15 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several tent camping options exist within a short drive of Long Grove, Iowa, primarily along the Wapsipinicon and Cedar Rivers. Joinerville County Park offers primitive tent camping by permit application, with sites situated along the Maquoketa River in a wooded setting. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area provides walk-in primitive tent sites with basic amenities in a bottom land woodland environment near a waterway suitable for fishing and paddling.
Tent sites in the Long Grove area generally feature basic amenities, with many requiring campers to pack in and pack out all supplies. Water access varies significantly between locations, with sites like Saulsbury Bridge offering drinking water at the main campground area, while more remote locations like Joinerville Park lack toilets and running water. Fire rings and picnic tables are common at established tent sites, though availability depends on the specific location. Most primitive camping areas require advance permits or reservations, particularly during peak summer months when demand increases.
The natural surroundings enhance the tent camping experience throughout the region. "Sites are spread along a waterway within bottom land woodlands with water access for fishing, paddling etc.," noted one visitor to Saulsbury Bridge. Indian Meadows Campground in the Loud Thunder Forest Preserve provides secluded tent sites with more privacy, described by a camper as "individual private sites" that are "like a nature playpen." Many of the tent-only areas require short hikes from parking areas, typically less than 100 yards, making them accessible while still providing separation from vehicle traffic and noise. Access to water features remains a common highlight across most tent campgrounds in the area, with fishing and paddling opportunities available at many locations.
"Charcoal grill, fire ring with wood supplied, picnic table, covered porch, trail head right next to cabin. After hours offers quite park, dark skies, and trails with wildlife."
"Cabin offers modern amenities: stove, oven,micro, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee pot, toaster, ADA access, shower. AC/heat, covered porch, firewood, picnic table, Charcoal grill, trails."
from $70 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Convenient location a lot of amenities and activities"
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The brick and mortar restroom is far better than the campsite bathroom. Most campsites are close together but enough forest in between to feel private. Quiet hours are enforced."
"Shower/RR nearby, trails including horse and bike . Main park has firewood, boat rentals, etc."
from $14 - $32 / night
Check Availability"You have to park off a gravel road on the iowa side and its about a mile walk and a half mile off the tracks. Very beautiful and peaceful place. Great fishing, especially along the spillway."
"This CG is a full service CG for RVs with community buildings, gravel road lanes, pet friendly, and lake access for fishing, paddling and swimming."
"Jungletown Ridge is perfect for those looking to get some space from others and enjoy some quiet nights int he woods. Check them out and share some pics from your stay!"
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability"The camp is walking only, with few tables and fire rings. Firewood available t main cg all ng with water and showers there too."
from $10 / night
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LegendUnique hike or paddle primitive site. Native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area. Two parking sites to hike in or access by river. Site is along river, has table, fire ring, latrine. Pack in, pack out and Leave No Trace.
LegendOne of the 6 campgrounds that you will have to choose from here at Scott County Park, Bald Eagle CG & Cabins is one that is more geared for the RV driving and trailer toting tribes as each site has FHUs with electric, water & sewage, fire rings and picnic tables; however, if you wanted to pitch a tent here, you could, although I would recommend nearby Incahias as an alternative. Unlike some of the other campgrounds here, Bald Eagle kind of lives up to its name as there’s not much in the way of tree cover or brush, so the land is somewhat BALD. The land is incredibly flat, back-in slots are spacious, hard and very level grounds are incredibly well-organized and the bathroom / shower facilities with great HOT running water and are about as impeccably clean as can be.
Near by Bald Eagle is Pride Lake, which makes this pet-friendly CG your top pick if you’re an angler or looking to get some decent oaring with your kayak or canoe. Sitting in front of Pride Lake are 2 very large shelters – Whispering Pines and Hickory Hills – as well as a playground for the kiddos and a restroom facility that is also spartan-clean. Surrounding Bald Eagle is also no shortage of hiking / biking / horse trails. We found the CG itself to be fairly quiet, although lacking in privacy without the benefit of any real brush or trees to blot out our next-door neighbors, but that said, everyone was incredibly friendly with full displays of Midwestern hospitality that this area is known for. There is also a single large cabin available for rent that has capacity for 10 people.
We loved Scott County Park so much because there is a lot that this gem offers up, from fresh water catch & release lakes, a combination of topographies (from woodlands, wetlands and prairie grasslands), a beautiful 18-hole championship golf course, outdoor exercise areas, club house and concessions, stand-alone cabins for rent, designated dump stations and trash receptacles, numerous picnic areas, a massive heated swimming pool complete with a snake-like water slide, volleyball court, ranger stations, seasonal on-site hosts, firewood available for purchase at entry stations, Walnut Grove Pioneer Village and St. Anne’s church at the park’s NW perimeter, 7 community shelters, designated picnic areas, a memorial park, equestrian area and an incredibly well-paved network of roads that allows you to easily access just about every corner of this park.
Happy Camping!
