Camping sites near Thor, Iowa feature a mix of woodland, prairie, and lakeside environments where seasonal conditions affect accessibility. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer humidity can make tent camping challenging in July and August. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 1,100-1,200 feet, with minimal light pollution that creates excellent stargazing opportunities during clear nights.
What to do
Hiking trails along riverbanks: Dolliver Memorial State Park features scenic paths through sandstone formations and historic features. One camper noted, "Beautiful views, wonderful trails, cramped campground, poor tent camping conditions," highlighting the contrast between the park's natural features and camping limitations.
Kayaking on local waterways: Joe Sheldon County Park offers boat access to nearby water. A visitor shared, "This is a lovely and expanding park. Spacious, level pull through sites with full hookups. Decent Verizon coverage. Shower houses could use updates."
Stargazing without light pollution: Brushy Creek State Recreation Area offers exceptional night sky viewing in its open prairie setting. One visitor reported, "The Stars Were So Bright! This little nugget is laid out on a vast prairie. Most sites have younger trees that provide some shade. This is not the big wooded type park."
What campers like
Spacious sites for group camping: Briggs Woods Park features group-friendly arrangements. A camper explained, "One area is good for a group of campers as the sites are in a circle. A walking bridge links the back loop to the other loop that has the bathhouse making it a shorter walk."
Year-round camping availability: Unlike most seasonal campgrounds, Briggs Woods remains accessible all year. One visitor mentioned, "Stayed in early November. Nice park with standard tent and RV sites. Boone River, Briggs Woods Lake good for paddling with rentals available, fishing, beach, shower house, cabins."
Calm camping atmosphere: Lake Cornelia Park offers peaceful settings with generous spacing. A camper noted, "This is a beautiful county park with lots of camping sites with great views and generous camping spots. It is on a small lake that has good fishing, full hookups, and very nice swimming beach."
What you should know
Cell service varies dramatically: Many camping spots near Thor have limited connectivity. At Dolliver Memorial State Park, "Cell service cuts out as you drive down into the park, and does not resume until you come back up and out. There's no wifi, and I'm not sure how satellite service would fare down here."
Spring and fall are less crowded: Local campers often recommend avoiding peak summer weekends. As one Lake Cornelia visitor warned, "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."
Wildlife encounters are common: Thor area campgrounds host diverse wildlife populations. At Briggs Woods Park, campers regularly spot deer, wild turkeys, and numerous bird species, especially in the wooded sections away from the lakefront campsites.
Tips for camping with families
Look for parks with playground facilities: Lizard Creek Ranch Camping provides family-friendly amenities. A visitor commented, "Very nice park with a nice restaurant and many things to do in the area. Very pretty and taken care of."
Consider cabin options during shoulder seasons: Several campgrounds offer cabin rentals that make early spring or late fall camping more comfortable. At Dolliver Memorial State Park, one visitor suggested, "Wish we would have rented one of the cute little cabins that have fire places" during their cold Easter weekend camping trip.
Choose sites near restrooms: When camping with children, proximity to facilities matters. At Lake Cornelia Park, campers appreciate the "clean bathrooms" that make family camping more manageable. One visitor noted, "This park is great for families with kids. Very clean bathrooms. Parks all around."
Tips from RVers
Check site sizes before booking: Many older campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. At Dolliver Memorial State Park, a camper warned, "The RV parking area isn't really big, but all sites are great & feel private, especially the outer ones."
Full hookup availability is seasonal: Most Thor area campgrounds offer limited full hookup sites. A Joe Sheldon County Park visitor shared, "We spent several nights camping at South Joe Sheldon County Park. Beautiful pull through campsites some full hook ups others with electronic and water."
Consider road conditions: Some campgrounds have narrow internal roads that can challenge larger rigs. At Kennedy County Park, a camper noted, "The one-way roads are narrow and unmarked. Several times during our two-night stay, drivers were forced to pull off to permit a 'wrong-way' vehicle to pass."
