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."
Ranger
