We stayed in the primitive side of Lake MacBride State Park. Here are our thoughts:

Pros: -Primitive campground is isolated from the electric one, so it’s much quieter -Right on the lake -Plenty of spots to choose from -On a less busy weekend, it would be much easier to keep to yourself/keep from being on top of other campers -Sites 48 & 49 were relatively private and large (backed up to woods) and 49 seemed to have some good flat areas -Modern bathrooms within walking distance -Miles of beautiful, well maintained walking trails -We didn’t fish, but it seemed like everyone who did was having no problem catching pretty large fish -Red Vespa in town at Solon is great pizza within a reasonable distance of the campground!

Cons -Quite a distance to any lake activities and firewood (you have to go into town for firewood or to the total other side of the lake) -Campground is laid out in a way that makes you butt up against other campers on almost every side—virtually no privacy -Was a bit rowdy/loud on Labor Day weekend, but what can you expect -Very few spots had flat area for tents, most were on a hill -Bathrooms were not terribly well maintained

Hidden gem just outside of Des Moines!

Pros: -Small park (only about 20 spots) but it’s easy to get a spot without reserving ahead -Site 15 for primitive campers is HUGE. Easily the size of 2-3 sites at other campgrounds. -Very shady campground, beautiful trees all around -Nice, well-marked trails -Plenty to do -Easily the best bathrooms I’ve found while camping (modern) -Gravel pads for electric sites are very large and flat

Cons: -The river was very low and muddy, so water sports like kayaking aren’t an option right now -The park closes at 10:30 so make sure you get back in time -The park is generally well maintained but we also found no fewer than a dozen batteries in our firepit and around our site :( -Some trails have weird unmarked forks that should be marked

This campground is one of the prettiest we've stayed at, but had its limitations, too.

Pros:

• Sites are very, very spacious. It's easy to keep to yourself. 
• Doesn't have a party vibe, if you're into peace and quiet
• The park is HUGE. Lots to see, many spots to have a picnic or hike around
• Wildflowers EVERYWHERE. So pretty.
• Really close to the Amana Colonies
• Seems to be a hidden gem—the park was only about half full the entire weekend we were there
• The beach is pretty nice
• The lake is quiet, which makes it excellent for kayaking
• Overall the park is very well maintained
• Pretty bridges all around the lake. We enjoyed getting to read their history as well.

Cons:

• Many of the sites have large gravel pads and are on a hill, which means it would be difficult for tent campers and campers/RVs will have a difficult time leveling
• $20 a night is quite expensive
• The park closes and gates lock at 10:30, so you're stuck if you need to get out/in
• Water access is weak for campers/RVs
• You can't reserve your spot in advance, although we had no issue getting a spot.

As tent campers we found a lot to love at Lake of Three Fires, but also found ourselves wanting more. It’s got a gorgeous lake, and some camping sites are out of this world, but it can be inconsistent and there’s not a lot to do.

Pros: -While the electric hookup sites were full, primitive campers had their pick of the campground even during the middle of the summer. Plenty of open non-electric sites to choose from.
-Site 55 is an absolute GEM. Spacious and right on the water! We didn’t have any neighbors so it was like we had the whole place to ourselves. -Good fishing at the lake, and plenty of quiet spots to fish from -The lake is quiet and relatively calm -Excellent (and clean!) modern bathrooms, by far the best we’ve encountered

Cons: -There’s not a lot to do other than fishing and hanging out by the campsite -The trails are quite poorly marked and seem to only have entry and exit points at each end of the point, so unless you want to commit to the full 8 miles, you’ll have to turn back at some point -The sites can be inconsistently sized. We found some tent sites that were less than half the size of our site, and they were packed like sardines. -A lot of the sites are sloped, so even ground can be hard to find. -The park is pretty rural, so if you need to make an emergency grocery or supplies run you might be out of luck. -No firewood on site, so you’ll have to come prepared or hope you can find some in town.

To start off, Backbone State Park is one of the most gorgeous parks I’ve ever visited. It’s so beautiful, with plenty of challenging and scenic trails and lots of wildlife. The only reason I didn’t give it five stars is the campgrounds (we stayed at Six Pines). I’ll go into more detail below.

Pros -Great trails, hikers will find much to love here -Beautiful scenery -Six Pines is all primitive campsites, which is nice for us tent campers who prefer quiet, natural environments -Six Pines sites are fairly spacious -Decent fishing -Lots of in-park attractions (the cave, old fish hatchery, etc.)

Cons -Six Pines is a big, flat loop, which means not much privacy and the sounds bounce all around. -With the playground in the middle Six Pines can get quite noisy -The sound reverberations at Six Pines means you can hear everything going on in your neighbors’ tents at night -Not much for modern bathrooms around the park -The trails are not well marked, the maps are largely inaccurate. Expect to find random, well-worn forks in trails without seeing them on the map -The trails could use some maintenance. There were plenty of downed trees blocking paths, a few that seem to have been there for quite some time. -Sites at the South Lake campground seem small, the place looked packed in like sardines with not much space between tents or campers

We stayed during the campground's last weekend in October, and loved it. It was so gorgeous with all the fall colors, and it's really a gem of a campground.

Pros:

-Beautiful, huge lake with lots of pretty views

-Primitive spots are separated from electric spots, which is great if you're looking for quiet, peaceful tent camping

-Primitive spots are relatively private and generously sized, you don't feel like you're right on top of your neighbors

-Decent portapotty in close distance

-Plenty of picnic spots

-Electric spots are right along the lake, which offers beautiful views

-On-site firewood

Cons:

-Full modern bathrooms are a long walk/drive away

-Not much for activities

-Water hydrants are right in the middle of people's camping spots, so it feels awkward to grab water

-The only hiking trail is EXTREMELY poorly marked and when it ends (it doesn't tell you it's ending) you either have to just turn around or walk a mile along the busy highway with very small shoulder. We mistakenly took the highway expecting the trail to continue, but it didn't and it was very scary, 0/10 don't recommend.

-Not many walk-in spots

-Lots of primitive spots are on a hill, so your tent is a little sideways

-Not many dumpsters

-No lights in the portapotty, so you'll need a headlamp at night

EDITED TO ADD: We stayed again in May, and it was a great place to spend a weekend. Quiet, friendly but not a party crowd, and a nice, relaxing environment overall. Word on the streets (from the DNR warden) is that they’re looking into creating 2 more hiking trails too.

We've tent camped twice at Springbrook, and though it's not perfect, it's a nice campground we plan to keep coming back to for a number of reasons.

Pros:

-Not a far drive from Des Moines, but still quite remote

-Lots of nice hiking trails

-Easy access to large, mostly clean modern bathrooms

-The lake is a peaceful spot to spend the early mornings, a nice place to fish (but don't expect to catch anything) and its beach is fun on the hot summer days, and tends to not be too busy. Has lots of benches around to sit and enjoy the view.

-No cell reception, which could be a "con" but we like that it forces us to unplug

Cons:

-Tent camping spots are clustered mainly in the middle of a loop, which feels a bit like a fishbowl with no privacy

-It's mainly an RV/camper campground, which can be loud/rowdy at night for tent campers. Lots of parties happening the two weekends we were there. Definitely don't recommend if you want a peaceful weekend away from the world.

-Other than hiking and a bit of swimming/fishing, there's not much to do

-Firewood is a short drive from the campground, which can get inconvenient