Best Campgrounds near West Branch, IA

Recent Reviews near West Branch, IA

601 Reviews of 130 West Branch Campgrounds

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Nov. 8, 2025

  Pine Grove Campground, Scott Co Park

  Where Tent Campers Co-mingle w/ the RVing Crowd

  While there’s 7 campgrounds to choose from here in Scott County Park, if you are looking for the most centrally located campground to the entire park, as well as the CG that feels the most secluded from any other neighboring overnight accommodation in the park, then Pine Grove CG is a great choice. Another upside to Pine Grove is that it has a single hiking trail heading west that will connect you with a wider network of hiking & biking trails. And if you have water on your mind, in just about 200 yards, you can access Glynns Creek and just south of this Cody Lake for all of your oar paddling pleasure.

  The layout of the CG here is a simple oblong circle pathway with a single lane dissecting the loop that lines up campsites one after the other with sites on both the interior and exterior of all paths. Unlike some of the other CGs here at Scott County Park, Pine Grove is a spot where both RVs and tent campers live in harmony and where there’s even a deluxe cabin to rent, if that’s more to your liking. There’s very little brush on the interior of the CG save a somewhat thick treeline surrounding the entire camping area. Apart from those that back-up to the surrounding treeline, most campers will experience zero privacy as there is no natural bush or canopy that separates one camper from another, so if that matters to you, then I would suggest aiming for a spot on the exterior and to bring some makeshift buffers that would add some solitude to your stay.

  Arriving here at Pine Grove isn’t the easiest, so as likely you would have entered from the southern entrance – where you would have been greeted by some of the friendliest rangers I have ever come across, who along with providing you a map of the place, will gladly sell you some firewood, which you should take them up on – you will just want to take your first right taking you past Hickory Hills and Whispering Pines Shelter (both of which provide excellent access to Pride Lake), followed by the next available left turn, just past the swimming pool on your left) and you’ll eventually arrive to Pine Grove Campground. And if whatever reason, you don’t like the site you’ve been given, just backtrack to the ranger station and ask if they can move you.

  As far as the amenities are concerned, Pine Grove offers up a proper dump station along with impeccably clean restroom and shower facilities that do indeed produce some nice hot water. High five to the rangers here at Scott County Park who do an amazing job of keeping the facilities organized, well-maintained and incredibly clean. There’s also a playground here along with lots of open space around the perimeter for the kiddos to run around and play tag or hide-n-go-seek. There’s standard FHU’s with electric and water at each site along with standard-issued picnic tables and fire rings, both of which come in pretty good condition. The parking pads are gravel and quite level and there is considerable space at each of the campsites here, so no worries on being too close to your neighbors.

  No matter which CG you choose here at Scott County Park, it’s not so much about where you are camping for the night (although that can be important), but rather, what camping here provides you access to, which IMHO is a quite lot: 18 hole golf course, in-ground swimming pool complete with waterslides, 20 miles of hiking / biking trails, pioneer village, 14 park shelters perfect for picnics complete with tables, grills and / or fireplaces, baseball field, volleyball court, basketball court, clubhouse, dedicated exercise areas, concession areas, equestrian trails, 4 different lakes for fishing and swimming that also feature boat docks, paddle boat rentals and even a few creeks where you can attempt to kayak and canoe if the water levels are high enough. What I love most about this park is just how family-friendly and educational this experience can be for the little ones.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Not that I have personally visited every single one of the picnic shelters that exist here, but my favorite one that I did visit was Crooked Knife as it offered peace & quiet along with some very good picnic tables underneath a canopy of adolescent Oaks turning colors in the Autumn; (2) While there’s not much in the way of dining options in these parts, there is Park View Café, which has an excellent breakfast and decent coffee in the morning and is located outside of Scott County Park on its SW corner; (3) The most challenging hiking trails are those located on the park’s NE perimeter, just below the golf course; (4) For mi tent pitchin’ bredren, while Pine Grove is a fine option for you to consider, if you really wanted to get away from the RV and 5th Wheel crowd, I would recommend checking out Wilderness CG, which has been organized more for those who prefer to erect their overnight accommodations; and (5) If you are simply looking for a convenient overnight place to park without all of the fringe benefits of paying to actually camp here at any one of the CG’s at Scott County Park, there is solid parking options at the NW corner of the park to the east of the Village Office across the street from St. Anne’s Church and Walnut Grove Pioneer Village.

