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Draco Hill Nature Farm

Hosted by Suzan · West Branch, Iowa
4 sites · RV, Tent · 75 acres
98%
·
354 reviews
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Best Hipcamps in Iowa
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2025.
Best in Iowa: 3rd place
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
THANK YOU to all our guests who enjoyed Draco Hill Nature Farm, were considerate to one another and who left their sites as clean as they found them in 2025. Hipcampers Rock! We'll see you in 2026. 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 interactive 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 -- 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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$28
/ night
4 sites

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RV/tent sites

4 sites
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Shade and Swimming

96%
(167)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 30 ft
Our Shade and Swimming site is in trees and has hammock camping available. It is a short walk to the river for a swim. It does have a narrow winding entrance but is the most popular site so book right away!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$35
/ night
for 4 guests
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Sun and Swimming

98%
(144)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 30 ft
Our Sun and Swimming site (formerly Site 1) is wide open, flat and grassy with a small shaded area where the fire pit is. It's best for trailers to turn around in. If you love open sky and space, this is the place for you!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$31
/ night
for 4 guests
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Trees and Terrace

100%
(108)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 25 ft
Trees and Terrace is the longest distance from the other 2. It has access to a beautiful natural terrace along the river where you can sit and enjoy the birds and jumping fish. The site is mostly surrounded by green and timber. Getting into the river from this site is not advised.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$35
/ night
for 4 guests
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Instant book

Sycamore Grove

95%
(20)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 6 · Vehicles under 30 ft
A private distance from other sites, flat and wooded along a walking trail. NOT accessible for river swimming yet still a beautiful view of the river. Hammock camping available here. It is a smaller site and the farthest from an outhouse which has a mowed path leading to it. Larger vehicles should reserve any of the other sites. This site is discounted due to the slightly longer walk to the outhouse.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
No potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
No water hookup
from
$28
/ night
for 4 guests
from
$28
/ night
4 sites