LegendThe camp is walking only, with few tables and fire rings. Firewood available t main cg all ng with water and showers there too. Sites are spread along a waterway within bottom land woodlands with water access for fishing, paddling etc. Parking is within 100 yards so must pack in/out, use Leave No Trace ethics.
RangerCampground Review:
Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area is 675 acres, nestled between rolling fields of corn, dairy farms, native prairie, and the Cedar River. Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting.
There are three separate campgrounds. The main campground has electrical hookups, picnic benches, fire rings, modern restroom facilities including showers, a dump station, playground, and firewood for purchase. There are 24 sites, and they run $20 per night.
The primitive campground area sits along Chicken Creek and offers four, tent-only sites, and is just off the main campground. The sites are well spaced and surrounded by large trees. These are walk in sites with parking in the main campground. It’s a short hike in from the parking area, and within walking distance of the restrooms and firewood. Primitive sites are $10 per night.
Across the road from these two campgrounds is the main boat access and fishing dock for Chicken Creek. Only non-motorized boats are allowed here. If you don’t have your own, you can rent kayaks and canoes through the Muscatine County Conservation office. There is also a large shelter, which is reservable along with day use picnic areas, playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, and vault toilets. There’s large, open expanses of grassy fields and oak shade trees; perfect for relaxing on a hot summer day.
The river campground sits right along the Cedar River and allows easy access to fishing along with a boat ramp. This campground is a short hike to the old Saulsbury Bridge and Lodge. The bridge has a small gazebo-like structure and bench which provides a nice view of the river. There are vault toilets in this campground, but the modern restrooms are within walking distance as well. There are 10 sites in this campground and run $17 per night.
All campsites are self-registration and are on a first come, first served basis. There is a campground host on duty in the main campground and the park officer lives on site. Dogs are allowed, but must be on leash in the campgrounds and on trails. However, they are allowed to run in the designated hunting areas. These areas are marked with signs. If you plan to hike during hunting season, it’s a good idea to wear bright colors/blaze orange so you are visible to hunters and not mistaken for a deer or other wildlife.
This park also has prairie/natural habitat restoration areas that, in spring and summer, attract Monarch butterflies, and an abundance of birds including indigo bunting, red headed woodpecker, and goldfinch. In the colder months you can spot bald eagles flying along the river. There are also deer, wild turkey, and pheasants. While there, we walked around the campground areas that were open and over to the day use area along Chicken Creek to roast marshmallows. We hiked the short distance out to the Saulsbury Bridge to watch the Cedar River flow by and caught a beautiful sunset.
The one downfall to this park is the possibility for flooding. When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds.
A call ahead to the conservation office to check on closures is a good idea. We had hoped to camp at a primitive site, but learned the trail leading into the campground was under water, which also meant the river campground was closed as well. Though there was some water over the road in the main campground, it was minimal and we were able to choose an electrical site. We opted to car camp as we were only staying one night. Only about a third of the campground was filled and we had no one on either side of us which meant for a more quiet camping experience.
This is one of my favorite local areas to hike and camp that’s close to home. It offers a full picture of Iowa’s varied landscapes and outdoor activity opportunities.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. On this camping trip, I tried out VivoBarefoot Primus Trail SG Womens sneakers. VivoBarefoot’s goal is to provide an environment that allows the feet to remain in their natural state while providing a protective shoe. https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/womens/off-road/primus-trail-sg-womens?colour=Olive
LegendThere’s something instantly comforting about Colona Scott Family Park, tucked right along the Hennepin Canal where the trees lean in close and the boys could finally stretch their legs without a single car in sight. This medium-sized, family-run campground has a gentle, lived-in charm with wide grassy sites, EZ pull-ins and a friendly check-in that feels more like stopping by a neighbor’s porch than traditional ‘campground operations.’ The amenities are simple but thoughtfully kept with clean restrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of soft ground for kids to toss a football or chase fireflies before bed. One of my favorite moments was taking the boys down to the pond in the golden light, watching them skip rocks while my husband and I listened to the water slip by (ironically listening to 'sitting on the dock of the bay!'), which felt wonderfully unhurried. For families, this is a sweet overnight pick thanks to the calm setting, caring staff and the pond's built-in nature opportunities for biking, strolling and birdwatching. For the best campsite recommendation, choose Site 11, which is closest to the pond path with an open grassy backdrop that gives the kids room to roam while still keeping everything peaceful and EZ.
Scoutfirst timers/ young kids- yes. Primitive campers- no. My husband had never been camping. I grew up with very primitive camping- no electricity, only pit toilets, sometimes fresh water, and no showers (milk jug showers!) Little by little, I’m warming him up to camping. This is a great place for new campers, families of young kids, or just looking for an easier trip. There’s a shower house with flush toilets, warm showers, and surprisingly CLEAN! The site was medium size. Enough room to spread out. Ground was flat so finding a tent site was no problem. Electric hookup worked. Picnic table was good. Check your site before booking! One section of sites is like an open field? No trees and full view of others. But these surround a playground- also very nice. Glamping with young kids? These sites would be a perfect. AT&T and Verizon cell service worked fine
LegendThe campground offers to camp areas: one better suited for RVs, and the other area is better suited for primitive tent, camping. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings, our recites include electric. There is a campground host, shower house, shelter and playground area there too. The tent sites are prone to flooding occasionally from the gun river. There is a boat ramp with access to the river for fishing and paddling.
