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The best forest camping in Iowa

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Welcome to Hipcamp! Looking for a camping getaway in the forested beauty of Iowa? You're in luck! With over 320 options in Iowa that offer a forested terrain, you'll have plenty of choices to find your perfect spot. Whether you prefer a secluded spot by Horse Creek Adventures (255 reviews), a peaceful retreat at Draco Hill Farm (192 reviews), or the stunning views at Come Enjoy the Beauty (160 reviews), you'll find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. And with popular amenities like pet-friendly areas, potable water, and showers, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. Plus, you can enjoy activities like biking, whitewater paddling, and swimming to make the most of your outdoor adventure. So pack your gear, book your spot, and get ready to experience the beauty of the forest in Iowa!

99% (1.7K) 4,302 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds in Iowa

#JTRidge Sites/Clothing Optional

1. #JTRidge Sites/Clothing Optional

99%
(134)
Oxford Junction, IA · 10 sites · Tents, Lodging
## About Welcome to our private **15-acre clothing-optional sanctuary**, where nature, freedom, and relaxation come together. Whether you're curious about your first clothing-optional experience or have enjoyed **nudism** for years, you'll find a welcoming, respectful place to simply be yourself. We proudly welcome **LGBTQ+ guests, solo travelers, couples, friends, and people of all backgrounds, body types, gender identities, sexual orientations, and experience levels**. Come alone, with a partner, or with friends to reconnect with nature, slow down, and leave the stresses of everyday life behind. If you've grown tired of crowded commercial campgrounds, this is a different kind of escape. We offer secluded campsites, a primitive cabin, and Day Passes for guests seeking a few peaceful hours—or several days—in the country. This isn't a campground packed with activities. It's a quiet sanctuary designed for rest, reflection, and a genuine connection with the outdoors. Our Day Pass is perfect for a relaxing lunch break, a sunny afternoon, or a few hours to recharge. Stretch out in a reclining lounge chair, wander wooded trails, read beneath the trees, practice yoga, meditate, or simply enjoy the warmth of the sun. If you need assistance navigating Hipcamp's Day Pass booking process, we're happy to help. As stewards of this special property, we're honored to share it with others who appreciate nature, privacy, and the freedom of a clothing-optional environment. Clothing is optional throughout the property but is never required. Guests are encouraged to enjoy the space at their own comfort level while respecting one another's privacy, personal boundaries, and individuality. Our goal is to foster a body-positive, inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels safe, accepted, and welcome. Located along the beautiful Wapsipinicon River, our sanctuary features mature woodlands, a striking natural limestone bluff, scenic hiking trails, open sunny spaces, and abundant wildlife. Listen to birdsong (the Merlin Bird ID app is a favorite here), watch cattle graze in the neighboring pasture, cast a fishing line into the river, relax in a hammock beneath the trees, or simply enjoy the peaceful rhythm of nature. As evening falls, spectacular sunsets give way to star-filled skies free from city light pollution. Gather around a campfire, listen to the soothing sounds of the river, read a favorite book, photograph the landscape, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all. Looking for adventure? Launch your canoe, kayak, or tube in Olin and enjoy a scenic 3–4 hour float to our riverfront. Several Iowa state parks, fascinating caves, Iowa's only Presidential Library and Museum, and the Great Jones County Fair are all within a short drive, making JTRidge an ideal home base for exploring eastern Iowa. Whether you're seeking solitude, quality time with someone special, or simply a place to unplug and recharge, we hope you'll discover that this is more than a place to camp—it's a place to breathe deeply, reconnect with yourself, and experience nature as it was meant to be enjoyed. Your hosts are here if you need us, but we also value your privacy. We'll happily answer questions, offer recommendations, or simply let you enjoy the sanctuary at your own pace. We look forward to welcoming you to our peaceful corner of Iowa.
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Shadybrook Camping and RV Adventure

