Central Iowa's countryside surrounding Roland offers a range of camping experiences within a 30-minute drive. State parks like Ledges State Park near Madrid and county facilities such as Hickory Grove Campground in Colo provide established camping areas with varying amenities. Little Wall Lake County Park in Jewell and Dakins Lake County Park in Zearing round out the options with year-round and seasonal availability respectively. Most campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping, with several also offering cabin rentals for those seeking additional comfort. The landscape features a mix of lake views, wooded areas, and prairie settings typical of Iowa's terrain.
Reservations are recommended for most campgrounds in the region, particularly during summer weekends when facilities reach capacity. Many sites offer electrical hookups with rates typically ranging from $11-18 per night for primitive to full-service sites. Weather considerations include hot, humid summers with occasional thunderstorms and mosquitoes, while spring camping may encounter flooding in some riverside locations. As one camper noted about Ledges State Park, "Beware of the raccoons. They're plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the carton without disturbing anything else." Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though some campgrounds near highways may experience traffic noise.
Campers frequently mention the water recreation opportunities as highlights of the region. Pine Lake State Park receives praise for its dual lakes offering "paddle on upper or lower Pine Lake, fishing, bicycle trails, hiking trails, and beach swimming." Several campgrounds provide boat access to local rivers and lakes, with fishing being particularly popular. Wildlife viewing opportunities include deer, turkeys, and various bird species. While sites at many Iowa campgrounds tend to be relatively close together, visitors note that weekday camping offers more solitude. The reasonable pricing of campgrounds in this region makes them attractive options, with one reviewer commenting that county parks have "incredibly well groomed" sites that are "clean and tucked into the woods."
$18 - $38 / night
"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."
"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."
$17 - $24 / night
"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."
$17 / night
"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."
$20 - $25 / night
"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."
"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."
"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"
$16 - $90 / night
"This campground is near home so I know it well. The campground itself is nice, with some decent sized campsites, many having a great view of upper Pine Lake. There are flush toilets and showers."
"Lovely views, great walking paths, quiet and picturesque lake. Bathrooms and shower rooms are new and super clean. Campground is well kept. We will definitely be back."
TravelerComing in from the west there is a large u-shaped pull-off to the left just before a gate that is used to close the road for flooding. There are no signs. The lot area appears to be mowed annually. I parked along the lake/river shore without issues and popped up my truck tent. Over 40 bird species and a curious bald eagle dropped in and observed me through sunset.
TravelerThis location is on the east side of Jefferson on the old Lincoln highway at the Greene county fair grounds directly next to the Milwaukee trestle bike trail. It has both tent and RV camping spots. The RV is parallel parking with electric only. Black water dump site is at the waist water treatment plant by the public swimming pool on west Russell street on the south side of the street across from south walnut street entrance. The fairgrounds dose have horse and livestock amenities and events at times of the year with the Greene county fair and other events. It also has an agricultural museum and other events in the summer.
GuideI took my mother and my youngest on a Mother’s Day weekend camping adventure. 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. The campground offers free WiFi and it reached clear to the back end over by the four little cabins. The pit toilets by the four little cabins were clean and stocked. My daughter was able to walk her little dog around the campground with no issues of other dogs running loose. Quiet hours begin at 10:30 pm and everyone followed the rule. I also like how close to the river this campground is. We stayed in electrical spots in the #60s. I like how you can scan the QR code and pay right there from your phone. Very convenient! The camp hosts were friendly and would often cruise by in their golf cart checking on campers.
GuideJust spent one night. It’s self pay, and only $20per day, for water, electricity, picnic tables, and fire ring. They’re good sized spaces. There’s clean bathrooms
TravelerPark was pretty full, but they found us a spot for the night. Excellent pricing and the yards are BIG compared to other places we've stayed. Would definitely come back
TravelerGreat, convenient campground at a very reasonable price $15 if you pay cash or $19 when paying via the QR code at each site. The location is sitting right along the river where I saw several people fishing. There’s also a small playground, which is a nice touch for families.
I stayed at a 30-amp electric-only site, so no water hookups or dump station, but there is a dumpster available for trash. Overall, it’s a simple, safe, well-maintained spot that offers good value, and I would definitely stay here again.
ScoutTesting out a new set up and this has full service with electric, water and sewer line.
