So you will hear alot of close train horns and they go deep into the night/morning."
Reservation requirements: Popular sites fill quickly during peak season. Kimberly W. advises about Shady Creek: "make your reservations as early as you can the spots go quick! The campground even has a military spot!"
Water access limitations: Some campgrounds have limited water hookup access. Barbara P. mentions about Shady Creek: "As stated water is shared by 4 sites and was 30 ft away." Similar situations exist at other campgrounds in the area.
Tips for camping with families
Pool amenities: For families seeking summer recreation, campgrounds with pools provide ready entertainment. At Cedar River Campground, Steve T. notes: "Not our typical campsite but we had the kids down for the weekend and we thought a campsite with a pool and mini golf would be a fun break from the norm."
Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated recreation areas for children. Jackie J. describes Cedar River: "They have mini-golf, a nice pool and a creative rugged play area for the kids. Unfortunately, the pool was closed for the evening cleaning, so we didn't get to use it."
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies significantly between campgrounds, affecting online entertainment for children. Stephanie D. experienced challenges at Shady Creek: "Our cell phone provider is Sprint and we had zero service. The campground is close to Muscatine if you need to make a run but far enough out to feel like you're really camping."
Tips from RVers
Big-rig accessibility: Larger RVs require adequate maneuvering space. At Amana RV Park & Event Center, Dan L. reports: "Great all around park. Grass and gravel sites with plenty of room for your rig. The sites are wide open and generally level, in and out is a breeze."
Weather considerations: Drainage becomes important during rainy periods. Susie K. shares about Porth RV Park: "It rained a lot while we were there no flooding issues at all. Very friendly and very well maintained. Definitely would stay again, we were there for 3 weeks."
Full hookup availability: Connection options vary between parks. Ash B. describes Amana RV Park: "Wide open park with very very easy access. The people running the place were incredibly friendly and helpful, the park is very close to the 'attractions' which looked very cool."
