Campgrounds near Mount Ayr, Iowa stretch across the gentle rolling hills of southern Iowa, where the terrain ranges between 1,200-1,400 feet in elevation. The area sits in a transition zone between the Midwest's tallied prairie and oak forests, creating diverse camping environments. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-90°F with humidity, while spring and fall offer more moderate 60-75°F conditions.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground offers an 85-acre lake stocked with bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish. "The lake is quiet and relatively calm," notes one camper, while another mentions "excellent fishing at the lake, and plenty of quiet spots to fish from."
Water activities: Mozingo Lake County RV Park provides lake access for kayaking and canoeing. A visitor reports, "Nice sites close to the lake with electricity water and wifi," making it convenient to spend time on the water.
Hiking trails: Multiple parks offer hiking opportunities, with varying difficulty levels. At Lake of Three Fires, campers can explore "10 miles of trails that intertwine around the entire Lake," though one visitor cautions that "the trails are quite poorly marked and seem to only have entry and exit points at each end of the point."
What Campers Like
Quiet atmosphere: Buffalo Run RV Park receives praise for its peaceful setting. One camper shared it's "affordable and quiet" while noting it "makes a great stop on road trips if you're heading south!"
Clean facilities: Lakeside Casino RV Park maintains clean facilities and sites. A visitor reported, "The RV park was clean with level sites. The front desk person was friendly and helped me with my reservation," highlighting the staff's helpfulness alongside site quality.
Spacious sites: Lake Icaria Co Park offers generous camping spots. "The spots are spacious, and there are tons of options," says one camper, while another noted, "Full hook up spots were very nice. Easy to get into, plenty of space, fire pit, picnic table."
What You Should Know
Reservation policies: Most campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. For Ted's RV Park, a camper noted the "outstanding staff, friendly and helpful," making the reservation process easier.
Amenities vary significantly: Bathroom and shower facilities differ between parks. At Lake of Three Fires, campers report "excellent (and clean!) modern bathrooms, by far the best we've encountered," though amenities beyond bathrooms can be limited.
Campsite variation: Sites at the same campground can differ dramatically. One Lake of Three Fires visitor observed, "The sites can be inconsistently sized. We found some tent sites that were less than half the size of our site, and they were packed like sardines."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground access: Pammel County Park offers activities for children, though one visitor noted the "playground was skimpy," suggesting bringing additional entertainment options.
Swimming options: Lake Icaria Co Park provides swimming opportunities. "Great swim spot, fun park for kids," reports one camper, making it suitable for families seeking water recreation.
Educational opportunities: Many parks offer nature learning experiences. A Pammel County Park visitor highlighted that kids can "swim below the ford, canoe starting on one side of the park and loop about 3 miles on the middle river to the other side of the park."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Concrete pads at various campgrounds help with leveling. A Pammel County Park visitor mentioned, "The concrete pads were awesome for leveling our popups," making setup easier.
Hookup positioning: At some parks, hookups aren't conveniently located. One Pammel visitor reported, "I had to use 75 feet of hose to get to it. And the electric I had to use a 30 ft extension cord," recommending extra-long connection equipment.
Access challenges: Quail Ridge Campground recently underwent improvements. A camper noted, "Park has underwent a full makeover. Electrical, plumbing, surfaces all have been updated. Level, full-hookup, pull-through sites," making it more accommodating for larger RVs than previously.
