Maxwell offers diverse accommodations for campers seeking unique overnight options, including yurt and glamping experiences within short driving distances. Situated in central Iowa's rolling prairie landscape, the area experiences four distinct seasons with summer highs around 85°F and winter temperatures often below freezing. Camping accessibility varies throughout the year, with most sites located within 20-30 minutes of Maxwell.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Try Rock Creek State Park's lake, which is "known for its crappie and large mouth bass fishing. The lake has lots of features like brush piles, vertical structures, mossy areas and you can go over by the bridge and fish the rocks," explains one visitor who adds it's "a great place if you have a boat or kayak/canoe."
Astronomy sessions: Visit Ashton Wildwood Park on Saturday nights for stargazing. "The observatory that's open on Saturday's (except the 1st Saturday) was awesome and the astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom," reports a camper.
Hiking: Explore Ledges State Park Campground sandstone formations. "The hiking trails are cool. I would say it was a challenging hike. A lot of up and down terrain, stone steps, etc. The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them," notes a day visitor.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Thomas Mitchell County Park offers creekside camping. "The outer loop has a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it. Kids were having a blast in the water," explains a camper who appreciated the layout. "Some sites are reservable and some walk up."
Privacy between tent areas: At Yellow Banks County Park, sites are "very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents. The sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious. It's only $7/night," according to a frequent visitor who adds it's perfect for overnight camping with grandchildren.
Year-round accessibility: Some Maxwell area campgrounds remain open through winter months. "Open year around. Nice large sites and no need to unhook. Clean rv park with easy access to 1-80," notes a visitor to Kellogg RV Park, making it practical for off-season yurt camping near Maxwell, Iowa.
What you should know
Reservation requirements vary: Some parks fill quickly during peak seasons. "Plan to get here Wednesday or Thursday because this park is FIRST COME basis. NO RESERVATIONS! And ALL of the electrical sites were full Thursday evening," advises a visitor to Swede Point Park.
Bathroom facilities: Quality differs between locations. "The bathroom at the campground doesn't have plumbing and no water available so make sure to bring plenty of water," warns a camper about Ashton Wildwood, while noting that "the bathrooms at the observatory had plumbing and were very clean."
Seasonal water access: Not all amenities operate year-round. "We visited one week before the water and modern bathrooms were ready, so that was challenging," explains a visitor to Rock Creek State Park Campground, indicating early spring limitations at some locations.
Tips for camping with families
Creek exploration: Select sites with water access for children. At Thomas Mitchell Park, "Great place to go tent camping, very clean and quiet. Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat. There is even a pond for fishing that you can take a trail from the campsite to."
Multiple activity options: Look for campgrounds with diverse amenities. "There is a nice little circle hike that's not too difficult" at Ashton Wildwood Park, notes one camper who found it ideal during knee rehabilitation, making it suitable for various physical abilities.
Playground proximity: Jester County Park offers family-friendly facilities. "Beautiful campground! Lots of trees and peaceful area. Our spot was pretty level and well maintained," mentions a visitor, while another adds, "Lots of cool kid activities. Buffalo ranch near by which is cool."
Tips for RVers
Site selection: Choose level spots at Maxwell area campgrounds. At Timberline Campground, a visitor notes sites were "pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking," though cautioning that some sites have "a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
Electric hookup options: Most RV sites offer multiple amperage choices. "There are RV electrical sites available along with water/sewage. Most of them have tables also," notes a visitor to Rock Creek State Park, where sites include 20/30/50 amp service options for RV and yurt camping near Maxwell, Iowa.
Seasonal planning: Research year-round amenities. "I never saw a ranger or any staff," reported a spring visitor to Rock Creek State Park, suggesting self-sufficiency may be needed during shoulder seasons when services might be limited.
