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Dog-Friendly Camping near Peosta, IA

91 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

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    Swiss Valley County Park accommodates pets throughout its meticulously maintained camping areas. Electric hookups, water access, and fire rings are available at most sites. Campers report the park has decent size, level sites with good electricity supply and reasonably priced firewood. The campground sits in a quiet valley with excellent walking trails alongside Catfish Creek, which offers fishing opportunities. Bathroom facilities include showers, though some visitors note the shower areas can have a sulfur smell from the water. The park maintains a dog-friendly policy while keeping sites clean and organized.

    Creek Valley Campground provides 80 pet-friendly sites with full hookups including water, electric, and sewer connections. The campground features a swimming pool that allows adult-only swimming after dark, playground areas, and sites backing up to forested areas with short trails. Most sites have full hookup capabilities with a mix of pull-through and back-in options. The grounds are peaceful and quiet according to multiple campers, with helpful staff and reasonable firewood prices available on the honor system. Sites backing up to the forest offer additional privacy, while a small creek runs around much of the property's perimeter, providing pleasant scenery for dog walks.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Peosta (91)

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      1. Swiss Valley County Park

      4.2(9)6mi from PeostaRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails."

      "Fishing seemed popular in catfish creek about 50 feet away from our sight. There is a sign that states firewood is for sale at 6pm but the ranger was about 45 min late bc he tends to two other parks."

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      2. Rustic Barn Campground RV Park

      4.4(15)15mi from PeostaRVs, Tents

      "Activities/Amenities: There are many activities offered, including a dog park, basketball, horseshoes, games (cornhole, large checkerboard, and others), a barn with a television, a book library, puzzles"

      "There’s a cute store and a cute little area with outside games like corn hole and yard checkers. There’s a huge grassy area for walking the dog and several stations set up with poop bags/garbage."

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      3. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground

      4.5(35)23mi from Peosta32 sitesRVs, Tents

      "You really can't go wrong with any trail or cave. The kids enjoyed hiking between Lower- and Upper-Dancehall Caves. The trail goes underground and through some water. Window Cave was also a hit."

      "Caves were closed but we had a great time hiking the trails. Very clean campground. Plenty of wood for campfires, just had a donation box. Electric campsites have plenty of shade."

      from $20 - $28 / night

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      4. Creek Valley Campground

      4.5(4)5mi from PeostaRVs, Tents

      "Our site backed up to the forest, there's a short trail thru the trees. Most sites have FHU, most are back-in. We had one of the sites with only water and electric."

      from $45 - $65 / night

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      5. Miller Riverview City Park

      3.7(7)12mi from PeostaRVs, Tents

      "All the sites had fire pits but one site, either 51 or 52 had that pit too close to the bushes so it wasn't really useable. We were right on the river bank with a good view of the bridge."

      "But it was very quiet and our spot (55) was right on the river and a bit tucked in the woods which was great and had an amazing view of the bridge."

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      6. Grant River Recreation Area

      4.0(12)16mi from Peosta73 sitesRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "The tent site that we were at was very specious for my dog to run freely with his long leash. A lot of shade and space for everyone. We stayed right by the bathrooms."

      "Train tracks border the campground and train horns are loud. Has sites with views of the Mississippi."

      from $14 - $26 / night

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      7. Nelson Dewey State Park Campground

      4.3(20)21mi from PeostaRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "The site itself was sloped away from the road making it feel tucked into the trees. The downside was that the only flat space for the tent was very close to the fire pit."

      "Friendly Crowds and secluded spot despite us staying next to the main road for the camping area. Sunsets were beautiful looking west over the Mississippi River."

      from $33 / night

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      8. New Wine Park Dubuque County Park

      4.5(6)15mi from PeostaRVs, Tents

      "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."

      "Great campground near Dyersville, IA (home to The Field Of Dreams site). The campground is a lollipop loop with sites on one side along the creek and on the other along woods."

