Best Tent Camping near Osage, IA

Looking for tent camping near Osage? Find the best tent camping sites near Osage. Each spot offers quick access to one or more of Osage, Iowa's most popular destinations.

Best Tent Sites Near Osage, IA (18)

    Camper-submitted photo from Shellrock River Co Preserve
    Camper-submitted photo from Shellrock River Co Preserve
    Camper-submitted photo from Shellrock River Co Preserve
    Camper-submitted photo from Shellrock River Co Preserve
    Camper-submitted photo from Shellrock River Co Preserve
    Camper-submitted photo from Shellrock River Co Preserve

    1. Shellrock River Co Preserve

    2 Reviews
    15 Photos
    12 Saves
    Nora Springs, Iowa

    Camping at Shellrock River Greenbelt and Preserve

    The Shellrock River Greenbelt Preserve provides both primitive and equestrian camping opportunities all year round. Two small shelters, fire rings, pit toilets, and hitching posts are provided at this site.

    Located on Yucca Avenue between 290th and 280th Streets.

    Open Year Round

    There is no charge for using this rustic campground

    • Pets
    • Fires
    • Electric Hookups
    • Phone Service
    • Tents
    • Group
    • No image available

      2. River Ranch Camping

      1 Review
      1 Save
      Plainfield, Iowa
      • Pets
      • Electric Hookups
      • Tents
      • Picnic Table
      • No image available

        3. Chickasaw Park

        1 Review
        Plainfield, Iowa
        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Phone Service
        • Tents
        • Group
        • Standard (Tent/RV)
        Camper-submitted photo from Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area
        Camper-submitted photo from Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area
        Camper-submitted photo from Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area
        Camper-submitted photo from Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area

        4. Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area

        1 Review
        4 Photos
        22 Saves
        Leland, Iowa
        • Pets
        • Phone Service
        • ADA Access
        • Tents
        • Dispersed
        • Drinking Water
        Camper-submitted photo from Colwell County Park

        5. Colwell County Park

        Be the first to review!
        1 Photo
        Floyd, Iowa

        This peaceful primitive campground includes a picnic shelter, pit toilet and fishing access to the Little Cedar River. Purchased in 1966, this park is managed for camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.

        • Pets
        • Fires
        • ADA Access
        • Tents
        • Standard (Tent/RV)
        • Trash
        Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
        Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
        Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
        Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
        Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
        Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville

        6. Schmidt Farm by Forestville

        2 Reviews
        15 Photos
        1 Save
        Preston, Minnesota

        Quiet, remote tent camping under dark skies for the minimalist. One mile hike-in to site. Direct access to more remote areas of the NE side Forestville State Park and 50 acres of wooded private trails. Sites are located on the lower area of our property. Approximately 100 yards between sites and each are not within site of each other. All sites are located directly on a main trail circling a walnut grove. A shared centrally located compostable outhouse is located within 50 yards of each site.

        This is a beautiful, remote property nestled between our organic Century Family Farm and Forestville State Park. We offer these limited campsites to a very specific demographic, minimalists looking for a quiet experience in nature. Years have gone into the making of these sites to be in balance with nature and our farm. These sites will be only open during spring and fall months. Camping does not include access to our other agritourism opportunities on our farm.

        Please read through our description carefully and be sure this is the right fit for you prior to booking. Please contact us with questions. I would much rather leave the site open/unbooked than not meet your expectations. You must check in at our office prior to going to your campsite.

        Additional items that will be delivered to your site. Plan ahead. $5 fee per delivery trip.

        • Firewood is available for purchase from Schmidt Farm for $8/bundle
        • Each site has a table and 2 chairs. 2 additional chairs can be requested
        • Tripods and cooking grates are available upon request
        • Bring your own container for water refills
        • Lockable totes for food storage are available upon request.
        • Plan ahead with your requests. Each delivery trip to your site will be $5.

        No hunting on property and no hunting groups.

        Know before you go. Our outhouse has a dry compostable SunMar toilet. Instructions are located inside the outhouse. There is a solar motion detected light inside the outhouse.

        Up to 2 dogs are allowed per site. Dogs must be vaccinated and not display aggressive behavior towards people or other animals. Dogs must be leashed and supervised at all times. For the safety of your pets and our livestock, visiting dogs are not allowed on the private trails. Hiking with your dog is available on and off trail in Forestville.

        Please meet us at a pre-arranged time at our farm store/camping office at least one hour prior to sunset. You will be given parking instructions and directions to hike in to your site at that time. Please pack and plan accordingly to be able to carry/pack in all of your personal items. Additional items (listed above) are available on loan to check out for your camping experience. These items will be brought to your campsite for you.

