The best lakeside camping near Pella

·
99% (214) 1,858 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Pella

Nature Heaven by lake red rock

1. Nature Heaven by lake red rock

96%
(317)
5.8mi from Pella · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
We open year-round!! The winter camping is on the way! We believe each season has its special nature-beauty, so we open year-round. This secluded, beautiful, pet-friendly 40 acres of fenced camping site is on hilly 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.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$20
 / night
Timberline East RV Campground, RV & Tent Sites

2. Timberline East RV Campground, RV & Tent Sites

100%
(2)
20mi from Pella · 12 sites · Tents, RVs
Discover the unique charm of our centrally located KOA, where you immerse yourself in the beauty of an open, rolling landscape. Our campground features spacious RV and tent sites, including gravel full hook-up pull-through sites and large grassy back-in sites, ensuring a comfortable stay for all guests. Take a refreshing dip in our pool, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or relax by our catch and release fishing pond, full of bluegill, bass, and channel catfish. We offer spacious cabins and the cutest vintage sleeping campers (the Silver Sisters) for those who want to bring non-RV owners along on vacation. Check out our cabin and glamping listing on Hip Camp too! As the sun sets, enjoy the cooler evenings by hiking the adjoining 1-mile nature trail, challenging yourself to the 9-hole disc golf course and watching your children explore our playground, jumping pad, and GaGa pit. We even have weekend pancake breakfasts, kiddie train rides and craft activities (peak season months). We cater to your furry friends with a fenced dog park, allowing them to run free and off-leash while you unwind nearby. We are close to many Central Iowa attractions and events, including Alta House Wedding & Event Center, the Iowa Speedway, Knoxville Nationals, Pella Tulip Time and downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. It's always a Great Day at Newton, Des Moines East KOA!
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night
Timberline East RV Campground, Cabins & Glamping Sites

3. Timberline East RV Campground, Cabins & Glamping Sites

20mi from Pella · 7 sites
Discover the unique charm of our centrally located KOA, where you immerse yourself in the beauty of an open, rolling landscape. We offer spacious cabins and the cutest vintage sleeping campers inspired by characters in the popular series Golden Girls (we are lovingly referred to as the Silver Sisters). Take a refreshing dip in our pool, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or relax by our catch and release fishing pond, full of bluegill, bass, and channel catfish. We are close to many Central Iowa attractions and events, including Alta House Wedding and Event Center, the Iowa Speedway, Knoxville Nationals, Pella Tulip Time and downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Our campground features spacious RV and tent sites too; check out the Newton/Des Moines East Campground listing on Hip Camp for more information. It's always a Great Day at Newton/Des Moines East KOA!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$111
 / night
Lake Red Rock

4. Lake Red Rock

100%
(5)
Park 6.3mi from Pella · 390 sites
Discover Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake with endless recreation and scenic beauty.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Elk Rock State Park

5. Elk Rock State Park

100%
(1)
State park 8.2mi from Pella · 85 sites
Elk Rock State Park: A Haven for Campers and Nature Enthusiasts.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Hoofs 'n Horns Ohnemusbeef Farmstay

6. Hoofs 'n Horns Ohnemusbeef Farmstay

100%
(1)
32mi from Pella · 1 site
We invite you to turn off your phone and unwind on the front porch rocking chair as you watch one of our breathtaking sunsets or sunrises. Pasture and grassland with 7 ponds are accessible by a short hike along the cattle trails. A marked perimeter trail follows Wolfe Creek, home to wildlife and a shady cool spot during the hot days of summer. Mulberry Cottage is at the northeast corner of a 200-acre cattle ranch where we practice rotational grazing on ten paddocks. The cabin, surrounded by Mulberry and Osage Orange (Hedge Trees) are host to berry eating birds and mammals. (And the occasional marsupial). Cattle are fenced outside the cabin area but may be close by where you hear them and see them. Deer and coyotes are common on the property as plenty of birdlife. The cabin is a farm-stay experience with farm fresh eggs, and Mulberry preserves for your baked goods in the morning. You will need your muck boots and cowboy hat to hike our cattle trails and wade in the creeks. Try your hand at "frogging" in the marshes of one of our 7 ponds. Bottle-feeding a calf or collecting eggs are some of the chores you are welcome to participate in. You'll be amazed at the variety of wildflowers and birding opportunities. The head cowboy himself will invite you to chore time or have a farm tour of our grazing and regenerative practices. Our natural beef and tallow products are all for sale at the farm or grill up some "Ohnemusbeef" available at our farm store.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from 
$60
 / night
Chariton Valley Cabins And RV Sites

