Best Tent Camping near Marengo, IA

Rural landscapes surrounding Marengo, Iowa offer several tent camping options within a short drive. Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm provides a private 4-acre site where tent campers can set up anywhere on the property. Macbride Nature Recreation Area, located about 30 miles east of Marengo, features wooded walk-in tent sites that provide a more secluded camping experience. River Junction in Lone Tree offers primitive tent campgrounds along the river with basic amenities, while Wakpicada Natural Area in Central City maintains year-round tent camping with sites that don't crowd each other.

Most tent-only sites in the Marengo area feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Fire rings with grates are common at established sites, though firewood availability varies by location. Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite includes firewood with the camp fee and offers a permanent shelter structure. Toilet facilities range from pit toilets to basic restrooms, with most primitive sites having limited or no access to drinking water. Sites are typically set on natural surfaces with minimal grading. Weather conditions can affect accessibility, particularly during spring when rain may create muddy conditions on unpaved access roads.

Tree cover provides welcome shade at many tent campgrounds in the region. According to reviews, Wakpicada Natural Area offers good tree coverage that makes camping comfortable even during hot summer days, with campsites positioned next to a pond for fishing opportunities. One camper noted that Macbride Nature Recreation Area is "small, quiet and secluded" despite its somewhat complicated reservation process. The walk-in tent sites at Macbride allow visitors to walk through the forest to reach the injured raptor center with outdoor aviaries. Tent campers at River Junction can expect primitive conditions with sites priced at approximately $10 per night, offering a basic but affordable backcountry tent camping experience near water access.

Best Tent Sites Near Marengo, Iowa (21)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Marengo, IA

345 Reviews of 21 Marengo Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2024

    Lime Creek Park

    Nice campground with a Quirk

    The pros: $10 fee ($15 electric), campground seems well maintained (grass is mown, security light works, tables in good repair, gravel access road in good shape, etc); no one here but us, the sound of the running Creek is soothing, vault toilet is probably the cleanest I've seen; ATT cell service was 3bars 5G The unusual: no specific site, no specific place to pull into, no site numbers or designation except on the electric pedestals. It's all grass. Pull onto the grass near the table or electric pedestal you want. The cons: highway traffic noise is easily heard and doesn't seem to stop for more than a few seconds (though the crickets/bug sounds and the creek sound is sometimes louder so you hear that instead), dust from vehicles passing on nearby dirt road filters thru the trees (due to dry weather?), and, well, it is, after all, a vault toilet-not my fav,

  • Emma N.
    Sep. 25, 2017

    Sugar Bottom Campground

    Boats and Beautiful Views

    Our one-night stay at the Sugar Bottom- Coralville Lake Campground was terrific! My husband and I stopped there during our cross-country road trip. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Sunday in September and easily got a spot. The lady at the entrance station was incredibly kind and answered all of our questions.

    The campground is very well marked, with easily visible site number labels. Each site is in a grassy area with a picnic table and fire ring with a grate. Our site had a tree or two that provided some shade, but some other sites were a but more shaded.

    We ended up staying in site #103, which is right by the water. What a beautiful view we had! Our campsite was very close to a boat dock, a sand volleyball court, and a sandy beach. We didn't have a chance to swim at the beach, but it looked really nice! It had a large, designated swimming area that was marked with floating ropes. We were also located close to a building with restrooms. Each restroom had a clean, hot shower. The showers were free, which was a plus!

    In my opinion, this is definitely a 5-star campground. I can't wait to come back!

  • Angie G.
    Oct. 2, 2021

    Primitive South Campground — Lake Macbride State Park

    Nice Lake View

    We 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.

  • Kerry M.
    Aug. 25, 2021

    Wolf Creek Rec Area

    Quiet campground in the heart of Iowa

    Wolf Creek is a nice little campground near Beaman, IA (Beaman is very small, near Conrad as well which has a grocery store).

    There are 10 RV sites, which are $15/night and several tent/small camper sites which are $10/night.

    The campground has potable water but no showers. There are vault toilets.

    The campground has a nice playground, which was a feature we enjoyed when my daughter was little.

    My favorite part about this campground is the privacy. The tent sites are spread out and it is fairly easy to find one without neighbors too close.

    Activities:

    + Playground

    + Creek fishing

    + Nice benches and swings

    + Comet trail for hiking and biking

    + Hunting nearby

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2021

    Cottonwood Campground/Coralville Lake (COE)

    Nice forested CG near Coralville Lake

    Tent 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).

  • Clint  G.
    Jul. 19, 2021

    Pinicon Ridge Park

    Perfect County Campground

    We stayed at this campground for 7 nights with W/E hook ups.  Dump available on entrance/exit.  The site was a level rock pad witch was very spacious with a fire ring and picnic table.  Nearest grocery store was within 5 miles.  The bathrooms and shower were very clean with lots of hot water.  There is hiking in the park and very little road noise.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Newton KOA

    Highway Roadside Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited

    Happy Camping!