  Happy Camping!

  Read More
• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Nov. 8, 2025

  Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground

  Scott County Park’s Secret Saddle Spot

  Tucked away in the southeast corner of Scott County Park – yes, the same park that already has more campgrounds than a camping catalog – lurks a little-known equestrian primitive campground. It’s the sort of place that feels like you stumbled onto a secret level in a video game: no hookups, no frills, just you, your horse and the occasional squirrel judging your life choices. If SOC-Fox is the Brady Bunch middle child (see my review for this CG), this one is the mysterious cousin who shows up at family reunions in cowboy boots and doesn’t say much.

  The sites? Bare-bones, as expected. You’re not here for 'glamping.' You’re here for space to tie up your horse, throw up a tent and feel like you’ve traveled back to 1883 (minus the dysentery). Fire rings are your only luxury item here, and if you’re expecting bathhouses with spa vibes, forget it. You’ll find pit toilets that are … serviceable. Let’s call them ‘character-building.’ Roads in here are gravelly but manageable if you take it slow, but you don’t really want to be coming here if you’re toting a 5th wheel or driving an RV as this area is really more geared for mi tent pitchin’ bredren who want the opportunity to ‘rough it’ ... ideally with their noble steeds.

  What makes it shine, though, are the equestrian trails. Miles of riding paths crisscross through woods, open meadows and rolling hills. Even if you’re not on horseback, you can hike them and pretend you’re in a Western where the budget ran out before they gave you an actual horse. And because this campground is the least famous of the seven, you’re more likely to get actual peace & quiet. No cannonballing kids, no RV generators humming in the night, just plenty of crickets, the odd, stray coyote and your horse deciding 2 a.m. is the perfect time to shuffle around loudly.

  Insider Tips? Giddy-up, here’s a few: (1) Bring your own water as there’s no magic spigot here; (2) If you want solitude, this is the place. It’s basically the anti-aquatic center; (3) Hungry after a day on the trail? Eldridge’s Grille on the Green dishes out hearty comfort food, and you won’t even have to tie your horse out front; and (4) If you need supplies, hit the Tractor Supply in nearby Eldridge. They won’t blink when you walk in smelling like hay and campfire.

  Happy Camping!

  Read More
• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Nov. 8, 2025

  Little Bear Campground

  Cozy I-80 Oasis with Full Hookups and Flashback Vibes

  I’m following up on my review from over a year ago with fresh details, some new pics and a topline summary of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS:

  HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Full-hookup pull-through RV sites with 30 / 50 amp electric power, water, and sewer; (2) Dust-free gravel pads and flat grass spots, perfect for quick setups or longer rests with no leveling hassles; (3) Amenities galore: hot showers, clean restrooms, laundry, dump station, even a game room and refreshing pool (during warmer weather); (4) Friendly, helpful owner (Mike) on call 24/7, even for late arrivals– trust me, genuine hospitality in the middle of nowhere; and (5) Quiet enough to hear crickets, yet close enough to I-80 for that satisfying highway convenience without the roar

  LOWLIGHTS: (1) Kiddie pool energy during peak season where the playground and pool are great for families, but can feel like summer camp at times; (2) Tiny tent sites clustered against cornfields with those looking for solitude may feel a little too close for comfort; (3) Not a wilderness escape for nature seekers, but more ‘pampered road stop’ than ‘forest retreat’; (4) No reservations online: you have to call or Facebook-message Mike for a spot, which works until your cell signal doesn’t; and (5) Lacks thematic glamour overall, as it’s both friendly and functional, but it won’t win any camping ambiance awards.

  Happy Camping!

