The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Best Tent Camping near Tracy, IA

292 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Tent camping options in the Tracy, Iowa region consist primarily of established campgrounds rather than dispersed sites. Cedar Creek Access and South Overlook offer basic tent sites within 15 miles of Tracy, with South Overlook providing electric hookups and picnic tables for tent campers. Colfax Quarry Springs Park, about 30 miles northwest, offers more developed tent camping with both drive-in and walk-in options.

Most tent campgrounds near Tracy provide minimal facilities. Colfax Quarry Springs Park stands out with toilets, trash service, and picnic tables at each site. Fire rings are available at several locations including South Overlook and Mariposa Recreation Area, though campers should verify current fire restrictions before visiting. Many sites lack drinking water, so tent campers must bring their own supplies. The sandy terrain at Colfax Quarry Springs Park can make tent staking challenging. Several campgrounds charge modest fees, typically under $10 per night, with Ashton Wildwood Park costing just $7 nightly.

The tent sites in this region offer varying levels of seclusion and natural surroundings. Ashton Wildwood Park features spacious, wooded campsites ideal for multiple tents and access to hiking trails. Mariposa Recreation Area provides country camping with hiking opportunities and a lake that has been recently dredged. Sites at Colfax Quarry Springs Park are well-maintained with some offering direct water access for fishing. According to a camper, "Most campsites have fire rings, picnic tables and trash bins. Level enough for our rooftop tent with no difficulties." Despite occasional road noise from nearby highways, these campgrounds generally provide quiet experiences, particularly at more remote sites. The well-spaced tent areas at Ashton Wildwood offer greater privacy than many regional campgrounds.

Map showing campgrounds near Tracy, IowaExplore the Map

Best Tent Sites Near Tracy, Iowa (19)

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 19 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win

Tracy Contest

Enter to Win

Recent Tent Camping Photos near Tracy, IA

12 Photos of 19 Tracy Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Tracy, IA

292 Reviews of 19 Tracy Campgrounds

  • Matt S.
    Sep. 24, 2016

    Honey Creek State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Goal Zero Light House 250 at Honey Creek State Park

    Campground Review: Honey Creek State Park is on Rathbun Lake, a very popular place to boat, fish and camp in Southern Iowa. We camped in the Group Campground with out Boy Scout Troop. We pulled into camp after dark and between the headlights of our vehicles and our lanterns (My Goal Zero Light House 250) we set up camp in the dark.

    We explored the campground, there were some nice trails and nice spots to camp. The bathrooms were clean but they were a little bit of a walk from the Group Site. The weather was great and the bugs weren't bad. I would recommend Honey Creek State Park.

    Ranger Review: The Goal Zero Light House 250 is a nice lantern. I give it 4 out of 5 stars. The light settings are perfect. You can use half of the lantern or the full lamp power. You can adjust the lighting power by turning the knob on the front. It can be charged with a wall charger, a solar panel, or the green hand crank on top of the lantern.

    We used it when setting our tent up in the dark and it did a good job. At 250 lumens it is just the right amount of light to let you see what you need with out blinding you in the dark. We did not start a campfire that night, instead we placed the Goal Zero Light House 250 on the ground and we surrounded the lantern with our camp chairs as if it was a camp fire. We were up for three hours talking and never did the lantern light weaken.

    I like this light. It is too heavy and bulky for backpacking but it is great for car camping. There is a smaller model but I don't know if it will work for backpacking.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Newton KOA

    Highway Roadside Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in very rural Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Fairly EZ access from I-80; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground that is both very clean and well-organized; (3) Despite being next to the highway where we were concerned with errant late-night visitors who had no business being at this CG, there’s excellent security and a feeling of being safe; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the KOA staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are in pretty good condition; (6) If you need anything, there’s a handful of just OK restaurants like Cratty Shack Diner and grocery stores like Hy-Vee and Walmart Supercenter in nearby Newton; (7) Spectacularly clean bathrooms and shower facilities; and (8) Well-stocked catch & release fishing pond

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) You are literally right next to I-80, but the CG sits down below the swooshing traffic, so if you’re not looking, you almost forget that you’re camping next to the busiest highway in Iowa; (2) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees, bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (3) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (4) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (5) Some amenities feel dated and could be replaced and / or refurbished; (6) There’s a fairly nasty industrial park, complete with a junk yard and car mechanic garage with accompanying abandoned cars scattered around the entrance that you’ll have to navigate through before reaching this KOA; (7) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you can convince the staff to let you set up in the shaded area at the north end of the CG; (8) The pool was shut down for maintenance when we visited

    Happy Camping!