        • Pets
        • Fires
        • Reservable
        • Tents
        • Group
        • Market

        $35 / night

        • No image available
          Camper-submitted photo from Little Turkey Campground
          Camper-submitted photo from Little Turkey Campground

          8. Little Turkey Campground

          1 Review
          2 Photos
          5 Saves
          Calmar, Iowa
          • Pets
          • Fires
          • Electric Hookups
          • Phone Service
          • Reservable
          • ADA Access
          • No image available
            • No image available
            Showing results 1-10 of 18 campgrounds

            Recent Tent Reviews in Osage

            231 Reviews of 18 Osage Campgrounds


            • Chloe T.
              Camper-submitted photo from Myre State Park Campgrounds
              Oct. 14, 2024

              Myre State Park Campgrounds

              Beautiful and easy to get to backpacking sites

              Sites are approximately 2 miles from parking and the hike it relatively easy with minimal elevation change. You have a choice between a grassy walk or walking mainly on tar and gravel as part of the Blazing Star Trail. They are also accessible by boat.

              There are 4 backpacking sites and they are well-spaced so you each have privacy. #3 and #4 are close enough that you could be in a group together but #1 and #2 are pretty isolated. Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, wood cabinet/fish cleaning table, at least 1 flat spot for a tent, and a nearby porta potty.

              Views of the lake are amazing with a variety of birds making appearances. Harvesting season may bring some farm sounds but otherwise, aside from the occasional train, you'll mainly hear the sounds of nature around you.

              If you can make the walk carrying everything, including water, on your back, definitely check out one of these sites.

            • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Clear Lake State Park Campground
              Oct. 8, 2024

              Clear Lake State Park Campground

              Surprisingly quiet campground on a summer weekend

              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. We were happy to discover that despite being a full campground, it was quiet at almost all hours of the day and night. It was, however, an entirely different story on the lake itself, where boats gathered all day to party!

              There is little separation between the sites but there are trees located throughout, some of which provide shade to the site. The camper pads were a mix of dirt and gravel and mostly level. We were lucky to snag Site 34 (reserved about three months in advance) – it was on the end, making it a much larger site than the interior sites (all end sites in our section were larger) and we had plenty of shade trees, a welcome relief on a very hot weekend. 

              The paved roads leading to the sites are very narrow and would appear to be one-way but are not designated as such, resulting in some confusion. The site numbers are only listed on one side, even though most of the sites appeared to be pull-through. 

              The restrooms and showers were clean and had soap and (dated) air dryers. 

              Overall, we had a very pleasant two-night stay even though we were prepared for a different experience.

            • RThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Cedar View Park
              Sep. 28, 2024

              Cedar View Park

              Beautiful park, gross bath house

              This is a lovely park. It is fairly quiet, you can hear some highway noise in the distance. The lake is lovely and clean. The spots are gravel, most sites will require some leveling but are not too bad. 

              Each site has a newer electric pedestal with 30 and 50 amp service, and each site has a water spigot, as well as a picnic table and fire ring.

              There are a few sites that back up directly to the lake. There is a swimming beach and a dock. There is a city park adjacent to the campground with a playground and picnic shelter.

              I had 3 bars on on T-mobile which got me 64 down and 18 up. On Verizon I had 3 bars which got me 65 down and 12 up.

              The shower house was pretty bad though. It was older, which doesn't bother me, but it was dirty. There are camp hosts on site but I guess their duties do not include ever cleaning the restroom. There was food trash in there all week, and if you look around you'll find feces, blood, and personal hygiene trash including used condoms.

              I would stay in this campground again because I have a self contained unit and do not need to use the on-site shower house.

            • A
              Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
              Sep. 18, 2024

              Schmidt Farm by Forestville

              A very peaceful camping experience

              If you're looking for a simpler camping experience focused on getting away from everything and solitude, then this is the place for you.   You can tell that the hosts have put a ton of work and love into their property and I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know them.   The campsites are large and kept up and I picked campsite two so that I could hear the creek behind me and I enjoyed hearing it the whole time I was there plus the Forestville State Park was just across the creek.   The peace and quiet allowed me to have one of the best nights of sleep while camping that I've had, I didn't hear a person or a vehicle the whole night and the crickets, frogs, and occasional hooting owl just added to the nighttime experience.

            • Karen S.
              Camper-submitted photo from Schmidt Farm by Forestville
              Sep. 17, 2024

              Schmidt Farm by Forestville

              A quiet, back to nature experience under dark skies.

              This location offers the opportunity to explore both private trails and less traveled areas of Forestville State Park. Secluded campsites so you are not camping side by side with others. Site locations offer ample space for multiple tents. The native wildflowers are a special treat.

