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Best Tent Camping near Rockford, IA

227 Reviews

Tent campgrounds near Rockford, Iowa provide primitive camping opportunities with varied amenities and natural settings. Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area offers tent camping with drinking water available, while Chickasaw Park provides a more rustic experience with tent sites located along a river. River Ranch Camping offers a back-woods camping experience with electric hookups but limited facilities.

Most tent camping areas near Rockford feature basic amenities with few modern conveniences. Chickasaw Park has pit toilets that campers report are poorly maintained, and fires are allowed but there are no electric hookups. Self-pay stations are common, with Chickasaw Park charging approximately $10 per night. River Ranch Camping provides more amenities for tent campers including electric hookups, picnic tables, and sanitary dump stations, but lacks showers and toilets. Most sites require campers to bring their own water and supplies for a primitive camping experience.

Tent camping in this region offers access to fishing and natural areas with varying levels of privacy. At Rice Lake Wildlife Management Area, tent sites are limited to a grassy area set into the woods, with a boat launch nearby for fishing access. Chickasaw Park features an adjacent quarry where swimming and fishing are permitted, though cliff jumping is prohibited due to safety concerns. The park also includes a small dam for fishing opportunities and nearby hiking trails. According to one camper, "It's a nice spot off of the main road. It's pretty quiet, but there aren't many spots to camp."

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Best Tent Sites Near Rockford, Iowa (17)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Rockford, IA

227 Reviews of 17 Rockford Campgrounds

  • C
    Aug. 8, 2021

    White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Nice state park

    This is a rustic state park with limited amenities. There are no water or electric hook ups. However clean water is available in the park. The park does have flush toilets and showers. We found these to be in good condition and clean. The showers had warm water. The water stream is on a timer and so are the lights. The shower stalls are Individual stalls. The interior roads are dirt roads with a few potholes they are very narrow. The camping sites are nice sized and relatively private. There is a gravel pad on each site and some have a tent pad. Each site had a picnic table and a fire ring. There are plenty of walking and biking trails and there are walk-in tent camp sites. However, you cannot see the lake from the campground and there is no access to the lake from the campground. We were able to drive through the campground with our 40 foot fifth wheel. But just barely, be careful! 

  • Chloe T.
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Myre State Park Campgrounds

    Beautiful and easy to get to backpacking sites

    Sites are approximately 2 miles from parking and the hike it relatively easy with minimal elevation change. You have a choice between a grassy walk or walking mainly on tar and gravel as part of the Blazing Star Trail. They are also accessible by boat.

    There are 4 backpacking sites and they are well-spaced so you each have privacy. #3 and #4 are close enough that you could be in a group together but #1 and #2 are pretty isolated. Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, wood cabinet/fish cleaning table, at least 1 flat spot for a tent, and a nearby porta potty.

    Views of the lake are amazing with a variety of birds making appearances. Harvesting season may bring some farm sounds but otherwise, aside from the occasional train, you'll mainly hear the sounds of nature around you.

    If you can make the walk carrying everything, including water, on your back, definitely check out one of these sites.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 14, 2022

    White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Delayed Autumn

    We tent camped at Myre-Big Island State Park in Minnesota from September 30 to October 3, 2022. The weather was warmer than usual at this time of year, and the fall color development was a couple weeks behind normal. It was cool but beautiful during the daytime (light jacket/sweater weather). The temperature dropped at night but didn’t require anything more than our sleeping bags to keep us warm. The earlier sunset meant meal cooking and cleanup needed to be a bit earlier, but it also meant longer time for beautiful campfires in the evenings.

    The trails were in great shape and beautiful with past-peak grasses and developing colors in the trees. Most of the wildflowers were done for the year, but some were still in bloom. Deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and lots of birds were active near the trails and campgrounds.

    We have camped here previously, in early summer. Then the bugs were abundant and aggressive on the Big Island trails. During this fall trip, there were very few.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2024

    Cedar View Park

    Beautiful park, gross bath house

    This is a lovely park. It is fairly quiet, you can hear some highway noise in the distance. The lake is lovely and clean. 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, as well as a picnic table and fire ring.

    There are a few sites that back up directly to the lake. There is a swimming beach and a dock. There is a city park adjacent to the campground with a playground and picnic shelter.

    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.

    The shower house was pretty bad though. It was older, which doesn't bother me, but it was dirty. There are camp hosts on site but I guess their duties do not include ever cleaning the restroom. There was food trash in there all week, and if you look around you'll find feces, blood, and personal hygiene trash including used condoms.

    I would stay in this campground again because I have a self contained unit and do not need to use the on-site shower house.

  • Rachel O.
    Jul. 3, 2021

    Myre State Park Campgrounds

    Bird Songs/Sounds Galore at BP1

    You have to check-in at the camp office, which closes at 8pm. I didn’t realize this and arrived at 8:20pm and probably made the nice state park lady work late. Don’t be me.

