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Best Tent Camping near Maquoketa, IA

624 Reviews

Tent camping options near Maquoketa, Iowa include several primitive sites along local waterways. Joinerville County Park provides tent camping by permit application one month in advance, offering access to the Maquoketa River. Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area features primitive tent sites with river frontage, picnic tables, fire rings, and basic latrines. The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center area also permits limited primitive camping by authorization only, though it is primarily focused on environmental education.

Most tent sites in the Maquoketa region are primitive with minimal amenities. Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area offers two parking areas where campers must hike in to reach tent sites or access them by paddling the Maquoketa River. These walk-in tent locations typically include a picnic table, fire ring, and pit toilet but require visitors to bring their own water and supplies. Pack-in, pack-out principles apply throughout these areas, with campers expected to follow Leave No Trace ethics. Joinerville County Park's gravel access road provides year-round day use, but lacks toilet facilities and requires advance permission for overnight tent camping.

The primitive tent camping experience near Maquoketa offers secluded sites ideal for those seeking natural surroundings with minimal development. Tent campers at Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area enjoy riverside sites surrounded by native vegetation and wildlife habitat. The area provides both hiking and paddling access options for reaching the tent sites. Campers must be prepared for self-sufficient camping as services are limited. A visitor to Buzzard Ridge commented that it offers "unique hike or paddle primitive sites with native forbs and wildlife surrounding the area." Another camper noted that Joinerville County Park provides "small wooded county campground along the Maquoketa River" with hard-surface river access for paddlers.

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Best Tent Sites Near Maquoketa, Iowa (16)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Maquoketa, IA

4 Photos of 16 Maquoketa Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Maquoketa, IA

624 Reviews of 16 Maquoketa Campgrounds

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 16, 2022

    Buzzard Ridge Wildlife Area

    Unique County wildlife site along Maquoketa River

    Unique 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.

  • C
    Jun. 6, 2018

    Matsell Bridge Natural Area

    Nice little inexpensive primitive site... spaces almost always available

    Nice quiet little primitive campground next to the Wapsipinicon River. Unfortunately, when I was there the last weekend of May, the gnats were bad, and the mosquitoes were just starting to gear up. HOWEVER, take bug spray and enjoy the rustic peacefulness of this "best kept secret" for primitive and inexpensive camping sites. Beautiful location, ranger close by, wood for sale just across the bridge, fire pits and picnic tables at every site. Good for RV, trailer or tent camping… level ground and lots of shade. Primitive bathrooms, no showers or running water.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 7, 2025

    Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins

    Barren RV-Riddled Campground Outpost

    One 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!

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2022

    Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area, Primitive Tent Camp

    Neat Primitive Tent CG along water

    The 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.

  • Amanda K.
    Aug. 9, 2021

    Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground

    Secluded Gem

    Mostly RV/Campers. We tent camped (1 adult & 4 kids). Odd spot for a tent with a cement slab. Pretty serene and clean park, until about 7am when landscapers show up with lawn mowers etc. each morning. Lots of space between spots and it feel more private than some spots we’ve stayed in. Fire pits with grates at each site. Bathrooms with flushing toilets, floors were a bit flooded and showers are a bit rusty, but warm! Small playground with sand that the younger kids enjoyed. Fire wood is available near the bathrooms with a donation box. Best part of this campsite was the walking distance from Maquoketa Caves State Park site with beautiful hiking trails easy to explore. If you want to go in caves, bring headlamps/flashlights and prepare to have wet shoes. Also only 30-45mins from downtown Dubuque, Iowa.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 30, 2025

    New Wine Park Dubuque County Park

    Nice small county park campground

    General: This is a small (29-site) county park campground situated along the North Fork Maquoketa River. Nine of the sites are reservable, and the rest are first-come, first-served. Some sites are primitive, and some have water and 30-amp electricity hookups. There is one ADA-accessible site with a paved camper pad. 

    Site Quality: Most sites are level. The camper pads are gravel/grass, but not all are clearly defined. Each site has a picnic table and a fire ring. 

    Bath/Shower: The bath/shower house was closed when we were there in November but there are vault toilets about a quarter mile from the campground (in the day-use area) that were very clean and well-stocked when we were there. 

    Activities/Amenities: Many activities including disc golf, three hiking trails, volleyball, two playgrounds (one in the day-use area and one by the campsites). There are two reservable picnic shelters. There is also a dump station. 

    We were tent camping in November on a backpacking trip so we didn’t take advantage of any of the activities but would return in our van on a future camping trip. We were the ONLY ones in the campground at this time of year!