      9. Mud Lake County Park

      3.0(5)14mi from PeostaRVs, Tents

      "A little off the beaten path, but a nice place. Pulled in after a fiasco at another campground, was able to get 2 sites over the Fourth of July weekend. Very kid friendly."

      "Mud Lake is a wonderful county park near Dubuque. Beautiful views of the Mississippi River. We stayed one night on our way to Minnesota. The sites are mostly sunny."

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      10. Riverview Ridge

      4.7(3)13mi from PeostaRVs, Tents

      "Apparently there are also good trails, as many of the campers have ATV’s parked at their sites. The shower house, under the office, was spacious and clean."

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    Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Peosta, IA

    72 Photos of 91 Peosta Campgrounds

    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Peosta, IA

    511 Reviews of 91 Peosta Campgrounds

    • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 9, 2024

      Horseshoe Pond

      Nice smaller CG in City of Maquoketa, Iowa

      CG offers gravel pads, tables, fire rings, electric, sump station, water, small pond with fishing, paddling, dog park. Close to stores for supplies, dining, fuel.

    • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
      Nov. 24, 2021

      Horseshoe Pond

      Small City CG in Maquoketa Iowa

      CG lies within Maquoketa and is seasonal. Has pond for fishing, shelter, dog park, playset, disc golf course. Sites are pulling, have electric and fire pits. Camp supplies including wood in nearby stores. Prairie Creek runs along south of CG.

    • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
      Feb. 16, 2023

      Rustic Barn Campground RV Park

      Very clean and well-maintained

      General: 58 sites with various amenities. Some are long pull-throughs, some are back-in, some have 30 amp with or without a patio, and some have 50-amp electric with or without a patio. Tents are NOT allowed. We were greeted immediately upon arrival and asked to sign a waiver and given a welcome packet. The rules are extensive, but most are common sense/courtesy and not at all unreasonable. 

      Site Quality: All had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites although they are close together, as would be expected in an RV park. Our site had a patio and decent-sized picnic table but it was chilly when we were there so we ate inside. 

      Bathhouse: Very clean as were the showers. 

      Activities/Amenities: There are many activities offered, including a dog park, basketball, horseshoes, games (cornhole, large checkerboard, and others), a barn with a television, a book library, puzzles, and a pool table. Coffee is available after 9 am. There is also a small chapel available 24/7 and a laundry room. WiFi is also available. There is a camp store with ice, ice cream, some camping supplies, clothing, crafts, and more. We were told several restaurants will deliver to the campground. 

      We don’t typically prefer to stay in RV-style campgrounds, but it was conveniently located with easy access off Route 151 just over the Wisconsin border from Iowa, we were warmly welcomed, and enjoyed our short stay passing through. Pride of ownership was evident throughout.

    • Agapes D.
      Jun. 12, 2018

      Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      Wonderful hiking!-May 2018

      This is a popular place in the area, the human beaches are full and the small pet beach area was well used by my husband, myself and our two dogs; Odinn & Frigga over Memorial Day. The hiking is amazing , particularly the Oakgrove trail, plenty to see with beautiful views. There is boating, canoeing, etc. Bring the strongest mosquito repellent you can get, Wisconsin in summer can be rough. We tried our Black Diamond poles and Thule day bags and we got to try cooling vests for the dogs from Ruffwear. It was so much fun. Note that there are sites to camp, cabins nearby and plenty of Hipcamp sites near. Strongly recommend Riverview Bottoms, which sits in a 500 acre property and is 10 min away.

    • Jamie M.
      Jul. 7, 2018

      Canyon Ridge Campground — Apple River Canyon State Park

      Big, clean sites, nice trails, water access

      There aren't signs within the park directing you to the campsite. I found it eventually but I'm glad I wasn't towing a camper because there was a lot of turning around. Some of the sites are able to be reserved. We went Memorial Day weekend so there were quite a few people but it wasn't full so even without a reservation you'd likely find a space. The sites a nice and big. We chose 2 sites that were connected and even then they were a good distance from one another. The sites were also removed from the road so when people walk or drive by it doesnt feel like they're walking through your campsite. There is some nice water access to wade with shallows so kids or pets can play. Nice trails.

