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Best Tent Camping near Ocheyedan, IA

156 Reviews

Tent camping options near Ocheyedan, Iowa include several established campgrounds within driving distance. Cenla Campgrounds in Spirit Lake allows tent camping with amenities including drinking water, electric hookups, and toilet facilities. Bright Lake County Park in Ceylon, Minnesota, approximately 30 miles from Ocheyedan, offers primitive tent sites with basic facilities and multiple access points for campers.

Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Cenla Campgrounds provides more services including water hookups, sewer connections, and a sanitary dump station, making it suitable for campers seeking more facilities. In contrast, Bright Lake County Park offers a more rustic experience with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets but lacks hookups or shower facilities. Other options like Oneota Little Sioux Access near Spencer provide only minimal facilities with toilets but no drinking water or designated camping areas.

The camping experience around Ocheyedan varies significantly between locations. Bright Lake County Park stands out as a highly-rated tent camping destination with multiple access options including drive-in, boat-in, and walk-in sites. The park accommodates tent campers seeking a more natural setting while still providing basic amenities like firewood and picnic tables. Sites offer peaceful surroundings with lake views through the trees. A visitor to Bright Lake County Park commented, "Really nice spot almost overlooking the lake, had fire ring, picnic tables and room for quite a lot of tents! For me and my family it was perfect!" Campers should note that most backcountry tent camping areas in the region have seasonal availability, with many sites closing during winter months.

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Best Tent Sites Near Ocheyedan, Iowa (6)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Ocheyedan, IA

156 Reviews of 6 Ocheyedan Campgrounds

  • Morgan Y.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 6, 2020

    Oak Woods Campground — Lake Shetek State Park

    This is camping?

    I was up in the Oak Woods Campground. This was pretty much an open field with people crammed together. One of my neighbors sat and watched a certain cable news channel on a giant outdoor TV hooked up to their bus from 8am until 10p. I can tell you that a TV host named Tucker was very angry that night. Another "camper" had set up a giant playground, penned in areas for their multiple dogs, and had a bouncy castle set up for their daughter...that was running off of a very loud generator all day. The whole thing was lit up with string lights like it was an airport runway and gave the entire campground a carnival feel. WTF?  Unfortunately for your enjoyment, I deleted the video I took of the scene. Lucky for you, I still have a photograph of it. 

    I had reserved 2 nights. I left at 6am after one pathetic night and went and stayed at a Harvest Host instead. 

    Leave no trace (and set up no carnivals).

  • Tori K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2025

    Island Park

    Small waterfront campground

    Nice little park to stop at for a night on a trip. Only stayed here for a night on my way out west in 2024. Arrived a bit before dark and decided to sleep in my car rather than my tent just due to the timing and being tucked away by the river by myself. Never did figure out where a bathroom was unfortunately. There was a gas station right down the road for any conveniences you may need. There is a kayak launch right by the campsites that I would've put my inflatable into if I'd had more daylight/time here.

    Not sure how larger campers would set up given the layout and how small the pads look, but there was plenty of room in front and behind the pads.

  • Clint G.
    Jul. 20, 2021

    Korte's Checkers Welcome Campground

    Great value as Passport America member

    This is a small private campground that offers a quiet nights stay.  Site size was moderate with some shade, a fire ring, picnic table, on a level gravel pad.  $20 per Passport America members for FHU is sweet.  The grounds were well cared for and was not to far from the interstate but far enough away that there was little noise.

  • Matthew H.
    Feb. 13, 2024

    Kilen Woods State Park Campground

    Great Campground! Conveniently located!

    Great Campground. The park Ranger on Duty was very helpful. Campsites were generous in space. Well kept. Fire Ring and picnic table on site were kept up well. Trails and scenery through the back hills are well kept and maintained.

  • Meg W.
    Sep. 17, 2023

    Kilen Woods State Park Campground

    Peaceful Prairie Spot

    Chosen at the last minute for its proximity to the Twin Cities area, the drive was about 2 hrs 45 minutes. Park is quiet, clean and very easy to hike. Entire park can easily be hiked in a day, with prairie, river and oak savanna views. The park rangers were not at the station at any point while we visited, meaning payment for firewood and parking must be done online. Really nice facility with flush toilets and showers sits between the two campground loops. Camped in Walk-In Site #1 and the seclusion from the electric sites was great. The walk-in sites are nestled in the woods and fairly private. From the parking spot to the campsite was an easy ~100’.

  • Lord J.
    Jun. 26, 2021

    Kilen Woods State Park Campground

    Secluded slice of paradise.

