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Discover Geode State Park's serene lake and lush trails.
The best camping in Geode State Park, IA
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Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Geode State Park adventure.
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Alexandria
3 weeks ago
2 nights at Quiet Country Farmland
What a beautiful experience! My husband and I had the perfect getaway at the little red cabin. Betsy and Dan were awesome hosts and made sure we had such a good time. Waking up to views of the sunrise over the pond and sheep in the nearby field was magic.
We cooked all of our meals over the campfire and stargazed at night. I asked about animals and Dan was kind enough to take us on a tour of the farm! What a cool experience. We also made sure to stop in town on our way out to grab some of their meat at the Trading Co. to take home. Can’t beat the price or quality! Don’t miss that awesome shop with all kinds of local treats!
We took advantage of the coffee and popcorn provided and the cozy blankets for the campfire at night. We love camping but also love having heat and a cozy bed to sleep in. This was the perfect middle ground.
Make sure you bring all of your cooking and cleaning items if you plan to make meals there. There were disposable cups, plates, utensils, etc. provided.
The PERFECT place to relax and recharge. We can’t wait to visit again!
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Robert
November 2025
16 ft travel trailer
Great place, not far off the beaten path. Very convenient and friendly. There are trains.
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Asher
October 2025
1 night at Quiet Country Farmland
From the second that I arrived Dan and Betsy were the absolute best hosts anyone could ask for. The cabin offered a quiet and cozy experience along with an amazing outdoor experience. Stunning views mixed with a calming atmosphere made an incredible stay. Not only was this experience delightful because of the distance into the country, it was amazing because it is a fully functional farm. Dan was able to give me a complete tour of the farm which included : horses, sheep, pigs and cows. He has a world class facility and the best part is he let me purchase %100 grass fed lamb and beef. Overall the stay was absolutely fantastic and I will continue to come back to learn more about where my food is grown and made and find a calming stay where I know I can connect with nature!
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Aaron
October 2025
30 ft travel trailer
James was awesome! We just happened to pull up when he was outside. He came over and said hi. He was very welcoming! We stayed at the camper site. Site #3
The spot was great! Very secluded. About 25 minutes from University of Iowa. It was very close to many farms. It was flat. It was freshly mowed and very well maintained.
Couple things to know:
1) When you get there, back in. We thought we would pull in and then back into the spot. Nope. You will just back straight in from the main road.
2) I was able to use James' hose to fill up my fresh water tank.
3) Dumping is super simple. Just google Kalona City Park Campground. About 5 minutes from where you camp. At the entrance to the campground there is water and a sewer dump. It was $10 to dump and you just put the cash in an envelope.
4) There were many flies but very few mosquitos.
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Holly
October 2025
15 ft travel trailer
With pets
We stayed in the Santa Fe site and it was perfect. Easy to pull into, nice level lot. Just what we needed to be able to plug in for a night.
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Steven
October 2025
Tent
Awesome place! Easy to find plenty of space and beautiful views! Loved the cat I miss him already! He’s like the camp host sidekick! Host was easy to communicate with and place was quiet and clean!
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James
September 2025
10 ft travel trailer
We had a nice stay at Wesley‘s, he was very welcoming. The property is beautiful. He had he had a lot of knowledge of the area. It was fun hanging out with the goats and with his very friendly cat. If you needed groceries, it was not too far away..
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Mel
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Tent camping was great. beautiful creek. We took back two sites so we had plenty of room to spread out. Pit toilet is by the geode mine area so take the site before the bridge if that's important to you.
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Mel
August 2025
16 ft car
With pets
Got there early and took the back two sites so tents were farthest back from the one other site in the vicinity and we used the fire and picnic table in the other one. The creek is beautiful and all solid rock in the creek bed so you can hunt for all kinds of cool fossils and geodes without getting muddy. The only pit toilet is up by the gate/entrance where the geode mine is so if you're thinking you want to be close than take the first site before the little bridge but be aware people showing up to the geode mine early in the morning might make noise with their pickaxes.
