The best river, stream, or creek RV campgrounds near Iowa City, Iowa

Looking for an RV campsite near Iowa City, Iowa with access to a river? Hipcamp has over 446 options that fit your criteria. Check out top-rated campsites such as Draco Hill Farm (192 reviews), Folk School Farm Stay (135 reviews), and n*Everland Barnyard Camping (81 reviews). Average price per night is $49 with options as low as $14. Popular amenities include potable water, toilets, and cooking equipment, while popular activities include whitewater paddling, boating, and snow sports.

99% (583)

Top-rated campgrounds

Workshop building. Three stories of intrigue and interest to explore and experience during the stay. On special occasions, bands play here to everyone's delight.

Looking for an RV campsite near Iowa City, Iowa with access to a river? Hipcamp has over 446 options that fit your criteria. Check out top-rated campsites such as Draco Hill Farm (192 reviews), Folk School Farm Stay (135 reviews), and n*Everland Barnyard Camping (81 reviews). Average price per night is $49 with options as low as $14. Popular amenities include potable water, toilets, and cooking equipment, while popular activities include whitewater paddling, boating, and snow sports.

99% (583)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. n*Everland Barnyard Camping

100%

(224)

33mi from Iowa City · 16 sites · Tents, RVs · Anamosa, IA

Seeking an adventure that feels like somewhere completely different from the norms of society? This is what you will find at n*Everland Barnyard. We march to the beat of our own drummer and love sharing our space with those seeking true connection to nature and themselves. Privacy or community connection, whichever you prefer, we have 20 acres in Anamosa, Iowa at the end of a cul-de-sac just 5 blocks from Main Street. We think it's a slice of heaven and we bet you agree! Do you want to hike into a site? We have a few sites in the woods that are not easily accessible by car, if you want that kind of experience just mention it when booking. Follow us on Facebook to stay abreast of our current events! We are not very active on FB though, so we may miss your message if you reach out to us that way. FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN: Please reach out to us in messaging to determine if this is the right fit for your family vacation as we feel there are better options in the area for kids, but we do make exceptions for the well-behaved and respectful older children. Thank you for your understanding. ABOUT THE BARNYARD: n*Everland Barnyard is an eccentric art installation space created from found, recycled, and repurposed building materials in the heart of Grant Wood Country in Jones County, Iowa. We are not a commercial campground. We focus on Zen, mindfulness, peace, and tranquility. Firmly in the realm of Outsider Art, Gothic and rustic, Bob Kellogg has created a place unlike anywhere else in the world that represents freedom and inspires endless creativity. The land provides multiple camp sites for easy access to bike and walking trails taking visitors into town or through the Wapsipinicon State Park across the river from the property. Anamosa offers several restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses all within walking distance and less than a mile from our land. We also offer #ProjectCreatePeace, an initiative to create more peace in the world through art as an art project. Check out the extras listings to get your art on while you are here! There is a beautiful spring-fed water hole ideal for swimming in the state park, as well as access to the river from our property (although we do not recommend swimming in the river.)

2. Draco Hill Nature Farm

98%

(705)

15mi from Iowa City · 4 sites · Tents, RVs · West Branch, IA

We're closing out another wonderful season with a Chestnut Festival Sunday, Oct. 19th at 2 pm. THANK YOU to all our guests who appreciated Draco Hill Nature Farm, enjoyed the trails and the river, were considerate to one another and who left their sites as clean as they found them. Hipcampers Rock! We'll see you in 2026. 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 Freeze-dried apples A Coleman stove, matches and tank of fuel 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. Draco Hill Nature Farm hosts free events during the year. See Dracohill.org/events for details. Make it part of your camping experience or sign up for your own private sustainable agriculture tour under "Extras." This is a "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 parsnhip and ticks. Please research these ahead of time and be prepared. We live here and encounter them frequently without more than a slight inconvenience.

3. River Camp

99%

(45)

2.8mi from Iowa City · 3 sites · RVs · Iowa City, IA

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.

Public campgrounds near Iowa City

Palisades-Kepler Campground

17mi from Iowa City · 40 sites · Tents, RVs · in Palisades-Kepler State Park

Blanchard Island Campground

32mi from Iowa City · 34 sites · Tents, RVs · in Mississippi River - Pools 11-22

Wapsipinicon Campground

33mi from Iowa City · 25 sites · Tents, RVs · in Wapsipinicon State Park

Andalusia Slough Campground

42mi from Iowa City · 25 sites · Tents, RVs · in Mississippi River - Pools 11-22

Stories from the community

Jaap

3 weeks ago

22 ft Class B

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

We had a really great evening and enjoyed every minute although the weather was really bad. As all previous guests already have stated: Xenevand Bob are great hosts and the nicest people ever. Visit their place; it is really good to spend some time there

K

Kelly

October 2025

34 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to River Camp

If you are looking for a quiet spot this is the place. Plenty of wildlife to see deer bald eagles.

