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Ledges State Park Campground welcomes pets at every campsite type, including tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations. The campground offers both electric and primitive sites with picnic tables and fire rings, perfect for overnight stays with dogs. Campers with pets frequently encounter deer on the hiking trails, as the animals often approach with curious expressions. The campground sits within a forested area that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding farmland, creating a unique setting for dog walking. Pets must be leashed at all times throughout the park, and owners should secure all food items as raccoons are particularly active and clever—they have been known to steal food from sealed bags when campers step away briefly. Several trails throughout the park provide excellent opportunities for exercising dogs, though proper waste disposal is required.
Jester County Park and Don Williams Park both feature pet-friendly cabins alongside their standard tent and RV sites where dogs are permitted. The parks maintain clean shower facilities and modern restrooms accessible to all campers. Dogs particularly enjoy the area around the Des Moines River that passes through Ledges State Park, where shallow creek crossings provide cooling spots during summer months. Numerous hiking paths wind through wooded areas, giving pets and owners plenty of exploration options. Raccoons are abundant in the region, requiring pet food to be properly stored overnight to prevent unwanted visitors. The campgrounds remain relatively quiet, especially at the hike-in sites, which offer greater privacy for campers with vocal dogs. Trails are not always well-marked, but the relatively small park size means getting lost is unlikely when walking dogs throughout the grounds.
"One of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
from $18 - $38 / night
Check Availability"There was four of us and a dog."
"Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"The only down side of this was the grass was really long so it was bad when taking the dog out in the evenings or mornings. You would come back in with a soaked dog and wet feet."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"Clean bathrooms, close to the lake, playground, and a lot of sites. It does get busy. As you would expect there are a lot of bugs on a hot day in Iowa. Tent sites have good shade from trees."
"Took the PUP, two kids, dog and grandma (first time in 20+ years) this past weekend. Booked an outer ring site surrounded by trees (and some pretty bold raccoons around bonfire time ;) )."
from $14 - $84 / night
Check Availability"Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."
"Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."
from $24 - $26 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."
"Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."
from $22 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Went kayaking on lake and then on Des Moines River (close by). Nice wildlife areas, hiking, fishing, etc. Pleasant staff."
"Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice"
from $12 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Undergoing big upgrade to lake and facilities. Nice campground, lots of paved trails. Once lake is filled will be a class A area."
"My niece lives in Desert Moines and it was a short drive for her to come for a visit and bring some local, delicious tacos for dinner. We will definitely consider this spot next time through!"
"Next to skunk river oxbows, kayak, no swimming, water stagnant, no fish, about 4ft depth everywhere. Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come."
"We haven't camped here, but have seen that the tent areas are right next to the water. Super serene with great hiking trails and bird watching!"
GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
RangerThis campground has many sites to choose from - RV with hookups as well as some non-electric tent sites. There are quite a few activities in Marshalltown, and it is within the Marshalltown city limits.
The downside is proximity. It is right next to the highway. When I was there in a tent, the hog trucks would drive by all night (loud and smelly). The RV sites are closest to the road, so maybe it is not so bad in an RV, but it is not particularly enjoyable in a tent.
Pros:
+ Marshalltown has quite a few places to eat
+ Nice bike trails (and a great bicycle store downtown)
+ It is near the Iowa River
+ Nice park in general with activities like a dog park
+ Camp host on-site
+ Decent sized campsites
+ Playground for the kids
Cons:
+ It can get busy on a summer weekend
+ Noisy - right by the highway
+ Mosquitos are really bad here
GuideOne of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
TravelerThe campground was nice, but it seems more for RVs. Sometimes you have to share a fire pit with other tents if it's busy. They have a small petting zoo and a small beach. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a "summer home".
LegendThis County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.
This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.
Ledges State Park and the surrounding areas near Luther, Iowa provide year-round camping opportunities with distinctive sandstone formations set against Iowa's agricultural landscape. The Des Moines River creates numerous water access points throughout the region. Winter camping is available at several locations, with temperatures often dropping below freezing from November through March.