7. Chariton Valley Cabins And RV Sites

37mi from Pella · 6 sites · Tents, RVs
Our RV Sites sit on our secluded property that overlooks the beautiful Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. We have 6 sites available. Enjoy the peaceful, starry night sky. We are not off of a main road/highway so it is very quiet and peaceful. Each RV site has full hook up (Electric, water, septic, wifi). PRICING: $30 a night plus tax $360 a month plus tax $3500 a year plus tax Laundry facilities available (if staying an extended period of time)
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$30
 / night
Pinn Oak Bunk House

8. Pinn Oak Bunk House

43mi from Pella · 1 site
Welcome to summer camp at Pinn Oak! This traditional bunkhouse features five sets of bunk beds plus one Twin XL bed—perfect for group getaways, friends, or family adventures. Just a short walk from your cabin, you’ll find our shower house and shared campfire areas (firewood included). During your stay, enjoy access to our swimming beach and complimentary use of our kayaks and canoes—outside watercraft are not permitted on the lake. Our property also offers scenic walking trails, multiple cabins, and plenty of space to relax and reconnect with nature. A small charcoal grill is available near your cabin for easy camp-style cooking. Come unplug, unwind, and experience camp life!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$45
 / night
Lake Keomah State Park

9. Lake Keomah State Park

State park 21mi from Pella · 61 sites
Discover the charm of Lake Keomah State Park with its serene lake and lush trails.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Red Haw State Park

10. Red Haw State Park

State park 34mi from Pella · 80 sites
Discover the serene beauty of Red Haw State Park.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Lake Ahquabi State Park

11. Lake Ahquabi State Park

100%
(3)
State park 36mi from Pella · 104 sites
Discover the serene beauty of Lake Ahquabi State Park.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Rathbun Lake

12. Rathbun Lake

100%
(1)
Park 38mi from Pella · 391 sites
Discover Rathbun Lake: A Haven for Outdoor Enthusiasts and Nature Lovers.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Honey Creek Resort

13. Honey Creek Resort

State park 37mi from Pella · 20 sites
If this is camping, sign us up! Resort amenities abound at this cushy state park.
Electrical hookup
Honey Creek State Park

14. Honey Creek State Park

State park 38mi from Pella · 152 sites
Discover the natural charm of Honey Creek State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
Lake Wapello State Park

15. Lake Wapello State Park

100%
(1)
State park 44mi from Pella · 93 sites
Discover the serene beauty of Lake Wapello State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
Saylorville Lake

16. Saylorville Lake

100%
(9)
Park 48mi from Pella · 446 sites
Discover the scenic beauty and outdoor adventures at Saylorville Lake.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
99% (214) 1,858 campsites

Top-rated campgrounds near Pella

Nature Heaven by lake red rock

1. Nature Heaven by lake red rock

96%
(317)
5.8mi from Pella · 9 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
We open year-round!! The winter camping is on the way! We believe each season has its special nature-beauty, so we open year-round. This secluded, beautiful, pet-friendly 40 acres of fenced camping site is on hilly 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.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$20
 / night
Timberline East RV Campground, RV & Tent Sites

2. Timberline East RV Campground, RV & Tent Sites

100%
(2)
20mi from Pella · 12 sites · Tents, RVs
Discover the unique charm of our centrally located KOA, where you immerse yourself in the beauty of an open, rolling landscape. Our campground features spacious RV and tent sites, including gravel full hook-up pull-through sites and large grassy back-in sites, ensuring a comfortable stay for all guests. Take a refreshing dip in our pool, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or relax by our catch and release fishing pond, full of bluegill, bass, and channel catfish. We offer spacious cabins and the cutest vintage sleeping campers (the Silver Sisters) for those who want to bring non-RV owners along on vacation. Check out our cabin and glamping listing on Hip Camp too! As the sun sets, enjoy the cooler evenings by hiking the adjoining 1-mile nature trail, challenging yourself to the 9-hole disc golf course and watching your children explore our playground, jumping pad, and GaGa pit. We even have weekend pancake breakfasts, kiddie train rides and craft activities (peak season months). We cater to your furry friends with a fenced dog park, allowing them to run free and off-leash while you unwind nearby. We are close to many Central Iowa attractions and events, including Alta House Wedding & Event Center, the Iowa Speedway, Knoxville Nationals, Pella Tulip Time and downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. It's always a Great Day at Newton, Des Moines East KOA!
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night
Timberline East RV Campground, Cabins & Glamping Sites

3. Timberline East RV Campground, Cabins & Glamping Sites

20mi from Pella · 7 sites
Discover the unique charm of our centrally located KOA, where you immerse yourself in the beauty of an open, rolling landscape. We offer spacious cabins and the cutest vintage sleeping campers inspired by characters in the popular series Golden Girls (we are lovingly referred to as the Silver Sisters). Take a refreshing dip in our pool, open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, or relax by our catch and release fishing pond, full of bluegill, bass, and channel catfish. We are close to many Central Iowa attractions and events, including Alta House Wedding and Event Center, the Iowa Speedway, Knoxville Nationals, Pella Tulip Time and downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Our campground features spacious RV and tent sites too; check out the Newton/Des Moines East Campground listing on Hip Camp for more information. It's always a Great Day at Newton/Des Moines East KOA!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$111
 / night
Lake Red Rock

