Best Tent Camping near Mount Vernon, IA

Tent campers visiting Mount Vernon, Iowa can access several rustic camping options in the surrounding area. Macbride Nature Recreation Area offers wooded walk-in tent sites with a 4.5 rating, while Wakpicada Natural Area provides year-round primitive tent camping in a natural setting. These areas accommodate tent campers seeking more secluded experiences than standard campgrounds.

Most tent sites in the region require campers to pack in their own water, as drinking water is limited at primitive locations. Wakpicada Natural Area features fire rings and picnic tables but lacks restroom facilities, requiring campers to follow Leave No Trace principles. Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite offers walk-in tent sites with basic amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, and nearby toilets. During summer months, sites fill quickly on weekends, particularly at locations with water access. Cedar River Campground provides more developed tent camping with showers, drinking water, and electrical hookups for those seeking additional amenities.

The backcountry tent camping experience near Mount Vernon varies from heavily wooded sites to open areas near water. Many primitive tent setups require short hikes from parking areas, creating greater separation from neighboring campers. The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center offers tent camping in a nature preserve setting with access to trails and the Wapsipinicon River. Jungletown Ridge provides nine secluded tent sites accessible via boat-in, hike-in, or walk-in methods. According to one visitor, "Wakpicada Natural Area campsites are right next to the pond with good tree cover. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other."

Best Tent Sites Near Mount Vernon, Iowa (26)

    1. Macbride Nature Recreation Area

    2 Reviews
    Coralville Lake, IA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 624-3205

    "My son and I tent-camped at Macbride Nature Recreation Area (not nearby Lake Macbride State Park) several times circa 2005. Always a good time."

    2. Cedar River Campground

    11 Reviews
    West Liberty, IA
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 946-2431

    $35 - $50 / night

    "Convenient location a lot of amenities and activities"

    3. Wakpicada Natural Area

    1 Review
    Central City, IA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 438-6616

    "Campsites right next to the pond and good tree cover made the experience fun anyway. Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren’t right next to each other."

    4. #JTRidge Sites/Clothing Optional

    1 Review
    Wyoming, IA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 350-3881

    $20 - $45 / night

    "Jungletown Ridge is perfect for those looking to get some space from others and enjoy some quiet nights int he woods. Check them out and share some pics from your stay!"

    5. Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite

    2 Reviews
    Toddville, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 892-6485

    $54 / night

    "The site offers primitive amenities near Wikiup Hill learning Center. Taking a short trail to the site, the permanent wake up offers shelter, fire ring with grate, and restrooms nearby."

    "Linn County, Iowa, county pack in Primitive site is near nature scape, pit toilets, offers fire pit with sitting blocks and firewood included with camp fee, nature center just yards away, trails, forested"

    6. Koch's Meadow Lake Campground

    1 Review
    West Liberty, IA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (515) 850-9298

    "This CG is a full service CG for RVs with community buildings, gravel road lanes, pet friendly, and lake access for fishing, paddling and swimming."

    7. Draco Hill Farm and Prairie

    Be the first to review!
    West Branch, IA
    14 miles
    Website

    $24 - $34 / night

    8. Hidden River Campground

    1 Review
    West Liberty, IA
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 325-1700

    9. Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr.

    6 Reviews
    Wheatland, IA
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3286

    $70 - $80 / night

    "Charcoal grill, fire ring with wood supplied, picnic table, covered porch, trail head right next to cabin. After hours offers quite park, dark skies, and trails with wildlife."

    "Cabin offers modern amenities: stove, oven,micro, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee pot, toaster, ADA access, shower. AC/heat, covered porch, firewood, picnic table, Charcoal grill, trails."

    10. River Junction

    1 Review
    Riverside, IA
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 645-2315

    "24 years ago River Jct Lone Tree Iowa was Just stumptown. Outhouse at the top. Just a spot by the river. A lone camper. How things have changed . Still primitive tent campgrounds there."

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Tent Camping Reviews near Mount Vernon, IA

550 Reviews of 26 Mount Vernon 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.

  • 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.
  • 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!

  • 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!

  • 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 Mount Vernon

Tent camping around Mount Vernon, Iowa provides access to several primitive sites within a 30-mile radius. The area features rolling hills with elevations ranging from 720-840 feet and typically sees summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F. Most sites are situated in mixed hardwood forests or near small lakes and rivers, creating natural windbreaks during spring camping season.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Wakpicada Natural Area offers fishing for bass and panfish in a quiet setting. As one visitor noted, "Good bass and panfish fishing with quiet campgrounds that aren't right next to each other. I consider it a little hidden gem."

Nature education programs: The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center offers structured environmental programs and wildlife viewing. According to a visitor, "The park specializes in environmental education and the Eagle View Eco Center with exhibits and native live animals, trails, prairie, observatory, amphitheater, 1 mile stretch of the Wapsipinicon River with paddling access."

Astronomy viewing: Several campgrounds offer minimal light pollution for stargazing. One camper at Wapsi River Environmental Education Center mentioned, "No city like that so night sky shines with stars. Trails wind and through forests and prairie areas."

What campers like

Private camping spots: The Macbride Nature Recreation Area provides secluded tent sites. A camper shared, "Small quiet and secluded. Let me tell you. The spiders were everywhere when I woke up."

Unique accommodations: Some areas offer specialized camping experiences. One reviewer at Jungletown Ridge noted, "Jungletown Ridge is perfect for those looking to get some space from others and enjoy some quiet nights in the woods."

Water proximity: Many tent sites are positioned near water features. A camper at River Junction commented, "Just a spot by the river. A lone camper. How things have changed. Still primitive tent campgrounds there. Alot of sites. Boat ramp. Camper sites no electricity."

What you should know

Varying amenity levels: Tent camping options range from very basic to those with facilities. At Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite, "The site offers primitive amenities near Wikiup Hill learning Center. Taking a short trail to the site, the permanent wake up offers shelter, fire ring with grate, and restrooms nearby."

Reservation requirements: Some sites require advance booking, while others are first-come, first-served. Check with each location for policies.

Seasonal conditions: Spring camping often means dealing with wet conditions, while summer brings insects. One Macbride Nature Recreation Area camper warned, "If you can tolerate the odd way to reserve a spot here it's 100% worth it."

Tips for camping with families

Playgrounds and activities: Some campgrounds feature child-friendly amenities. At Wickiup Hill, "Along the trail into the site, you will find a large play area for families."

Educational opportunities: Consider camps with nature programs. A visitor to Cedar River Campground mentioned, "Not our typical campsite but we had the kids down for the weekend and we thought a campsite with a pool and mini golf would be a fun break from the norm."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mount Vernon, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mount Vernon, IA is Macbride Nature Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 26 tent camping locations near Mount Vernon, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.