    • Brett F.
      Aug. 5, 2021

      Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground

      Camping & Caves

      This is one of our favorite parks in the Midwest. We usually make a day trip from Chicagoland, but this time we camped at the park. We are glad we did!

      You really can't go wrong with any trail or cave. The kids enjoyed hiking between Lower- and Upper-Dancehall Caves. The trail goes underground and through some water. Window Cave was also a hit. You can climb up about 5-7 feet and out the "window". The kids felt like real spelunkers!

      While the park is usually crowded during the day, we find it nearly empty beginning in the late afternoons on the weekdays we visited. It felt like we had the place to ourselves.

      The campground is about a five minute walk to the park's main entrances. The campground was very quiet... just the way we like it. There is a family of cats that hang around: they visit from a nearby dairy farm. The kids loved this added attraction. The dog did not.

      The bathroom and shower house is clean. There is only one. So it gets pretty busy during "flush hour". Our campsite was right next to the bathroom/ shower and dumpster. We noticed flies and the occasional whiff of trash.

      We'll continue visiting this park. And we look forward to camping on site.

    • Ted W.
      Aug. 21, 2019

      Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      One of our favorites

      We spend quite a bit of time here. We hunt here and camp here year round. Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range. Hunt anything from pheasent to deer. There is also a nice bar and grill just down the street. Along with dairy bar as part of the park. Showers and bathrooms are always clean.

    • Sarah B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 19, 2024

      Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      Def do not recommend for summer 2024!

      I wanted so badly to love this campground experience, but just didn't. Site 19 was an easy walk-in that theoretically had nearby vault toilets, parking, and water.

      Each site only had space for one car to park before walking in. Not a huge deal, but annoying as there were 2 of us who drove separate and we had to problem solve. When we got to the site I was shocked to see that what was labeled as a tent site had literally NO flat space to actually set up a tent. Spacious site, but fully sloped.

      Also, what I would have loved to know, is that the vault toilets are closed because they are doing construction to build something new in that space. Construction that starts loudly each day at 7am. Honestly every site from about #35 down was affected by the noise because the construction is happening in the middle of the loop (and actually blocking some of the one-way road as well).

      The park in general was okay. Per the usual, the pet areas were lacking. No beach at all, just grass covered in goose poop and one cut out on the raised shore between tall grasses and foliage where a dog could potentially jump in. Certainly nowhere for a human to enjoy the water with their pups unfortunately.

    • Alex H.
      Sep. 26, 2022

      Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground

      No Flat Spots

      Very nice park. Well marked and maintained trails. A large lake with boat launch and beach area. Separate pet area.

      We spent the weekend at site 101, which is a tent site. I wouldn't recommend this site. based on a quick walkaround, it seemed a bit smaller than other sites. That's not really a deal-breaker, but it didn't really have any flat spots to pitch the tent. We ended up pitching it up on the parking area, but it was still a bit slanted and we could feel the tire divot a little through the air mattresses. Aside from that, it was great. The site had a picnic table and fire ring that we used a lot. It was secluded from the surrounding sites.

      We hiked the Windy Ridge trail and the Prairie Loop trail. both were well maintained and enjoyable trails. We also spent some time on the beach.

    Guide to Peosta

    Camping near Peosta, Iowa offers visitors access to both Mississippi River views and the rolling terrain of the Driftless Area. The region experiences four distinct seasons with winter lows averaging 10°F and summer highs reaching mid-80s. Most campgrounds open April through October with limited winter accessibility at county parks.

