Central Iowa's landscape surrounding Stuart offers year-round camping opportunities at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 feet. The region's rolling hills, hardwood forests, and water features create distinct camping environments across all four seasons. Winter yurt camping near Stuart, Iowa provides an alternative to traditional tent camping with heated accommodation options.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Lake Anita State Park features a four-mile paved recreation trail circling the entire 171-acre lake. "The best feature of this park, in my opinion, is the four-mile paved recreation trail that goes around the entire 171-acre lake. Good for walking, running, or biking," notes one visitor to Lake Anita State Park Campground.
Water activities: Fishing, boating, and kayaking are popular at multiple parks in the area. "The lake is beautiful, and we also saw people boating, kayaking, and fishing. Although swimming is also allowed, the beach was not the best for this activity," reports a Lake Anita camper.
Historical attractions: Explore the covered bridges of Madison County near Pammel County Park. "The campground is split into two parts. One part is mostly shaded and the other isn't... We did kayak the loop one day-it took about an hour for the 1.9-mile loop and water levels were pretty low," shares a visitor to Pammel County Park.
Wildlife viewing: Several parks offer opportunities to observe local wildlife. "Jester Park is our go-to camping destination in central Iowa! By far, this county park has a lot of fun activities and access points to the Saylorville waterway circuit," states a camper at Jester County Park, adding "there is a sweet pond to fish in, several hiking trails, a brand new Nature Center, amphitheater, bison and bird viewing."
What campers like
Year-round operations: Some campgrounds remain open throughout winter months. "Not too far off the highway. Office is open until 7pm which was very helpful as we arrived a little later than expected. Well kept, clean bathrooms with space heaters running to ensure they're warm during the December cold," reports a winter visitor to Des Moines West KOA Holiday.
Affordable pricing: State and county parks offer economical camping options. "This is hands down one of the best campgrounds we've been to in the U.S. Everything is beautifully maintained from the grass covered campsites to the clean bathrooms and free showers. Full hookup and tent campsites are plentiful with or without reservations. Can't beat it for $11 a night," shares an enthusiastic Lake Anita camper.
Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention clean facilities. "We stayed one night in a basic cabin. AC was on upon arrival- check in/out was quick and easy! Bathrooms were immaculate! Pizza & Chicken ordered on site was a delicious dinner when we were just to tired to fuss with our own gear," notes a visitor to Des Moines West KOA.
Variety of accommodation types: From traditional camping to yurts, the Stuart area offers diverse options. "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," shares a visitor to Ledges State Park Campground.
Scout