4. Lake Red Rock

100%
(5)
Park 6.3mi from Pella · 390 sites
Discover Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake with endless recreation and scenic beauty.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Elk Rock State Park

5. Elk Rock State Park

100%
(1)
State park 8.2mi from Pella · 85 sites
Elk Rock State Park: A Haven for Campers and Nature Enthusiasts.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Hoofs 'n Horns Ohnemusbeef Farmstay

6. Hoofs 'n Horns Ohnemusbeef Farmstay

100%
(1)
32mi from Pella · 1 site
We invite you to turn off your phone and unwind on the front porch rocking chair as you watch one of our breathtaking sunsets or sunrises. Pasture and grassland with 7 ponds are accessible by a short hike along the cattle trails. A marked perimeter trail follows Wolfe Creek, home to wildlife and a shady cool spot during the hot days of summer. Mulberry Cottage is at the northeast corner of a 200-acre cattle ranch where we practice rotational grazing on ten paddocks. The cabin, surrounded by Mulberry and Osage Orange (Hedge Trees) are host to berry eating birds and mammals. (And the occasional marsupial). Cattle are fenced outside the cabin area but may be close by where you hear them and see them. Deer and coyotes are common on the property as plenty of birdlife. The cabin is a farm-stay experience with farm fresh eggs, and Mulberry preserves for your baked goods in the morning. You will need your muck boots and cowboy hat to hike our cattle trails and wade in the creeks. Try your hand at "frogging" in the marshes of one of our 7 ponds. Bottle-feeding a calf or collecting eggs are some of the chores you are welcome to participate in. You'll be amazed at the variety of wildflowers and birding opportunities. The head cowboy himself will invite you to chore time or have a farm tour of our grazing and regenerative practices. Our natural beef and tallow products are all for sale at the farm or grill up some "Ohnemusbeef" available at our farm store.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from 
$60
 / night
Chariton Valley Cabins And RV Sites

7. Chariton Valley Cabins And RV Sites

37mi from Pella · 6 sites · Tents, RVs
Our RV Sites sit on our secluded property that overlooks the beautiful Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. We have 6 sites available. Enjoy the peaceful, starry night sky. We are not off of a main road/highway so it is very quiet and peaceful. Each RV site has full hook up (Electric, water, septic, wifi). PRICING: $30 a night plus tax $360 a month plus tax $3500 a year plus tax Laundry facilities available (if staying an extended period of time)
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$30
 / night
Pinn Oak Bunk House

8. Pinn Oak Bunk House

43mi from Pella · 1 site
Welcome to summer camp at Pinn Oak! This traditional bunkhouse features five sets of bunk beds plus one Twin XL bed—perfect for group getaways, friends, or family adventures. Just a short walk from your cabin, you’ll find our shower house and shared campfire areas (firewood included). During your stay, enjoy access to our swimming beach and complimentary use of our kayaks and canoes—outside watercraft are not permitted on the lake. Our property also offers scenic walking trails, multiple cabins, and plenty of space to relax and reconnect with nature. A small charcoal grill is available near your cabin for easy camp-style cooking. Come unplug, unwind, and experience camp life!
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$45
 / night
Lake Keomah State Park

9. Lake Keomah State Park

State park 21mi from Pella · 61 sites
Discover the charm of Lake Keomah State Park with its serene lake and lush trails.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Red Haw State Park

10. Red Haw State Park

State park 34mi from Pella · 80 sites
Discover the serene beauty of Red Haw State Park.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Lake Ahquabi State Park

11. Lake Ahquabi State Park

100%
(3)
State park 36mi from Pella · 104 sites
Discover the serene beauty of Lake Ahquabi State Park.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Rathbun Lake

12. Rathbun Lake

100%
(1)
Park 38mi from Pella · 391 sites
Discover Rathbun Lake: A Haven for Outdoor Enthusiasts and Nature Lovers.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Honey Creek Resort

13. Honey Creek Resort

State park 37mi from Pella · 20 sites
If this is camping, sign us up! Resort amenities abound at this cushy state park.
Electrical hookup
Honey Creek State Park

14. Honey Creek State Park

State park 38mi from Pella · 152 sites
Discover the natural charm of Honey Creek State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
Lake Wapello State Park

15. Lake Wapello State Park

100%
(1)
State park 44mi from Pella · 93 sites
Discover the serene beauty of Lake Wapello State Park.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
Saylorville Lake

16. Saylorville Lake

100%
(9)
Park 48mi from Pella · 446 sites
Discover the scenic beauty and outdoor adventures at Saylorville Lake.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets

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