Keith P.
Scout
ScoutMississippi Palisades State Park Campground
Great find!
We really enjoy this park. It’s almost empty during the week days. We stay Monday through Thursday and always find a spot. Quiet and peaceful.
Camping near Delmar, IA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Eastern Iowa's landscape around Delmar features a mix of established campgrounds and riverside camping options within a 30-mile radius. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, located about 15 miles northeast of Delmar, offers well-spaced electric sites with both drive-in and walk-in access for tents and RVs. The park is known for its unique cave system and hiking trails through wooded terrain. Eden Valley Refuge in Baldwin provides year-round camping with full hookups and cabin options, while county parks like Sherman Park in Calamus and Walnut Grove Park near Wheatland offer more rustic experiences along the Wapsipinicon River. Several campgrounds in the area support both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of amenities from primitive sites to full-service facilities.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the region, with most state parks operating from April through December. Maquoketa Caves State Park's season runs April 1 to December 31, matching Bellevue State Park's operational calendar. Weather patterns typically bring warm summers with temperatures in the 80s during day and 60s overnight, as noted by campers visiting in August. Spring flooding can impact riverside campgrounds, particularly those along the Cedar and Wapsipinicon Rivers. "A call ahead to the conservation office to check on closures is a good idea," advises one camper who found water covering access roads to primitive sites. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near towns and more limited connectivity in rural locations.
Campers consistently highlight the natural features that distinguish this region from typical Midwestern landscapes. "The park was incredibly beautiful for the middle of nowhere in Iowa," notes one visitor to Maquoketa Caves, describing the contrast between the park's wooded ravines and the surrounding cornfields. The caves and rock formations receive particular attention in reviews, with visitors recommending headlamps and waterproof footwear for cave exploration. River access points for fishing and boating are common amenities at county parks, while train noise affects some riverside locations. Wildlife viewing opportunities include bald eagles along the Mississippi River during colder months, and various bird species throughout the warmer seasons. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water.
Best Campgrounds near Delmar (130)
1. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
"cave system of Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa."
"This is a great weekend stay, with short trails that show some beautiful and unusual scenery for central Iowa. The natural bridge is incredible, and the sites are well spaced out."
from $20 - $28 / night
Check Availability2. Eden Valley Refuge
"Near Lost Nation, Oxford Junction, and Wyoming, IA this park is an unexpected find in rural, eastern Iowa. The camping areas have expanded."
"Well we found a pretty good one that is relatively close to our home and is rarely reserved. Its only 1 hour North of the Quad Cities where I live & open year round!"
3. Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins
"Enjoyed almost 2 weeks at West Lake Park, part of the Scott County, IA park system. Helpful staff, park rangers make daily patrols, nice spots, many with shade trees & decent room."
"Although theres a small "lake" here, Ive never had great luck catching much. Pool is nice and updated. Park rangers are always frequently present and patrolling."
from $17 - $36 / night
Check Availability4. Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
"Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."
"It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."
5. Horseshoe Pond
from $21 / night
Check Availability6. 6B's Campground
"Massive bonus points for the location of this campground, which apart from rural country farmers and bat cave tourist passerby traffic, there was virtually no noise pollution to battle with."
"platform and calm waters for kayaking or just floating; (4) The peace and quiet are unbeatable, with the only background noise being a chorus of crickets and the soft babble of the river; and (5) Location-wise"
7. Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr.
"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."
"AC/heat, covered porch, firewood, picnic table, Charcoal grill, trails. Park is also site of nature center with live animals, an observatory, access to Wapsipinicon River."
from $70 - $80 / night
Check Availability8. Sherman Co Park
"There is a boat ramp with access to the river for fishing and paddling."
"Primitive sites include gravel entrance, picnic tables, fire rings only. There is a boat ramp for the Wapsipinicon river with access for fishing, paddling, etc."
9. Porth RV Park
10. Bellevue State Park Campground — Dyas Unit
"CG site atop river bluff with pads, fire rings, tables, RR, recycling, trails, shelters nearby. Sites are close to each other but plenty to do."
"The site our friends had next to us was uninhabitable due to mud and sloping but the rangers let them switch sites no problem."
from $16 - $36 / night
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Drive Time
- 32 min from Davenport, IA
- 40 min from Dubuque, IA
- 1 hr 8 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1 hr 17 min from Iowa City, IA
Recent Camping Photos near Delmar, IA
146 Photos of 130 Delmar Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
Eden Valley Refuge
Sherman Co Park
Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins
Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area — Mississippi River Pools 11 22
Blanding Landing
Rock Creek County Marina and Campground
Gary McDermott RV Park
Mississippi Palisades State Park CampgroundJ
Spring Lake Campground
Thomson Causeway
Riverview Ridge
Recent Reviews near Delmar, IA
689 Reviews of 130 Delmar Campgrounds
- JJohn L.
