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Best Campgrounds near Pella, IA

363 Reviews

Several campgrounds surround Pella, Iowa, a town with strong Dutch heritage that's famous for its tulip festivals. Walnut Woods State Park Campground has good facilities with clean bathrooms and drinking water available for campers. Howell Station sits right on Lake Red Rock, giving campers water views and easy access for swimming or boating. Wallashuck campground isn't far from Pella and has plenty of room between sites. Most camping areas around Pella have trees for shade and enough distance between sites for privacy, which helps during hot Iowa summers. The camping is best in spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable. You should book ahead during busy times since these spots fill up quickly. Most sites come with picnic tables and fire rings, and you can find hiking trails close to many of the campgrounds. While you won't find full hookups at all sites, the quiet natural settings make up for it. You can camp during winter, but be ready for cold weather and check which campgrounds stay open. The Pella area works well for both quick weekend trips and longer camping vacations.

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Best Camping Sites Near Pella, Iowa (105)

    1. Whitebreast Campground

    8 Reviews
    Lake Red Rock, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    "Our site had a great view of the lake, as well.   The campgrounds are a drive away from the beach and most boat ramps. "

    "Can walk down to the dock. We love to camp there every Fourth of July. It is a great place for all ages to enjoy."

    2. Howell Station

    6 Reviews
    Pella, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $22 - $24 / night

    "Paved trail nice for biking and walking. Fishing nearby and the Dutch themed town of Pella is a short drive and a must see. Bathrooms and showers were nice, clean."

    "We will be staying here every year, this is the best site we've stayed at in central Iowa. Great fishing, bike trail right next to the campsite. Great views too. Dam is right there and you can fish."

    3. Wallashuck

    5 Reviews
    Pella, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $20 - $24 / night

    "Wallashuck in Pella, iowa is one of my favorite places to camp. It’s mostly quiet and peaceful. Plus town is close and has plenty to entertain or fill up supplies"

    "Good place close to Pella and Knoxville. Some sites on Red Rock. Little pricey for not having full hookups. Overall good place."

    4. Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake

    4 Reviews
    Lake Red Rock, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 309-9885

    $25 - $120 / night

    "The perfect drive up private campsite you will find in Iowa. Very quiet with a beautiful view of three ponds and a sunset you will not want to miss."

    "Plus just 6 miles from our fav brewery in Iowa."

    5. Roberts Creek West Campground

    4 Reviews
    Otley, IA
    7 miles
    Website

    "Caveat: you cannot see the lake from the camping spots

    Camped site 26

    Wooded county campground. Many of the spots at the West campground are paved. They all have electric."

    "Easy in and around campground. A lot of space between sites. Sites are fairly level with hard pack gravel."

    6. Whitebreast Camp

    3 Reviews
    Knoxville, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $20 - $288 / night

    "Sits on the bank of Red Rock Lake which has great fishing."

    "it has shaded camping areas, nice bathrooms, hiking trails, fishing, and a nice beach. I camp here every year!"

    7. North Overlook Camp

    3 Reviews
    Pella, IA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 828-7522

    $14 - $24 / night

    "Camping doesn't get much better than this in Iowa. The North Overlook site is part of a much larger group of COE campgrounds on Lake Red Rock."

    8. Equestrian Campground — Elk Rock State Park

    4 Reviews
    Lake Red Rock, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 842-6008

    $16 - $72 / night

    "There are lots of trails around the area.

    It’s also a great place if you like to go horse back riding with lots of trails that go near the water.

    There are camp hosts to help answer questions."

    "We really wnjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses."

    9. Ivan's Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Pella, IA
    4 miles
    Website

    "This is a beautiful COE park along the overflow of the lake. Cell service was terrible, but we loved the park. People were friendly and super helpful!"

    10. Elk Rock Campground And Boat Ramp — Lake Red Rock

    3 Reviews
    Otley, IA
    9 miles

    "We camped out at site 82 which is a non-electric site and close to a Red Rock Lake shoreline. Spots are pretty close but they perfectly have grass tall enough to give you some privacy between spots."

