CampgroundsDB

Camping in Iowa

Iowa has 32 public campgrounds on record, 30 reservable. All are run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Each row below says who runs it, how to get a site, and what it costs.

32
Total
30
Reservable
0
First-come
Acorn ValleyBob Shetler Recreation AreaBulger's Hollow Recreation AreaCherry Glen CampgroundCottonwood Campground
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Acorn Valley Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
85
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Bob Shetler Recreation Area Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
67
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Bridgeview Appanoose · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
103
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Buck Creek Appanoose · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
42
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area Clinton · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
24
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cherry Glen Campground Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
125
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Clarks Ferry Muscatine · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
42
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cottonwood Campground Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
11
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Cottonwood Recreation Area Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Fifield Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Howell Station Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
135
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Island View Appanoose · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
188
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Lake View Recreation Area Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Linder Point Campground Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
14
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 North Overlook Camp Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
49
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Prairie Flower Recreation Area Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
252
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Prairie Ridge Appanoose · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
55
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Roberts Creek East Campground Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Not on record
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Roberts Creek West Campground Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Not on record
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Sandpiper Recreation Area Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Sandy Beach Camp Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
56
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Shady Creek Muscatine · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
53
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 South Overlook Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Sugar Bottom Campground Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
234
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Tailwater East Campground Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
22
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Tailwater West Campground Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
22
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Wallashuck Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
79
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Walnut Ridge Recreation Area Polk · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 West Overlook Campground Johnson · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
89
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Whitebreast Camp Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
126
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record
 Whitebreast Point Shelter Marion · Army Corps of Engineers · Reservable
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Not on record

How booking works in Iowa

There is no single system: each campground books through its managing agency. 30 campgrounds book through Recreation.gov.

For a park's own hours, entrance fee, and boundary, see Iowa state parks on publiclandsdb.com.

Narrower lists

By agency

0 first-come campgrounds need no reservation; 0 stay open year-round ; and 0 sit on a named lake . By agency: 32 Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds .

Common questions

How do I reserve a campground in Iowa?

It depends on who runs it. Of the 32 public campgrounds on record here, 30 book through Recreation.gov.

Is boondocking legal in Iowa?

On BLM land, dispersed camping (boondocking) is generally allowed under the agency's rules. BLM limits dispersed camping to 14 days within any 28-day period (stay limits vary by field office), asks campers to stay at least 200 feet from lakes and streams, and says most areas need no permit or reservation (blm.gov, read 2026-09-26).

What are the best campgrounds in Iowa?

This site doesn't rate campgrounds. The most fully documented here are Shady Creek (15 sourced facts), Acorn Valley (13 sourced facts), and Island View (13 sourced facts); the table lets you sort every campground by agency, booking, season, and fee.