    This remote site is about a mile hike in from the parking area. Easy/moderate hike in. Saw 6 or 7 deer hiking in. At my site, BP1 or backpack 1 or R1, you have water access nearby so prep for the sounds of waterfowl. PELICANS! They flap loudly when entering or exiting the water. Very cool to watch. I wasn’t bothered by it, just a surprise. Other posts somewhere on the internet mentioned the interstate noise being an issue at this site-I did not have that experience. Occasionally, I’d hear the revving of someone’s extremely loud motorcycle or semi engine (maybe 5 times total) in the distance, but the nature sounds covered it for me. I woke up to so many bird sounds. The 2 crows were annoying but fortunately they took off and I got to hear the songbirds more clearly.

    The site itself was very nice. Partially shaded, but also allowed for sunshine during the day. The park provides firewood at the backpacking sites, which is nice since this park has a no firewood collecting rule. Flat, clear areas to pitch your tent.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2022

    White Fox — Myre-Big Island State Park

    Woodland/Prairie/Wetland

    We spent four nights tent camping at the White Fox Campground of Myre-Big Island State Park in June 2022. This park is a combination woodland/prairie/wetland setting. The White Fox Campground is on the fringes of a woodland. Our campsite was grassy and open with trees and shrubs curving along the back of the site. The site had the usual fire ring with grill and a large picnic table.

    There are some nice trails for hiking through woodlands and prairie and alongside wetlands. We saw a lot of wildlife: several deer, red squirrels, chipmunks, a raccoon, a woodchuck, lots of different birds, and several different types of butterflies. In the mornings the birdsong was pretty amazing, loud and long lasting.

    There are two freeways and a rail line near the park, but the noise from them was only bothersome on one morning of our stay.

    There is a second campground on the Big Island portion of the park. Big Island is wooded and has some beautiful trails that we enjoyed.

  • Chantal C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2021

    Chickasaw Park

    Used to be a Quarry

    We love love love to come camping here. It's $10.00 per night last we stayed, placed into a self pay pole. While the grounds are mowed that is about all that is done on the camping side of the river for maintenance. I won't walk into the pit style restrooms let alone use them (kids can be jerks 🙄). There is a small park on the adjacent side that does have a shelter. There are no hookups so consider this a primitive campground. It is adjacent to an old quarry where swimming and fishing is currently allowed at your own risk. Due to multiple accidents and or deaths jumping/diving and cliff jumping is no longer allowed and can be a misdemeanor charge if found doing so. On the river side there is a small dam that also offers fishing. If you're not afraid of ghosts, are respectful, and you follow the road ALL THE WAY BACK there is a very old cemetery (we found it foraging firewood) which we thought was very intriguing.

  • Steph H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2017

    Lake Louise State Park Campground

    Great Group Site

    Our group of 12 stayed at one of the two group sites at Lake Louise State Park. Our site holds up to 30 and the neighboring site holds up to 50. Our site was a beautiful spot with large shade trees, three picnic tables and two fire pits. We also had a large grassy area to play and an area to put up our tents that was away from the activities. A vault toilet was beside us but it was also for the other group site so they had to constantly walk thru our site to get to it. The trails were nice but small and the beach is not recommended. Even though it's part of a river it was very stagnant yucky water and dirty sand.

  • Ax H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Shellrock River Co Preserve

    Great Free spot for tent camping

    Big grassy field surrounded by huge (walnut) trees. There a gravel track that goes along a large river. Trees everywhere so bring bug spray. Quiet, peaceful. Not private but worth it. Free, 3 day max stay

Guide to Rockford

Tent camping near Rockford, Iowa offers a blend of serene landscapes and essential amenities, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.

Local Attractions for Tent Campers

  • Explore the scenic views at Shellrock River Co Preserve, where you can enjoy secluded camping with fire rings and a shelter.
  • Visit Chickasaw Park, a former quarry site perfect for swimming and fishing, with a small park nearby for family activities.
  • Discover the intriguing history at Howards Woods, where you can camp in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature.

Tent Camping Prices

  • Tent camping at Chickasaw Park costs around $10 per night, making it an affordable option for families.
  • Enjoy free camping at Shellrock River Co Preserve, which provides basic amenities like port-a-potties and fire rings.
  • For a unique experience, River Ranch Camping offers a backwoods camping vibe, although prices may vary based on the season.

Nearby Activities for Tent Campers

  • Campers at Shellrock River Co Preserve can enjoy quiet nights under the stars, perfect for listening to podcasts or simply relaxing by the fire.
  • At Chickasaw Park, fishing and swimming are popular activities, but be mindful of safety regulations regarding cliff diving.
  • For those seeking a more rustic experience, River Ranch Camping provides a great spot for hiking and exploring the surrounding woods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Rockford, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Rockford, IA is River Ranch Camping with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Rockford, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Rockford, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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