TravelerArrived just before dusk and I was the only person in the park. Set up across the road from the Accessible Porta-potty. There is a nice playground for kids, and a couple of shelter houses. The park is set up to handle a large amount of horses with access to the trails throughout the park. The Iowa river backs up the park, and I felt it was a nice and peaceful evening.
Make sure you check out the boulder down by the creek!
There were just a couple of minor annoyances, and the first was someone’s dog barking at everything for a good part of the night, and the other was some machine noise down the road into the late evening. Other than that though, I felt it was a great time, and plan to visit again, maybe later in the summer or even in the winter, as the park is open all year.
The cost was$10 per night, and you can register on-site with a dropbox.
Travelerrv site. very cold that night, but nice camping
Camping opportunities near Roland, Iowa include a mix of state and county parks within short driving distance. Most campsites in the area sit between 1,000-1,100 feet elevation in a landscape characterized by glacial deposits that created the region's small lakes and rolling terrain. Weather patterns typically include spring thunderstorms from April through June, with July and August bringing the warmest camping conditions.
Hiking trails: Ledges State Park features challenging terrain unusual for central Iowa. "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!" notes Jennifer M.
Water recreation: Pine Lake State Park offers dual lake access for paddling enthusiasts. "Paddle on upper or lower Pine Lake, fishing, shore or boat (lake, stream, or river), bicycle trails, hiking trails (all around lower Pine Lake), beach swimming (lower only)," writes Kerry M. who recommends the varied water activities.
Winter visits: Many parks in the area maintain limited winter accessibility. Briggs Woods Park keeps select sites open year-round, allowing for off-season visits when crowds thin substantially. "Stayed in early November. Nice park with standard tent and RV sites. Boone River, Briggs Woods Lake good for paddling with rentals available, fishing, beach, shower house, cabins," reports James M.
Wildlife viewing: Swede Point Park provides opportunities to experience natural Iowa habitat. "This county park has many amenities not to mention that it is close to a very popular bike trail (High Tressel Trail Bridge). There are a few miles of mowed trails along with a couple of trail through the woods up and down hills," shares reviewer J.B.
Fishing opportunities: Local lakes provide productive fishing throughout the camping season. Little Wall Lake County Park receives high marks from anglers. "This lake is great, lots of fishing spots and camping spots," notes Jodi H. about the accessible shoreline.
Affordability: Campgrounds in the Roland area maintain reasonable rates compared to other recreation destinations. Prairie Flower Recreation Area provides good value according to visitors. "The campground is full of wild flowers, thus the name Prairie Flower," explains Matt S., highlighting the natural setting that comes with the modest pricing.
Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "This campground is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out," advises Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Shade variations: Established campgrounds offer better tree cover than newer facilities. "Unfortunately being a newer campground there are no established trees for shade, we found the best spots are on the south side where the camper door faces east," notes Debra T. about Dakins Lake.
Weekday advantages: Visiting midweek provides a dramatically different experience than weekends. "Can get busy on the weekends but if you camp mid-week you may be the only folks around. Very peaceful," mentions MitchRoeschlein about Pine Lake State Park.
Playground access: Jester County Park features family-friendly amenities. "Beautiful campground! By far, this county park has a lot of fun activities and access points to the Saylorville waterway circuit. In addition to the water access ways, there is a sweet pond to fish in, several hiking trails, a brand new Nature Center, amphitheater, bison and bird viewing," recommends Larissa C.
Swimming options: Many local lakes maintain designated swimming areas with varying amenities. "They have a fun 'eagles view' point that overlooks the ledges. Nice picnic areas are also available," Jennifer M. shares about Ledges State Park.
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature programming for children. "The Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level," Jim S. mentions about Jester County Park, highlighting the learning opportunities available.
Dump station timing: Little Wall Lake County Park provides year-round services. "This little gem is a great place to stay. Small lake. Some sites are reserveable online and some are first come first serve. We had water and electric on site," reports Mary, noting the amenities available.
Site leveling: Campgrounds vary in pad preparation and levelness. "Spacious campsites with cement pads," Ron M. notes about Prairie Flower Recreation Area, making setup easier for larger units.
Electric service: Most campgrounds offer electrical hookups with varying amperage options. "The sites vary in size, all of them seem ample. The best sites, in my opinion, are along the lake," says Abby F. about Hickory Grove Park, which maintains electrical sites along the waterfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Roland, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Roland, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 92 campgrounds and RV parks near Roland, IA and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Roland, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Roland, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 39 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Roland, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Roland, IA.
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