Tent campers near Ruthven, Iowa have several established options within driving distance, though most sites are modest in amenities. Iowa Lake County Campground offers lakeside tent sites with basic facilities, while Bright Lake County Park provides tent camping with access to fire rings and picnic tables. Ambrose A. Call State Park Campground, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Ruthven, offers electrical hookups uncommon at other tent sites in the region.
Most tent campgrounds in the Ruthven area feature basic amenities with varying levels of site development. Iowa Lake County Campground provides drinking water and vault toilets but lacks shower facilities or electrical hookups. Sites typically sit on grassy or packed dirt surfaces with minimal privacy between camping areas. Bright Lake County Park allows multiple access options including drive-in, boat-in, and walk-in tent sites, making it versatile for different camping styles. Campers should note that many sites operate seasonally, with Ambrose A. Call State Park Campground specifically open from April 1 to November 1.
The tent camping experience near Ruthven offers varying levels of activity and solitude depending on location and timing. One camper noted that Iowa Lake County Campground can be "quite a bit of people" at times, particularly with "rowdy college kids," though others report finding it completely empty. Walk-in tent sites at Bright Lake County Park provide more seclusion and nature immersion, with a visitor describing it as a "really nice spot almost overlooking the lake through the trees" with "room for quite a lot of tents." For families seeking tent camping options, Bright Lake County Park appears particularly suitable with its sunset views and lakeside location. Most tent campgrounds in the area support fishing and basic hiking activities, though extensive trail networks are limited compared to larger state parks in other regions.
"I found this to be a great little spot to stay bike touring through Iowa. It is right in a lake, has water, and a nice vault toilet. Unlike the other reviewer I was literally the only one there."
"Sites have electricity, but water spigots are shared. Free firewood is provided. Nice oak trees. No privacy between sites. Pit toilets. No showers."
"The park itself is pretty nice with several trails and a small campground. There is an enclosed stone shelter house you can rent for gatherings."
"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!"
TravelerDispersed camping really. You can bring a big rig in. No really prepared sites. Maybe 5 places you could set up. No water, no electric, no toilet. Swampy area nearby so bring mosquito repellent. But the price is right.
GuideThis is a small private campground that offers a quiet nights stay. Site size was moderate with some shade, a fire ring, picnic table, on a level gravel pad. $20 per Passport America members for FHU is sweet. The grounds were well cared for and was not to far from the interstate but far enough away that there was little noise.
GuideGreat Campground. The park Ranger on Duty was very helpful. Campsites were generous in space. Well kept. Fire Ring and picnic table on site were kept up well. Trails and scenery through the back hills are well kept and maintained.
GuideChosen at the last minute for its proximity to the Twin Cities area, the drive was about 2 hrs 45 minutes. Park is quiet, clean and very easy to hike. Entire park can easily be hiked in a day, with prairie, river and oak savanna views. The park rangers were not at the station at any point while we visited, meaning payment for firewood and parking must be done online. Really nice facility with flush toilets and showers sits between the two campground loops. Camped in Walk-In Site #1 and the seclusion from the electric sites was great. The walk-in sites are nestled in the woods and fairly private. From the parking spot to the campsite was an easy ~100’.
GuideStayed in the walk-in section of the campground. Just a short walk from the parking and vault toilet. Beautiful Oaks surround you as does the sumac, raspberries and mosquitos. Even though it rained it was a superb experience 🙏
GuideThis is a great campground in Mankato, MN. The sites are huge and offer water and electric. The shower house/bathrooms were decent - a little outdated, but not too bad. There was also a portable toilet near our site. We wish there was sewer, but we understand that being so close to the river this may not be possible. We will definitely stay here again if we are in the area.
TravelerSmall campground. Not busy while I was here. Sites have electricity, but water spigots are shared. Free firewood is provided. Nice oak trees. No privacy between sites. Pit toilets. No showers. Park is very nice with hiking trails and a Frisbee Golf course. $18 per night.
TravelerFirst thing to know is that you cannot pay for anything there directly... no cash, no checks, no credit cards, no tap, nothing. You need to use the Yodel app to purchase firewood and, even if there is staff present, you'll need to pay for your site on the MN State Park reservations system. What's nice is that there is no convenience charge when you are on site. This totally threw us as we are used to pulling up and paying with cash or card to a human. And, they have no wifi. So you'll have to use your phone or, like I did, use your phone as a hotspot to use your laptop/tablet.