GuideGeneseo Campground
Small, Quiet and Clean
It’s small, quiet and clean. Booked on-line easily. Planned just for 2 days traveling cross country. Got a pull thru site, didn’t know the direction to pull in as their map didn’t show any arrows. Site is gravel, dirt and grass. Quite level and no blocks needed. Hook ups are situated properly for easy connection. Noted about 10 long term sites in use. Did not use any campground shower or toilet facilities. Follow directions given by campsite to avoid low railroad bridge. Followed their blue camping signs coming from i80 just fine. Geneseo is a nice small farm town with good supplies, gas , laundry. I would stay again if needed.
Maria Mercedes M.
LegendInterstate RV Park
EZ I-80 Stop When the Road Gets Long
Sometimes on a family road trip, you don't need a campground to entertain you ... you just need a comfortable place to pull in, hook up and give everyone a break from the highway. Interstate RV Park sits conveniently just off I-80 on the outskirts of Davenport and that's really where this approximately 100-site campground earns its keep: it's an EZ-in, EZ-out stopping point for travelers crossing Iowa or exploring the Quad Cities. The campground is more practical than picturesque, with a mixture of overnight travelers and longer-term campers, but RV families will appreciate full hookups with 30/50-amp electric service, pull-thru options, restrooms & showers, laundry, a seasonal swimming pool, pavilion, game room and small camp store. One of those simple road-trip moments I always appreciate is finally getting everyone out of the vehicle after hours of driving, watching the kids stretch their legs while we get camp organized and realizing that, for tonight anyway, we don't have anywhere else we need to be. Some campgrounds are the destination, while others simply give your family a place to catch its breath between adventures. From what we saw, I'd choose one of the campground's dedicated overnight sites away from the longer-term residents, and travelers with larger rigs or multiple slides should ask for one of the wider sites because spacing can be tight. We did note uneven gravel, potholes and less than polished conditions in some of the common facilities, so expectations should be kept to a minimum. Overall, we'd recommend Interstate RV Park for RV families needing a convenient 1-night stop because of its outstanding I-80 access, full hookups and proximity to Davenport, but for families seeking privacy, polished facilities and a campground where the kids can spend the weekend exploring, there are stronger choices around the Quad Cities area.
- BBRIAN F.Guide
Rustic Barn Campground RV Park
Beautiful Spot
Campground sits on a hill overlooking a number of farms. Absolutely beautiful. Decent sized sites, full hook-ups. Also a dump station. Small store on site. Trees provide shade. Many acres of paths and grass to walk the dog. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Whole place is neat and tidy. Only negative is highway noise. Pull through sites are farther from highway so may be less noisy there.
- MMikayla E.
TravelerLundeens Landing
Beautiful location
We stopped here for one night on our trip and it was a nice and small campsite. It is right on the river and very pretty.
Stuart K.LegendWilderness Campground, Scott County Park
The Most Peaceful Campground in Scott County Park
If you're the kind of camper who measures a campground by the number of trees instead of the number of amenities, Wilderness CG continues to be THE hidden campground gem within Scott County Park. Surrounded by mature hardwood forest, generous-sized campsites with decent privacy and miles of interconnected hiking trails, this campground delivers a camping experience that feels far more secluded than you'd expect to find just minutes from the Quad Cities. While my original review from just over a year ago goes into considerable detail about each aspect of the campground and the park itself, I thought I'd follow up that review with a quick summary of what continues to stand out most.
Here's a topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS along with a smattering of new photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Easily the most wooded, private and peaceful campground within Scott County Park, making it an outstanding choice for tent campers, in particular, and anyone seeking a true forest setting; (2) Spacious campsites tucked beneath a dense tree canopy (expert tip: be sure to look up at any potential 'widow makers' before setting up camp) that provides excellent shade, natural privacy and a genuine 'away from it all' atmosphere; (3) Immaculately maintained restroom and shower facilities with dependable hot water that rival many commercial campgrounds; (4) Outstanding access to some of the park's best hiking trails, allowing campers to step directly from their campsite into miles of beautiful woodland; and (5) Scott County Park itself offers an impressive collection of amenities, including: 2 fishing lakes (and 2 smaller ponds), a championship 9-hole golf course, massive family-friendly swimming pool, various scattered playgrounds, an abundance of picnic areas in and outside of excellent shelters and friendly park staff ... all just a short drive from your campsite.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) The heavily wooded terrain means some sites are uneven with exposed roots, making leveling RVs and 5th wheelers more challenging than at neighboring campgrounds; (2) There is no lake or waterfront access directly within Wilderness Campground, so paddlers and anglers will need to drive to other areas of the park; (3) The abundance of trees and leaf cover can make portions of the campground appear a little less manicured, even though it is very well maintained - when we were there in the Autumn, we wished we would have brought our rake!; (4) Only one of the campground's restroom buildings includes shower facilities, so some campers may have a short walk or drive depending on their site; and (5) Larger RVs may find neighboring campgrounds such as Bald Eagle or Woodside better suited to their size and setup.
Happy Camping!
