Camping near Swisher, Iowa centers around a region that receives 36 inches of precipitation annually with summer temperatures averaging 85°F during peak camping season. The terrain features rolling hills with limestone outcroppings along waterways that create unique paddling and fishing opportunities. While the Coralville Reservoir dominates the landscape, smaller inland lakes and river access points offer alternatives for campers seeking less crowded experiences.
What to do
Hiking at Palisades-Kepler State Park: Located 20 miles east of Swisher near Mount Vernon, this park offers challenging terrain with significant elevation changes. "Lots of intense trails to explore but some trees were in the way due to a past storm. Close to cedar river for awesome fishing!" notes Danni J. from Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground.
Biking and cycling: Multiple campgrounds provide access to dedicated cycling routes. F.W. Kent Park offers "plenty of campsite offerings with good amenities. Paddling, fishing, hiking, swimming, to name a few. Firewood available. Conservation education center open seasonally with programs offered," according to James M. from F. W. Kent Park.
Boating and water recreation: Sandy Beach Camp gives campers direct access to water activities. "Probably the best spot in the whole camp, overlooks the lake. Level sites with adequate space," says Kristin B., highlighting the camp's lake access with boat ramp only steps from campsites.
What campers like
Affordable rates and value: Many campgrounds offer economical options, especially during weekdays. According to Adam J., "Stayed at modern campground. Very quiet midweek in October which was great because there would be no privacy between the small sites. Nice walking access to nice beach to dam trail. We appreciated the small playground near the north campground. Showers are meh, but overall value is great at $11 per night."
Lake and river views: Waterfront sites rank among the best places to camp near Swisher. At Sugar Bottom Campground, Brad B. shares, "We stayed at site 48 and it's a perfect spot just off the lake with great views. Only drawback is it's kinda of a walk from a bathroom and the beach but that is more than ok to deal with...with a pop up. Highly recommend."
Wildlife viewing: Many campgrounds near Swisher provide opportunities for animal sightings. At Kent Park, Robert F. observed, "We camp here every year in for Scouts. The time a year we go it is not busy and we pretty much have the place to our selves. The last time we were there the ranger let us have all the firewood we wanted. Nice easy hiking paths and the beautiful grounds."
What you should know
Campsite spacing varies significantly: Many campgrounds become crowded during summer weekends. Jacob B. notes about Lake Macbride State Park, "This park has two campgrounds. The modern side on the north end of the park with full hookups, and the primitive side on the south side of the park with no electricity or water hookups. Both campgrounds have flushing toilets but only the modern side has showers. All restroom facilities are very well kept. Beautiful park with lots to do! Only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is how busy both campgrounds get on weekends and holidays giving you little to no privacy since sites are pretty close together."
Weather and seasonal considerations: Spring and fall offer better camping conditions with fewer crowds. At West Overlook Campground, John D. mentions, "This campground has become our go to on travels west. September 9, 2020 was our third visit. Beautiful view of the water. Very clean and well run COE."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the area require leveling equipment. Warren W. cautions about Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow, "Busy on the weekend. Bring a lot of leveling blocks. Most sites are slanted in both planes."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. Amber R. from West Overlook Campground reports, "Horsehoe pits and 2 playgrounds in the campground" making it suitable for families with children of different ages.
Swimming areas: Beach access varies between locations. Sugar Bottom Campground gets high marks from Steve T.: "Great campground, cheap sites with electric and water even for tent campers. Fantastic amenities including hot showers and nice bathrooms and a cleaning station with sink basin for camping dishes. Great beach swimming area. Fun for all."
Educational opportunities: Look for campgrounds with nature programs. Jamee H. recommends Lake Macbride's primitive campground: "Lake MacBride State Park is divided into two areas, and you need a car (or boat) to get between the two sections. You may also be able to take the dam trail with a bike, but I'm not totally sure about that. One side is called the 'modern campground' and has spots for RV camping and tent camping, and this campground has toilets, playground, beach, and shower house."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Full hookups are available at select campgrounds. MickandKarla W. advise about Sugar Bottom, "Check-in was quick and easy. We proceeded to back-in site 61 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). We were one and done on what we thought might be a more difficult back-in, but there was enough level ditch in front to allow an easy swing. Our site was somewhat level, but we did have to put blocks under the passenger-side tires."
Dump station access: Consider proximity to dump stations when booking. At Amana RV Park & Event Center, Julie G. notes, "This is a great location right in the Amana Colonies to explore the area. There are sites for tents up to big rigs. They have showers and laundry and the folks are very nice. There are some trees scattered throughout the campground but mostly wide open. Services work well and wifi is strong."
Site size and accessibility: Pay attention to site dimensions when booking. Dennis G. from West Overlook observes, "The locale is beautiful, just on the lake. All of the internal roads are paved and the spaces are nicely paved or graveled. The sites are spacious and angled for ease of backing into. Some sites are a bit far from the bathhouses, but that's the only ding."
