Best Equestrian Camping near Whittemore, IA

Looking for the best campgrounds near Whittemore, IA? Whittemore is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Discover great camping spots near Whittemore, reviewed by campers like you.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Whittemore, Iowa (5)

    1. Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Forest City, IA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (641) 581-4835

    $10 - $28 / night

    "Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park."

    "When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground."

    2. Fort Defiance State Park Campground

    2 Reviews
    Estherville, IA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 337-3211

    $10 - $16 / night

    "A hidden gem in Northwest Iowa. It is Memerial Day Weekend and on Friday night we had one other tent camper on Friday. None on Saturday. 

    The bathrooms are the old hole going down into a pit."

    "Fort Defiance is a forresty natural state park in Iowa. There is Electrical Hook ups a picnic Table and a charcoal Grill already at the camp site."

    3. Bright Lake Co Park

    1 Review
    Dolliver, MN
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 236-4693

    "Really nice spot almost overlooking the lake (Through the trees), had fire ring, picnic tables and room for quite a lot of tents! For me and my family it was perfect!"

    4. Brown County Park

    2 Reviews
    Spirit Lake, MN
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 847-2525

    "We were back on Taylor Ridge so we had a noticeable drive in/out anytime we went anywhere. Bathrooms were clean and maintained. Sites had ample space."

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near Whittemore, IA

17 Reviews of 5 Whittemore Campgrounds


  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    May. 30, 2021

    Fort Defiance State Park Campground

    A Hidden Gem in Iowa

    A hidden gem in Northwest Iowa. It is Memerial Day Weekend and on Friday night we had one other tent camper on Friday. None on Saturday. 

    The bathrooms are the old hole going down into a pit. They are very rustic. 

    There are plenty of trails in the park. The big creek that runs through the kiddos can play in. It is not deep but it’s water. There are some other small little creeks too.

    Around the camping area, the kids rode their bikes. We did ride around the roads as a family. 

    The camp site are dirt. 

    There are permanent fire rings and grills at each site. Only place to get firewood was at Hy-Vee. Our site had electricity with 50, 30,& 20 amps. 

    There is only one water spot in the campground. We drank the water and didn’t die. 

    There is a golf course next to the park that is fun. 

    My only real complaint would be there is a lot of people just driving through.

  • Adrian D.
    Apr. 5, 2020

    Fort Defiance State Park Campground

    Great Hikes

    Fort Defiance is a forresty natural state park in Iowa. There is Electrical Hook ups a picnic Table and a charcoal Grill already at the camp site. The valley has a small river or a big creek, idk you tell me the difference, what you can cross over a few times on the trails. Depending on the time of day, generally in the morning you can cruise through at day break and find deer on the roads to watch out!

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 25, 2023

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Layout of campground would be challenging if full

    General: A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows. 

    Site Quality: Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter. 

    Bathhouse: Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them. 

    Activities: Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there). 

    Misc: A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.

  • M
    Aug. 26, 2018

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Camping in the woods near town

    Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park. Plenty of hiking trails, playground for the kids, and an amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach. Golf is also nearby at The New Ulm Country Club which is open to the public. Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2024

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Great site to camp - non electric sites are $10.00 -“and electric are $18.00

    Nice place to spend the weekend or a week! Came in late and a resident helped me find a great spot. When driving to my site two fawns were laying near the playground.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2024

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Great place!

    Standard site without electric was only $10.00 a night which includes a nearby water spigot to fill your tank with. Put toilets and showers available. The friendly hosts made a point to come by to chat. Two fawns were born there, under one of the picnic tables and they were around all weekend. I’ll be back !

  • Lisa P.
    Jul. 8, 2019

    Pilot Knob State Park Campground

    Lots of room

    Pull through sites, bathhouse was clean and showers were individual room with timed lights, motion sensors kept the shower interesting! Got to see turtles laying eggs and deer were all around. Family loved the fishing.

  • Wally B.
    Aug. 16, 2020

    Bright Lake Co Park

    Awesome Sunset!

    Really nice spot almost overlooking the lake (Through the trees), had fire ring, picnic tables and room for quite a lot of tents! For me and my family it was perfect!

  • Dean G.
    Sep. 18, 2023

    Brown County Park

    Brown County

    This place is HUGE. We were shocked at the size of the state park and how many many campsites there were. We were back on Taylor Ridge so we had a noticeable drive in/out anytime we went anywhere. Bathrooms were clean and maintained. Sites had ample space. Because it is all on the ridges of the park, there is a significant decline after the campsite “flat area”


Guide to Whittemore

Horse camping in Iowa offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.

Most campgrounds have horse-focused amenities like trails and facilities

Equestrian campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy hiking and fishing at Webster County Kennedy Park Campground, which provides a family-friendly atmosphere alongside horse camping.
  • Bright Lake Co Park is a fantastic spot for those who enjoy water activities, with opportunities for boating and fishing just a short distance from your campsite.
  • At Brown County Park, you can explore extensive trails and enjoy the natural beauty of the park while riding through its picturesque landscapes.

Campers appreciate these amenities for horses

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Whittemore, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Whittemore, IA is Pilot Knob State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Whittemore, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Whittemore, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.