  • Jessica H.
    Jul. 11, 2018

    Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area - Main Camping

    Ranger Review: VivoBarefoot Primus Trail SG Womens at Saulsbury Bridge

    Campground 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

    1. Anytime I purchase a new pair of shoes, whether for daily use or outdoor recreation, I make sure to break them in as much as possible as I’m prone to blisters. I did wear the Primus around the house a few times and on my daily walks before taking them camping. Though they have a snug fit, they’re not uncomfortable. They also include a pair of removable inserts and extra laces. The laces are adjustable which allowed me to either loosen or tighten the shoe. Bonus; no socks needed. As someone who would opt to wear sandals year round if possible, I liked the fact I didn’t have to put an extra layer on my feet.
    2. The timing couldn’t have been better for testing out these sneakers; Saulsbury was experiencing minor flooding while we were there. Not only do they have rugged soles for gripping in wet and rocky terrain, the mesh material allows for quick drying if they do get wet, and provided easy clean up of mud and other debris.
    3. Honestly, I was really pleased with the fact that many of the women’s shoes came in neutral and earth tone colors (I absolutely checked out other shoe options on their website). While I don’t mind the brighter colors that seem to be the trend for women’s trail runners, I really prefer something a little more low key.
    4. One of the best things about these shoes was the ease of slipping them on and off, say in the middle of the night when nature called.
    5. All in all, I feel this shoe is a good match for the outdoor activities I enjoy; camping, hiking, bicycling, and kayaking. I’m looking forward to seeing how they hold up while hiking in the mountains out West this summer.
  • Mike C.
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Blue Inn Campground

    Cozy, basic CG

    37 full-hookup sites, some tent sites, all right on edge of town. Adjacent to Kitty Creek, joins Maquoketa River. Some concrete pads, most are gravel, fairly level. Pretty tight layout, average of only 30-40' between sites. New fire rings, picnic tables in good condition. Bakery and other facilities are closed due to COVID. Previous campers at our site left lots of trash on ground...always disappointing. Electrical and water were good. Sewer connections a bit high.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2021

    Swiss Valley County Park

    Great County park, preserve, campground

    Campground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive with fire rings and tables. Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails.

Guide to Maquoketa

Primitive tent campsites near Maquoketa, Iowa include several options within a 20-mile radius of the city. The region features rolling hills with limestone bluffs overlooking the Maquoketa and Wapsipinicon rivers. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with winter temperatures often below freezing. The area receives approximately 36 inches of precipitation annually, with camping opportunities available primarily April through October.

What to do

Fishing access points: The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center offers river access just down the River Trail. "Wapsipinicon River access just down River Trail" notes one camper about the Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr., mentioning that the area provides opportunities for "fishing, paddling, etc."

Wildlife observation: Cedar River Campground features wetland areas adjacent to campsites. One visitor to Cedar River Campground mentioned "a beautiful wetland just down from the campground" making it ideal for bird watching and nature photography throughout the camping season.

Observatory programs: The Menke Observatory at Wapsi River Environmental Education Center offers astronomy programs. "Menke Observatory offers sky programs" reports a camper, highlighting the unique educational component to camping in this area.

What campers like

Dark night skies: The rural setting provides excellent stargazing conditions. A visitor to Wapsi River Environmental Education Center notes, "No city like that so night sky shines with stars" making it ideal for astrophotography and constellation viewing.

River paddling options: Lock and Dam 13 provides Mississippi River access points. According to one visitor to Lock and Dam 13, "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."

Privacy and seclusion: Worthington Sportsman's Club offers secluded camping spots. A camper at Worthington Sportsman's Club shared that the camping is "So secluded without being in the middle of nowhere. People driving around the pond didn't even know we were there!"

What you should know

Facility conditions: Hidden River Campground has basic facilities. A visitor noted, "Very rustic, older shower/bathrooms that could use an update. Many people seem to take advantage of the year round rates and stay all summer."

Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds operate April through October. Cedar River Campground operates "April 15 to October 15" according to their information, with limited facilities available outside these dates.

Reservation requirements: Koch's Meadow Lake Campground requires advance booking. A visitor to Koch's Meadow Lake Campground reported it's "a full service CG for RVs with community buildings, gravel road lanes, pet friendly, and lake access for fishing, paddling and swimming."

Tips for camping with families

Water recreation options: Worthington Sportsman's Club offers family-friendly pond fishing. A visitor mentioned, "Great fishing while we were there too," making it a good option for children learning to fish.

Environmental education: Wapsi River Environmental Education Center features live animal exhibits. "Education center onsite with live animals, trails, open year round," reports one camper, noting the educational opportunities available for children.

Amenities to expect: Cedar River Campground provides family-focused recreation. A visitor reported the campground has "mini-golf, a nice pool and a creative rugged play area for the kids," though they noted the pool has scheduled cleaning times when it's unavailable.

Tips from RVers

Site spacing: Cedar River Campground has closely spaced sites. One RV camper noted, "Sites are really close if you're a tent camper but it is good as far as RV parks are concerned," indicating the spacing works better for RVs than tents.

Highway noise levels: Some campgrounds are near highways. A visitor to Cedar River Campground observed, "It is right off the highway, so it was loud when we were outside, but we couldn't hear it at all when we were in our Tab 400," suggesting RVs provide better noise insulation than tents.

Seasonal camping options: Several campgrounds offer seasonal rates. Hidden River Campground has many who "take advantage of the year round rates and stay all summer," which can limit availability for short-term campers during peak season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Maquoketa, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Maquoketa, IA is Joinerville County Park with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Maquoketa, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 tent camping locations near Maquoketa, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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