  • Willy W.
    Oct. 22, 2019

    Colfax Quarry Springs Park

    Great Place

    This is my favorite place to go hiking, kayaking, camping and fishing.

    There is a half mile portage with a campsite on the river which you must call to reserve. The other campsites are $10.00 registration. They have porta potties around. Two places to launch kayaks. Most campsites have fire rings, picnic tables and trash bins. Some have grills. They also have firewood for sale or you can find enough wood around still. I didn’t see any water hookups so bring a filter or water. There is a Kum & Go up the road to get missing supplies.

    The only downside of camping is you hear the interstate traffic but it’s minimal. The quiet hours are at 10:30pm and they have a gate which is closed at sunset when the park closes for non campers.

    Lots of hiking trails and wildlife. The fishing is the best place for largemouth bass, bluegill, catfish. No swimming is allowed and only electric motors, no gas.

    Check out their Facebook page for more updates and if you see me out there say hi!

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 12, 2021

    Grant Park (Warren County Consevation Board)

    Beautiful place!

    This place is great! There are 10 beautiful campsites, all with new picnic tables, fire ring and cement pad so you’re chairs are actually level! The fire ring even has a grill you and flip over the fire to cook. There is a vault toilet up on the hill where the campsites are. FYI - the women’s side did not have a lock. The sites were very spacious, some massive and very spread out. You could see neighbors but you aren’t on top on them. And it’s free! You can stay for up to 14 days. They do have registration cards up on the board to complete and post on your site. I had 2-3 bars of LTE via AT&T. The closest gas station is about 7 minutes away and a grocery store about 10 minutes away.

    Let’s talk ticks!! I travel with my dog and during the 3 nights I stayed, I was constantly removing them from him, myself and within the inside of my van. They always got on his feet every time he used the restroom and made their way inside. If you travel with a pet, check them constantly and make sure they are on a tick med!

  • Dare To Everywhere .The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2020

    Grant Park (Warren County Consevation Board)

    Great free campground!

    Stayed 7/13/20- FREE 

    Coming off the main road, you’ll enter onto a Dead End gravel road. You’ll eventually see the park entrance(a sign and fence). Pass the first bathrooms/shelter/info board. Continue down the gravel road that looks kinda like a trail. You’ll open up into the campground. The first site to the left of the info board is the most private, with the fire ring being way off the road. I got in late, in the dark, and turned around because the first board said“no camping”. I gave it another shot and continued down the road and was glad when I saw site numbers. Was in and out pretty quick, but it seemed like a really nice place and the fire pits are awesome! Vault toilets available. 

    I had 3 bars LTE AT&T, with no problems.

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2025

    Kellogg RV Park

    Highway Campground Oasis

    Following up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural Iowa.

    Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery

    Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Campground Diamond In The Rough

    Following up on my review from over a year and a half ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this county park campground gem in a very rural part of Iowa.