Once that was all finally taken care of, we got to enjoy our spacious site. It was HOT, but there is a tree in the center of Site 7 that offered shade and lots of bushes and trees around that offer shade. We just had to keep moving to get it. Each site has a firepit and picnic table. Site 6 has a trail going through it on the edge while Site 7 had a trail on the other side but it was several feet from the actual site. I'm not sure it ever gets busy there, but if it did, you may have people around your site if you choose those edge sites.
This place was SO quiet! I know that also has to do with the other campers, so thank you to our fellow campers that weekend who kept it quiet. No road noise at all. There are fields nearby, so if it's plowing season I imagine it would be quite noisy and quite dusty.
At the end of September, along with the heat, there were tons of what we later learned were Asian Lady Beetles, which actually do sting. Surprise! Then when they started slowing down, here came the midges/no-see-ums. So I came away with a lot of stings. Boo! My spouse did not. So I guess they just liked me a lot.
I would totally recommend Kilen Woods SP! It was a total surprise to use as we were looking for a last minute place to camp, so that was wonderful. If you're driving along I90 in Minnesota or I26 in South Dakota and need an easy overnight, check this place out.
LegendCamped in Site #59 on Oct. 6-7, 2023. Our site had a fire ring, table, as well as electric & water. Spirit Lake is behind the site, although there was no lake access from there. Nice hearing the water lapping on shore. Registering for a site was a little confusing. There was a friendly host in the campground. Our site sloped down toward the lake; had to use our traction boards to level the van as best we can. No privacy between sites. The 6 room restroom/shower was clean. Overall, the campground was large and well maintained. It had an RV park feel to it, which is not our preferred type of camping. I believe folks in larger rigs will be comfortable here.
Tent campsites near Ruthven, Iowa offer modest accommodations within the prairie pothole region of northern Iowa. The area sits at approximately 1,400 feet elevation with a continental climate featuring warm summers and cold winters. Most camping areas surround small glacial lakes and ponds, with sites generally available from April through October when temperatures range from 50-85°F.
Fishing opportunities: Dog Creek County Park provides shoreline access to multiple fish species including bass, catfish, and panfish. The park maintains several easily accessible fishing spots along the lake edge.
Wildlife viewing: Devine Wildlife Area contains wetland habitats supporting migratory waterfowl and marsh birds. No formal facilities exist, but visitors can park at designated access points and explore the natural terrain.
Short hiking trails: Ambrose A. Call State Park Campground offers several walking paths through native woodlands. "The park itself is pretty nice with several trails and a small campground. There is an enclosed stone shelter house you can rent for gatherings," notes camper Abby F.
Lakeside tent sites: Iowa Lake County Campground provides water access with minimal development. Camper Bradley B. reports, "I found this to be a great little spot to stay bike touring through Iowa. It is right on a lake, has water, and a nice vault toilet."
Privacy at certain locations: Some tent camping areas near Ruthven offer more seclusion than others. Bradley B. observed about Iowa Lake County Campground, "Unlike the other reviewer I was literally the only one there. That's always a bit odd but in this case it didn't bother me at all."
Sunset views: Bright Lake County Park offers particularly impressive evening views from tent sites. Camper Wally B. shared, "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!"
Variable campground occupancy: Tent campgrounds near Ruthven experience fluctuating usage patterns. At Iowa Lake County Campground, Gabbie G. found "quite a bit of people when I was there and most of them were rowdy college kids bit hey it was still a blast," while others report complete solitude.
Primitive facilities: Most tent sites feature basic amenities only. Oneota Little Sioux Access offers vault toilets but no drinking water, electric hookups, or shower facilities.
Seasonal operation: Many campgrounds close during winter months. Plan accordingly for seasonal access restrictions, especially at smaller county-managed properties.
Spacious sites: Bright Lake County Park accommodates multiple tents per site. According to Wally B., it had "room for quite a lot of tents! For me and my family it was perfect!"
Shelter access: Consider campgrounds with shelter houses for unpredictable weather. Ambrose A. Call State Park Campground provides an enclosed stone shelter available for reservation.
Insect preparation: Cenla Campgrounds and similar locations can experience significant mosquito activity during summer months. Pack appropriate repellent, especially for evening hours when insects are most active.
Limited hookup availability: Most tent campsites near Ruthven have minimal or no RV amenities. Cenla Campgrounds offers rare full-hookup sites with water, electric, and sewer connections available.
Access challenges: Many secondary roads to camping areas have limited width and turning radius. RVs over 30 feet may experience difficulty navigating some county park entrance roads.
Alternative options: Dog Creek County Park provides 30-amp electrical hookups but lacks water and sewer connections, making it suitable for shorter stays in smaller RVs.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ruthven, IA is Oneota Little Sioux Access with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
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