30 acres hosted by Dave R.
3 lodging sites · 32 RV/tent sites · 20 tent sites
Big rig-friendly
Spacious, level camping well-suited for travel trailers over 40 ft long.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Best in Iowa: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Full RV hookups
Electrical, water, and sewage hookups are available at select sites.
Activities
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Natural features
Forest
Lake
River, stream, or creek
Swimming hole
Select a site
Sold outTry changing or removing some of your filters.
Reviews
96% Recommend471 ratings · 212 reviews
Shady Brook offers a welcoming and tidy environment with helpful hosts, making it a popular choice for both first-time and returning campers. The grounds are well-maintained, providing a serene setting near a babbling brook and a convenient location off the highway. However, the proximity to the interstate can lead to noticeable noise, which some find disruptive. Overall, it’s a spot known for its cleanliness, good amenities, and family-friendly atmosphere, despite the occasional bug or noise issue.
Summary AI-generated from real reviews
Dave and his wife/partner are wonderful hosts and the grounds are well-maintained and clean! We will definitely be back again (this was our second stay already) and we recommend them to everyone we know.
K
Kasey D.
1 month on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2025
Cozy and simple
7 m Class C · Group trip ·
Site 12 - RV'ing W/Elec at site Water to fill
The hookups were very convenient and the showers on the campground was very nice. It's a good place to spend a night in a RV
B
Bhavani G.
5 reviews
I did not want to leave. I had a little spot by the stream and I saw an amazing variety of birds. Really - warblers, and a kingfisher and so on.
It was totally delightful. The host was super nice and friendly. I felt safe, this place is clean and welcoming.
You can for sure hear the highway, it didn’t bother me though.
M
Miguette C.
11 reviews
Mixed feelings
· May 2025
The camp ground is nice- clean, well laid out, easy to get around. It is right next to I-80 so highway noise is there.
A
Adam K.
1 month on Hipcamp
Very nice area and land! Little close to the interstate but not too much that it’s annoying. Will definetly be back! Very nice welcoming hosts. Stayed in tent site 3 which was little secluded but still near bathrooms / shower & all trails.
E
Erin H.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
4 m campervan ·
Site 10 - RV'ing W/Elec at site Water to fill
Great showers! Nice location even though our site was near a creek and had lots of bugs. Office offered what looked to be good food options. Overall we would stay again!
C
Carrie B.
7 reviews
We got there and we had to change tent sites 3 times before we liked where we were. The freeway was so loud we had to yell at each other to hear what we were saying. The bathroom was over crowded with how many people were there. Only one bathroom for 50 people. It really tucked. We had a tent site for 2 days but we were out of there the next morning. I will never go back to this camp spot
A
Anthony S.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Lovely night in Earlham
Tent · With pets ·
Site 1 - Tent Camping at Shady Brook
Beautiful place to pitch a tent in a thunderstorm. I was greeted by the host on arrival. The shower room was clean and modern. Small town just down the road with a grocery store.
L
Lisa Marie H.
3 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Tent ·
Floating Bed
Loved the floating bed in the tree. Threw a sheet on the 'floor' & slept great all night. Plus the nearby bathroom facility was about the cleanest/best at any campground I've ever been to.
R
Rex F.
6 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Beautiful spot! Well maintained and clean as can be. A nice hot shower after a long road day!
G
Geoff M.
2 reviews
The cottage was cozy and was as described! We definitely appreciated the fans and ac unit, since it's summertime.
It's a little trek up and down a small elevation for a bathroom. That would have been a little harder with our kids, but was ok with the two of us. Overall, I'd recommend checking it out!
J
Julia K.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2024
Peaceful, restoring tent site
Tent · With pets ·
Site 3 - Tent Camping at Shady Brook
Believe it or not, Shady Brook actually has a shady brook and Tent Site 3 is wrapped by it. The sound of that brook at night was such a pleasant backdrop. The site itself is well back from the rest of the RV park so there is a good measure of privacy and seclusion and quiet in general.
Shady Brook in general is an absolute gem of a facility. Extremely clean. Extremely well kept. The layout is basically a large circle with short drives directed outward for RV parking. The tent sites are placed at the far end of the circle from the entry so any traffic from RVs is limited. The circle itself is on a bit of a slope but all the sites are level themselves. There are ample potable water sources and a bathhouse that looks highly accessible for those with physical disabilities.
One thing I truly admired about this site was just how family-friendly it is. The center of that circle is one very well kept lawn and there are some playground sets there for kids, as well as a big tree swing. This area also has a communal fire pit as well as a covered picnic area.
Dave and company run a great campground and the office facility itself is quite helpful. You can buy some basic supplies, firewood, fire starters, and even order pizza and some other food. There is a washer and dryer as well.
Overall, well, I arrived here in the middle of a cross-country trip, planning to move on the next day. It was so peaceful I decided within the first 20 minutes to stay an extra day. I'm glad I did.
Robert B.
