Yellow Banks County Park features spacious campsites with fire rings and picnic tables where pets are welcome year-round. The park offers multiple camping options including tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and group camping areas. Thomas Mitchell County Park and Jester County Park also accommodate pets at their campgrounds, with options ranging from traditional tent sites to cabin rentals. Leashed pets must be attended at all times throughout these facilities. Iowa State Fairgrounds maintains a pet-friendly camping area with full RV hookups, though fires are not permitted on the grounds. Campground hosts are generally friendly and helpful with pet-related questions. Sites at Yellow Banks are well-spaced, providing ample room for pets to rest comfortably near their owners.
The Des Moines River access at Yellow Banks provides opportunities for dogs to enjoy water activities during warmer months. Several hiking trails near the campgrounds welcome leashed dogs, with the pond trail at Yellow Banks offering a quieter experience away from busier camping areas. Campers should be aware that some reports indicate teenagers occasionally wander through Yellow Banks at night, so securing pet supplies is advisable. Summer weekends fill quickly at most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area, with Thursday typically marking the beginning of peak occupancy. The trails at Yellow Banks Park lead to interesting features including Native American burial mounds that can be explored with leashed pets. Temperature variations can be significant in this region, requiring pet owners to prepare for both hot days and cool evenings when camping.
"Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. "
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"
$22 - $26 / night
"We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."
"Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."
"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."
"Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and edit the creek throughout the park."
"With a theme park on one side and a casino on the other, both in walking distance. It’s more of a park and party place hahaha"
"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."
$20 - $25 / night
"There was four of us and a dog."
"Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
$20 - $336 / night
"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"The only down side of this was the grass was really long so it was bad when taking the dog out in the evenings or mornings. You would come back in with a soaked dog and wet feet."
$25 - $40 / night
"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
"The Iowa State Fair is the best fair in the world with more than a million visitors every year! There is something for everyone in the family."
"I always loved going here when I lived in Iowa! The State Fair was a blast! Being able to actually stay there made it that much better!!"
$24 - $26 / night
"Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."
"Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."
"Wonderfull Surroundings ,People and Experiences."
"Campgrounds are located on the east side of the actual fairgrounds. There are hundreds of sites here."
GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
RangerThis campground has many sites to choose from - RV with hookups as well as some non-electric tent sites. There are quite a few activities in Marshalltown, and it is within the Marshalltown city limits.
The downside is proximity. It is right next to the highway. When I was there in a tent, the hog trucks would drive by all night (loud and smelly). The RV sites are closest to the road, so maybe it is not so bad in an RV, but it is not particularly enjoyable in a tent.
Pros:
+ Marshalltown has quite a few places to eat
+ Nice bike trails (and a great bicycle store downtown)
+ It is near the Iowa River
+ Nice park in general with activities like a dog park
+ Camp host on-site
+ Decent sized campsites
+ Playground for the kids
Cons:
+ It can get busy on a summer weekend
+ Noisy - right by the highway
+ Mosquitos are really bad here
GuideOne of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
TravelerThe campground was nice, but it seems more for RVs. Sometimes you have to share a fire pit with other tents if it's busy. They have a small petting zoo and a small beach. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a "summer home".
LegendFollowing up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural Iowa.
Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery
Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities
Happy Camping!
Campsites near Pleasant Hill, Iowa typically sit within the rolling woodlands and prairie landscapes of Polk County. The area features elevations between 750-900 feet above sea level with seasonal temperature variations from below freezing in winter to humid 90°F days in summer. Campgrounds in this region offer varying levels of shade coverage, with most situated near water features including the Des Moines River and Saylorville Lake.
Hike the Devote Trail: Thomas Mitchell County Park features a network of hiking trails including access to a group camping site. "There is a fishing lake, playground, sand volleyball, and hiking. The main hiking trails are wide with smaller ones shooting off the sides. There is also a group site that you can hike to on the Devote trail," notes Shannon G. from Thomas Mitchell County Park.
Fish multiple waters: The area offers diverse fishing opportunities throughout the camping season. "Fishing not the greatest, Pond is silted to about 9ft deep, have caught few small bass, bluegill. Never tried the river here, but is known for big cats," reports Kelly from Yellow Banks County Park. For more options, Cherry Glen Campground provides lake access where campers can "take a long walk through the campground and others nearby. Boating and swimming in the lake."
Explore bike trails: The campgrounds connect to the regional trail system, offering miles of paved paths. "The trail can take you to the marina, where there is a burger shack style restaurant," shares a camper about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. "The proximity to the trail system is what makes this friendly to cyclists. The trail can take you to the marina, where there is a burger shack style restaurant."
Creek access for hot days: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Pleasant Hill feature creek access for cooling off. "Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and exit the creek throughout the park," writes Kimberly W. about Thomas Mitchell County Park.
Well-spaced campsites: Campers appreciate parks that offer adequate spacing between sites. At Cherry Glen Campground, "Quiet, relaxing place. Friendly staff. We took a long walk through the campground and others nearby." At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "Sites are large and there is plenty of space between sites. We had a concrete pad with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate."
Proximity to attractions: The area's campgrounds provide convenient access to regional attractions. "It's got access to trails and to the Des Moines river. It's a great little escape. There is a fishing pond that's got plenty of bluegill and largemouth bass," writes Willy W. about Yellow Banks County Park.
Reservation timing matters: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "Close to home, can usually get site without reservation, IF you roll in on Wed. By Thurs night, it's full," explains a camper about Yellow Banks Park. For Prairie Flower, "This campground is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out."
Dump station congestion: Plan your departure timing carefully at busier campgrounds. "There's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait... that's being generous!" cautions Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Site selection considerations: Be strategic when selecting sites at certain campgrounds. "We stayed at site 4, glad I read reviews on here. I personally would not want to be in a site beyond number 7 as it gets too close to the dump station and subsequent 'sewage lagoon'," advises Ben K. about Iowa State Fair Campgrounds.
Water play options: Multiple pet-friendly campgrounds offer water features for family enjoyment. "Great place to go tent camping, very clean and quiet. Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat. There is even a pond for fishing that you can take a trail from the campsite to," recommends Willy W. about Thomas Mitchell County Park.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. "Campground is very green and shady. Many sites are creekside. Park has large playground area, hiking trails, fishing pond," notes Michelle H. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," reports Ron M. about Prairie Flower.
Educational opportunities: Take advantage of nature centers and wildlife viewing. "Just wish there was more camping riverside (groups available)," notes Steve H. about Yellow Banks Park. At Jester County Park, "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
Hookup variations: RV campers should note the different hookup options available. "This is a very large campground with lots of sites and large group camping areas. The bathrooms and shower house are nice and clean," writes Melissa A. about Prairie Flower. At Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground, sites are "concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer. Spot 20 is at the end which makes it very private with nice large grassy area adjacent to wooded area."
Pad types and leveling: Pad construction varies between campgrounds. "Not all loops are paved. A is not. But the site was pretty level, wasn't too much trouble to get our trailer backed in and leveled. No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park," advises Mia L. about Prairie Flower Campground. At Walnut Woods, "The sites are best around, large flat white rock cinder size area with picnic table, fire ring."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Pleasant Hill, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Pleasant Hill, IA is Yellow Banks County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 15 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 85 dog-friendly camping locations near Pleasant Hill, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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