    HIGHLIGHTS: (1) EZ access and just a 20 minute / 9 mile drive due south from I-80 via Exit 201; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (4) The RV area looks to be brand spanking-new and offers very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas as well as most have an excellent view of Lake Diamond; (5) The hiking trails and bountiful fishing spots make this a simply wonderful campground; (6) Incredibly simple honor system to accessing any site on a first-come, first-served basis – simply stick your money in an envelope and pick out whatever location suits you; (7) While basic, the bathhouses were in pretty good condition and very clean; (8) Kid’s playground is fantastic and nearly brand new; (9) Reasonably priced bundles of pre-cut firewood; and (10) Overall the overnight price to stay here, whether RV or tent-camping is very cheap, so great value for $

    LOWLIGHTS: (1) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic in here, although you are so far out in the boondocks, it’s not really much of a concern; (2) The newly minted RV area slopes down to the lake, but as you park perpendicular, it shouldn’t be an issue; (3) Also, because the RV area is new, there’s no trees or brush, which creates a lack of privacy between sites; (4) Nearly all of the RV slots – save the few that are right next to the lake - have no shade, so bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings, at least in the tent camping areas, are worn-out and in pretty poor condition and should be replaced or refurbished; (7) The water in Lake Diamond is quite dark and murky, so unless you are an adventurous soul, I don’t recommend swimming here

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2024

    Diamond Lake County Park

    Lakeside Campground Bliss

    While it was our first time camping in Iowa, we were extremely lucky to land upon this slightly hidden fresh water centered campground just a 20 minute drive south of Route 80 near Montezuma, wherein one needs only follow Road#63, before coming across Diamond Lake County Park. With the fall colors being in full bloom when we visited, the entire campground was awash in bright yellows, reds and oranges from the changing colors of the leaves. Also, as we were visiting in mid-October, versus some of the other reviews here, we found that we had the place mostly to ourselves, which made for a rather peaceful sublime respite we were searching for. 

    As for the campground itself, what we enjoyed most was how this location is, for the most part, very well organized in keeping the RV'ers and 5th Wheeler crowds together, while preserving a nice slice of verdant lakeside pasture for us primitive camper types. Each of the sites for camping come equipped with (in most cases) fairly new aluminum picnic tables, fire ring with folding BBQ grill. While we didn’t stay in the RV areas, given our tent-pitching persuasion, what we did see was fairly impressive and looked altogether rather brand new with freshly poured concrete slots and fairly mint-looking RV hook-ups (50 amp electric and water) and this same area also boasted a brand new restroom facilities. 

    Obviously, the main attraction here is Diamond Lake itself, with its more than 90 acres of fresh water, albeit murky fresh water, was certainly a hit with this camping family. We enjoyed being able to get out on the lake with our kayaks and canoes as well as go for very long walks around the circumference of the lake itself, with which you will find simply splendid trails. And if that’s not enough exploration for you, then head further inland and away from the lake to explore this parks other 660 acres of grassy prairieland. 

    From an amenities standpoint, there’s a decent amount, including: three shower houses, four shelters, 2 dump stations, three his / her latrines (some much more dated than others), boat ramp and fishing dock, a dedicated fish cleaning station and what looked to be a fairly new kids playground. In all there’s a total of 120 sites to choose from, with 80 designated for RVs / 5th Wheelers and 40 earmarked for primitive camping, which do not come with any electric, which was on one hand the biggest bummer, but on the other hand, offered up front-row access to lakeside camping bliss as many of these primitive campsites are located right on the water’s edge. 

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Check-in is self-registration and is done onsite, so net-net, this place is first-come, first served as no online or advanced registration is taken. While we didn’t mind this, and given that we arrived right around noon as folks were actually checking out, we got the ‘pick of the litter’ of campsites. Electric sites are $20 / night and non-electric are $10, so this place is incredibly affordable; (2) If you are looking for some grub nearby after growing weary of another meal of franks & beans, then there’s really just a few nearby options: Subway, Sauced Pizza & Pub, Casey’s and Yolanda’s Tacos over in the little town of Montezuma; (3) While there are actually few different campgrounds here at Diamond Lake, for primitive campers, the best sites IMHO are located as far southwest as you can possible go around the lake, where there’s more than a dozen or so sites that sit right in front of the water and present a completely isolated surrounding. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Tiffany K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Howell Station

    Laid-back Campground

    This campground has great facilities with spacious sites. We have plenty of space for our dogs on two stakes. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. There are large trees that provide a lot of shade for the campground. There are play grounds for the kids. It is along a river for fishing and bird watching.

