Searching for the best camping near Rockwell City, IA? Rockwell City is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Rockwell City, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
Millions of years before the plains of Iowa were inhabited by the Sauk, Fox and Sioux peoples, much of the American Midwest was covered by a shallow inland sea. It was at this time that the area’s sandstone deposits began forming. Fast-forward to just 13,000 years ago, with the inland sea now long gone, Ice Age glacial meltwater raced across the dry plains, carving and scouring channels and canyons into the sandstone terrain. One of these canyons can be found in Iowa’s Ledges State Park. This 1,000-acre nature preserve and recreation area is located on a wide bend on the Des Moines River, and is just 40 miles north of the city of Des Moines. The park is subject to frequent flooding when the river breaches its banks, but is otherwise a popular year-round outdoor recreation destination. Visitors to Ledges can enjoy a variety of hiking, fishing and paddling opportunities, as well as explore a prehistoric river canyon that showcases nature’s ability to sculpt the landscape.
The campground at Ledges State Park features 94 tent and RV sites situated among deciduous woods not far from the Des Moines River. Campers can choose from full-hookup, partial-hookup, or primitive tent sites. Most sites are back-in; only a few are pull-through for larger vehicles. Tent sites are located in both in the main camp area, and in a secluded walk-in area. There is also a youth group site. All sites are equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and cooking grills, and all have access to water faucets, flush restrooms, showers, and trash receptacles; a dump station is located near the campground entrance. The campground also features a kids’ playground, outdoor amphitheater, and is within walking distance of trails and picnic areas. Some roads and/or facilities may not be open or available in the winter. Reservations are accepted, however the park saves about half of the sites for first-come, first-served campers; sites are $11–$19/night.
$12 - $18 / night
$20 / night
The largest and most popular area managed by the Webster County Conservation Board is John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. Construction of Kennedy Park began in 1962 and the park was officially dedicated in 1965. This park is a 400 acre multiple use recreation area. The 53-acre Badger Lake provides the focal point for a wide variety of outdoor activities including camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, canoeing and boating (no gas motors) as well as an the 18 hole Lakeside Municipal Golf Course.
$20 - $100 / night
$16 - $50 / night
Self-registration campground (no reservations - first come, first serve) 135 electrical campsites $20/night 50/30/110 amp hookup 5 "group" camping areas (park in any arrangement) 27 non-electrical campsites - $11 / night Youth camping area (by reservation only) Modern shower houses with flush toilets Multiple water hydrants Two dump stations Luxury cabins (by reservation only) Boating (no wake lake) Fishing and bait shop 9-hole golf course and clubhouse with restaurant Hiking trails Updated playgrounds Swimming beach Two enclosed shelters (by reservation only) Two open air shelters Wildlife viewing
Please view the Park Rules below for further information.
Operating Hours & Seasons
The campground is open from April 15 - October 15, but may be open later depending on weather.
Park hours are 5:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Closures The campgrounds will be closed during the winter months, however, the roads through the park will be open to allow for wildlife viewing.
$12 - $20 / night
Tented camped in late October, the weekend before closing. I was only tent camper in the electric only sites. If there was a tent only location, I didn't see it. Those in campers that need water and electricity are regulated to gravel 'parking lot' sites.
Beautiful park with playgrounds, swim beach, fisbee golf, paved trail, many fishing bars, and more.
Electric only sites are small and spaced out well. Most have level drive perfect for sm camper or suv camping. Grass has slope, but I think you can find a good enough place for tent, I did. Bathroom clean enough, I didn't use showers. I enjoyed the privacy of lake-front site J.
We stayed at the Grotto of the Redemption RV park for two nights. We were in our class C while slowly making our way across the country. We had no problems getting a spot here. There are two areas. One is very close to a train line, which runs infrequently. Sites are grass, level, and reasonably well maintained. All sites are pull through. Only electrical hookups are available at the sites. This is in good condition. There is fresh water and a dump station available. Each site has a nice grassy area and there are plenty of large trees. Staff was very friendly and helpful. There was a park nearby with a playground.
The RV park is near the Grotto. The Grotto is a fascinating achievement worth a look if you are in the area.
We had 2 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well. Campground wifi was not available.
We enjoyed our brief stay at this campground. We will stay again when traveling this way.
Snug if you have slide outs, must watch to see you don't hit neighbor's trailer as you extend. Awnings literally touch neighbors. Crazy good time, if that's what you're into. I like the cabins!
We love to return here every year!
Recently updated two-way fresh-fill/santiary dump station. There is Ice Cube Consessions and the skating rink from Memorial Day through Labor Day every year. Great long-term hosts really make this park feel like going home.
Chatting with others around camp, there is no cell service provider that functions in this park. The WIFI is shared between dozens of sites, and the absolute BEST speed I have ever seen here is a 14, and I only saw that once. WIFI tends to average right around 5mps. That's right, 5. There is no remote working out here, if your work requires any semblance of quality, which is really too bad; the rest of everything out here is WONDERFUL! Great neighbors, wildlife, the trail, fishing, boating, the playground... everything else is wonderful. I know we can do better for WIFIs. Fees were just increased again this year, surely we can afford a bit better than this!