11 months on Hipcamp
Awesome spot. We booked it the same day while we were traveling across the country. You can tell they put effort into making it a great spot to stay, we stayed in the Guest Cottage and the owner had the AC on for us when we came. There was fresh water right outside at the spicket just outside, and the bathrooms were right next door. Highly recommend a stay here
H
Heather G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Not recommend
· August 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Site 1 - Tent Camping at Shady Brook
Accommodations were great (toilet, electric access, etc), but the site itself was very small and the location was only tolerable because there were no other campers on either side of our site. The owners were not terribly friendly and the location was very loud due to close proximity to the interstate.
L
Laura T.
10 months on Hipcamp
Mixed feelings
· August 2024
12 m travel trailer ·
Site 18 - Pull Throughs & Full Hook Ups
The space was very tight and our rig didn’t fit very well. Getting in and out was quite difficult
L
Lynsie M.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2024
Great, cozy little spot! Perfect for our overnight on the trek back home - bookmarking for future reference. The option to order dinner from the hosts to your campsite is amazing!
K
Kristen E.
8 reviews
Mixed feelings
· August 2024
Tent · Group trip ·
Site 16 - Tent Camping at Shady Brook
The staff was helpful and the site was beautiful, but it is very close to the highway which made for a loud night, though if you like the white noise maybe that’s for you. However, since all of the site listings on Hipcamp have the same photos, the one I chose was at random and we ended up next to a creek full of still water that came with lots of mosquitos and other bugs. If the listings were individual I’d have booked another site but still happy to stay there.
J
Joy W.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2024
Beautifully landscaped
8 m travel trailer · With kids ·
Site 11 - RV'ing W/Elec at site Water to fill
Beautiful green grass and nature all around with plenty for the kids (park and neat swings). It’s near the highway, making it easy to get to but it still feels private and quiet. You can tell the owners take pride in the property. I would happily stay here again.
L
Lindsey T.
3 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
We will be back!
4 m pop-up camper ·
Site 10 - RV'ing W/Elec at site Water to fill
Short stay but plan on another, longer stay n the future!
R
Renee S.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2024
Good campsite, good amenities, host was very nice. Great spot for my one-night camping needs.
M
Mack H.
2 reviews
I love the location the vibe the treatment right when you go in the office the place was so beautiful. I will go again with my husband.
A
Alicia A.
1 year on Hipcamp
What a hidden gem! Host was very friendly and helpful. Nice shade through the park. We will definitely stay there again!
R
Renee S.
2 reviews
Sad I didn't have more time to spend here! Great price, great directions, clean facilities and helpful staff. Would definitely come back. I did slide around a bit on the gravel roads leading up to the location, but only because there were just very heavy rains in the area. And a few small fishtails are fun :)
Kiki M.
5 reviews
Not recommend
· June 2024
“We don’t affiliate with Hipcamp”
I never found the place. Host’s phone was disconnected and said that he did not affiliate with hip camp. both the directions and how to contact the sites via Hipcamp lead me no where. Beware.
Vince H.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2024
Last minute trip and everything was better than expected and left pleasantly surprised. Great place and would recommend.
J
Jeff L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
Site 1 with RV and dog
6 m travel trailer · With pets ·
Site 1 - RV'ing W/Elec at site Water to fill
Lovely small campground. Site 1 was well shaded with easy access to mowed trails and a creek for my dog to run loose. Clean bathroom and shower with easy access on gravel road from the highway. Yes, road noise but I consider it a “white noise” so it didn’t bother me and with the AC running, I didn’t hear it in the trailer. Highly recommend.
Twyla A.
5 reviews
Recommends
· June 2024
Perfect place to stay after a long day of driving.
Lorey H.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
Quaint private campground
Tent · With pets ·
Site 1 - Tent Camping at Shady Brook
Our family enjoyed Dave’s campground. The bathroom/showers were nice. Would stay again!
Emilly D.
3 reviews
Recommends
· June 2024
I loved tent camping on this wonderful site! Dave was super helpful and met me to show me where to go when I arrived just before sunset. It was quiet and peaceful. Shower facility was clean. Would definitely stay here again!!
M
Mary Jane G.
1 year on Hipcamp
Shady Brook campground was the perfect serene stop on my way traveling through Iowa! The facilites were top notch in terms of amenities and cleanliness, not to mention the hospitality shown to me was through the roof. I arrived before a big storm was suppose to hit and the host’s made sure I was aware and even gave me the option to be in a spot that was available closer to a shelter in the case of an emergency. The little crick that runs through was so peaceful and was a perfect place to nestle in with a book and rest up for my next day of travels. Would highly recommend and greatly appreciate all of their help along the way! Thank you Shady Brook, I will definitely be back on my way back east!
A
Alli M.
2 reviews
Location
Earlham, Dallas, Iowa, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Dave R.
Joined in July 2017Things to do nearby
Similar campgrounds nearby
Campers also viewed...
Related Searches
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.