J
Jenna D.
Scout
ScoutLake Considine
Not too shabby!
Pulled up right on the lake! A local fisherman came by was quiet and respectful. No, bathroom - there is a Kwik Star about 8 minutes away though!
Camping near Story City, IA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Story City, Iowa has multiple campground options within a 30-mile radius, ranging from state parks to county facilities. The area includes Ledges State Park Campground, which accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins, and Little Wall Lake County Park offering electric hookups, tent sites, and cabin rentals. These mixed-use campgrounds typically operate between April and October, though some like Little Wall Lake remain open year-round, providing varied camping experiences in central Iowa's rural landscape.
Campground availability in the region is strongly seasonal, with most facilities operating from early spring through late fall. A visitor noted, "Great small town campground. Very quiet, especially on weekdays. Great place to take long walks with great paths and scenery." Weather considerations include potential spring flooding at riverfront sites and mosquito activity during summer months. Most campgrounds require reservations for electric sites and cabins, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though coverage may be spotty in more remote locations like Ledges State Park's hiking areas or wooded sections of county parks.
Several campgrounds in the region feature access to water recreation, with Little Wall Lake and Dakins Lake County Park providing fishing and boating opportunities. Many campers appreciate the balance of natural surroundings with proximity to amenities. According to one review, "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate." Campgrounds like Ledges State Park offer hiking trails and scenic sandstone formations that distinguish them from the predominantly flat terrain typical of central Iowa. Proximity to wildlife viewing is another highlight, with several visitors mentioning deer sightings at multiple campgrounds. Noise levels vary by location, with campgrounds near highways experiencing more traffic sound compared to those tucked deeper into wooded areas or along quieter county roads.
Best Campgrounds near Story City (91)
1. Ledges State Park Campground
"One 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."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
from $18 - $38 / night
Check Availability2. Little Wall Lake County Park
"Close to the interstate and easy to get to."
"We went when the wind was blowing in typical Iowa summer fashion. The grounds are peaceful and there's lots of great plant and flower spotting."
3. Whispering Oaks RV Park
4. Dakins Lake County Park
"Close to i35, but not to close. Make reservations, facilities this good are full by Friday."
"The shelter is very nice and overlooks Dakins Lake. The camp host was very responsive and helpful."
from $17 - $24 / night
Check Availability5. Briggs Woods Park
"Brigs Woods is close to Webster City, IA. There are several campsites, cabins, golf course, access to canoeing or kayaking on the Boone River, along with hiking trails, swimming and fishing. "
"We chose Briggs Woods because of its location and reviews from other campers. It is a larger campground than you think! Spots for primitive tent camping, electrical hook up and full hook ups."
6. Jester County Park
"A couple minor complaints that I developed would be that it is right next to the golf course so there is a lot of near by traffic, and people like to cruise on motorcycles and drive muscle cars through"
"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."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability7. Hickory Grove Campground
"Lots of trees for shade but the lake has trails and a swimming beach with watercraft rentals. Truly a hidden gem in central Iowa!"
"Got to the campground around 6pm on a Friday and no one was at the primitive campground which was nice. The picnic table and fire ring were clean and in good condition."
from $17 / night
Check Availability8. Swede Point Park
"We camped here to be close to the Iowa High Trestle Trail for bicycling and it's very handy for that. Nothing fancy, but has plenty of sites, flush toilets and showers available."
"Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail"
9. Bells Mills County Park
10. North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
"Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds."
"Camped here in order to be close to Fort Dodge first thing in the morning. I stayed in the Beach Campground. It's not on the beach, but close to it. There are 3 total campgrounds in the park. "
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 13 min from Ames, IA
- 35 min from Des Moines, IA
- 1 hr 14 min from Waterloo, IA
- 1 hr 41 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
Recent Camping Photos near Story City, IA
53 Photos of 91 Story City Campgrounds
Kaylinn W.
Hickory Grove Campground
Stephen P.
Ledges State Park Campground
Steve B.
Don Williams Park
Pat F.
Swede Point Park
Willy W.
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
MitchRoeschlein
Pine Lake State Park Campground
Derrick W.
Jester County Park
Austin A.
Eagle City County Park
Willy W.
Ashton Wildwood Park
Mia L.
Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Nancy C.
Acorn Valley
phillip L.
Cherry Glen Campground
Recent Reviews near Story City, IA
469 Reviews of 91 Story City Campgrounds
- ssusan F.
RangerThomas Mitchell County Park
Kind hosts and well-kept grounds
This is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
Kimberly P.