  Read More
• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Nov. 8, 2025

  Incahias Campground - Scott County Park

  Open Pasture Tent Pitchen Camping Bliss

  Of the 7 campgrounds that exist here in Scott County Park, Incahias is located on the westernmost perimeter of the park sitting just opposite Woodside Campground. Unlike the other campgrounds here, which are basically organized with a simple oval loop that likely has an intersecting lane, Incahias has several lanes (to be exact, 6 of them) that are more narrow all in an open field with very little brush, save a somewhat thick treeline on the western flank. This basically means next to zero privacy, so if that matters to you, then I would suggest aiming for one of the slots furthest west and to bring some makeshift buffers that would add to some solitude.

  Having arrived here at Incahias, you would have had to enter likely from the southern entrance, where you would have been greeted by some of the friendliest rangers I have ever come across, who along with providing you with a map of the place, will gladly sell you some firewood, which you should take them up on. After passing the ranger station, you’ll want to stick to your left at every fork in the road, passing by Bald Eagle Campground on your right, Oak Tree and Crooked Knife picnic areas on your left, before arriving to Incahias, where you’ll just want to follow the signs and then park in your designated campsite. And for whatever reason, if you don’t like the site you’ve been given, go back to the ranger station and see if they can move you – when we were there, they were very agreeable to move us to another spot without too much of an issue.

  At Incahias, you’ll find there’s a proper dump station along with impeccably clean restroom and shower facilities that do indeed produce some nice hot water. Again, hats off to the rangers here at Scott County Park who do an amazing job of keeping the facilities organized, well-maintained and incredibly clean – this is always the chief complaint amongst my family of ladies, so for them to be impressed is saying something! There’s also a playground here along with lots of open space for the kids to run around or get a game of football in. There’s standard FHU’s with electric and water at each site along with standard-issued picnic table and fire rings, both of which come in pretty good condition. The parking pads are gravel and quite level, but hey, you’re in Iowa, so that shouldn't be too difficult to find.

  No matter which CG you choose here at Scott County Park, it’s not so much about where you are camping for the night (although that can be important), but rather, what camping here provides you, which is a lot: 18 hole golf course, in-ground swimming pool complete with waterslides, 20 miles of hiking / biking trails, pioneer village, 14 park shelters perfect for picnics complete with tables, grills and / or fireplaces, baseball field, volleyball court, basketball court, clubhouse, dedicated exercise areas, concession areas, equestrian trails, 4 different lakes for fishing and swimming that also feature boat docks, paddle boat rentals and even a few creeks where you can attempt to kayak and canoe if the water levels are high enough. What I love most about this park is just how family-friendly and educational this experience can be for the little ones.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) The most challenging hiking trails are those located on the park’s NE perimeter, just below the golf course; (2) For mi tent pitchin’ bredren, I would recommend of all the CG’s here that you try your luck out over at Wilderness CG, which has been organized more for you, otherwise, you can try the primitive area over in the SE corner of the park earmarked for Equestrian trails; (3) If you are simply looking for a convenient overnight place to park without all of the fringe benefits of paying to actually camp here at any one of the CG’s at Scott County Park, there is solid parking options at the NW corner of the park to the east of the Village Office across the street from St. Anne’s Church and Walnut Grove Pioneer Village; and (4) While there’s not much in the way of dining options in these parts, there is Park View Café, which has an excellent breakfast and decent coffee in the morning and is located outside of Scott County Park on its SW corner.

  Happy Camping!

  Read More
• J

  Jeff A.

  Traveler

  Oct. 13, 2025

  Central Park

  Late Season Camping

  Great weather.. The sites were clean.. Small lake to fish and kayak!

• P

  Peter K.

  Traveler

  Oct. 1, 2025

  Linder Point Campground

  Well designed and maintained small RV campground j

  Natural setting with plenty of trees and located near Coralville Reservoir. Paved roads and sites. Ample roam for big rigs, but no pull through sites. Electricity only, with fresh water and a dump station nearby. Modern and clean bathhouse. Open sky at most sites for Starlink. No other amenities at this campsite for children, but there are hiking trails and activities at the nearby reservoir recreation areas.