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Kyle & Nola
August 2025
15 ft travel trailer
Site 6 was well shaded. The single bathroom/shower was a short walk from our campsite. The door is propped open so no code is needed. Friday night the campground was fairly deserted. It got more lively the next night! The mosquitoes were fairly aggressive until the breeze came up on Saturday. Unfortunately, the pool closed last weekend. I was glad we found that out when we called before we arrived. (We booked our site, #6 but the confirmation recorded it as #1 so we called to check on that and were told that it is a glitch but not to worry.). We appreciated the free firewood since the site is a bit more than we usually spend. There were street lights and cameras nearby. Disc golfers came through every so often. There was fairly regular foot and car traffic below our site. We explored Keokuk and Hamilton. Be sure to check out the view from Rand Park!
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Leah
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Very nice land! The bridge was cool, made it feel like an adventure. :)
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Jager
August 2025
Tent
Me and my wife really enjoyed our stay at whitetail tent camping. It was a cool setup right next to a beautiful pond and nice and secluded from everything.
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Mike
August 2025
Tent
With pets
We had an amazing experience camping at James’s! Site 2 had the perfect amount of privacy while still being a minute walk to where the car was parked. It was a well maintained area and the creek and prairie areas were great to help recharge.
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Cj
July 2025
Tent
We
Loved the place. We were the only people camping... definitely primitive camping!!! But that is what we were looking for. Clean, safe. Talked to some people who were digging on land and they found bucket full of geodes..... definitely going back!!!
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David
July 2025
22 ft travel trailer
Great host! Enjoyable evening. Would definitely return when in the area. Loved the cat and farm animals.
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Sammy
July 2025
Tent
With kids
This was nice enough, because we were able to use the pool shower and bathroom. Very quiet and beautiful campground. Lots of cars coming and going but not bad enough to not enjoy this spot.👍🏻
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Teresa
July 2025
35 ft fifth wheel
Great camper spots, nice and clean, and quiet. Enjoy camping here when we can
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JODI
July 2025
27 ft fifth wheel
Wildcat City Park Campground is clean and well maintained. Did not have any issues. Other campers were courteous, no loud music/noise even with it being a holiday weekend.
Some tree branches near drive need to be trimmed. Understand why the shorter hose on the dump station, but it could be a bit longer.
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Daimon
July 2025
Tent
Small simple camp with pool and nice trails, very clean and lots to do in the surrounding towns
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K
July 2025
16 ft travel trailer
This was a lovely site. Very simple. As advertised. There was plenty of level space for our teardrop. We didn’t even have to unhook to level it. Manicured grass area big enough to enjoy. The prairie restoration lead to lots of lightning bugs. The picnic table is brand new and the fire ring was a good size for the environment. It was easy to find. Near a rd so we heard a little traffic here and there but nothing to complain about. James was friendly and helpful.
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Other options near Geode State Park
The best camping in Geode State Park, IA guide
Overview
About
When you arrive at Geode State Park you will feel like you just cracked open a boring looking rock to find a glittering jewel in the center of it. Jackpot! This beautiful spot of lush vegetation with the sparkling gem of Lake Geode at its center has outdoor recreation for everyone, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and even winter sports for all season fun. Follow these activities by a mandatory picnic by the water and a few evenings of campsite shenanigans with the fam and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable outdoor trip for the books. In case you are wondering, yes there are actually geodes here which is how the park got its name, although most have likely been removed ages ago. It is now illegal to remove any geodes from the park, so you will just have to check out some prime examples at the park office. No biggie, more time for playing on the water!
When to go
The ideal time to visit Geode State Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural scenery is at its peak. Summer months can be busy and hot, while winter may bring closures due to snow.
Know before you go
- Check the weather forecast before your visit to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
- Be aware of park alerts and closures, especially during extreme weather conditions.
- Accessibility varies across different areas of the park; some trails may not be suitable for all visitors.
- Facilities such as restrooms and picnic areas are available, but it's wise to bring essentials like water and snacks.
- Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles to preserve the park's natural beauty for others.
100%
1 ratings · 1 review
Beautiful state park in Iowa with zero park entrance fee and reasonable rates for camping. Modern restroom facilities including showers.
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Susan J.
8 months on Hipcamp