Keith A.
Scout
ScoutDavid Bates Memorial Park
Free camp
Nice and quiet along a small river. No restroom, just a portapotty. Few fire rings, but we'll maintained. Canoe launch is just a dirt ramp.
Best Campgrounds near Story City, IA
Story City, Iowa has multiple campground options within a 30-mile radius, ranging from state parks to county facilities. The area includes Ledges State Park Campground, which accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins, and Little Wall Lake County Park offering electric hookups, tent sites, and cabin rentals. These mixed-use campgrounds typically operate between April and October, though some like Little Wall Lake remain open year-round, providing varied camping experiences in central Iowa's rural landscape.
Campground availability in the region is strongly seasonal, with most facilities operating from early spring through late fall. A visitor noted, "Great small town campground. Very quiet, especially on weekdays. Great place to take long walks with great paths and scenery." Weather considerations include potential spring flooding at riverfront sites and mosquito activity during summer months. Most campgrounds require reservations for electric sites and cabins, especially during summer weekends and holidays. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the area, though coverage may be spotty in more remote locations like Ledges State Park's hiking areas or wooded sections of county parks.
Several campgrounds in the region feature access to water recreation, with Little Wall Lake and Dakins Lake County Park providing fishing and boating opportunities. Many campers appreciate the balance of natural surroundings with proximity to amenities. According to one review, "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate." Campgrounds like Ledges State Park offer hiking trails and scenic sandstone formations that distinguish them from the predominantly flat terrain typical of central Iowa. Proximity to wildlife viewing is another highlight, with several visitors mentioning deer sightings at multiple campgrounds. Noise levels vary by location, with campgrounds near highways experiencing more traffic sound compared to those tucked deeper into wooded areas or along quieter county roads.
Best Camping Sites Near Story City, Iowa (88)
1. Ledges State Park Campground
40 ReviewsBoone, IA20 milesWebsite+1 (515) 432-1852"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."
2. Little Wall Lake County Park
5 ReviewsStory City, IA7 milesWebsite+1 (515) 832-9570"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."
3. Dakins Lake County Park
4 ReviewsRoland, IA15 milesWebsite+1 (641) 487-7477$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."
4. Hickory Grove Campground
5 ReviewsCollins, IA18 milesWebsite+1 (515) 232-2516$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."
5. Jester County Park
30 ReviewsGranger, IA30 milesWebsite+1 (515) 323-5300$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."
6. Briggs Woods Park
8 ReviewsWebster City, IA20 milesWebsite+1 (515) 832-9570"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. "
"that hold 4 campers good for groups (friends, Family) upper camp ground has more single sites. as of 2020 more sites under construction both upper and lower area. they have some cabins and a couple walk"
7. Swede Point Park
13 ReviewsMadrid, IA25 milesWebsite"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"
8. Don Williams Park
5 ReviewsOgden, IA23 milesWebsite+1 (515) 353-4237$12 - $20 / night
"Went kayaking on lake and then on Des Moines River (close by). Nice wildlife areas, hiking, fishing, etc. Pleasant staff."
"Very quite and nice campground, we camped on top of the hill in tents it was awesome view and potable drinking water next to camp, bathrooms and shower facilities was clean and nice"
9. Bells Mills County Park
2 ReviewsLehigh, IA19 milesWebsite+1 (515) 832-957010. North Equestrian Campground — Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
9 ReviewsLehigh, IA26 milesWebsite+1 (515) 543-8298$16 - $24 / night
"Hitching posts behind each site which we enjoyed seeing. The roads inside the campground were all asphalt so lots of bikers enjoying rides around the grounds."
"Camped here in order to be close to Fort Dodge first thing in the morning. I stayed in the Beach Campground. It's not on the beach, but close to it. There are 3 total campgrounds in the park. "
Recent Camping Photos near Story City, IA
53 Photos of 88 Story City Campgrounds
Kaylinn W.
Hickory Grove Campground
Stephen P.
Ledges State Park Campground
Steve B.
Don Williams Park
Pat F.
Swede Point Park
Roger
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Kara S.
Pine Lake State Park Campground
Larissa C.
Jester County Park
Austin A.
Eagle City County Park
Willy W.
Ashton Wildwood Park
Mia L.
Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Nancy C.
Acorn Valley
phillip L.
Cherry Glen Campground
Recent Reviews near Story City, IA
448 Reviews of 88 Story City Campgrounds
- S
Steve S.
