Best Campgrounds near Waterloo, IA

The area around Waterloo, Iowa includes several camping spots worth checking out. R Campground sits close to the 'Avenue of the Saints' highway, with gravel roads throughout and mostly full hookup sites with 50 amp service. George Wyth State Park Campground has become popular with cyclists and hikers because of its trail network that connects to both Cedar Falls and Waterloo. Campers looking at Oelwein City Park Campground will find it at the south end of town, with electric and water hookups plus a shower house and vault toilets scattered around the grounds. If you want to camp near water, Lake Macbride State Park Campground puts you right by good fishing and boating areas. Many families like Pulpit Rock Campground for its quiet setting and because it's not far from things to do. Weather in Iowa changes dramatically with the seasons - spring and fall tend to be nicest for camping, summers get hot and humid, and winter camping requires serious cold-weather gear. Before lighting any campfires, check current restrictions, and always pack out what you pack in to keep these places nice for everyone.

Best Camping Sites Near Waterloo, Iowa (127)

    1. George Wyth State Park Campground

    14 Reviews
    Cedar Falls, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 232-5505

    $15 - $23 / night

    "**

    • Iowa state parks are a bargain! This one is $11 for a non-electric site, $16 for an electric site. (Rates go down to $6 and $11 from 10/1-4/30.)"

    "Off a main highway, but you feel like you are a long ways from no where. If you are a biker there is a wonderful bike path."

    2. Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA

    10 Reviews
    Evansdale, IA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 233-3485

    "Just stayed one night passing through Iowa. Very pretty Campground with colorful Kabin’s and a lake for swimming or paddle boats. Level sites but not much shade."

    "Played a bit of lake-side volleyball in the evening. Beautiful sunset!"

    3. Deerwood Park

    4 Reviews
    Evansdale, IA
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 493-0655

    "Nice lake very close to the campground."

    4. Big Woods Lake

    2 Reviews
    Cedar Falls, IA
    6 miles
    +1 (319) 266-6813

    "Nice park with a bike path around the lake. A few nature trails, but nothing I would call hiking. Two vault toilets placed on the bike path. One modern bathroom with showers in the campground."

    "The lake is small, no wake lake - but great for using your SUP or kayaks."

    5. Black Hawk County Park

    2 Reviews
    Cedar Falls, IA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 433-7275

    6. Big Woods Lake Campground and Recreation Area

    1 Review
    Cedar Falls, IA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 266-6813

    "Nice County camp ground (Black Hawk), Electric and non-electric sites. campground sits on edge of lake."

    7. Siggelkov County Park

    4 Reviews
    Oelwein, IA
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 433-7275

    "Sigglekow Campground in Black Hawk County Iowa is one of a kind! Quite and secluded, if that's what you're looking for. To get out and decompress it's a great spot."

    "Would be nice if it had gravel parking but that's a small inconvience.. also good kyack location."

    8. Hickory Hills Park

    3 Reviews
    Evansdale, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 342-3350

    9. Grundy County Lake and Campground

    2 Reviews
    Cedar Falls, IA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 345-2688

    $15 / night

    "Surprisingly with it's location in relation to Hwy 20, it's actually pretty quiet. There is a paved trail that'll take you over to the lake so it's not a bad walk."

    10. McFarlane Park

    2 Reviews
    Vinton, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (319) 342-3844

    "The playground was impressive and the Cedar Valley nature trail was very well kept."

    "Volleyball net, frisbee golf, bike trail, and playground!

    Be prepared for mosquitoes though! Lots of standing water and lots of mosquitoes!"

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Recent Reviews near Waterloo, IA

245 Reviews of 127 Waterloo Campgrounds


  • Kara S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Eagle City County Park

    Could be lovely but creeped me out

    Liked the spot by the lake and we could have been the only ones there but we noticed a few things on the way to the site that was unsettling and then we were followed in by a truck that just went to the end of the loop then left, with the driver and passenger obviously not wanting to be seen. Weirded me out so we left. Felt unsafe.

  • Isaac H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Deerwood Park

    Cash Only

    Good place to camp. Seems safe and friendly. Only down side is that it's cash only. Who carries cash these days?!

  • Chad R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground

    Great Experience

    This is a great campground.  The camp sites were nice and the restrooms were not bad.  There is plenty of access to the lake for fishing whether it's from shore or on a boat.