2. Shadybrook Camping and RV Adventure

96%
(500)
Earlham, IA · 55 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
This property has a year round running creek called Bear Creek. They also mined the stone off the property for the State Capital in Des Moines, Iowa. Abundant wildlife and mature beautiful trees. Hiking trails, playground equipment, dog park, shelterhouse, showerhouse/restrooms, community fire pit, all sites have fire pits and picnic tables, laundry area, rec room, and welcoming staff!
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Full hookups
Draco Hill Nature Farm

3. Draco Hill Nature Farm

98%
(732)
West Branch, IA · 4 sites · Tents, RVs
The heatwave is supposed to break by July 21 and the smoke should clear so we hope to see you soon. The river is up so don't expect much fishing but it's a sight to see. Bring bug spray - it's been a wet summer so far! We know what it costs to travel these days, so we've reduced our Sycamore Site to a super low $20/night for those of you pinching pennies. We hope you can enjoy it at that rate. Remember, a load of firewood is included. Please don't reserve this site if you're towing a trailer. Book in mid-June or October and catch our Community Potluck or Chestnut Festival. Come any time for privacy at your site or a hike trails. Take a dip in the pond if you dare! Learn more and see map at dracohill.org A convenient 7 miles north of Interstate 80 but feels like an oasis away from it all. Enjoy nature in a private, wooded river valley setting. And check out our extras! -- Fatwood for starting fires easily -- Up to 3 extra bundles of firewood -- A 7-person tent for rent -- A Coleman stove, matches and tank of fuel -- A personal tour of the exotic fruits and nuts and ecological restoration we're growing here. NO generators please. Campers like to go to sleep under the stars to the sound of frogs, cicadas, coyotes, deer and the rustling wind through the tallgrass prairie. Wake to an amazing sunrise over the river. Enjoy a hike through our 4 miles of trails on 75 acres of rolling woodlands and prairie, picking berries, finding mushrooms, scaring up a turkey or pheasant in the brush or listening to the birds. (Pull out your Merlin app to see who's singing!) Play in the river or upland pond, cut cattails and prairie grasses for souvenirs and enjoy being unplugged for a while. Your hosts are here if you need us, but we leave you to enjoy this beautiful place at your own pace. This is "socks and shoes, jeans and boots" kind of camping. You're visiting wild places and a working perennial farm, so please dress appropriately for your optimal enjoyment. If you go off trails and other mowed places, you increase your chances of contact with poison ivy, wild parsnip and ticks. Please research these ahead of time and be prepared. We live here and encounter them frequently without more than a slight inconvenience.
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Saylorville Lake

4. Saylorville Lake

100%
(9)
Park in Iowa · 446 sites
Discover the scenic beauty and outdoor adventures at Saylorville Lake.
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Electrical hookup
Toilets
Maquoketa Caves State Park

5. Maquoketa Caves State Park

100%
(5)
State park in Iowa · 29 sites
Take a hike, go spelunking, and learn about bats.
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Electrical hookup
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Chief’s Lookout

6. Chief’s Lookout

Moulton, IA · 3 sites
Two cozy guest cabins (Amish made)that can sleep up to 4 a piece and a kitchen cabin (Chief Keokuk) that also sleeps four. Tucked in a serene wooded cove with a small pond, great for swimming and fishing. Located just two miles North of the Missouri border, and 7 miles south of Moulton, IA. The kitchen cabin has a full bathroom and full kitchen. There is a community fire pit on the patio with three picnic tables offered, horse shoe pit, and a deer hanging post and first come first serve dog kennel with dog house. It is located 2 miles away from 3,000 acres of public hunting land in Iowa, called Sedan Bottoms and a couple miles away from about 3,500 acres of public hunting in Missouri and it’s called Rebels Cove.
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Nature Heaven by lake red rock