    Stayed in the walk-in section of the campground. Just a short walk from the parking and vault toilet. Beautiful Oaks surround you as does the sumac, raspberries and mosquitos. Even though it rained it was a superb experience 🙏

  • Joanna B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2020

    Oak Woods Campground — Lake Shetek State Park

    Boater’s paradise

    6/12/20-6/14/20 cart in 3

    Lake Shetek State Park is located in the SW corner is Minnesota and on Lake Shetek. They have 4 campgrounds. We always up for the more private sites and stayed in the cart-in campground. There are carts available to haul your gear if you choose. The cart in sits sit up on a ridge and had some views of Lake Shetek. Our campsite (3) was spacious with a tent pad large enough to hold 2 tents and had a spot for a hammock. It had a fire ring and picnic table. The vault toilet was right across from our campsite, so we had a lot of foot traffic. It was not the most private site of the bunch, we liked 5 and 7 better.

    Lake Shetek allows motor boats and there was a lot of boat traffic. There are other resorts on this lake so it’s very active. We brought our kayaks and enjoyed kayaking the lake, though there was always a pretty big wake and we stayed near the shoreline. We kayaked (a short Portage) to 2 smaller lakes that had no one on them. We were able to tie our boats to a tree below our campsite and scaled up the embankment, there was a path already there. There are a few hiking trails in the state park (roughly 4 miles of hiking tidal) but I wouldn’t say it’s known for its hiking. We enjoyed the causeway that led to the 1-mile Loon Island Trail. We saw turtles, deer, waterfowl and eagles during our stay. There is a “beach” locates near the Oak Wood campground however it was underwater, people still enjoyed swimming as it was shallow and warm in June. We did find another beach within the state park that was a longer walk to reach, but MANY boats were docked and “partying” here. There is a nice fishing pier and a dock within the park.

    Due to all the boat traffic, I would say this is a much less private and serene state park.

  • Chloe T.
    Oct. 3, 2024

    Kilen Woods State Park Campground

    Very Quiet | No On Site Payment Available

    First thing to know is that you cannot pay for anything there directly... no cash, no checks, no credit cards, no tap, nothing. You need to use the Yodel app to purchase firewood and, even if there is staff present, you'll need to pay for your site on the MN State Park reservations system. What's nice is that there is no convenience charge when you are on site. This totally threw us as we are used to pulling up and paying with cash or card to a human. And, they have no wifi. So you'll have to use your phone or, like I did, use your phone as a hotspot to use your laptop/tablet.

    Once that was all finally taken care of, we got to enjoy our spacious site. It was HOT, but there is a tree in the center of Site 7 that offered shade and lots of bushes and trees around that offer shade. We just had to keep moving to get it. Each site has a firepit and picnic table. Site 6 has a trail going through it on the edge while Site 7 had a trail on the other side but it was several feet from the actual site. I'm not sure it ever gets busy there, but if it did, you may have people around your site if you choose those edge sites.

    This place was SO quiet! I know that also has to do with the other campers, so thank you to our fellow campers that weekend who kept it quiet. No road noise at all. There are fields nearby, so if it's plowing season I imagine it would be quite noisy and quite dusty.

    At the end of September, along with the heat, there were tons of what we later learned were Asian Lady Beetles, which actually do sting. Surprise! Then when they started slowing down, here came the midges/no-see-ums. So I came away with a lot of stings. Boo! My spouse did not. So I guess they just liked me a lot.

    I would totally recommend Kilen Woods SP! It was a total surprise to use as we were looking for a last minute place to camp, so that was wonderful. If you're driving along I90 in Minnesota or I26 in South Dakota and need an easy overnight, check this place out.

  • Debbie J.
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Maka Oicu County Park

    Large campground

    Tent camping spots are large and separate from RV spots .$15 a night for tents. Only problem was the distance to the bathroom. We had a very nice spot on the lake. Large grassy campsite with shade.

Guide to Ocheyedan

Tent camping near Ocheyedan, Iowa offers a variety of options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy nature and the great outdoors. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and unwind.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • At Cenla Campgrounds, you’ll find electric hookups and sanitary dump facilities, making it convenient for your camping needs.
  • Dog Creek Co Park provides thirty-amp hookups and toilets, ensuring a comfortable stay for tent campers.
  • Oneota Little Sioux Access features basic amenities like toilets, perfect for those who prefer a more rustic experience.

Tent campers should check out Mini-Wakan State Park

  • Mini-Wakan State Park is a great spot for those seeking a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature.
  • The park offers a serene environment ideal for hiking and exploring the local wildlife.
  • With its tent camping options, it’s perfect for families looking to enjoy a weekend getaway.

Tips for tent camping near Ocheyedan

  • Be prepared for limited amenities at places like Valhalla Island Campgrounds, which lacks showers and trash services, so plan accordingly.
  • Bring your own firewood, as many campgrounds, including Cenla Campgrounds, do not provide this essential camping item.
  • Consider visiting Bright Lake Co Park for a well-reviewed experience that allows campfires and has picnic tables for family meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ocheyedan, IA is Cenla Campgrounds with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Ocheyedan, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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