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MacNider Campground in Mason City offers electric and full hookup sites for campers with pets, maintaining a clean environment with grassy areas for dog walking. The campground features spacious sites that can accommodate large rigs up to 43 feet in length. Pets are allowed at all campgrounds in the area including Clear Lake State Park, Camp At The Woods, and Shellrock River Preserve. Campground rules typically require pets to remain on leash at all times when outside the RV. Most sites have picnic tables and fire rings where pets can relax with their owners. Sites at MacNider cost $19 for electric-only and $28 for full hookups.
Several parks within walking distance of MacNider Campground provide additional recreation space for dogs and their owners. The nearby Shellrock River Preserve offers free camping with a 3-day maximum stay in a large grassy field surrounded by walnut trees, making it suitable for tent camping with pets. Camp At The Woods provides riverfront sites with water access for pets who enjoy swimming. Campground facilities include clean restrooms and shower houses at most locations. The terrain varies from open fields to wooded areas, with some campgrounds featuring access to walking trails. Pet-friendly campgrounds near Mason City collectively allow dogs at all listed sites, though campers should bring their own waste bags and water bowls as specific pet stations are limited.
"Site 1 is about as quiet as it gets tucked off to the side."
"We love coming to Clear Lake! The campgrounds are always very well kept, bathrooms very clean! Easy access to the lake, and the town has so much to do during the summer months!"
from $18 - $38 / night
Check Availability"This campground is just across the river from East Park, a very large part in Mason city. The river flows through the park and there are several, maybe 5 playgrounds in the park."
"There are also awesome parks within walking distance. If we ever come through this area again we will definitely be staying here!"
from $12 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Perfect size sites and near the river for some water fun. Pool wasn’t open yet but looked to be a good size. Would go back there again for sure!"
"Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray. Quiet, peaceful. Not private but worth it."
"Nice and quiet, many families around. Had a great overnight and a lazy morning before a 2 PM checkout. Would stay again when we're back this way."
"Sites arranged in a circle around a clean shower house. Potable water. Only 2 non-electric sites. Most sites level. Sites are close to each other, not offering much in the way of privacy."
"Beautiful shaded campground near the lake, not far from town if you forgot something. We stayed in one of the two yurts- bunk bed plus a futon and table/chairs inside. Picnic table and grill outside."
from $12 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park."
"When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground."
from $14 - $34 / night
Check Availability"We tent camped but they’ve got lots of spaces for campers and tents as well, bathrooms are close, there is a nice lake near with play equipment located at the lake and at the campground, the campground"
"Short walk to the lake and playgrounds. Bar and grill 1/4 mile away."
from $25 / night
GuideThis campground is just across the river from East Park, a very large part in Mason city. The river flows through the park and there are several, maybe 5 playgrounds in the park. The campground is also next door to the city pool.
TravelerWilder Park is a beautiful city park. Very much a gem, quiet and peaceful . 50 + sites with about half of them full hook up. Costs for a full hook up in 2022 was under $25 a night. The park has two fishing areas, a dog park,pickle ball, volleyball mini golf, basketball and two playgrounds. A beautiful walking and bike path connects the parks to the neighboring cities. A free dump is also available. We highly recommend this park. 1
LegendAs the campground(CG) is right off the interstate, it was easy to get to. Our check-in package was ready when we arrived at the little self-registration building at the entrance. We had requested site 40, where we had stayed two years ago, but they gave us back-in site 41 instead on the little lake. The utilities are in the middle of the site and worked well with water pressure near 45 psi. The sites are decently spaced for this type of CG. They have WiFi, but their info packet states it's not good enough for streaming but okay for email, etc. We got 3 bars on Verizon and used our MiFi since we were only here for two nights. The CG is right off I-35, so you do get some highway noise. This CG is very well kept, with mostly seasonal and permanent parties. We came in with two other 5th wheels and had no problem getting sites, but we did reserve well before our arrival. There was not a formal dog park, but there was plenty of area to walk your dog. We noted that this CG was featured in RV Life’s 2023 Discover The Best RV Parks& Resorts In Every State with this narrative:"This family-owned campground prides itself on cleanliness; there is an owner on-site around the clock to ensure it stays in top condition. The park is beautifully landscaped and has both pull-thru and back-in sites. All sites(some are waterfront) are level and offer full hookups and free Wi-Fi. There are onsite restrooms and laundry facilities that are kept sparkling clean. They also offer a lending library of books and movies. There is a large pond on the property that is perfect for fishing, kayaking, and other water sports, and there is a walking path that circles the pond." Check out the Spam Museum in Austin, MN. We thought the museum would be cheesy, but it was a nice facility and a great experience. The CG deserved this praise, and we again enjoyed our stay.
TravelerGreat small town campground. Very quiet, especially on weekdays. Great place to take long walks with great paths and scenery. Small town Iowa with convenience store close by.
RangerBeeds Lake campground offers an opportunity to camp by a picturesque lake with a beautiful waterfall.
There are many campsites to choose from. My only negative point for Beeds Lake is that the campground is very "campgroundy". Many of the RV sites are very close together, which is the norm in Iowa. However, there are a few on the outskirts that have a little more privacy.
Things to do:
TravelerThis is about as "middle of nowhere" as you can get in Iowa 🙂! The campground offers both electric RV sites and primitive sites (with an accompanying bathhouse ~500 feet away)
The park offers a couple nice walking paths both forested and prairie. The lake is small, but I'm told has some good fishing.
TravelerRight off county road and next to the river. The bathrooms and shower facilities are very basic, but the showers are nice and warm. There is a great playground area and a horseshoe pit play area. There is a public access point to the river, adjacent to the park. Lots of big shade trees throughout the camp sites, perfect for hammocks. The spot is very quiet, according to all of our kids. There are electric camp sights camps available. Prices are very reasonable. If you like to wake up and walk a few steps to fish, canoe, paddle board or swim, then this park is a dream come true.
