Camping areas near Williamsburg, Iowa sit within the rolling Eastern Iowa Prairie landscape at elevations between 700-950 feet. The region has hot, humid summers with temperatures averaging 85°F in July and August, and moderate winters with several inches of snow. Most campgrounds in this area remain open from April through October with limited winter accessibility at select locations.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Rock Creek State Park Campground offers excellent crappie and largemouth bass fishing. "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," reports one camper at Rock Creek State Park Campground.
Hiking trails around lakes: Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area features an 8-mile complete loop hiking trail around the lake. "There is a bit of elevation change and not many opportunities to 'bail out' so take water and pace yourself," advises a visitor to Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area Campground.
Water recreation options: Lake Darling State Park has multiple water activities available. "The lake area offers great fishing and there are boat rentals available. Paddle boats, canoes, and other options," notes a camper. The park also features "a long concrete multi use path along the lake and into the cabin area."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Lake Iowa County Park maintains exceptionally clean bathrooms and shower facilities. "Shower house and bathrooms were really nice! Wasn't expecting to want to take a shower but couldn't pass up the opportunity when we saw them. Very hot water," mentions one visitor to Lake Iowa County Park.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campers appreciate the abundant wildlife at campgrounds near Williamsburg. "Nice, quiet and affordable. Saw lots of deer and rabbits right outside our door," shares one camper. Another visitor notes, "The area around the lake and near by pond, is not overly developed. There are wild raspberries and mulberries, lots of wildlife. We had a blue jay that visited us regularly at our campsite, along with deer walking through."
Affordable pricing: Keokuk County Belva Deer Park offers reasonable rates for camping with modern amenities. "$12 a night for primitive camping and you get nice warm showers by the main entrance and nice bathrooms by the main entrance," mentions a camper at Keokuk County Belva Deer Park.
What you should know
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significantly better sites than others. "I would say if you can try and get sites, 67-70. They have beautiful views," recommends a visitor to Lake Iowa Park. Another camper warns about site spacing at Rock Creek: "The sites both tent and RV are simply too close for you to enjoy the place. Camp fires every 10 feet."
Seasonal considerations: Humidity can be challenging during summer months. "We were not adequately prepared for the humidity in August. Being from Colorado where we live at much higher altitudes & we didnt expect the humidity to affect us as it did. Not a bad thing, we were just used to 15% max and that weekend we saw 90% with 90 degrees," reports a visitor to Lake Iowa Park.
Campfire smoke issues: At some locations, campsite proximity creates smoke problems. "Around 2:30am there was so much smoke in our van from nearby campfires that I woke up sick and my dog threw up all over the bed. At 3am we decided we needed to move to an electric site because it was too much to have the windows open," shares a camper at Palisades-Kepler State Park Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Kayak training spots: Belva Deer Park has ideal areas for teaching children water sports. "There is a small pond that we were able to let some of our scouts get started in kayaks and canoes before getting into the main lake," notes a visitor to Lake Darling State Park.
Kid-friendly glamping options: Glamping near Williamsburg, Iowa includes family-oriented accommodations. "We stayed in a 25 foot travel trailer in the middle of the week. Weekends are pretty much sold out. We love the area. Kayaking, biking, and fishing. Very well maintained grounds," shares a camper at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area.
Playground facilities: Little Bear Campground provides recreation areas for children. "There was a kid's playground with swingset and teeter-totters," reports a visitor to Little Bear Campground. The campground also features a swimming pool that's open during summer months.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup considerations: Lake Darling State Park offers full hookup sites with one notable drawback. "Opportunities for improvement would be that the full hookup sites have the neighbors waste tube close the campers picnic table. Sometimes getting a whiff of black water waste while trying eat dinner leaves a little to be desired," warns a visitor.
Pull-through access: Little Bear Campground provides convenient RV access just off I-80. "Very conveniently located off I-80, Fair price, full hook up and pull through site $33.00," reports an RVer. Another visitor confirms the convenience: "It had full hook ups with a fire ring and picnic table. The spot was good sized and clean."
Dump station locations: Several campgrounds feature dump stations at entrances/exits. "There is a good water/sewer station on the way in," notes a camper at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area.