  • b
    Jul. 18, 2025

    Klocks Island Park

    Klocks island

    Large park, no designated sites, fire rings spread around. Elect posts spread around.water available a dump station on site $2.00 charge. Very green, a river all around the park. Our favorite place in the area. $12.00 a night.

  • HThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2025

    George Wyth State Park Campground

    Great State Park

    This is a clean and well kept campground. There are great paved trails, and it is close to the free John Deere Museum, and the Cedar Valley Arboretum. I’m not giving it a 5 star rating for two reasons: one there are a lot of mosquitoes (I get that it is their home), and two the showers are the type that don’t allow you to mix your own water temperature, and they only stay on for a few seconds every time you press the button. The water was a comfortable temperature for me though. Also, the park does occasionally close for flooding.

  • Jon C.
    Jul. 4, 2025

    Deerwood Park

    A parking lot would be more welcoming

    I had a seasonal spot at deerwood and was constantly harassed by the camp hosts, I had my reviews removed (only to be reposted by the city attorney), and was told to trim the trees as round my spot. I've been full time for 7 years and this was by far the worst experience I've had at a campground.

    If the metal bolts sticking out of the speed bumps don't get you..... The sewage plant 200 yards away will.

    This place is CHEAP. and you get what you pay for.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 29, 2025

    South Lake Campground — Backbone State Park

    Backbone Southlake Camp review

    Great shady spots - register on line - clean bathrooms and showers - no full hook ups - must fill water tanks before parking and 30/50 power available

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 16, 2025

    Wickiup Hill Primitive Campsite

    Convenient County Park family site.

    The site offers primitive amenities near Wikiup Hill learning Center. Taking a short trail to the site, the permanent wake up offers shelter, fire ring with grate, and restrooms nearby. Along the trail into the site, you will find a large play area for families.


Guide to Waterloo

Campgrounds near Waterloo, Iowa can be found along the Cedar River basin at elevations ranging from 850-900 feet above sea level. The area features a mix of wooded river corridors and open prairie landscapes typical of northeastern Iowa. Many camping options have paved bike trails connecting to the Cedar Valley Trail network, which spans over 100 miles through Black Hawk County and neighboring communities.

What to do

Disc golf at Hickory Hills Park: A 700+ acre park offering a disc golf course along with hiking and fishing opportunities. "This is a great quiet park with animals for visiting and a very clean shower house," notes one camper at Hickory Hills Park.

Kayaking and canoeing: Big Woods Lake provides calm waters perfect for paddling. "The lake is small, no wake lake - but great for using your SUP or kayaks," according to a camper at Big Woods Lake.

Paddleboating at Grundy County Lake: Located about 25 minutes west of Waterloo, this newer campground offers water recreation options. "There is a paved trail that'll take you over to the lake so it's not a bad walk," shares a visitor, who adds there are "lots of wildflowers during the summer around the outer edges so butterflies and small birds can be seen quite often."

What campers like

Clean, modern facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower houses. At George Wyth State Park Campground, "The campground's shower house is handicap accessible. All sites have 50 amp service and the water provided is from the city of Waterloo. There is an onsite dump station."

Access to extensive bike trails: The Cedar Valley Trail network connects multiple campgrounds to nearby communities. "If you are a biker there is a wonderful bike path. It will take you all the way through Cedar Falls and Waterloo you could bike all day long. Nice little cozy places to enjoy lunch along the bike trail."

Family-friendly amenities: Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA offers additional attractions. "Decent sites with full hook ups. Little shade with small trees next to about each site. Gas, propane, laundry room, beach area, small boat rentals, good sized convenience store with ice, beer, snacks, milkshake machine, etc."

What you should know

Seasonal flooding concerns: Some campgrounds experience regular flooding issues. At McFarlane Park, a camper warns: "Be prepared for mosquitoes though! Lots of standing water and lots of mosquitoes!"

Highway noise at some locations: Several campgrounds sit near major highways. "Off a main highway, but you feel like you are a long ways from no where," notes one camper about George Wyth State Park, while another mentions, "it is fairly close to the highway. That's good for convenience sake of getting in and out of the park, but it does mean there is some road noise in the parts of the park."

