The great outdoors is calling, no matter the time of year! Camping is a great vacation for people who want an adventure on a budget, and most of Iowa’s most beautiful state parks have campgrounds where you can pitch a tent or park an RV. Even better, many of them are incredibly reasonable and offer options for all budgets. Whether you’re looking for a fully-furnished hookup to camp in ease, or if you want to rough it and make the most of an old-fashioned camping trip, there’s an option for you – and all these eight affordable campgrounds in Iowa can be rented for less than $25 a night! Which one is right for your next outdoor adventure?
- Pikes Peak State Park
Iowa DNR Full of hiking trails and the Bridal Veil Falls waterfall, this popular park features tent and RV sites. During off-peak seasons, all rates are $18 and under, while during peak seasons a standard electric hookup is only $20 and a tent site is only $14. Pikes Peak State Park, 32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
- Backbone State Park
Iowa DNR Known for its stunning limestone ridges and its beautiful fall foliage, this is a popular site for hiking and boating. A standard full hook-up is only $18 during off-season times, and a tent or non-electric site is only $14 even during the peak. Backbone State Park Beach, Iowa 52038, USA
- Bellevue State Park
Iowa DNR This is a gorgeous hiking destination featuring a stunning lake and even a butterfly garden. You can stay there for under $25 during all seasons - even a standard full hook-up is only $24 during peak season. Bellevue State Park Dyas Unit Campground, 21466 429th Ave, Bellevue, IA 52031, USA
- Stone State Park
Iowa DNR A popular site for equestrians and mountain bikers, Stone State park also has a small museum. It’s one of the most affordable campsites in the state, with a standard electric hookup only being $18 during peak season and $12 outside of it. Stone State Park Drive, Stone State Park Dr, Sioux City, IA, USA
- Arrowhead Park
My County Parks A rustic Iowa campground full of great places to swim and fish, as well as a playground for kids, it has a classic campground as well. Fees for electric hookups are only $20 a night for tents and RVs. Arrowhead Drive, Arrowhead Dr, Dubuque, IA 52003, USA
- Palisades-Kepler State Park
Iowa DNR Hands down one of the most famous parks in Iowa, this hiking haven offers tent and RV hookups for as little as $6 during the offseason. Even during peak seasons, a standard electric hookup is only $20. Palisades-Kepler State Park, 700 Kepler Dr, Mt Vernon, IA 52314, USA
- Pulpit Rock Campground
Jeff P/TripAdvisor In Decorah’s backyard, this small campground is a great place for canoeing down the Upper Iowa River. While more expensive options are available, an electric tent hookup is only $18 a night and a trailer hookup is only $23. Pulpit Rock Campground, 505 Pulpit Rock Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, USA
- Brushy Creek State Recreation Area
Iowa DNR This is one of the most popular horse camping sites in Iowa, full of trails for exploring plus a large beach and lake for boating. A standard electric hookup is only $20 during peak season, and a full hookup is only $18 during the off-season. Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, Iowa 50557, USA
Have you stayed at any of these affordable campgrounds in Iowa? Let us know about your trip in the comments section, and tell us all about your favorite campground! If you’re planning your own stay, you can book these campgrounds at Reserve America’s Iowa hub. If you’re looking for a slightly more upscale stay, why not book a stay at one of these cabins with a hot tub?
Iowa DNR
Full of hiking trails and the Bridal Veil Falls waterfall, this popular park features tent and RV sites. During off-peak seasons, all rates are $18 and under, while during peak seasons a standard electric hookup is only $20 and a tent site is only $14.
Pikes Peak State Park, 32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USA
Known for its stunning limestone ridges and its beautiful fall foliage, this is a popular site for hiking and boating. A standard full hook-up is only $18 during off-season times, and a tent or non-electric site is only $14 even during the peak.
Backbone State Park Beach, Iowa 52038, USA
This is a gorgeous hiking destination featuring a stunning lake and even a butterfly garden. You can stay there for under $25 during all seasons - even a standard full hook-up is only $24 during peak season.
Bellevue State Park Dyas Unit Campground, 21466 429th Ave, Bellevue, IA 52031, USA
A popular site for equestrians and mountain bikers, Stone State park also has a small museum. It’s one of the most affordable campsites in the state, with a standard electric hookup only being $18 during peak season and $12 outside of it.
Stone State Park Drive, Stone State Park Dr, Sioux City, IA, USA
My County Parks
A rustic Iowa campground full of great places to swim and fish, as well as a playground for kids, it has a classic campground as well. Fees for electric hookups are only $20 a night for tents and RVs.
Arrowhead Drive, Arrowhead Dr, Dubuque, IA 52003, USA
Hands down one of the most famous parks in Iowa, this hiking haven offers tent and RV hookups for as little as $6 during the offseason. Even during peak seasons, a standard electric hookup is only $20.
Palisades-Kepler State Park, 700 Kepler Dr, Mt Vernon, IA 52314, USA
Jeff P/TripAdvisor
In Decorah’s backyard, this small campground is a great place for canoeing down the Upper Iowa River. While more expensive options are available, an electric tent hookup is only $18 a night and a trailer hookup is only $23.
Pulpit Rock Campground, 505 Pulpit Rock Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, USA
This is one of the most popular horse camping sites in Iowa, full of trails for exploring plus a large beach and lake for boating. A standard electric hookup is only $20 during peak season, and a full hookup is only $18 during the off-season.
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, Iowa 50557, USA
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Address: Pikes Peak State Park, 32264 Pikes Peak Rd, McGregor, IA 52157, USAAddress: Backbone State Park Beach, Iowa 52038, USAAddress: Bellevue State Park Dyas Unit Campground, 21466 429th Ave, Bellevue, IA 52031, USAAddress: Stone State Park Drive, Stone State Park Dr, Sioux City, IA, USAAddress: Arrowhead Road, Arrowhead Rd, Grant, KS 66432, USAAddress: Palisades-Kepler State Park, 700 Kepler Dr, Mt Vernon, IA 52314, USAAddress: Pulpit Rock Campground, 505 Pulpit Rock Rd, Decorah, IA 52101, USAAddress: Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, Iowa 50557, USA