    What to do

    Trail hiking near caves: Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground features 6 miles of hiking trails with 13 distinct bat caves. "This Iowa SP campground is simply AMAZING and if you are a bat cave spelunker, you are going to be absolutely excited by this place," shares Stuart K., who recommends bringing "headlamp, good sturdy hiking boots, pants to keep the bugs, spiders and ticks away as well as plenty of water to stay hydrated."

    River fishing access: At Mud Lake County Park, campers can fish directly on the Mississippi River. "Walking distance to fishing and a boat launch, great views and a friendly bunch of people," notes Jennifer D., who found the park unexpectedly during a holiday weekend.

    Tubing adventures: Riverview Ridge offers "two hour float trips on the North Fork Maquoketa River available directly from the campground," according to Wayne K. The campground provides tubing pickup service, making river activities convenient for visitors.

    What campers like

    Quiet rural settings: New Wine Park receives consistent praise for its peaceful environment. "So peaceful and relaxing! Bathrooms were clean, campground was clean! It was great," writes Lindsey M. Another camper, Douglas B., adds it's a "fun place to be in a thunder storm!"

    Mississippi River views: Campers at Grant River Recreation Area appreciate the river scenery. "Nice campground. Cement pads and blacktop roads. Clean shower houses... Has sites with views of the Mississippi," notes Dave M. The campground offers "a nice view at the Mississippi River $20 per night with electrical hook up," according to Ron G.

    Natural features: The elevated terrain at Nelson Dewey State Park Campground provides unique perspectives. "The walk-in, non electric campsites are gorgeous!! Campsite C and D are my favorite. Putting the view of the Mississippi River in rare form," explains Jaspmine B., who recommends booking well in advance for these premium sites.

    What you should know

    Train noise considerations: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Peosta sit near active rail lines. At Nelson Dewey State Park Campground, campers should "bring ear plugs, trains rolled through until just after midnight and started up around 5am," advises Steph P., who otherwise loved the campground's "stunning" views.

    Seasonal closures: Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground "is closed between December 1 thru February 28 each year." Additionally, Stuart K. warns visitors to "mind your dates taking note of when bat hibernation ends and begins" as cave access is restricted during hibernation periods.

    Water quality variations: At Swiss Valley County Park, some campers note water quality issues. Michael S. reports "the shower facilities weren't bad but they have sulfites in the water so it stinks a little."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground-adjacent sites: At Swiss Valley County Park, sites 26-28 position families nearest to the children's playground. Miller Riverview City Park also features a playground at one end of the campground, though Khenia F. notes "very little to no shade for the tents in front of the river."

    Cave exploration preparation: When visiting Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground with children, Amanda F. advises preparation for various comfort levels: "There are caves for everyone, whether you're claustrophobic and don't want to be in tight spaces or you're willing you army crawl for 1/4 mile."

    Summer entertainment: Creek Valley Campground offers structured activities for children. "The kids loved the Friday night movie," shares CJ, who appreciated the swimming pool amenity. During busy holiday periods at Mud Lake County Park, Jennifer D. found it "very kid friendly" with the camp host helping families find suitable spots.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection for privacy: For RVers seeking more secluded options at Creek Valley Campground, sites backing up to forested areas provide additional privacy and access to short trails. Kimber M. found it to be a "very nice, very clean" campground with a swimming pool during a long-distance trip from Tennessee to Idaho.

    Leveling considerations: At Rustic Barn Campground RV Park, Stephanie S. notes: "The sites are all clean and most all are level. Unfortunately our site 26 seemed to be the most in level, which was our only negative. We had to use all our blocks to get us as level as possible."

    Weather planning: New Wine Park campers recommend monitoring forecasts as Douglas B. found it a "perfect place to stay" even during storms due to abundant shade trees. Russell B. notes the reasonable rates: "Water/Elec was $18 dollars night," making this dog friendly campground near Peosta a good value option for RVers.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Peosta, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Peosta, IA is Swiss Valley County Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Peosta, IA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 91 dog-friendly camping locations near Peosta, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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