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Recent Camping Photos near Pella, IA

83 Photos of 105 Pella Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Pella, IA

363 Reviews of 105 Pella Campgrounds

  • Allen B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Diamond lake

    Clean showers & flush toilet’s. No hand towels. Sites are close together. Some road noise. But overall a nice campground for one night.

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Nice campground. Clean. Well kept.

    We stayed here to go to the Iowa State Fair. It was easy to park here and catch a shuttle to the fair.

  • Clifton B.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Lake Iowa County Park

    Very nice campground off the beaten path

    Wife and I met friends here in August 2025.  This was the middle between us & them as we live in CO and they live in NY.  The campground was very well maintained.  Shower rooms & restrooms were very clean and all were functional.  We really enjoyed the long weekend here.  Be advised tho, we were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August.  Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did.  Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees.  Wife and I will likely return and see more of the Amana communities in the fall.

  • Erik W.
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Adventureland Campground

    Great campground and amazing amusement park

    July, 2017

    Great place but not quiet at all.  Short walk to the amusement park.  We were there for most of the early summer so we got a season pass to the park which included the water park.  They also have workcamper programs.

    We especially loved the fireworks display on the 4th.

  • Jerry V.
    Jul. 17, 2025

    Colfax Quarry Springs Park

    Well Maintaned & Good Fishing

    I stayed at site #13 with my two boys.  We had a blast.  I would highly recommend site #13.  It had plenty of space for a large tent and canopy.  It had a nice access spot for fishing.  The new restroom/shower facility was very nice and clean.  Most sites are pretty sandy as this was an old quarry so be prepared for that.  There was also company on-site that rents Kayaks.  The campground manager was extremely helpful.  He had firewood already staged for $7 and even came back on day two with more firewood for the same fee.

  • J
    Jul. 8, 2025

    River Oaks RV Park

    Clean & quiet

    Made a quick trip here to de how the new puppy likes camping. Nice size campground, sites have good spacing and full hookups that were installed with some thought. Only used one stinky slinky, could have hooked up water with a 6’ hose, and the electrical was near the back of the site. Sites are gravel and it looked like most campers had to use blocks.

    Free WiFi was good; we streamed tv. It did freeze a few times but hard to tell if it was the WiFi or the provider.

    A new bath house, community room, and “shop” is being built. Bath house & laundry are complete. Very nice and spotless.

    The camp is quiet and well maintained.

  • Tiffany K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Howell Station

    Laid-back Campground

    This campground has great facilities with spacious sites. We have plenty of space for our dogs on two stakes. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There are large trees that provide a lot of shade for the campground. There are play grounds for the kids. It is along a river for fishing and bird watching.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2025

    Mine Pond Campground — Stephens State Forest

    Way too many insects, and $10 a night. No amenities.

    This place charges 10 bucks a night. You don't get a water station. You don't get a gray water dump. You do get trash cans on site. The sheer volume of insects makes it impossible to walk anywhere. Unfortunately, I have a dog and I have to go walk three times a fucking day. And this is the closest place to where my folks and I agreed to meet in about a week.

    At $10 a night, you'd think they'd at least have water, a gray dump, and some kind of insect control. But no, they don't. They do have maintenance coming around regularly, but nothing seems to get rid of the insects. It used to be $6 a night at one point. So I guess it went up. I don't see why. It's just like any other insect infested place to park.

    If it wasn't for the cost, I guess I'd give it three stars, but that'd be generous. I didn't give it one star because I can at least drive around on it with my bus.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 24, 2025

    Rock Creek State Park Campground

    Sites close together

    RV sites are close and busy. Grass and shade. Tenting area had a much quieter vibe. Lots of dogs. Ranger was helpful. It was a Sunday.

