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Stephens State Forest contains multiple pet-friendly camping options within the Lucas Unit. Both Middle Area Campground and Mine Pond Campground welcome dogs and other pets with accessible campsites featuring fire pits equipped with swinging grates and picnic tables at each location. These established campgrounds accommodate both tent and RV camping with electric hookups, including thirty and fifty-amp connections for vehicles. Campers should note that while pets are allowed throughout the forest units, they must be kept under control at all times. Most sites remain quiet and secluded, especially during weekday visits or in spring and fall seasons when visitor numbers decrease. The trains passing nearby can be heard at night from certain campsites.
Hickory Hills Park provides free camping with pets in a quiet setting with well-maintained trails ideal for dog walking. The park features clean pit toilets and designated camping areas with fire rings, allowing visitors to stay up to 14 days without charge. Lakeside Casino RV Park offers a more developed option for RV campers with pets, providing level paved sites with full hookups in a clean environment. Nearby East Lake Park has limited camping facilities but does allow pets in a park setting with playground equipment and recreational amenities. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be leashed when outside vehicles or tents, and owners should bring sufficient water supplies as drinking water is not available at all locations. Several parks feature seasonal considerations, with the most comfortable pet camping occurring during spring and fall when temperatures are moderate and insect populations are lower.
"The Woodburn unit in Stephens State forest has great hiking trails leading to very primitive camping locations. The site did have a nice picnic table and fire pit."
"Great spot by a small lake in Stephen's State Forest. Didn't have a soul around us for the night we camped here (late September). Temps were around 43 degrees at night."
from $12 / night
Check Availability"There are a couple small hiking trails, but they were very well maintained and an easy hike to get my daughter started in her backpack."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"It was a close walk to Pilot for supplies."
"I am in a wheelchair and this park allows me to move around freely."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $12 / night
Check Availability"We entered the park looking for a walk-up spot and landed on Site 67 which was not reserved. The site was spacious with a big tree with good shade and cover if needed."
"They have a beautiful lake and a beach. The water has minimal seaweed and great temperature! They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!"
from $25 - $38 / night
Check Availability"Nearly empty. We’re self contained so it was $10/night with no hook ups. They have RV sites with water and electric. Nice free showers. Quiet and clean."
from $14 - $34 / night
Check Availability"There are campers and a cabin to rent, and a nice walking trail. While we didn't use any, they have a driving range, archery, waterside, and paddles boats. "
"This appears to be a new campground with full hookups and drive thru’s. Well leveled gravel. Good scenery. No evidence of out buildings, showers etc. Very quiet."
from $35 / night
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GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
GuideWonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. Fishing not the greatest, Pond is silted to about 9ft deep, have caught few small bass, bluegill. Never tried the river here, but is known for big cats. Camp sites are best around, large flat white rock cinder size area with picnic table, fire ring. Sites are well spaced. Shaded. Double lane dump station. Close to home, can usually get site without reservation, IF you roll in on Wed. By Thurs night, it's full. Few reservables, 90% i'd say are first come. The way it should be in my opinion.
LegendThis 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!
GuideTerrific small town RV park in Iowa. Long, level pull thru's and back ins, playground, dog walk, DELICIOUS on site restaurant. Clubhouse with immaculate laundry and individual showers, everything is new and cashless. Outstanding staff, friendly and helpful, shoutout to electrician (and footbal fan) Eric who made o ur day.
LegendNine Eagles is near Lamoni, Iowa near the Iowa-Missouri border right off of Interstate 35. I camped here with my son and his Boy Scout troop in the youth group part of the campground. I can't speak for the rest of the park's camping facilities, but the youth group site is a large open space surrounded by tall trees. The grass is well maintained and the campsite is clean and beautiful. There are not any bathroom facilities at the campsite which is why I give it four instead of five stars, but the park is beautiful and a peaceful place to camp. I wish I would have had my camera with me to take some pictures to share.