7. Nature Heaven by lake red rock

96%
(340)
Knoxville, IA · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
We open year-round!! We believe each season has its special nature-beauty, so we open year-round. The property name is Tri-pond Farm. This secluded, beautiful, pet-friendly 40 acres of fenced farm camping site is on hilly-pond land and is rare in Iowa, with a view of 3.5 private fishing ponds and a far view of the Red Rock Lake. There are 10 acres nature timber area that keep you away from the other campers and the rest of the world. Each site has a firepit, picnic table, and a solar light. The drinking water is at the entrance, but no electricity on. There are tons of natural features, you may see deer, rabbits, and other game birds by your campsite. Each camping sites have good distance to keep privacy from each other. A recently built 20ft diameter geodesic glamping dome tent is for those who want a more climate-controlled stay while still enjoying the magnificent gifts. For surrounding areas, the nearby White Breast Beach is open from May 23 to September 3, 2026, with boating, hunting, and hiking activities in Lake Red Rock. For our campers' safety, any hunting activities are not allowed within our camping ground. However, in case you come hunting with Iowa hunting tags, a couple of public hunting grounds are near our camping ground. The recently built glamping geodesic Dome tent is located on top of a hill. You will have a fantastic sunset view of ponds and a lake view while enjoying the great nature and having a comfortable stay. The cell phone signals are good from most providers; you may use your cell phone hotspot work remotely at this astonishing Lake Red Rock Oasis ^_^. Hope you will find joy, peace, and happiness in this wonderful piece of natural land and the Red Rock Lake areas. A little history of this land: These 40 acres of land were a surface mining site. The reclamation works done during the 1970s. But over the years, the soil was seriously eroded. Anna and Peilin, who have Master's and PhD in soil and environmental health backgrounds, bought this land several years ago and started to restore the vegetation. Now the site looks beautiful and ready for the nature lovers and campers to enjoy the fantastic view of the lake, ponds, hills, and tall grass, Butterflys... The site is totally different from what Google Maps shows now.
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Bend River Farms

8. Bend River Farms

99%
(210)
Runnells, IA · 4 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Bend River Farmsis nestled in the gently rolling hills of central Iowa. Little Camp Creek flows through the property and continues on towards the mighty Des Moines river. Cool woodland meadows provide a comforting back drop to your tent site or glamping experience. All our sites come with complimentary firewood, we offer reduced prices during the summer and a 15% discount on weekday bookings. Our property offers private restrooms, showers, complimentary towels and firewood, 24/7 laundry room, Wi-Fi, a dish washing station, play area with jungle gym, hiking trails, hands on farm animal activities, a communal outdoor dinning area and a saltwater hot tub await your arrival! Bend River Farms was a former junk yard that has now been transformed into a cottage core dream. The farm is operated much like family farms of the 1920's. The focus is on small scale, multi system agriculture, we have fresh eggs, produce and honey for sale. Bend River Farms is not a resort or public camp ground. It is a place to enjoy wild spaces and recharge. Agri-tourism at it's best. Learn about native prairie restoration, regenerative agriculture and sustainable ranching from owners, Amy Buckendahl and Dave Breese. Please understand that our property is a working farm, and our staff are often busy working on projects and have full careers, outside of farming. We do not have the same amenities as a public campground or "all inclusive" camp resort. Instead, we offer your wandering heart a place to rest. All travel to the farm is on paved roads, with no confusing dirt roads to navigate. The property is located near the small community of Runnells, Iowa in rural Camp Township. Enjoy a cold beer or hot food at one of the two local taverns, or check out the local ice cream shop or our local farmer's market on Tuesday evenings during the summer. Don't worry if you forget something! We have a nearby gas station and a general store. Don't forget, we have smores kits, farm fresh honey and eggs available for purchase, check out the EXTRAS option during checkout! Amy, our own resident biologist, will give you an opportunity to learn about livestock husbandry and the local wildlife. The farms orchard boasts several wild bird feeding stations, with edible landscaping! A stay on our farm will provide you with an opportunity to learn about Land Management in an agricultural setting. Learn about carpentry and welding from a master fabricator, or book an adventure to learn about gardening, poultry care, horsemanship, beekeeping and even falconry! These are also available in the EXTRAS option during checkout. Fancy a fireside meal or homestyle dinner? Dave is a trained chef and loves to cook for our guests. Select a meal during checkout. Off-site, but nearby opportunities: miles of scenic hiking and biking trails, kayaking and fishing. The Iowa State Fair Grounds and Adventureland Waterpark is only 20 minutes away, along with big city fine dining, music and art museums are all less than a thirty miles drive; when you need a break from camping and nature. Fee based transportation is available for guests flying in or needing a break from driving, or whenever you need a quick trip into town. Our philosophy: "Here at Bend River Farms we are passionate about regenerative agriculture. We strive to push ourselves and our partners to think of the future and the longevity of our agricultural practices. " Regenerative Agriculture is an agricultural philosophy that both acknowledges the degenerative impact of poor land stewardship, and the positive use of agricultural practices that foster restoration and productivity." Local conditions determine which practices are most appropriate. A well managed food system should improve the long-term health and function of the agricultural system and the communities that depend upon them, physically, culturally, spiritually, and economically. Regeneratively managed businesses protect and improve the natural function of our water, nutrient, and carbon cycles by taking steps to increase biodiversity in the agricultural system, and works to minimize reliance on external inputs, and avoid the use of synthetic chemicals whenever possible.”
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Electrical hookup
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1860's Botanical Homestead