Guide to Tracy

Tent camping options around Tracy, Iowa concentrate in county and state-managed recreation areas. The region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures frequently reaching the 90s from June through August, while spring camping often contends with muddy conditions from seasonal rainfall. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing, with most campgrounds reducing services or closing completely from November through March.

What to do

Hiking trails: Ashton Wildwood Park features multiple maintained hiking trails, including one that leads to a creek and bird watching station. A camper notes, "There is a nice little circle hike that's not too difficult and was great for rehab after my knee replacement."

Astronomy viewing: Ashton Wildwood Park offers a unique observatory open most Saturday evenings. "The observatory that's open on Saturday's (except the 1st Saturday) was awesome and the astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom," reports one visitor.

Water activities: Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides fishing and kayaking opportunities in an old quarry setting. "This is my favorite place to go hiking, kayaking, camping and fishing. There is a half mile portage with a campsite on the river which you must call to reserve," writes one camper. The park also offers kayak rentals through an on-site company.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Tent campers appreciate the generous site dimensions at Ashton Wildwood Park. "The sites are very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents," mentions one reviewer. Another adds, "Quiet campground and big campsites. Lots of trees and nature."

Fishing access: Mariposa Recreation Area offers direct water access from some campsites. "The fishing here used to be really good with catfish, bluegill, bass. They do allow boats (electric motor only), kayaks and canoes," reports a visitor. The lake has been recently dredged and is refilling.

Affordability: Tracy area campgrounds maintain low fees compared to other regions. Ashton Wildwood Park charges just $7 per night, while Colfax Quarry Springs sites cost $10. "It's only $7/night! There is some play equipment for children," mentions a regular camper about Ashton Wildwood.

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most tent campgrounds near Tracy provide minimal amenities. "The bathroom at the campground doesn't have plumbing and no water available so make sure to bring plenty of water," warns an Ashton Wildwood visitor. However, Colfax Quarry now offers improved facilities: "The new restroom/shower facility was very nice and clean."

Sandy terrain: Colfax Quarry Springs Park presents challenges for tent setup due to its former quarry status. "Most sites are pretty sandy as this was an old quarry so be prepared for that," advises a camper. Despite this, another notes: "Level enough for our rooftop tent with no difficulties."

Ambient noise: Highway sounds affect some camping areas. A Colfax visitor mentions, "The only downside of camping is you hear the interstate traffic but it's minimal." Most sites enforce quiet hours starting at 10:30 pm, with gates closing at sunset to non-campers.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play equipment for children. "There is a small park to play at for kids," notes an Ashton Wildwood visitor, making it suitable for families with younger children needing activity options between hikes or fishing.

Educational opportunities: Ashton Wildwood Park offers unique learning experiences beyond standard camping. "There is also an orienteering course but you have to walk in the woods to finish it," mentions one camper, providing older children with navigation practice opportunities.

Short trip testing: Local residents use these campgrounds for introductory camping experiences. "I love to take my grand daughter here for overnight camping. Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious," shares a nearby resident who uses Ashton Wildwood for short family outings.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookups: Most campgrounds near Tracy cater primarily to tent campers with minimal RV facilities. Colfax Quarry Springs Park accepts small RVs but lacks hookups, making it suitable only for self-contained units or short stays.

Firewood availability: Colfax Quarry Springs Park provides firewood for purchase. "The campground manager was extremely helpful. He had firewood already staged for $7 and even came back on day two with more firewood for the same fee," reports an RVer. Some campers note alternatives: "They also have firewood for sale or you can find enough wood around still."

Site selection: RV campers should carefully select sites at Colfax Quarry. "I stayed at site #13 with my two boys. We had a blast. I would highly recommend site #13. It had plenty of space for a large tent and canopy. It had a nice access spot for fishing," recommends one visitor, indicating this site works well for both tents and smaller RVs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Tracy, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Tracy, IA is Cedar Creek Access with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Tracy, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 19 tent camping locations near Tracy, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

Keep Exploring

  2. View all Iowa cities for camping