TravelerAcorn Valley
Easy access for quick getaway
This is a great campground if you’re wanting to get out for a night or two w the family. Clean bathrooms, close to the lake, playground, and a lot of sites. It does get busy. As you would expect there are a lot of bugs on a hot day in Iowa. Tent sites have good shade from trees.
Stuart K.
LegendKellogg RV Park
Highway Campground Oasis
Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural Iowa.
Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery
Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities
Happy Camping!
Gillian L.
GuideAdventureland Campground
Nice site
After some confusion with booking (office hours are until 7pm, confirmation email said 9pm) we were able to get ahold of the operations manager at the park who helped us. Pull through paved 50 amp sites, with water and sewage. Picnic table for use. Within view of Adventureland so it was cool to see the rides lit up at night as we parked. Clean park. Will definitely stop by again when we aren’t just passing through!
- Stuart K.Legend
Newton KOA
Highway Roadside Campground Oasis
Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond
LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited
Happy Camping!
- MMatt R.Scout
Lake Cornelia Park
Great County Park
Love Lake Cornelia. We’ve camped there a couple times with hammocks and tents. It can get pretty busy on the nicer weekends, so showing up before dawn to stake out your spot isn’t unheard of. The entire park is first come, first served.
Jay F.TravelerChichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Quiet and shaded
Nice quiet spot. New concrete at the campsites. Pretty trails.
Kara S.GuideEagle City County Park
Could be lovely but creeped me out
Liked the spot by the lake and we could have been the only ones there but we noticed a few things on the way to the site that was unsettling and then we were followed in by a truck that just went to the end of the loop then left, with the driver and passenger obviously not wanting to be seen. Weirded me out so we left. Felt unsafe.
- Kara S.Guide
Pine Lake State Park Campground
Lovely, clean campground
Quiet, clean little gem of a spot. Site was fairly level
Guide to Story City
Camping sites near Story City, Iowa offer a mix of prairie and woodland settings with elevations ranging from 940 to 1,100 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 82°F and winter temperatures dipping to 10°F. Central Iowa campgrounds typically receive 35 inches of annual rainfall, with May and June being the wettest months.
What to do
Hiking at Ledges State Park Campground: The park features sandstone formations with trails ranging from easy to challenging. One visitor noted, "The hiking trails are cool. 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!"
Fishing opportunities: Several lakes within 30 miles of Story City provide good fishing. At Little Wall Lake County Park, campers enjoy bank fishing with one visitor sharing, "This lake is great, lots of fishing spots and camping spots." The 249-acre lake is stocked with bluegill, crappie, and bass.
Golf access: Briggs Woods Park combines camping with an 18-hole golf course. The park also offers "access to canoeing or kayaking on the Boone River, along with hiking trails, swimming and fishing."
Wildlife viewing: Bison and elk viewing is available at Jester County Park, providing an unexpected wildlife experience in central Iowa. The park includes a nature center that opened in 2018. A visitor called it "just next level" and noted they "advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be."
What campers like
Modern facilities: Many county parks have invested in quality infrastructure. One camper at Jester County Park shared, "Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate." This reflects the maintenance standards at many area campgrounds.
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites for privacy. At Briggs Woods Park, a camper mentioned, "We stayed Sun-Wed in May. Closest other campers were about a football field away. Very quiet park, we stayed in the back."
Lake activities: Multiple campgrounds feature lake access. A visitor to Little Wall Lake County Park described it as "Spacious sites along a gorgeous lake..quiet..wish every campground was this nice!" The park offers water and electric hookups along with primitive sites.
Educational opportunities: The region has nature centers and educational displays. One camper visiting Ledges State Park Campground stated, "Stayed at this campground for my college visit to ISU and I nearly went to the university just because I wanted to be here at this park every weekend."
What you should know
Seasonal flooding concerns: Certain campgrounds experience periodic flooding. At Ledges State Park Campground, a visitor noted, "Ledges State Park is one of the most visited parks in Iowa. I loved coming to this park as a kid and I can't wait for it to re-open. It has been closed since January 2018, but it scheduled to re-open in January of 2019. Here is a link to a local story explaining the closure and flooding."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Story City, IA?
What camping is available near Story City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Story City, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 88 campgrounds and RV parks near Story City, IA and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Story City, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Story City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Story City, IA is Ledges State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 40 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Story City, IA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Story City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Story City, IA.
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