10 Glorious Campgrounds In Iowa Where No Reservation Is Required
When your plans aren’t set in stone, but the urge to get out into nature is strong, you need a no-reservations-required campground. Here are 10 popular choices for Iowa outdoors enthusiasts who don’t plan ahead, but still want a wonderful place to camp.
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One of the best tent campgrounds in Iowa, Acorn Valley is on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project that leads to the Des Moines River Valley. With 79 walk-in tent camping areas, there's more than enough room here for everyone.
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This heavily wooded area is full of virgin timber and rolling farmland. It's managed by Pilot Knob State Park and spans 138 acres. Frisbee golf, hiking, a winding creek, and hiking trails make this a great camping spot.
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To get to the parking for hike-in camp sites, drive to the back of the park. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit. This is a great place to stretch out and enjoy some privacy; the campsites are pretty far apart.
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This primitive camp site has 16 places to pitch your tent. You'll enjoy a peaceful 191 acres of rugged woodland, scenic overlooks, and lots of wildlife viewing.
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This is a great place to settle in and view migrating raptors during the fall and spring. 140-foot-tall bluffs offer amazing views of the Des Moines River.
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This is the largest park in Scott County, with 1280 acres. Enjoy playground equipment, a radio-controlled airplane site, five unique camping areas, and many nature trails.
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This 620-acre facility has four lakes for swimming and fishing. There's a beach area, boat dock, and paddle boat rentals. Modern restrooms and two campgrounds with water, sewer, and electrical are available, as well.
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You'll have 25 acres to roam at this Mississippi River recreation area. Enjoy the free beach, double boat ramp, picnicking facilities, and 65-site campground with water, a dump station, showers, and electricity.
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The Morgan Creek campground is available on a walk-in basis and has 36 50-amp sites with a fire ring, grill, picnic table, dump station, shower house, and water hookups.
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There's a wildlife preserve with bison and elk at this camping area that have lived here in an animal enclosure for nearly 40 years. There's an observation deck, spotting scopes, and a lovely picnic area. Over 168 campsites along the shoreline of Saylorville Lake await.
Where do you camp when you have a last-minute need to get out into nature?
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