Best Campgrounds near Plainfield, IA

Camping spots near Plainfield, Iowa include a mix of riverfront and wooded areas across northeastern Iowa's rolling countryside. The region sits along the Cedar River watershed at approximately 950 feet elevation, experiencing warm summers with occasional humidity and cold winters that limit year-round camping. Most campgrounds remain open from May through October, with a few extending their season into early winter.

What to do

Hiking trails: Cedar Bend Park in Waverly connects to extensive trail networks through woods and along the river. One camper noted, "The trails and hiking was the best part. We went for hours with our dogs and had so much fun. Some right along the river, some grassy and along fields, others ran though the woods."

Fishing opportunities: R Campground, Inc in Charles City offers prime river fishing spots. The campground provides easy river access and sites with river views. A visitor shared, "Our favorite sites begin with 'OB' for out back. These all have a view of the river."

Biking: George Wyth State Park Campground connects to the extensive Cedar Valley trail system. As one reviewer explained, "If you are a biker there is a wonderful bike path. It will take you all the way through Cedar Falls and Waterloo you could bike all day long." The park connects to the Lake-to-State Park Bike Route, a 50-mile path linking multiple recreation areas.

What campers like

Peaceful settings: Many campers appreciate the quiet atmosphere at many locations. At Cedar Bend Park, a visitor remarked, "It was so clean and peaceful. Not overly crowded. The camp host was so friendly and helpful."

Water access: Heery Woods provides riverfront camping with specific site recommendations. A reviewer shared, "19 electric sites (no water/sewer hookup at sites), 11 sites are right on the river with gravel pads the remaining sites are grass and away from the river."

Budget-friendly options: Several camping options in the region remain affordable. One camper at George Wyth noted, "Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.) There is no separate park entry fee."

What you should know

Bathroom facilities vary: Quality and cleanliness differ between campgrounds. One camper at Cedar View Park shared, "The shower house was pretty bad though. It was older, which doesn't bother me, but it was dirty. There was food trash in there all week, and if you look around you'll find feces, blood, and personal hygiene trash."

First-come, first-served policies: Some popular campgrounds don't accept reservations. A Cedar View Park visitor explained, "We found this Park on the app and thought we would check it out. It's first come first serve."

Flooding concerns: Several campsites sit in flood-prone areas. A George Wyth camper warned, "Because it is so close to river anytime it rains heavily there is flooding in several areas of the park. And almost every year (usually late summer, early fall) it rains enough to flood a good portion of the park."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Wilder City Park offers multiple play areas and activities. A camper reported, "They have sand volleyball pickle ball miniature golf and huge checkers plus a couple playgrounds for the kids. It's a nice quiet family campground."

Swimming spots: Several parks have designated swimming areas. George Wyth offers a beach area, though one visitor noted, "The lake for swimming was a little gross but we did it anyway."

Multiple recreation options: Camp Comfort Recreation Area provides kid-friendly water access. One visitor shared, "The river is off a smaller dam and has great fishing. Kids had a great time playing in the water, our site was about 20 ft from the waters edge."

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: Many camping areas offer various hookup options. At Bremer County Park Cedar Bend Park, campers mentioned electric hookups were standard, while others noted the convenience of full hookups at select campgrounds.

Leveling requirements: Site terrain varies across campgrounds. A Cedar View Park visitor advised, "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."

Connectivity considerations: Cell service varies by location and carrier. One camper at Cedar View Park reported, "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."