ScoutCamping doesn't get much better than this in Iowa. The North Overlook site is part of a much larger group of COE campgrounds on Lake Red Rock. It is heavily shaded and offers direct access to a large beach on the lake complete with shower houses and concessions. Red Rock is the largest lake in the state and can accomodate any size water craft. The campground is located directly on the Volksweg trail which offers excellent opportunities for any level of hiker or bicyclist. The town of Pella is close by and is a worthy destination in itself. Shower houses are clean as is the campground in general. Campsites are well distanced from each other and offer a good degree of privacy. The only drawback, for some, is the fact that sewer and water hookups are not available. All sites have electric. I would highly recommend this, and all the COE campgrounds on Lake Red Rock.
Woodburn, Iowa sits at an elevation of 1,060 feet in Warren County, characterized by rolling hills and hardwood forests typical of south-central Iowa. The area experiences four distinct seasons with hot summers reaching 90°F and cold winters dropping below 20°F. Camping options near Woodburn include both established campgrounds with electric hookups and primitive sites within nearby state forests and county parks.
Hiking trails: Stephens State Forest offers multiple hiking options with varying difficulty levels. "The Woodburn unit in Stephens State forest has great hiking trails leading to very primitive camping locations," notes Emily about the Middle Area Campground. For more hiking options, Red Haw State Park provides additional trails with "a beautiful state park with a very nicely laid-out campground," according to Rodger.
Fishing opportunities: Mine Pond Campground in Lucas Unit offers fishing in a small pond environment. One camper shared their experience: "Stayed two nights with my son and we absolutely loved it," reported T J. at Mine Pond Campground, specifically mentioning "great fishing" as a highlight of their stay.
Historical sites: Hickory Hills Park features Native American burial mounds along its trails. As Matt S. describes, "The hiking trails are pretty easy going through the forest and then opening up next to old Native American burial mounds," making this a spot where camping and history intersect in a meaningful way.
Quiet weekday camping: Most local campgrounds have minimal crowds during weekdays. At Hickory Hills Park, Aliyah B. reported: "Quiet and had the place to ourselves. Maintained and they had patrol checking through at night. Highly recommend it."
Wildlife viewing: The forests around Woodburn provide excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Jeff K. experienced the natural soundscape at Stephens State Forest: "Listened to deer rutting all night and coyotes howling. Can't wait to go again!"
Stargazing conditions: Lake Ahquabi State Park offers excellent night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. One camper noted that "the clearing around the site gave great visibility of stars with very low light pollution," making it ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
Train noise: Several campgrounds experience train noise at night. Jim H. at Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground mentioned: "Would have given 5 stars but you will hear train horns blowing all night at this location." This is common for multiple campgrounds in the area.
Insect populations: Bugs can be problematic, especially in summer months. Jacob W. described his experience at Mine Pond Campground: "mosquitoes swarmed me instantly," suggesting campers should bring appropriate repellent.
Limited water access: Many camping areas have no drinking water available. Mark P. at Red Haw State Park noted they were "self contained" as the basic sites had "no hookups," though they did mention "nice free showers" were available.
Playground access: East Lake Park includes playground facilities near camping areas. As Daniel C. noted at East Lake Co Park: "Playground and bathrooms on site," making it convenient for families with young children.
Water activities: Lake Ahquabi offers paddleboard and canoe rentals for family recreation. Jennifer M. shared: "They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!" This provides ready-made activities without bringing extra equipment.
Spacious sites: Look for campgrounds with adequate spacing between sites. At Prairie Ridge Camping, Anthony B. mentioned it has "good scenery" and "well leveled gravel" sites, providing comfort for family camping setups.
Level concrete pads: Lakeside Casino RV Park offers paved, level sites for easier setup. Vita M. at Lakeside Casino RV Park described: "All the spaces are pulled through. It is very clean. There is full hook up for water, electric and sewer. All spaces are paved." This park also allows wheelchair accessibility.
Electric options: Many campgrounds offer both 30-amp and 50-amp connections. At Stephens State Forest campgrounds, hookups are available at both Middle Area and Mine Pond locations, making them suitable for various RV electrical needs.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds with RV sites have dump stations. Daniel C. cautions about Lakeside Co Park: "First, there is no dump station! All sites have water and electricity with 20, 30, and 60 amp plugs." Plan accordingly for waste management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Woodburn, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Woodburn, IA is Middle Area Campground — Stephens State Forest with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Woodburn, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 79 dog-friendly camping locations near Woodburn, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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