Guide to Pella

Camping near Pella, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Hiking and Nature Trails: Explore the scenic trails at Jester County Park. One camper mentioned, "The campgrounds have amazing views and plenty of hiking trails."
  • Water Activities: Enjoy boating and fishing at Rock Creek State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "The lake is pretty, and boat rentals seemed reasonable."
  • Playgrounds and Family Fun: Check out the playgrounds at Des Moines West KOA Holiday. One reviewer said, "The kids loved the playground, and the staff was super friendly."

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. A review for Prairie Flower Recreation Area stated, "Clean shower house and restrooms. Would we go back? That's a definitely yes."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites. A visitor at Cherry Glen Campground mentioned, "This campground is big and clean. It’s pretty peaceful & quiet."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often highlight the helpfulness of the staff. One camper at Des Moines West KOA Holiday said, "Staff is one of the nicest and most helpful we've ever encountered."

What you should know

  • Reservations Recommended: Many campgrounds, like Bob Shelter Recreation Area, require reservations, especially during peak seasons. A camper noted, "You must reserve these sites in advance."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, such as Walnut Woods State Park Campground, have limited amenities like no showers. A visitor mentioned, "The bathrooms were modern and clean, but there are no showers."
  • Wildlife Caution: Campers should be aware of wildlife. One camper at Yellow Banks County Park warned, "Other campers warned us not to leave anything out at night because teenagers come through sometimes looking for stuff to steal."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose Campgrounds with Play Areas: Look for campgrounds like Des Moines West KOA Holiday that have playgrounds. A reviewer said, "The kids loved the playground, and the staff was super friendly."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to plan activities like hiking or fishing. One camper at Rock Creek State Park Campground said, "The campground area is clean, and the RV section was nearly full but the tent section had lots of space."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Bring along snacks and drinks for the kids. A visitor at Jester County Park mentioned, "Showers are hot every time; it’s a wonderful place to be."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure to check the size of the sites before booking. A camper at Walnut Woods State Park Campground noted, "The pad was a little small but fit our camper fine."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A visitor at Des Moines West KOA Holiday said, "Large modern KOA with sites to accommodate all sizes of rigs."
  • Be Prepared for Narrow Roads: Some campgrounds have narrow roads. A reviewer at Winterset City Park mentioned, "The road around the campground is paved, but very narrow."

Camping near Pella, Iowa, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With clean facilities, friendly staff, and plenty of activities, it’s a great spot for your next outdoor adventure!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there year-round camping options in Pella, Iowa?

Yes, there are year-round camping options near Pella. Elk Rock Campground and Boat Ramp offers year-round access and is conveniently located close to both Pella and Knoxville. While many Iowa campgrounds typically close during winter months due to freezing temperatures and reduced maintenance, some Lake Red Rock campgrounds remain accessible throughout the year with limited amenities. Whitebreast Campground is another option that may provide off-season camping opportunities. For winter camping, always check current conditions and available facilities, as water systems are often winterized.

What camping amenities are available at Pella, Iowa campgrounds?

Pella area campgrounds offer a range of amenities to enhance your camping experience. North Overlook Camp provides heavily shaded sites with direct access to a large beach on Lake Red Rock, complete with shower houses and concessions. Howell Station features well-maintained grounds with mature shade trees, gravel sites, and paved trails for biking and walking. Most Lake Red Rock campgrounds offer electric hookups, water access, and basic toilet facilities. Some campgrounds like Wallashuck have hookups but not full services. The area campgrounds provide good access to fishing, boating, hiking trails, and are conveniently located near Pella for supplies and entertainment.

Where are the campgrounds near Pella, Iowa?

Several campgrounds are located near Pella, Iowa, primarily clustered around Lake Red Rock. Wallashuck is directly in Pella and offers peaceful sites with convenient access to town. Just a short drive away, you'll find Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake, located between Pella and Knoxville with beautiful pond views and private campsites. Other nearby options include North Overlook Camp, Howell Station, and Elk Rock Campground, all part of the Lake Red Rock recreation area within 15-20 minutes of Pella. These campgrounds provide various experiences from lakeside camping to wooded retreats.

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