Hiking the sandstone ledges: At Ledges State Park Campground, trails offer challenging terrain unusual for central Iowa. "I loved coming to this park as a kid and I can't wait for it to re-open. It has been closed since January 2018, but it scheduled to re-open in January of 2019," noted Matt S. The hiking paths feature stone steps and significant elevation changes compared to surrounding farmland.
Kayaking nearby waterways: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt provides water recreation opportunities beyond the main Des Moines River system. "We've taken our canoe here once and really enjoyed the winding, quite, green waterways. This is a relatively obscure place with little amount of crowds on any weekend," reports Larissa C. Water levels fluctuate seasonally, with some reviewers noting low water during dry periods.
Cycling the regional trail network: Paved bike paths connect multiple parks in the area. Prairie Flower Recreation Area allows riders to access multiple recreation zones. "The proximity to the trail system is what makes this friendly to cyclists. The trail can take you to the marina, where there is a burger shack style restaurant," notes John B.
Private tent sites: For campers seeking seclusion, tent camping at Acorn Valley offers wooded sites away from RV areas. "The tent sites lead to some small trails which end at the riverbed. Our boys love exploring here," mentions Russ G. These primitive sites often provide direct water access and are first-come, first-served.
Wildlife encounters: Jester County Park features a nature center and wildlife viewing area. "They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be," explains Jim S. The park includes observation areas for safely viewing larger mammals from a distance.
Lake views and water access: Don Williams Park provides direct lake access for many campsites. "Great sites right on the lake. Trails, fishing and beautiful lake views," states Ryan M. The lake supports fishing and non-motorized boating, with rentals available seasonally.
Seasonal closures affect availability: Some campgrounds close entirely during winter months. "Ledges State Park is one of the most visited parks in Iowa... It has been closed since January 2018, but it scheduled to re-open in January of 2019," explains Matt S. Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt closes during fall and winter.
Site selection matters for privacy: At Bob Shelter Recreation Area, sites vary greatly in privacy and shade. "This is a lovely spot. We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer. Spot 20 is at the end which makes it very private with large grassy area adjacent to wooded area," reports Wendy H.
Raccoon management required: Acorn Valley campers must secure food items properly. "Super clean and quiet. Biggest downside is the resident raccoons. Come out every night to rummage through possible food options. Secure your food and they're no problem unless you're a light sleeper," advises John F.
Playground proximity: At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, selecting sites near recreational areas helps with children. "We stayed in site A25. Not all loops are paved. A is not. But the site was pretty level, wasn't too much trouble to get our trailer backed in and leveled. No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park. Lots of prairie area around, spacious sites. Varying levels of shade. A25, had a good amount of shade and was near the nice playground and nice bathrooms," shares Mia L.
Youth group camping areas: Ledges State Park allocates specific areas for organized youth groups. "If you want to tent camp, bring a cart or something to haul everything with. The parking lot is a LONG WAY from any private tent site. Youth group camp, the ones with all the energy and strength, is next to parking lot. That's messed up," cautions Lena H.
Nature programs: Jester Park offers structured nature activities for children. "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level," says Jim S. These educational programs typically run during summer months and some weekends, focusing on local wildlife and ecosystem education.
Electric-only hookups predominate: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Luther feature electric hookups without water or sewer at individual sites. "The sites are great. the noise level is unbearable. dogs bark all night and day. no water or sewer electrical only," warns Terry G. about Cherry Glen Campground. Plan to fill tanks before parking and use dump stations when departing.
Dump station congestion: During peak periods, single dump stations create bottlenecks. "Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait.... that's being generous!" notes Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Consider mid-week departures when possible.
Level site selection: Many campgrounds offer concrete pads in some loops but not others. "Campground #1. Beautiful campground! Lots of trees and peaceful area. Our spot was pretty level and well maintained," reports Andrea H. about Jester County Park. RVers should research specific loops when making reservations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Luther, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Luther, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 39 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 80 dog-friendly camping locations near Luther, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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