Reviews

98% Recommend705 ratings · 354 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
What a gem
15 ft travel trailer ·
Trees and Terrace
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.
T
Tim M.
3 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
16 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Shade and Swimming
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!
C
Christopher L.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2025
Perfect quiet getaway!
16 ft travel trailer ·
Trees and Terrace
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.
C
Colleen R.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2025
Tent ·
Trees and Terrace
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
T
Travis W.
2 reviews
Recommends
· October 2025
I Want to Keep This A Secret!!
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
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!
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Georgie L.
2 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Had a great stay!!!
14 ft travel trailer · With kids ·
Sun and Swimming
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.
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Eric H.
3 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Tent ·
Sun and Swimming
Lots of trails to walk around and large campsites.
R
Randall E.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2025
Felt Right at Home in Nature
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
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!
T
Taylor B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2025
12 ft travel trailer ·
Trees and Terrace
Great little place to stay. Would definitely recommend.
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Keith A.
9 reviews
Recommends
· September 2025
Sun and Swimming Site
14 ft travel trailer · With pets ·
Sun and Swimming
One of the best camping locations in Iowa! It was so nice to get out of the usual campground scene—this felt much more like the dispersed camping we love out west, but close to home. The site was beautiful, sunny, and felt secluded, even though the next spot was close enough to hear/see a little. Our dogs absolutely loved it. Our host was amazing—when our pup went wandered off, she jumped right in to help us search (she was found happily lollygagging on one of the trails 😅). Truly above and beyond hospitality. A couple quick notes for future campers: boat traffic was a little high (likely because it was Labor Day), but not disturbing, and we had less cell service than we anticipated, but it was honestly nice to unplug. We’d absolutely stay here again, and highly recommend the site and host!
C
Corey P.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2025
Tent ·
Trees and Terrace
we love it here.. spacious campsites with privacy, plus the addition of the outhouses is awesome. love the river views and the wildflowers/prairie. thanks for having us!
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Hannah A.
8 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Great location
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
We had an amazing time! Love how quiet it was. The trails are all kept nice and mowed. Lots of poison ivy around, so just be careful of your surroundings. Suzanne is a great host. We didn’t have any firewood at our location, which it said we’d have and within 5 minutes of messaging her, she was right there with it. Nice grassing, flat area for tents. We’ll definitely be back!
J
Jane D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Great Place!
Tent ·
Sycamore Grove
We stayed for one night and loved it! Suzan was very kind and shared bug spray saving a trip to town. Cedar River is beautiful. We loved the owls! Thank You for sharing your land!
D
David H.
10 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Shade and Swimming
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
This place was amazing and wish I could have relaxed here longer. It was a perfect spot as I travel across the country training service K9s to crash for the night. Suzan was so friendly and her pups were so sweet. 100% recommend! This will definitely be back!
J
James K.
2 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
I have camped here multiple times. Great campsite with great views. Peaceful location. Will definitely be back!
J
Jared W.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent ·
Sun and Swimming
This is the 3rd time I have stayed on the property. First time at this site. Amazing as always. 5 Stars
R
Reece F.
4 reviews
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent · With pets ·
Trees and Terrace
We had a blast at this place. It was well kept, private and welcoming. Easier to find and access than expected! Kids did well. The “trees and terrace” camp site was awesome. A little grassy terrace to watch the river beneath the secluded campsite. We will be back!
J
Joshua Z.
7 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent · With pets ·
Sycamore Grove
it was nice and secluded private little camping areas plenty of trails to hike I will definitely be back
M
Matthew F.
7 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
19 ft campervan · With kids ·
Trees and Terrace
Nice camping spot. We did hit some rain and the site was a bit muddy which is in the description. There is a higher area at the front of the campsite where we parked and camped. Overall the entire experience was easy and as expected.
B
Ben N.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
New favorite camping spot
Tent ·
Sycamore Grove
Absolutely beautiful property. Great spot if you want more nature and privacy than typical camping. Lots of beautiful trails to explore, accompanied by so much amazing native flowers, wildlife, and foods! There’s a lot more paths than are on the map so careful not to get lost. All together a wonderful experience and would highly recommend to anyone who loves the true nature of Iowa!!
E
Elijah P.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Tent · With pets ·
Trees and Terrace
This site met all our needs for the weekend. It is a private location with good separation from other sites and benefits from extensive tree cover. The access to the nearby river is a clear highlight. The host was helpful and communicative.
D
Dan S.
5 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Beautiful Camping Sites
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
This is such a beautiful place! I spent one night at site #2 - 'Shade Site.' This spot had spectacular views of the river and was nicely tucked into the trees. Neighbors at Site #1 were visible but far enough away that there was still plenty of privacy. The only time I could hear them was when their young child had a couple moments of upset in the evening. Neighbors on the other side, at the newest site, were very hidden. I could only see a corner of their tent. The outhouse situation was a bit sketchy. The curtain door isn't wide enough, so doesn't really offer any privacy. A board on some hinges would be an easy solution, but I got the sense most people don't actually use the outhouse. Doing your business in the woods is often part of primitive camping, so I was appreciative they at least had a restroom option. I also appreciated the provided firewood and picnic table. These simple touches really enhanced my stay. Additionally, I like that you can drive right to the sites. This allowed me to bring my big tent and an air mattress for a 'glamping' experience. GPS won't take you exactly to the sites, so it's important to follow the host's written instructions. The drive to the sites is down a grassy trail, blanketed with wildflowers. It is truly a stunning property! Looking forward to more nights there in the future.
K
Katrina O.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Shade and Swimming
Loved the location and directions were easy to follow.
C
Christian G.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Shade & Swimming
16 ft car ·
Shade and Swimming
Great site, stayed for the weekend and it was perfect for us, we hiked the trails and floated in the river. Suzan was a great host
K
Kristin B.
2 reviews
Recommends
· July 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Sun and Swimming
We had an amazing time at this campsite! What a beautiful place.
S
Siduri B.
8 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Sun and Swimming
Great place!!!!! Love the trails. Very well maintained! Private and great views.
D
Dy L.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Great Site by the Water
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
Suzan was great to work with, and the site was well-kept. We enjoyed a beautiful evening and morning by the water. Just a suggestion to other campers. Noise really carries by the water so running your generator all night is really disrespectful.
K
Kirsten H.
5 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Sun and Swimming
Beautiful, peaceful spot along the river. Be prepared for rustic, but well cared for. Clean out houses, well managed.
J
Jason S.
4 reviews
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
Campsite was fantastic. Quiet, felt private, and fantastic directions prior to arrival.
J
Jonah B.
10 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2025
Tent ·
Shade and Swimming
Wonderful spot and a great host, will be visiting again
T
Trajan M.
9 months on Hipcamp

Location

West Branch, Cedar, Iowa, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Suzan E.

Joined in April 2018

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