Great vibes. Camp's pretty far from the bones of the park, but the hike's relatively plesant. Cell coverage is terrible out here, and there is no WIFI to help keep people connected.
Great sites, phenomenol hosts. LOVE the playground, and the culture; this is home during the summer months. Terrible WIFI, absolutely no cell coverage out here. Not sure how they justify raising camping rates here if the ameneties do not reflect modern needs for family enjoyment. Yes we like smores, and watching the birds, and fishing, and hiking; but so help me, we like our Netflix too, and I sure would like to be able to watch the weather report. Even Dish coverage is spotty out here. It's weird, we're not down in a valley or anything. Not sure why this is such a dead zone out here.
Canyon road and limestone cliffs are awesome. Secluded spots in the trees. If you have Verizon and rely on data this may not be the campground for you.
Beautiful view of the lake! Multiple options of camping sites. Clean RR and showers. Nice area!
The Grotto is interesting and inspiring. Admission is free. Two adjacent camping areas are partially shaded and will accommodate rigs of all sizes. I counted (8) 50 amp and (16) 30 amp sites. Rest rooms, showers, fresh water and a dump station are provided. The cost is $20 per night. Sites are offered on a first come first served basis. Thirty amp sites are on lush grass and include a view of a the grotto, a pond and surrounding residences. The 50 amp area offers more privacy, gravel pull through parking and more convenient shower and rest room access but a lightly used rail line runs by.
We were lucky and got a spot right along the lake. This park is peaceful (only slight downfall is the trains you can hear a bit-not too loud though). Bike/hiking trail, disc golf, kayak/paddle boat rentals, swimming beach, historic roller skating rink, playgrounds and more-something for everyone to enjoy! Close to Jefferson which has a great coffee shop and cute shops!
This was wonderful and beautiful
I stayed at Ledges in June and hiked the trails again in February. The campground is well kept but busy in the summer months with it being a popular hiking destination for Des Moines locals. With most of the surrounding areas having little to no elevation changes there are a few nice hikes along some rocky hills beside the river both in summer and winter.
Very nice park you can pull your rig right up to the lake there is fishing and hiking. Can rent kayaks paddle boats you name this place is a nice quiet place to camp
Very nice campground with a lake to fish and swimming area. Tent and campers access
There are campsites along the lake with easy access to shoreline. There are approximately 100 sites. There is a playground and disc golf. There is a roller rink and a concession stand. This is a very busy campground in the summer. There are reservable sites on mycountyparks.com. There is a golf course that borders the park.
Large campground, accommodates RVs & tents. Wooded & open sites. Appear level. Clean restrooms & shower stalls. Water. Playground. Friendly & helpful campground host. 3 bars T-Mobile. Great hiking trails in park.
We have hiked here and it was really busy when we did. We decided to come back and camp a few months later. The campground was large but the DNR was helpful when finding our spot along with nice signs everywhere. We didn’t have any problems, people seemed friendly. Didn’t use the bathrooms but the outsides looked nice. We traveled to Des Moines when we stayed but there is lots to do near by. I would suggest the “high tressel trail” for bike riders, lots of cute bars to stop in along the way. Madrid has a bakery and some other cute places. Boone has a scenic train ride if that’s your thing. And the town of Luther, about 4 miles from the campground has a BBQ place that a lot of people travel to.
Excellent amenities well run Very clean. Surroundings very pretty
This is a gigantic park with an amazing variety of activities. The park itself is gorgeous and beautifully maintained. Unfortunately, the RV park is quite cramped. The sites are somewhat modest in size and the one-way roads are narrow and unmarked. (Several times during our two-night stay, drivers were forced to pull off to permit a “wrong-way” vehicle to pass.) The park host is really helpful and hospitable. Unfortunately, the RV park has almost no signage and is a bit chaotic so the host is likely unable to maintain much order. If you’re traveling during an off-season period, this would be a beautiful destination. During peak times, it’s just too busy for our taste.
The park is quite with some nice camping spots. Very quite with nobody around. The park could use some improvements but parks like these are my favorite!
Great selection of campsites for a wide variety of needs. Wonderful views from most sites. Access to multiple walking trails. Beautiful, wooded setting. Clean bathrooms/showers.
Bottom line. My bad but the site said electric. In all the other parks I’ve been to “electric” includes water. Which this park does not. Many trees, very pretty. Cell reception is weak.
Our camping experience was very nice. Pulling up to this park was surreal, considering the surrounding farmland that suddenly shows a lone forest. Some of the sites are pretty close, luckily we were next to a friendly couple with a cute dog. We were able to buy a good $5 bundle of firewood from the camp host. It was extremely quiet, until a camper pulled up with its generator. Still, a calming environment. A devious pack of raccoons stole our marshmallows (from a CLOSED bag) when we went in the tent for five minutes. So beware of that I guess 😂
Picturesque location south of Boone Ia. Close to town with stores with plenty of camping supplies. Arrive early sites fill-up fast. Online site for reservations and to check site availability.
Quiet, empty and very clean bathrooms!! Fires allowed, picnic benches and just a short walk to the grotto of redemption.
Coming here on a Hot Day in the summer is the best. Lush trees and water to wade in. Recommend the hikes and walking the water river beds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Rockwell City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Rockwell City, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 39 reviews.
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