T

Tim

October 2025

15 ft travel trailer

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

What a great little hideaway! Close to my home, super quiet and peaceful right next to the river. Everything is well marked and well kept. Nice trails to explore and super nice host. I will definitely be coming back to this one at least once a year.

Nina

October 2025

21 ft pop-up camper

Group trip

3 nights at n*Everland Barnyard Camping

What a super cool place! Robert and Xene are incredible hosts, with the most epic camping world ever. The art exhibits are beyond wild, and fun to explore and get lost in. The camping was serene, including visits from deer and turkeys. The free firewood was such a nice touch, as was the ability to buy fresh eggs from their chickens. We had such a great overall experience and can’t wait to visit again!

C

Christopher

October 2025

16 ft travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Great solitude and privacy along the river! We met for a small reunion with old friends and this was a perfect halfway point for all of us. Would return again!

M

Michelle

October 2025

27 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at River Camp

This is the perfect spot for people who love fishing, the Hawkeyes, or have family in Iowa City. Full hook-ups and a quiet spot. Loren is easy to work with and very accommodating.

C

Colleen

October 2025

16 ft travel trailer

2 nights at Draco Hill Nature Farm

This is our second trip to Draco Hills and we love it! Absolutely beautiful scenery, sounds and sights of the local wildlife, and peace and quiet. The perfect little grounding getaway just minutes off of I-80.

K

Kari

October 2025

14 ft Class B

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

We absolutely loved our time at Robert and Xene’s. The property was beautiful and peaceful. We chose the very last spot at the bottom of the property and it was perfect. One morning about 15 wild turkeys flew over us. They are caring and gracious hosts and we cannot wait to go back.

Kristin

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

What a delight to spend the weekend at Bob and Xene’s. We experienced wild turkeys, nightly campfires, a walk to the river, and plenty of wonderful creations. Our site felt private, yet close to site amenities. You can hear some distant highway noise from the secluded hilltop… but I think that may be Iowa. We visited 4 state parks over the weekend and could often hear some road noise but still a great weekend in nature.

T

Travis

October 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Had a great time tent camping at this location. I have camped here multiple times and will continue. Host is great and very quick to return messages when you have questions. 5/5

D

Dayana

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

The grounds were beautifully kept. There's so much art to see, beautiful places to hike, and the hosts are very kind and welcoming. There's clean bathroom and outdoor shower for the guests (hot water included). I can't wait to go back!

Eric

September 2025

14 ft travel trailer

With kids

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Had a great time at this location. It would be a great place to reserve with friends due to the fact that the sun and shade rentals are close together. The view of the river is AMAZING and is a perfect spot to relax.

The view from site 2. Space is tighter getting in here.

Georgie

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

Wow! What a weekend!! I would LOVE to not give a good rating, only so I could keep this lovely place all to myself, but that would be very selfish of me. I can honestly say that this has been my favorite camping weekend of the year - and I camp a lot! It is very primitive, and very secluded. SO quiet and peaceful! It was everything we wanted! Being fairly new to Hipcamp, I sometimes have a few questions, and Suzan was always so quick to respond. This special place is definitely a do-over for me!

S

Sarah

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

Wondrous. Peaceful. Loving. The hosts, Xene and Robert, are incredibly welcoming. The campsites were clean and well maintained. Multiple shower options and a short walk to the restroom with running water. Wondrous buildings to explore with all sorts of oddities and art. There were deer loping around at every glance. Multiple campsite options for being secluded or more out in the open. Easy to drive up to. Great communication and directions from the hosts. Very short drive to stores for last minute necessities. Firewood and ring came in clutch. They have cultivated a beautiful space for being, I felt like I was right where I needed and wanted to be.

R

Randall

September 2025

Tent

1 night at Draco Hill Nature Farm

Lots of trails to walk around and large campsites.

E

Erika

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

I loved this place so much! Bob & everyone was everything good a human could be. The place is fun, relaxing & peaceful. The parliament of owls provided surround sound better than any high tech speakers money could buy. Thanks so much!

N

Nicole

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

Bob and Xenes’ property is not only beautiful and peaceful, but so are they. We had an enjoyable weekend mostly because of their company. It was refreshing to be around people who are such positive influences in this dark world. Please come visit them and their homestead you won’t be disappointed!

R

Ronald

September 2025

19 ft campervan

1 night at n*Everland Barnyard Camping

Best. Hipcamp. Ever. Such a unique experience and the hosts were amazing! This is our go to when traveling through. You will not be disappointed:)

S

Sydney

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to n*Everland Barnyard Camping

We absolutely loved our stay at n*Everland! Such a beautiful acreage - we spent so much time appreciating the art and craftsmanship on the property. Looking forward to planning another (longer) stay in the future!

T

Taylor

September 2025

Tent

Weekend Trip to Draco Hill Nature Farm

We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Draco! This was our second time here and it is definitely a favorite. The property is beautiful and abundant with cleared trails to hike, forage, and explore as you please. Susan is a wonderful host that takes pride in sharing her space and making her guests feel comfortable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a peaceful & private camping experience! Thank you, Susan. See you soon!