Limited shade at newer campgrounds: Grundy County Lake Campground has minimal tree cover. "NO SHADE at this campground (a few new trees so in about 10-20 years maybe shade)," reports one visitor, adding it's "a little walk or drive from camp ground" to reach the lake.

Tips for camping with families

Look for playgrounds and beaches: Several campgrounds feature family amenities. "For little ones, there is a large sand playground area with slides and swings. There is a sand beach to swim, where they also rent kayaks & canoes," says a camper about George Wyth State Park.

Consider campgrounds with recreation options: Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA provides multiple activities for children. "Nice park with colorful Kabin's and a lake for swimming or paddle boats," mentions one reviewer, while another notes it's "great for families" with a "playground on the campground."

Check campsite spacing: Some campgrounds provide more room for families to spread out. "Sites are well planned out though, giving each camper plenty of space. Several buddy set ups, allowing two campers to set up with main doors facing each other," observes a visitor at Big Woods Lake.

Tips from RVers

Pay attention to water hookup arrangements: At Grundy County campgrounds, note that some require sharing water access. "37 electric camping pads with water spigot every other pad (you must share although seen alot of rude people hogging the water) no sewer hookups but, there is a dump station."

Look for level sites: Many RV sites in the area are well-maintained. At Siggelkov County Park, a camper notes it "has dump station a water source. Would be nice if it had gravel parking but that's a small inconvience."

Check connectivity: For those needing internet access, coverage varies by location. At Waterloo - Lost Island Waterpark KOA, "We had 4 bar LTE with Verizon. Our hotspot was usable and performed very well."

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there tent camping sites available in Waterloo, Iowa?

Yes, tent camping is available in and around Waterloo. George Wyth State Park Campground offers affordable non-electric tent sites for $11 ($6 during off-season from October to April). The park is conveniently located near Waterloo and provides a wooded setting with quiet sites perfect for tent campers. For those willing to venture slightly farther, Pine Ridge Park offers tent camping sites along the Iowa River, providing a peaceful setting for outdoor enthusiasts. Several other county and city parks in the area also accommodate tent camping with basic amenities. Most tent sites in the region are available on a first-come, first-served basis, though reservations are recommended during peak summer months.

What are the best campgrounds near Waterloo, Iowa?

The Waterloo area offers several excellent camping options. Prairie Bridges Park is a highly-rated, quiet small-town campground with great walking paths and scenic views, perfect for a peaceful getaway. Beed's Lake State Park Campground features a picturesque lake with a beautiful waterfall and numerous campsites to choose from, though RV sites can be close together. Other notable options include Deerwood Park near Evansdale with reservable sites and big-rig-friendly spaces, and Big Woods Lake Campground and Recreation Area near Cedar Falls, offering boat-in access. For a unique geological experience not far from Waterloo, Backbone State Park provides camping in a setting unlike anywhere else in Iowa.

What amenities are available at Waterloo, Iowa campgrounds?

Campgrounds around Waterloo offer a range of amenities to enhance your outdoor experience. Pine Lake State Park Campground provides electric hookups, flush toilets, and shower facilities, with many sites offering beautiful views of upper Pine Lake. Timmons Grove County Park features electric sites at $18/night with basic restroom facilities, though no showers. Many area campgrounds include recreational amenities like fishing access, swimming beaches, and hiking trails. Black Hawk County Park and Hickory Hills Park both offer water and toilet facilities with boat-in access options. For more upscale accommodations, Tower Rock has cabins with modern amenities. Most campgrounds in the area provide picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water, with varying levels of hookups for RVs.

Are there seasonal camping options in Waterloo, Iowa?

Yes, seasonal camping options are available in the Waterloo area, with most campgrounds operating on a seasonal schedule. Riverview Park Campground offers both RV hookup sites and non-electric tent sites throughout the camping season. Six Pines Campground — Backbone State Park provides seasonal options with both modern and non-modern campgrounds. Many state parks in the area, including George Wyth State Park, offer reduced rates during the off-season (October through April), with prices dropping from $16 to $11 for electric sites and $11 to $6 for non-electric sites. Most campgrounds in the region are open from approximately April through October, with limited or no winter camping options due to Iowa's cold winters. Always check with specific campgrounds for their seasonal availability and winter accommodations.