9. 1860's Botanical Homestead

97%
(174)
Bellevue, IA · 2 sites · Tents, Lodging
Happy to announce we’ve won "the best of" properties to visit in Iowa! We hope to keep striving and adding more amenities as we go! Thank you to our wonderful guests and hello to future guests! 👋🏽 Built in 1860 by its first caretaker botanist, this homestead was propagated over its many years of life and is busting at the seams with medicinal and edible herbs. We now run a flower farm and vegetable gardens on our homestead. If you’d like to learn about herbs or gardening/ homesteading, we love sharing our knowledge. If you’d just like some farm fresh eggs and enjoy your time alone amongst the songbirds, that's just fine too :) The property is built into the stone hillside allowing for breathtaking views but also stairs to get to the campsites. Please wear comfortable shoes (not flip flops 😉). If you have mobility issues property access will be difficult. Please no children under 5. !CLASSES! We run our small school/business: HOMESTEAD and HAMMER from the property and are bringing classes to YOU! Look in the "EXTRAS" for classes you can partake in on your visit OR for more information on what's included on class weekends check out our website below! Classes include, forAging wild edibles, mushroom identification, homesteading skills, soap making, forging metals and many more! Website: www.homesteadandhammer.com *For guest and host safety property managed 24-7 by video and security services*
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Pikes Peak State Park

10. Pikes Peak State Park

100%
(10)
State park in Iowa · 76 sites
Check out the fall colors at this woodland park on the banks of the Mississippi.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Yellow River State Forest

11. Yellow River State Forest

100%
(7)
State forest in Iowa · 139 sites
Discover the natural splendor of Yellow River State Forest.
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Toilets
Ledges State Park

12. Ledges State Park

100%
(4)
State park in Iowa · 94 sites
Discover a lost lake and gorgeous sandstone cliffs at this state park.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Backbone State Park

13. Backbone State Park

80%
(5)
State park in Iowa · 124 sites
Discover the rugged beauty of Backbone State Park.
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Electrical hookup
Toilets
Rock N Ranch Events & Campground

14. Rock N Ranch Events & Campground

98%
(214)
Menlo, IA · 13 sites
Our retirement dream is to share our beautiful property with people who love the outdoors.  We started with our rustic tent sites and slowly added cabins.  We go from primitive to sites with heat and air conditioning.  We are not far from the Interstate but sure seems like we are as you travel the 4.6 miles of gravel road to step back in time.
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The Waypoint

15. The Waypoint

99%
(64)
Earlham, IA · 5 sites · Tents, RVs
A beautiful camping destination located at the confluence of I80 and I35. 18 acres of land featuring a limestone quarry pond, perfect trees for hanging hammocks, flat ground for parking vans and so much space for community. If you’re interested, we are happy to coordinate introducing you to our small herd of alpacas and Great Pyrenees dogs.
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Arrowhead Lodge of SW. Iowa.