• R

  Ralph C.

  Traveler

  Sep. 24, 2025

  Summit Campground - West Lake Park

  Nice Break

  We are headed to North Carolina and needed a break from the back-to-back travel days. This campground was clean and quiet while we’re were there. We did stay from Monday to Wednesday so it might be busier on the weekends.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  Sep. 23, 2025

  Sac-Fox Campground, Scott Co Park

  The Brady Bunch of Campgrounds

  SOC-Fox Campground is like the middle child in a family of seven - yes, count 'em seven - campgrounds within Scott County Park. Think Brady Bunch, but with fire pits and RV hookups instead of bell bottoms and avocado-colored kitchens. It’s not the flashiest sibling, but it’s got that reliable Midwest charm that makes you go,'Yep, it's not the most attractive, but it will get the job done.' First impression? Clean, organized and incredibly less chaotic than you’d expect from the Jan of the camping family.

  The sites here are roomy, shaded, and well-behaved, just like campers who say 'please' and 'thank you' everywhere you go, well, because you're in the Midwest. You’ve got a mix of electric and FHU options, so everyone from RV royalty to tent campers with coolers full of questionable lunch meat can settle in comfortably. Roads are wide enough that you won’t have to close one eye and pray when maneuvering your rig. Bathhouses? Shockingly nice. Like, did a spa consultant sneak in here when no one was looking?!  Nice. Fire rings and picnic tables come standard, and the pet-friendly vibe means your dog will probably make more friends than you do.  There's some shade, but most of it is on the treeline on the perimeter.

  And let’s talk about Scott County Park itself, which is like the Disney World of county parks. You want hiking? Got it. Equestrian trails? Saddle up. Disc golf? Fore! Playground for the kids? Absolutely. And then there’s the aquatic center. Not a pool. Not a splash pad. A full-on aquatic wonderland with waterslides, diving boards and enough chlorine to strip a small car of paint. Meanwhile, other campgrounds are out here bragging about their kiddie swings. Weak, right?!

  Insider Tips?  Here's a handful: (1) Shady sites near the woods are perfect for naps and hiding from the in-laws, while open sites are better if you need your daily satellite news fix; (2) Hungry? Roll into nearby Eldridge for The Rustic Ridge, where the burgers are taller than your nephew’s science project and fries are an entire food group all to itself; (3) Kayak fans can float the Wapsipinicon River where it’s calm, scenic and you’ll get to wave at locals fishing with that 'I’ve lived here since 1842' energy; and (4) Don’t skip the aquatic center as your kids will cannonball themselves into exhaustion while you finally finish that camp chair beer in peace.

  Happy Camping!

  Read More
• 

  Emily B.

  Scout

  Sep. 21, 2025

  River Junction

  Great views and location, but not private and not well-marked

  This was our first time camping here. We pulled in around 8pm when it was already dark and there was another car that had just entered the campground in front of us. After driving down the hill, he saw the basic “welcome” and “Pay here” signs next to a 4-car parking area. There were no signs marking where the bathroom was or any directions on how to choose a site. The group ahead of us chose to camp next to the boat ramp, so we circled around the loop and chose a dirt pad on the right side of the loop next to the river. We were very confused because the pictures on Dyrt showed picnic tables and fire rings at every site, but these were nowhere to be seen. It was getting late, so we set up the tent and went to bed. It wasn’t until the morning that we had discovered that we weren’t camping in one of the marked sites! As it turns out, all 4 sites were walk-in sites on grass behind the parking area that had been occupied by 2 cars when we pulled in. The signage didn’t clarify this and we couldn’t see the marked sites when it was dark! The marked sites were pretty close together and they offered no privacy between groups. Additionally, upon leaving we discovered that the toilet was on the top of the hill right by the entrance. Due to the lack of signage and privacy in between the official campsites, I rate 3 stars. It was very beautiful and peaceful, but it was very confusing in the dark.

  Read More