RangerWe stayed in a walk-in site for one night at the Non-Modern campground. It was wonderful! We arrived at dark and set up our backpacking tents but were able to see stars and be separated from our neighboring site. The campground had a water spigot to fill containers and dumpsters (no trash at site). There are no amenities at the campsites in this campground. A restroom with pit toilets similar to a National Park are on-site. They were very clean, as was the campground. It is on a lake so you will hear boats in the early morning hours and wildlife.
LegendTent area among trees includes fire rings. Showers/restrooms onsite, walk in sites too, firewood available at West Overlook permit station, beach nearby, Iowa River and Coralville Lake nearby (good fishing).
Tent camping options near Long Grove, Iowa center primarily around river access points throughout Muscatine, Scott, and Cedar counties. The area sits within the Mississippi River valley ecosystem, with elevations ranging from 580 to 720 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions with occasional rainfall that campers should prepare for.
Paddling adventures: Access the Wapsipinicon River directly from the Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr., which offers "Wapsipinicon River access just down River Trail" according to James M. The center provides both primitive tent sites and a modern cabin option with riverside access.
Fishing opportunities: Several waterways near Long Grove offer productive fishing spots. The Cedar River at Cedar River Campground provides river access with "Cedar River landing" for anglers, though recent reviews note maintenance concerns.
Observatory stargazing: Unique to the region, the Menke Observatory at Wapsi River Environmental Center hosts astronomy programs. As James M. notes, "night sky shines with stars" and visitors can enjoy "sky programs" during evening hours when camping at the center.
Wildlife observation: The natural areas around Long Grove support diverse wildlife viewing. The Wapsi River Center features "exhibits and native live animals" with trails through varied habitats including forest and prairie areas.
Private woodland sites: At Indian Meadows Campground, campers appreciate the secluded tent sites. Wendy R. describes them as "individual private sites" that are "like a nature playpen" with some more open and others tucked into wooded areas.
Water recreation access: Lake George at Loud Thunder Forest Preserve earns praise from campers. "Lake George is beautiful, perfect for kayaking," writes Wendy R. about Indian Meadows Campground's proximity to this paddling destination.
Educational opportunities: The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center combines camping with learning. One reviewer notes the center "specializes in environmental education" and features "Eagle View Eco Center with exhibits and native live animals, trails, prairie, observatory, amphitheater."
Cabin accommodations: For those seeking more comfort than tent camping, the Kestrel Cabin at Wapsi River Center offers modern amenities. A reviewer mentions it has "all amenities for six" including a "covered porch, trail head right next to cabin" and "Wapsipinicon River access."
Reservation requirements: Most primitive sites in the region require advance planning. At Joinerville County Park, primitive camping requires "approved permit application 1 month in advance of stay," according to James M.
Facility limitations: Facilities vary significantly between sites. Joinerville Park has "no toilets" and limited amenities, while other locations offer more services. Be prepared to pack in all necessary supplies at primitive locations.
Access challenges: Many primitive tent sites require short hikes from parking areas. At Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, James M. notes "Parking is within 100 yards so must pack in/out, use Leave No Trace ethics" for the walk-in tent sites.
Seasonal conditions: Many campgrounds have limited seasons, typically operating from April through October. Cedar River Campground's season runs "April 15 to October 15," making spring and fall camping options more limited.
Educational exhibits: Incorporate learning into camping trips at facilities with nature centers. The Wapsi River Center offers "environmental programs" with "live animals" that can engage children in outdoor education.
Recreation amenities: Look for campgrounds with activities beyond hiking. Cedar River Campground features "a pool and mini golf" that Steve T. found made it "a fun break from the norm" when camping with kids.
Swimming options: During summer months, water access provides cooling relief. Koch's Meadow Lake Campground includes "lake access for fishing, paddling and swimming" according to James M., making it suitable for families with children.
Site spacing considerations: When tent camping with children, site proximity matters. At #JTRidge Sites, Jake C. notes you can "get some space from others" which provides "quiet nights in the woods" that may benefit families seeking separation from neighboring campsites.
Seasonal camping options: Long-term stays are available at several campgrounds. Iris A. notes that at Hidden River Campground, "Many people seem to take advantage of the year round rates and stay all summer," with the season running "from April 15-October 15."
Highway proximity: For travelers passing through, convenience to major routes matters. Hidden River Campground is noted as being "Close to I-80 if you need somewhere to stay during your travels," providing easy access for those with larger vehicles.
Utility hookups: RV sites with full hookups are limited but available in the region. Koch's Meadow Lake Campground offers a "full service CG for RVs" with electric, water, and sewer connections for those requiring complete amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Long Grove, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Long Grove, IA is Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr. with a 4.6-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Long Grove, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Long Grove, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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