16. Arrowhead Lodge of SW. Iowa.

96%
(59)
Council Bluffs, IA · 1 site
This custom designed glamping lodge was a dream of mine for a long time. I wanted a place to go to unwind and be with one with nature. But! wanted it close to town so I do not have to travel far and still be close to the city attractions. AC and Heat are in the Lodge The lodge backs up to a large hill--called the Loess Hills. Many deer, raccoon, possum and turkey call it home and so does a few pets of mine to include a mini schwazer and two goats. They just love being adorned by new people. I think you will find this a perfect place for a good nights sleep. Learn more about this land: --Enjoy the deer setting amongst the tree's and nature. Hiking trails close by. Come enjoy a relaxing experience close to the city, the zoo and other attractions. MOST dogs are welcomed -- BUT need to be approved first! before booking. ADDITIONAL FEE REQUIRED - payment at the time of check in Walking trails close by! and restaurants. Verify with host before booking please. The bathroom/shower is located across the yard in the lower level of the main house. Thank you!
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Ramsey Creek Natural Area

17. Ramsey Creek Natural Area

100%
(14)
Kalona, IA · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
3 acres that were converted from a cornfield 30 years ago to an area containing prairie, woods and creek. A great place to relax and enjoy rural Iowa, guests are welcome to roam the mowed areas and paths while respecting other guests. In the heart of the largest Amish community west of the Mississippi, only 2 miles from Kalona Historical Village. Groceries, gas and food and dump station available in Kalona, firewood available on site, kayak trips may be arranged.
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Campfires
Potable water
Bollman Bluffs River Camp

18. Bollman Bluffs River Camp

100%
(2)
Cresco, IA · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Experience the Driftless Region like never before at Bollman Bluffs River Camp, tucked along the Upper Iowa River. Pitch your tent or park your camper near the spacious beach and tranquil pond, refresh in the outdoor shower (bathroom/porta potty), and wander the trails that wind through the 60 acre property. Evenings come alive with crickets, wildlife, and rolling fog, creating the perfect backdrop for a stunning stargazing night. Fossilstone Camp is ideal for adventurers, nature lovers, and anyone seeking a peaceful riverside escape.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Campfires
River Camp

19. River Camp

99%
(49)
Iowa City, IA · 2 sites
Learn more about this land: Private 28 acre parcel with scattering of cabins and houses. Includes many feet of river frontage with private road along river that makes for good biking or walking. Some trails in forest. Lots of birds and wildlife. Large 100 year old oak trees, giant sycamores and cottonwood trees on the property. Short trail to river provides access for kayaking or fishing. Put in at Sturgis Ferry Park by airport in Iowa City and kayak to campsite or go further to Hills Access at Hills, Iowa. Camp site is close to Iowa City, but the quiet site seems 100's of miles away. River Camp is close to Ryerson's Woods State Forest Preserve, Johnson County Fairgrounds, Terry Trueblood Recreation Area and a 10 minute drive to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Pets
Full hookups
Red Rock Springs

20. Red Rock Springs

99%
(41)
Knoxville, IA · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Private secluded camping area near Lake Red Rock. There are several camp spots spread out over 6.5 wooded acres. There is a Spring-fed stream that runs through this property. Spot Abundant wildlife including turkey, deer, owls and eagles. Several trails wind through this camp. Pull your camper or pitch a tent. (depending on which site you select) The restroom has enough solar power to charge all your devices. This property Borders Army corps of engineers land. Competine Creek is only 1200 feet from this camp and feeds into Lake Red Rock. Great for canoes or kayaks. This camp is Less than a 5 min drive to Lake Red Rock boat ramp. 8 min to Knoxville, 10 min to Pella. This is an off grid property with a clean, simple bathroom featuring a composting toilet and hand-washing sink. (sink currently winterized but hand sanitizer provided)
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Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field