- RRussell H.Traveler
Wanatee Park (formerly Squaw Creek)
Very nice basic campground
Driving thru. Stayed for a quick stop over. County Park. Loop A takes reservations. Loop B first come first served. It was a long trek to the bathroom and showers which were well maintained. Great price $35
- AArielGuide
Buffalo Shores County Park
Great spot to camp with a view of the Mississippi
We just stayed a quick night on the way driving across country. We pulled up in the dark, and were awakened the next day by an amazing view of the Mississippi River. Some camping spots have water, They all have electricity, and there is one bathroom with showers. Portapotties and dumpsters are situated throughout. There is a slightly confusing registration process of a QR code on you camping spot. Overall, a great place to stop.
- DDavid A.Scout
Riverview Ridge
A few concerns for tent camping
Arrived late at night and struggled to find correct site as there were no numbers posted. Also no external lighting or picnic table. Bathrooms were clean and office help was accommodating when reservation was made.
Guide to Delmar
Camping sites near Delmar, Iowa range from riverside primitive camping to full-service RV parks with electric hookups, all situated within a landscape of rolling hills, limestone outcroppings, and river valleys. The area averages 36 inches of annual rainfall, creating lush woodland environments interspersed with prairie remnants. Several campgrounds remain open year-round, though facilities like showers may close during winter months when temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
What to do
Cave exploration with proper gear: At Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, visitors need headlamps for safely navigating the cave system. "If you've never gone spelunking before – and trust me, if you come here to Maquoketa SP, you're going to want to – then make sure you bring the right gear: headlamp, good sturdy hiking boots, pants to keep the bugs, spiders and ticks away as well as plenty of water to stay hydrated," advises one camper.
Paddling on local rivers: The Wapsipinicon River offers multiple access points for kayaking and canoeing. At Sherman Co Park, "Our favorite past time while we're there is to go tubing on the Wapsi River," reports a regular visitor.
Night sky observation: Several campgrounds provide excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. "It is absolutely pitch black. PERFECT for stargazing on a clear night," notes a camper who stayed at Eden Valley Refuge.
Trail hiking year-round: Multiple interconnected trail systems provide hiking opportunities through various ecosystems. "The trails have sign posts and the map in a VERY general way gives you some idea as to where you are at BUT there are trails criss crossing everywhere so make sure you have your map tracker on. The trails/scenery are AMAZING!" shares a camper at Maquoketa Caves.
What campers like
Historic attractions: The Pioneer Village at Scott County Park offers a glimpse into the area's past. "Pioneer village if you've never been was the absolute bees knees as a kid to go to, especially since you can hike to get there! I loved climbing around in the train cars, eating icecream/candy canes, and watching the blacksmith work."
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain well-kept shower houses and restrooms. "Bathrooms are clean and nice. The soap smells really good! They have showers which were clean. I thought they'd be cold water showers but they were warm! Such a delight," reports a camper at Bellevue State Park.
Diverse camping options: The region offers everything from primitive hike-in sites to full-hookup RV spots. At Eden Valley Refuge, "To get to both the pack in sites you have to hike a 1/2 mile. You need to bring all of your supplies including water. (Showers & modern facilities are 1/2 mile back at the main campground)."
Wildlife viewing: Seasonal wildlife observation opportunities abound throughout the area. At Scott County Park, visitors can "Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home."
What you should know
Seasonal cave closures: Due to bat conservation efforts, caves may close unexpectedly. "Due to concerns for wildlife (primarily bats) the caves close frequently, check the park website for details about when they will be open and respect the closures when they occur."
Flooding risks: Spring and early summer rains can impact riverside campsites. "The tent sites are prone to flooding occasionally from the gun river," notes a reviewer at Sherman Park.
Variable cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically between campgrounds. "The cellphone signal was good; at least it passed the test of FaceTiming my wife to check for lag," reports a camper at Walnut Grove Co Park.
Cash-only policies: Some smaller private campgrounds don't accept card payments. "This camping outpost only accepts cash, money order or checks, which was a major bummer for us as we didn't have any of those with us," warns a visitor to 6B's Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Educational programs: Nature centers provide learning opportunities for children. The Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr. "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."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature well-maintained play areas. At Scott County Park, "We played a lot on the playground there and rode our bikes wherever."
Cabin options: For families wanting more comfort, cabin rentals provide full amenities. At Wapsi River Environmental Center, the cabin "sleeps 6, has all amenities including firewood at no cost! Education center onsite with live animals, trails, open year-round."
Bug preparation: The area's humidity supports healthy insect populations. At Mississippi Palisades State Park, one camper warns "We were eaten alive by chiggers when we sat out for awhile to relax," suggesting proper insect repellent.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Many campgrounds feature varied terrain requiring leveling equipment. At Bellevue State Park, "most of the nonelectric/tent were down at the bottom of slopes."
Electric hookup availability: Electric sites are widely available but vary in amperage. Maquoketa Caves State Park offers "24 offering 20/30/50 amp electric" according to a visitor.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds with RV sites have dump stations on premises. At Sherman Park, campers appreciate that there's "a nice newer playground for the kids and a few trail to explore" but note the limited facilities.
Back-in site specifications: Most RV sites require back-in parking. "The land is incredibly flat, back-in slots are spacious, hard and very level grounds are incredibly well-organized," notes a visitor to Scott County Park's Bald Eagle Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Delmar, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Delmar, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Delmar, IA is Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.
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