Glamping sites near Tracy, Iowa feature varied terrain with access to Lake Red Rock and Des Moines River waterways. The region sits at approximately 850 feet elevation with moderate humidity levels during camping season. Most glamping accommodations remain open from April through October with typical summer highs in the mid-80s.
What to do
**Fishing opportunities: Lake Red Rock at Wallashuck Campground offers both shoreline and boat fishing access. "Very nice campground, each sight has a fire ring and table, plus a lantern pole. It is in a city park like setting and on the lake. Fire wood for sale at the entrance, you have to get water at the entrance only electrical hook up," reports Michael W.
**Water recreation: Rent boats or paddle equipment at Rock Creek State Park during summer months. "If you don't have a boat no worries you can rent one at the marina. We caught so many fish here we had to actually let some loose because we were over our limit," notes Cj C. The park maintains rentals for kayaks, canoes and other watercraft from May through September.
**Hiking trails: Follow the 6-7 mile lake loop at Lake Ahquabi State Park for a full-day nature experience. "The hiking trails are really nice. If your up for it there is a hike that loops are the entire lake making it about 6-7 miles long. It's a pretty easy hike, but definitely long," explains Jennifer M.
What campers like
**River access: Eveland Access offers direct water access for fishing and boating. "Great area right on the river. excellent for fishing or boating," Dorothy H. mentions. The site provides boat ramps and shore fishing areas.
**Private campsite layouts: Yellow Banks County Park features well-spaced sites with natural barriers between campers. "Sites are well spaced. Shaded," notes Kelly, who found the campground less crowded on weekdays compared to weekends.
**Historic features: Some glamping locations near Tracy include access to local history sites. At Hickory Hills Park, campers can explore unique cultural landmarks. "This is a great little park just east of New Virginia, Iowa. The hiking trails are pretty easy going through the forest and then opening up next to old Native American burial mounds," Matt S. explains.
What you should know
**Reservation requirements: Some sites fill quickly during peak season. "We really enjoy this campground and use it as a home base when we're back visiting family. The sites are somewhat unlevel so you'll likely need to block up tires (we've had to block one side of tires on two different past sites)," shares Adam about Marion County Park.
**Shower facilities: Bathroom and shower quality varies between sites. At Rock Creek State Park Campground, "Clean bathroom with good showers. Limited shade options," reports Michael C.
**Water access points: Not all glamping sites near Tracy have direct waterfront access. "Campsites are well spaced, some have good views of the lake. Men's bathroom is clean, showers have good hot water but could use a deep cleaning," Tom notes about Wallashuck.
Tips for camping with families
**Playground access: Multiple parks offer dedicated children's recreation areas. "Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available. The outer loop has a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it. Kids were having a blast in the water," shares Shannon G.
**Beach swimming: Thomas Mitchell County Park provides creek access for cooling off. "Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and edit the creek throughout the park," Kimberly W. reports.
**Creek exploration: Some sites offer shallow water play areas. "Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat. There is even a pond for fishing that you can take a trail from the campsite to," Willy W. notes about Thomas Mitchell Park.
Tips from RVers
**Leveling requirements: Bring blocks for uneven sites at several local glamping spots. "The sites are somewhat unlevel so you'll likely need to block up tires. For our current site (site 58 with a 2.8 degree incline), we had to angle in a bit otherwise our auto leveling would throw an error since our front had to go up too high," warns Adam about Marion County Park glamping.
**Hookup access: Full-service sites are available but limited in number. "Marion County is often overlooked by people in favor of the various Red Rock campgrounds that are nearby. They have done a great job in recent years updating sites a few at a time, adding pavement and full sewer hookups," Rodney S. explains.
**Site selection: For optimal RV placement at Kellogg RV Park, look for recently updated sites. "Level sites with full hookups, plenty of space to walk the dog. Right next to a gas station with great burgers and tenderloins!" shares Elisha L.