  • Emily B.
    Sep. 21, 2025

    River Junction

    Great views and location, but not private and not well-marked

    This was our first time camping here. We pulled in around 8pm when it was already dark and there was another car that had just entered the campground in front of us. After driving down the hill, he saw the basic “welcome” and “Pay here” signs next to a 4-car parking area. There were no signs marking where the bathroom was or any directions on how to choose a site. The group ahead of us chose to camp next to the boat ramp, so we circled around the loop and chose a dirt pad on the right side of the loop next to the river. We were very confused because the pictures on Dyrt showed picnic tables and fire rings at every site, but these were nowhere to be seen. It was getting late, so we set up the tent and went to bed. It wasn’t until the morning that we had discovered that we weren’t camping in one of the marked sites! As it turns out, all 4 sites were walk-in sites on grass behind the parking area that had been occupied by 2 cars when we pulled in. The signage didn’t clarify this and we couldn’t see the marked sites when it was dark! The marked sites were pretty close together and they offered no privacy between groups. Additionally, upon leaving we discovered that the toilet was on the top of the hill right by the entrance. Due to the lack of signage and privacy in between the official campsites, I rate 3 stars. It was very beautiful and peaceful, but it was very confusing in the dark.


Guide to Marengo

Tent camping options near Marengo, Iowa extend beyond the immediate town limits into surrounding counties. The region sits within the Iowa River corridor with elevations averaging 750-850 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with higher humidity levels, while spring and fall camping seasons offer milder conditions but more variable weather patterns. Winter camping remains available at select locations but requires additional cold-weather preparation.

What to do

Fishing access points: At Wakpicada Natural Area, campsites positioned next to the pond provide convenient fishing. "Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other. I consider it a little hidden gem," notes one visitor who camped during extreme heat.

Rope swing adventures: The pond at Gardner Family Farm offers recreational swimming with a rope swing that's popular with younger visitors. "Kids be sure to try the rope swing," advises one reviewer who appreciated the farm's recreational options.

Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies away from major light pollution make several Marengo area campgrounds ideal for astronomy enthusiasts. At Gardner Family Farm, campers note "evenings at this farm are memorable. Dark skies with billions of stars."

What campers like

Private camping experiences: Winter Camp provides complete privacy on its 4-acre property. According to a reviewer, campers can "set up camp anywhere and relax under the stars," making it ideal for those seeking solitude.

Clean, well-maintained facilities: Some private campgrounds maintain higher standards than public alternatives. At Windmill Ridge Campground, a camper notes it's a "clean, quiet and well set campsite for all camping styles. Set well off the main road, the gravel road is well maintained, graded well for easy driveable whee truck, rvs or trailers."

Historical and cultural proximity: The region offers camping with convenient access to notable Iowa attractions. Gardner Family Farm's location provides advantages beyond just camping: "Close to Field of Dreams movie site, Backbone State Park, Frank Lloyd's Cedar Rock, and Hazleton Amish community."

What you should know

Reservation systems vary: Some natural areas have unique booking requirements. At Macbride Nature Recreation Area, a camper advises, "If you can tolerate the odd way to reserve a spot here it's 100% worth it. Small quiet and secluded."

Wildlife encounters: Local campsites host various wildlife, including insects. One Macbride visitor reports, "The spiders were everywhere when I woke up," suggesting packing appropriate bug protection.

Amenities included in fees: Some locations bundle extras with the site cost. At Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite, a reviewer mentions the site "offers fire pit with sitting blocks and firewood included with camp fee," reducing the need to purchase or transport wood.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Families camping with children benefit from designated play areas at certain sites. Wickiup Hill offers "a large play area for families" that's accessible via "a short trail to the site," according to a recent visitor.

Educational opportunities: Nature centers provide learning experiences during camping trips. One reviewer notes Wickiup Hill's "nature center just yards away" from the primitive campsite.

Multiple recreation options: Cedar River Campground provides diverse family activities beyond standard camping. A visitor mentions, "Recently under new ownership, you can tell they've been working hard getting the place going again... They had a great fireworks display for the fourth."

Tips from RVers

Site leveling challenges: RV campers should prepare for uneven terrain at some locations. At Cedar River Campground, a reviewer cautions that "spots are tighter than what we prefer" but still found the experience positive enough to return.

Noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds more than others. One Cedar River Campground visitor notes, "Yes, you hear traffic, but it didn't bother us," suggesting light sleepers may want earplugs or white noise machines.

Access road conditions: Windmill Ridge earns praise for well-maintained approach roads: "Set well off the main road, the gravel road is well maintained, graded well for easy driveable whee truck, rvs or trailers," offering easier access for larger vehicles than many primitive tent sites in the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Marengo, IA is Winter Camp at Walking Stick Adventures Farm with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 21 tent camping locations near Marengo, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.