RangerMet up with friends to get outside. They brought their dogs and we had a grand time. Windy weather kept us off the lake - there are canoes and kayaks for rent at the state park - but we took several walks around the island. We visited a nearby winery and we went geocaching around the area. Our friends’ site backed up to ours. A group of retirees in RVs were camped on three sides of us, and they spent the weekend hanging out together. One guy shared the PB rice krispie bars he made. They had clean bathrooms with showers. There was an outdoor dishwashing station, convenient for disposing of our washbasin full of gray water.
GuideThis park is located on 172 acres of land. It has an enclosed picnic shelter, hand pump well, vault rest rooms, primitive camping, and 2 swing sets. The park was named after the town of Eagle City platted in 1878 and at one time contained a general store, post office, grist mill, saw mill, blacksmith’s shop and doctor’s office. This area has been used for primitive camping with an upper and lower level. The Iowa River runs next to this campground. The campground is down a couple miles of maintained gravel Rd.
The Mason City area offers several camping options within a 30-mile radius, situated in north-central Iowa's gently rolling terrain. Summer temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with occasional thunderstorms, while spring and fall bring cooler temperatures around 45-70°F. Most campgrounds in the region operate from April through October, with a few offering year-round accessibility.
Fishing opportunities: Clear Lake State Park Campground provides excellent fishing access. "Great campground. Family and friends get together a must here. Close to the beach, town and the lake has great fish," notes Lisa M.
Swimming and water recreation: Both natural and managed swimming areas are available. "We love coming to Clear Lake! The campgrounds are always very well kept, bathrooms very clean! Easy access to the lake, and the town has so much to do during the summer months!" shares Vanessa H.
Hiking trails: Pilot Knob State Park Campground offers numerous hiking paths. According to Madison L., "Pilot knob state park is a great place for a week long stay or just a few hours! The camp ground is on the smaller side but it's clean and there is a play ground!"
Small-town exploration: Visit nearby communities for shopping and dining. Eric J. mentions, "Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can't beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too."
Playground access: Rudd Eastside Park is particularly family-friendly with multiple play areas. "Loved camping here, we have 4-5 times already this year! We tent camped but they've got lots of spaces for campers and tents as well, bathrooms are close, there is a nice lake near with play equipment located at the lake and at the campground," explains Nichole M.
Affordable rates: Most campgrounds offer reasonable prices. Ax H. notes about Shellrock River Co Preserve, "Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray. Quiet, peaceful. Not private but worth it. Free, 3 day max stay."
River access: Several campgrounds provide riverside camping. "Ray is a great guy! He let us come in for a weekend, and let us pick our site on arrival. We had full hook up, but the sewer connection was at the front of the site and was up hill kind of. Nice concrete Pads at the site with fire rings," writes jeremiah B. about Camp At The Woods.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms and showers. Fred S. describes McIntosh Woods: "Camped here on the off season, so it wasn't crowded. Short walk to nice lake & marsh. Walking trails."
Seasonal availability: Most campgrounds operate mid-April through mid-October. Jacob B. mentions about Pilot Knob: "For $12/night on a 30AMP hookup, I really can't complain. This is my first of many stops in the new RV, needed a place to camp out before getting it serviced the next day. Enjoyable scenery, especially at sunset."
Weather considerations: Spring camping can be wet with flooding in low-lying areas. According to Lisa M., "This is a state campground. So as most will know the sites could be better maintained. The bathrooms are updated and nice. When there is heavy rain you will however have your own pond at most sites."
Crowding during peak season: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. Lee D. notes, "We tend to stay at campgrounds during the off or shoulder season for a quieter experience so it was with some apprehension that we reserved this campground for a summer weekend so that we could meet friends for Paddlefest."
Site spacing varies: Some campgrounds have tighter spacing than others. Janet K. mentions, "Nice campground with grassy pull thru sites. But very close together. If full, you would have no privacy."
Bike-friendly parks: Several campgrounds have paved roads ideal for cycling. Becky M. shares, "Paved roads are great for bike riding. Great shaded spots. DNR cruises the park daily which is nice to see."
Multiple playground options: Camp At The Woods has recently added play areas. Tracy B. notes, "Ray was very accommodating to get us into a full hook site last minute. Nice grounds with many new updates. Perfect size sites and near the river for some water fun. Pool wasn't open yet but looked to be a good size."
Free bike borrowing: Rudd Eastside Park offers a unique amenity. According to Nichole M., "the campground has old bikes for the kids to use, everyone there is so nice!"
Swimming options: Several parks feature swimming areas. Lisa B. explains, "The kids are not forgotten because there is a nice pond with a beach and jetties for fishing and don't forget the play equipment."
Site leveling: Be prepared for uneven grounds at some locations. Desiree R. says about MacNider Campground, "This campground is just across the river from East Park, a very large part in Mason City. The river flows through the park and there are several, maybe 5 playgrounds in the park."
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Mason City: Most parks welcome pets with standard leash requirements. According to Nichole H., "This campground is fairly small but fits our 43' rig well. The ground and well kept and staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. There is a nice playground on site plus the city pool is right next door."
Hookup locations: Some campgrounds have unusual utility placement. Jeremiah B. notes, "We had full hook up, but the sewer connection was at the front of the site and was up hill kind of."
Reservation timing: For popular campgrounds, book well in advance. Victoria G. mentions, "Loved this state park. Sites not too level, but spacious. Camped in mid April and park was not very busy which was nice. Full hook up sites and W/E only sites. Close to town and lots to do."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mason City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mason City, IA is Clear Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 14 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mason City, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 65 dog-friendly camping locations near Mason City, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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