GuideBeed's Lake State Park Campground
Fun on the lake
We stayed 4 nights at an electric site in Beed's Lake. After taxes and online reservation fees, it came out to a little less than $100. One of the restrooms was closed for maintenance the entire time we were there, leaving the whole park to share one restroom and 3 showers. The restroom was pretty clean, the shower was not so clean. It was an "I've seen worse" situation.. The campsites are really close to one another and I'm honestly not sure why because it wasn't even close to full. I was disappointed in the lack of any hammock trees. The real star of the park, of course, is the lake. We kayaked and fished the lake while we were visiting. The local reports suggested not swimming due to ecoli, so we did not do any swimming. We had tons of fun kayaking and fishing, but I was also a little disappointed in bank access for fishing, so I'm glad we had our kayaks. It was relatively quiet and everyone was friendly.
Lumpie C.GuideLedges State Park Campground
Very attractive nature area
Level sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
- TTyler D.Guide
Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground
Good spot
Staying here for a night on a roadtrip. It was easy to book last minute and wasn’t too expensive. Especially given it has electric hook up at each sight (I believe).
Cari E.RangerLedges State Park Campground
Oasis in a cornfield
There’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
Rob R.RangerCherry Glen Campground
Very nice
Quite a nice campground. Pretty busy for a Monday so I can imagine it gets busy here. Sites are nice and spacious. Great amenities and right next to the water.
Gypsy J.ScoutAshton Wildwood Park
Quiet wooded peaceful
Stayed here last week in July 2025 on a cross-country motorcycle trip. Nice and quiet. Flat grassy spot to set up my tent and a nice fire ring/ grill to cook dinner on also had a picnic table.
Very nice primitive spot. Will go back
Chad S.
TravelerDallas County Fairgrounds
Swim rodeo
We booked this spot in February not knowing there was a rodeo on our camp day we were in town for a swim meet, the band was real loud Friday and perfect on Saturday, it has narrow camping spots but overall is a very good campground with full hook ups. Booked on line everything went smooth, great WiFi clean campground.
Guide to Story City
Camping sites near Story City, Iowa offer a mix of prairie and woodland settings with elevations ranging from 940 to 1,100 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 82°F and winter temperatures dipping to 10°F. Central Iowa campgrounds typically receive 35 inches of annual rainfall, with May and June being the wettest months.
What to do
Hiking at Ledges State Park Campground: The park features sandstone formations with trails ranging from easy to challenging. One visitor noted, "The hiking trails are cool. I would say it was a challenging hike. A lot of up and down terrain, stone steps, etc. The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them!"
Fishing opportunities: Several lakes within 30 miles of Story City provide good fishing. At Little Wall Lake County Park, campers enjoy bank fishing with one visitor sharing, "This lake is great, lots of fishing spots and camping spots." The 249-acre lake is stocked with bluegill, crappie, and bass.
Golf access: Briggs Woods Park combines camping with an 18-hole golf course. The park also offers "access to canoeing or kayaking on the Boone River, along with hiking trails, swimming and fishing."
Wildlife viewing: Bison and elk viewing is available at Jester County Park, providing an unexpected wildlife experience in central Iowa. The park includes a nature center that opened in 2018. A visitor called it "just next level" and noted they "advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be."
What campers like
Modern facilities: Many county parks have invested in quality infrastructure. One camper at Jester County Park shared, "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate." This reflects the maintenance standards at many area campgrounds.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites for privacy. At Briggs Woods Park, a camper mentioned, "We stayed Sun-Wed in May. Closest other campers were about a football field away. Very quiet park, we stayed in the back."
Lake activities: Multiple campgrounds feature lake access. A visitor to Little Wall Lake County Park described it as "Spacious sites along a gorgeous lake..quiet..wish every campground was this nice!" The park offers water and electric hookups along with primitive sites.
Educational opportunities: The region has nature centers and educational displays. One camper visiting Ledges State Park Campground stated, "Stayed at this campground for my college visit to ISU and I nearly went to the university just because I wanted to be here at this park every weekend."
What you should know
Seasonal flooding concerns: Certain campgrounds experience periodic flooding. At Ledges State Park Campground, a visitor noted, "Ledges State Park is one of the most visited parks in Iowa. I loved coming to this park as a kid and I can't wait for it to re-open. It has been closed since January 2018, but it scheduled to re-open in January of 2019. Here is a link to a local story explaining the closure and flooding."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Story City, IA?
What camping is available near Story City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Story City, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 91 campgrounds and RV parks near Story City, IA and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Story City, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Story City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Story City, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 41 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Story City, IA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Story City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Story City, IA.
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