            • Chloe T.
              Camper-submitted photo from White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park
              Sep. 16, 2024

              White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

              Beautiful and Quiet

              We stayed in White Fox Site 97 from September 13-15. No one was nearby until late in the evening on the 14th, so it felt very private and quiet. Although I know that is because the people in the campground were quiet... thank you! Tons of trails; paved, gravel, or grass; you can explore the entire park. We had a bit of rain and then it got hot again so it was super muggy. Of course that is the weather, not the park. The ranger was friendly and helpful. Great worry free trip, just like camping should be!

            • RThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve
              Sep. 16, 2024

              Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve

              Great place!

              Standard site without electric was only $10.00 a night which includes a nearby water spigot to fill your tank with. Put toilets and showers available. The friendly hosts made a point to come by to chat. Two fawns were born there, under one of the picnic tables and they were around all weekend. I’ll be back !

            • RThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve
              Sep. 14, 2024

              Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve

              Great site to camp - non electric sites are $10.00 -“and electric are $18.00

              Nice place to spend the weekend or a week! Came in late and a resident helped me find a great spot. When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground.

            • JThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Clear Lake State Park Campground
              Aug. 15, 2024

              Clear Lake State Park Campground

              Nice but crowded campground

              Nice campground with grassy pull thru sites. But very close together. If full, you would have no privacy. Fortunately, it was 1/4 full, so no problem. Bathrooms clean, nice warm showers! Nice beach, lots to do. Would be a fun place if you don’t mind camping next to neighbors!

            • James P.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park
              Aug. 13, 2024

              White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

              Wooded hideaway

              Roomy gravel sites. A mix of electric and non-electric sites. Commercial fire rings. Electrical needs refreshing. We had an issue with the 30A breaker not resetting on site 46E; eventually relocated to 47E. Park employee Noah was very accommodating and pleasant to deal with. He came out to the site to discuss options with us and eventually made some site reservation changes to resolve the situation. Close to town, nice historic district.

            • Nate H.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Oakwoods Trails Campground
              Aug. 12, 2024

              Oakwoods Trails Campground

              Really Great Campground

              The owners Jan and Brian are super nice. The campground is a ways from their home and quite secluded and quiet. There weren’t any kids when we were there though, I imagine they could change the quiet aspect. The bathrooms and showers are very nice as are the sites. Well worth the $25 we paid!

            • J
              Camper-submitted photo from Oakwoods Trails Campground
              Jul. 29, 2024

              Oakwoods Trails Campground

              Late weekend excellence

              Arrived Sunday evening and found the campsite mostly empty, (season pass members had campers here but there was only one other active camper). Staff was very friendly and helpful. TOILETS FLUSH! Showers clean, basketball court, horseshoes, and volleyball all provided. Could see the sites being kind of close and it being a little pricey but more than worth it in my mind. Site 6&7 were perfect for hammocks

            • T
              Camper-submitted photo from Riverside Co Park
              Jul. 22, 2024

              Riverside Co Park

              Great little city/county park!

              Beautiful large sites along the river so you can fish as well as has a pond that you can swim in with three beach entry areas. Large bath house with restrooms and showers and a little free library inside. Very long parking pads- big rig friendly and very roomy sites. Nice walking trails on the east and south side of the park. Very creative natural play park for children to play on. Full hook up sites with a very reasonable nightly rate. It appeared that some of the campsites were seasonal but couldn’t confirm that.

            • RThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Myre State Park Campgrounds
              Jul. 18, 2024

              Myre State Park Campgrounds

              We loved it

              We were here mid week and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Beautiful old growth forest with lots of shade. For July the bugs weren’t bad. After traveling across South Dakota and dealing with 100 plus temperatures with no shade this was a welcome change. The rangers and hosts were welcoming and helpful. The bathrooms and showers are ultra modern and clean. We are planing on stopping back here on our way home.

            • Niki S.
              Camper-submitted photo from R Campground, Inc
              Jul. 15, 2024

              R Campground, Inc

              Very clean, friendly owners, great co-campers

              Randy was amazing and very attentive to my questions. Check in was super easy and the directions for check in were clearly spelled out. Everything was mapped out and the website was easy to use as well. The pond itself was pretty to look at and made for great photos, however it was loaded with geese which made it not user friendly. I would recommend this campground, and I will definitely go back to camp again!

            • Heather S.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Hidden Bluffs Resort
              Jun. 24, 2024

              Hidden Bluffs Resort

              Babbling Brook and Hosts Activities!

              This campground became our favorite site in quite a while! Minimal bugs, very nice staff, beautiful sites with lots of nature! Dog friendly. Playground, mini golf, and pool all complimentary! 2 trails and babbling brooke were peaceful. They had kid and adult activities scheduled for Friday and Saturday which was a cool surprise when we checked in!

            • Emelia O.
              Camper-submitted photo from White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park
              Jun. 15, 2024

              White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

              Early Spring Camping

              We visited in early April so the sites were quite exposed, I can imagine they would be more private in the summer. Water and showers were not open yet as it was too cold but the vault toilets were well maintained.

            • CThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Myre State Park Campgrounds
              Jun. 2, 2024

              Myre State Park Campgrounds

              Nice Campground

              Ok cell coverage for Verizon, no issues web surfing. Site 7E was larger with a good size and distance from others. Not the fault of the campground, bugs were in full force. Tons of tree coverage and very humid making it a great place for the little buggers. Would probably visit October/November when cold gets rid of them and the tree coverage. Hard to see the amazing views in the summer. Again, no fault of campground, just a consideration. Also, no real potty spots for pups. Either weeds/woods or muddy spots attempting to be grass/weeds. Best was around the showers/restrooms. Those were by far the shining gem of this campground. Fantastic bathing facilities. We’re self contained, so didn’t need it but my spouse did go use the restroom there instead of waiting. We peeked in the showers and they were really nice looking.

            • c
              Camper-submitted photo from Camp At The Woods
              May. 3, 2024

              Camp At The Woods

              Open year round

              Very accommodating super nice people helped us back in and set up in middle of winter after dark after we had drove 2 days from the east coast. Our spot was on an incline but the water worked when temp was below freezing the camp was nice with new park for kids new basketball court new pavilion wish we could have been there in the summertime I’m sure the pool is nice when uncovered. I saw laundry and bathrooms by the river.

            • c
              Camper-submitted photo from Twins Campground
              May. 3, 2024

              Twins Campground

              Serene

              Serenity, nature at its best, birdsong all day long wildlife at every turn our campsite was level the owners and manager were great hosts. We stayed several weeks the price was very reasonable, honey wagon service was included ; riding/ hiking trails from campsite.

            • Greg K.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Twins Campground
              Apr. 13, 2024

              Twins Campground

              Twins campground- cresco,Iowa.

              Very friendly and helpful owner. He even drove to town so we could follow him in. Has playground community area fire pit and a structure built to cover picnic tables. atv trails. Turkey river right there was 20 feet from my site. Porta potty and shower water is hot. 30/50 amp power with water on each site. Water fill station and dump station. Garbage .

            • SThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area
              Mar. 30, 2024

              Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area

              Good spot, but not exactly private

              It's a nice spot off of the main road. It's pretty quiet, but there aren't many spots to camp. When you come in on the dirt road, it hooks to the right, and you'll come upon a dirt cul-de-sac. On the right, you'll see a grassy area set into the woods where you could camp. Other than that, your parking in the perimeter. There's enough room that virtually any size camper could navigate into this spot, but if there are other people, that will really complicate your life.

              There is a boat launch and paths down each side of the launch you could fish. On the way in, you'll see a deck to the left, providing a scenic overlook. There's also a spot there you could potentially park, but you'll be very exposed if there is any foot traffic.

            • EThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Myre State Park Campgrounds
              Dec. 6, 2023

              Myre State Park Campgrounds

              Great Campground, Even in 20° Weather

              We arrived after dark last night so we weren't able to see the gorgeous view until the sun rose! Luckily we woke up early and went for a walk right as the sun was coming up. It was quite cold, a little over 20°, but that meant the lake was frozen solid so we got to walk around on it! Tons of fun. Unfortunately the bathhouse, water spigots, and dump station were closed. That is not a super big deal since we have a camper. And it was publicized on their website about the dump stations being closed. The sites were spacious, the one we were in was non electric and a back-in site. But for $24 a night it was pretty nice! Especially would be worth it if more of the amenities had been open, but with how cold it is, it's very understandable that they would have them closed. There was still an outhouse with a vault toilet that was open. Unsure if there is a working sink because we did not use it. We had to call to make a same day reservation which was a tad bit annoying but the man on the phone was very helpful and nice so not bad at all.

            • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Crystal Springs RV Resort
              Sep. 21, 2023

              Crystal Springs RV Resort

              Nice Campground

              As 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.

            • AThe Dyrt PRO User
              Camper-submitted photo from Cedar Bend Park
              Sep. 7, 2023

              Cedar Bend Park

              Peaceful place

              It was so clean and peaceful. Not overly crowded. The camp host was so friendly and helpful.

            • v
              Camper-submitted photo from Cedar View Park
              Sep. 3, 2023

              Cedar View Park

              Wonderful Find!

              Great find! We thought we would be dry camping because it was Labor Day weekend. We found this Park on the app and thought we would check it out. It’s first come first serve. I really never thought there would be any hookups because of what I had read, but they had electric and water! We found a spot right on the Lake! Very busy but wonderful view, location and was only $20.00!



            Frequently Asked Questions

            • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Osage, IA?

              According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Osage, IA is Shellrock River Co Preserve with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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

              TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Osage, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.