Prairie City, Iowa sits at approximately 950 feet above sea level in the rolling hills of central Iowa. The area experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers averaging 86°F and winters dropping to 14°F. RV campgrounds near Prairie City provide year-round access options with peak season running May through September when rainfall averages 4-5 inches monthly.
What to do
**Fishing opportunities: Rock Creek State Park Campground offers excellent crappie and largemouth bass fishing in its 602-acre lake. "Rock Creek is known for its crappie and large mouth bass fishing. The lake has lots of features like brush piles, vertical structures, mossy areas and you can go over by the bridge and fish the rocks," notes a camper. Boat rentals available at the marina for those without personal watercraft.
**Trail exploration: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt features well-marked hiking trails through wetland and prairie habitats. "Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come," reports one visitor. The 25-mile paved Chichaqua Valley Trail runs between campgrounds for cycling opportunities.
**Off-season activities: Several campgrounds remain operational during winter months. Adventureland Campground stays open year-round, allowing visitors to experience Iowa's winter landscape. "Spent the winter here, they are very good at keeping snow and ice under control," observed a guest about winter camping conditions.
What campers like
**Fishing access: Rock Creek State Park Campground receives high marks for waterfront campsites. "You can reserve some spots right on the water and fish from your tent. Most all the sites have their own fire ring and some have tables," explains a regular visitor. The park rents fishing boats, pontoons, kayaks, and canoes from its marina.
**Quiet atmosphere: Campgrounds outside metro areas offer peaceful environments. "Beautiful and quiet place to stay. Very affordable as well," states one camper about Griffs Valley View RV Park. Similarly, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt is described as "quiet with few people" and "a hidden gem just outside of Des Moines."
**Community facilities: Several RV parks provide gathering spaces. "Large community center, gym, and laundry facilities on site," mentions a reviewer at Griffs Valley View. Kellogg RV Park features "a cool antique farm tractor and old gas station across the street to look at" plus "a small garden to hang out in and relax."
What you should know
**Site reservations: Many popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "The voicemail said it was fully booked from May until September. Good thing we got through because they found us a site for the night," reports a visitor to Griffs Valley View RV Park.
**Seasonal closures: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt closes during fall and winter. "Drove 6 hours to find out the campground is closed (apparently for all of fall and winter) without any awareness of that being the case online," cautions one frustrated camper. Always verify operating dates before traveling.
**Interstate noise: Some campgrounds are situated near major highways. "It's adjacent to a truck stop and right off the interstate," notes a Lakeside Casino Resort and RV Park visitor, while another camper observes that Kellogg RV Park is "right off the interstate but far enough you won't hear the noise."
Tips for camping with families
**Playground options: Adventureland Campground offers family-friendly amenities. "They have a swimming pool and a fishing pond. The office also has a little store to buy goods," reports one camper. Another mentions "a small playground" among the facilities.
**Entertainment proximity: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby attractions. Adventureland Campground is "a five minute walk from the campground. Adventureland Park is a small amusement park and water park which is great for all ages. Lots of rides for little ones, but fun adventures even for adults as well."
**Nature activities: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt offers wildlife viewing opportunities. "Super serene with great hiking trails and bird watching!" reports one visitor. Rock Creek includes "disc golf and there is a beach to go swimming in. Morel mushroom hunting is pretty popular here in the wood areas."
Tips from RVers
**Site dimensions: Kellogg RV Park accommodates larger vehicles with properly sized sites. "Level sites with full hookups. Plenty of space to walk the dog," mentions one RVer. All sites are pull-through ranging from 65 to 85 feet in length with each gravel-strewn site measuring 18 feet wide.
**Seasonal preparations: For winter camping at Prairie City RV parks, additional services become important. Adventureland Campground provides winter-specific maintenance, with one camper noting, "Spent the winter here, they are very good at keeping snow and ice under control."
**Convenience facilities: River Oaks RV Park offers thoughtfully designed utilities. "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." Free WiFi allows streaming television, though service occasionally freezes.
