Discover Camping & RV Parks Near Ames, IA: Top Tent Sites for Your Next Adventure
Ames, home to Iowa State University, is near great outdoor recreation. Ledges State Park, just south of the city, has scenic camping with dramatic sandstone cliffs and hiking trails. Hickory Grove Park, nearby, offers lakeside camping with fishing and boating. Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, further north, features extensive trails and campsites near a large lake. Saylorville Lake, near Des Moines, has multiple campgrounds with waterfront views. Big Creek State Park, adjacent to Saylorville Lake, offers peaceful camping with excellent biking and boating opportunities.

















Prairie Flower Rec Area in Polk County is located just 11 min west of Ankeny, IA with an elevation of 937 feet. There are a total of 252 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 28 and 85 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 2 sites have electric and water hookups. 250 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $308.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, marina, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Acorn Valley Campground in Polk County is located just 20 min west of Ankeny, IA with an elevation of 951 feet. There are a total of 85 campsites including 55 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. 29 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 20 and 72 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 1 site has electric and water hookups. 29 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $84.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, marina, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Cherry Glen Campground in Polk County is located just 10 min west of Ankeny, IA with an elevation of 934 feet. There are a total of 125 campsites including 1 boat site. The campground is normally open from mid April to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 28 and 93 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $24.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, restroom, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, water skiing, floating sports, disc golf.
Bob Shetler Rec Area in Polk County is located just 16 min west of Ankeny, IA with an elevation of 809 feet. There are a total of 67 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 70 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $22.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, marina, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Whitebreast Camp in Marion County is located 55 min east of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 815 feet. There are a total of 107 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to the beginning of October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 28 and 68 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $240.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, amphitheater. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Wallashuck Campground in Marion County is located 55 min east of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 822 feet. There are a total of 79 campsites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 33 and 82 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric hookups. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
North Overlook Camp in Marion County is located 53 min east of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 818 feet. There are a total of 49 campsites including 6 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of April to the beginning of October. 43 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 46 and 84 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 43 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $20.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, amphitheater. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Howell Station Campground in Marion County is located 1 hr east of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 702 feet. There are a total of 135 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid April to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 49 and 93 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric hookups. Prices start at $22.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, amphitheater. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Bridgeview Campground in Appanoose County is located 1 hr 29 min southeast of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 976 feet. There are a total of 104 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. 102 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 35 and 89 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 93 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $44.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports, rock climbing.
Prairie Ridge Campground in Appanoose County is located 1 hr 33 min southeast of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 939 feet. There are a total of 56 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to mid September. 54 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 45 and 90 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 53 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $25.00 to $50.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Island View Campground in Appanoose County is located 1 hr 39 min southeast of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 936 feet. There are a total of 192 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. 188 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 36 and 130 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 190 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $22.00 to $125.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Buck Creek Campground in Appanoose County is located 1 hr 31 min southeast of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 944 feet. There are a total of 42 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 43 and 128 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $22.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, marina, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Sandy Beach Camp in Johnson County is located just 21 min southeast of Cedar Rapids, IA with an elevation of 726 feet. There are a total of 58 campsites including 8 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. 50 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 18 and 71 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 2 sites have electric and water hookups. 48 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $24.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Sugar Bottom Campground in Johnson County is located 31 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 689 feet. There are a total of 216 campsites including 14 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of September. 202 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 36 and 89 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 24 sites have electric and water hookups. 178 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $200.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails.
Linder Point Campground in Johnson County is located just 15 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 803 feet. There are a total of 17 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 58 and 85 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 7 sites have electric and water hookups. 10 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $22.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
West Overlook Campground in Johnson County is located just 15 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 764 feet. There are a total of 89 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 32 and 73 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 19 sites have electric and water hookups. 70 sites have electric hookups. Prices start at $20.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Cottonwood Campground in Johnson County is located just 15 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 722 feet. There are a total of 11 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the end of May to the end of August. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Prices start at $14.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, flush toilets. Activities include hiking trails.
Tailwater West Campground in Johnson County is located just 14 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 679 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites including 2 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. 20 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 69 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 20 sites have electric and water hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Tailwater East Campground in Johnson County is located just 13 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 743 feet. There are a total of 22 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 42 and 68 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $22.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include biking, boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Battle of Athens Campground is part of Battle of Athens State Historic Site in Missouri (1 hr 12 min northwest of Quincy, IL) with an elevation of 634 feet. There are a total of 29 campsites which are all tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. Max equipment length is 40 feet. All sites are currently first-come first-served. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 15 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $27.00. Some amenities include drinking water, restroom, firewood. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails.
Shady Creek Campground in Muscatine County is located 31 min west of Davenport, IA with an elevation of 559 feet. There are a total of 54 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. 53 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 40 and 92 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.
Clarks Ferry Campground in Muscatine County is located just 25 min southwest of Davenport, IA with an elevation of 679 feet. There are a total of 45 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. 44 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 31 and 70 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 44 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $20.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Grant River Campground in Grant County is located 32 min north of Dubuque, IA with an elevation of 618 feet. There are a total of 73 campsites including 10 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. 62 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 90 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 63 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, amphitheater, flush toilets. Activities include fishing.
Blackhawk Park Campground in Crawford County is located 39 min south of La Crosse, WI with an elevation of 628 feet. There are a total of 146 campsites. The campground is open all year. 76 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 99 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 73 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $18.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, boat ramp, swimming, flush toilets. Activities include boating, fishing, floating sports.
Love's RV Hookup-Cameron MO 837 in Clinton County is located 37 min east of St. Joseph, MO with an elevation of 1,013 feet. There are a total of 6 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers up to 50 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. All sites have full hookups (electric, water and sewer). Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, wifi, general store, laundry facility, restroom, gasoline pump, ice, flush toilets, pet area.
Blanding Landing Campground in Jo Daviess County is located 48 min southeast of Dubuque, IA with an elevation of 603 feet. There are a total of 38 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. 37 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 25 and 40 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. 31 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, boat ramp, flush toilets. Activities include fishing.
Fishermans Corner Campground in Rock Island County is located just 21 min northeast of Moline, IL with an elevation of 575 feet. There are a total of 56 campsites including 5 tent-only sites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to the end of October. 51 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 80 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. 51 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $20.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing.
Love's RV Hookup-St. Joseph MO 235 in Buchanan County is located just 10 min southeast of St. Joseph, MO with an elevation of 970 feet. There are a total of 6 campsites. The campground is open all year. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 50 and 70 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 12 months in advance. All sites have electric and water hookups. Prices start at $32.00 per night. Some amenities include shower, dump station, wifi, general store, laundry facility, restroom, gasoline pump, ice, pet area.
Newton Hills Campground is part of Newton Hills State Park in South Dakota (44 min southeast of Sioux Falls, SD) with an elevation of 1,477 feet. There are a total of 136 campsites including 9 cabins. The campground is open all year. 118 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 41 and 75 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 3 months in advance. 118 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $55.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, dump station, playground, restroom, amphitheater, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include horseback riding.
Union Grove Campground is part of Union Grove State Park in South Dakota (42 min northwest of Sioux City, IA) with an elevation of 1,346 feet. There are a total of 23 campsites including 3 tent-only sites. The campground is open all year. 20 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 30 and 85 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 3 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring with grill. 19 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $15.00 to $26.00. Some amenities include shower, drinking water, playground, restroom, ramada, flush toilets. Activities include biking, horseback riding, hiking trails.