Canoeing/Kayaking

Wilder Park

52 RV Sites, 6 Tent Sites

Wilder Park in Allison, Iowa, offers 51 RV sites and six tent sites across 88 acres, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet. Full-hookup and water-and-electric categories in both back-in and pull-through join two fishing ponds, a disc golf course, mini-golf, and a storm shelter. Fifty-one sites run in 30/50-amp water-and-electric back-in, water-electric-and-sewer back-in, and water-electric-and-sewer pull-through categories, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and site WiFi. Six tent sites round out the accommodations. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, and a storm shelter sits on the grounds — a genuine safety feature in Iowa. The recreational range is unusually broad for a park this size. Two fishing ponds support angling and paddle boats, with a boat ramp for canoeing and kayaking. A disc golf course, mini-golf, ball field, sports courts, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, walking trails, hiking, biking, a playground, dog park, library, and community fire pit fill the 88 acres, with planned activities through the season. Off-roading is nearby. Pets are welcome. Allison sits on Iowa Highway 3 in Butler County, and the park works as both a genuine destination and a practical overnight for travelers crossing the state. The J&C Grocery, Allison Variety Store, and municipal swimming pool are in town, with Waverly 25 minutes away, Cedar Falls 35, Mason City 60, and five golf courses in the area. Summer is peak. Reserve ahead for warm-weather weekends.

from $16/night

Hidden Bluffs Resort

Hidden Bluffs Resort near Spring Grove, Minnesota, offers a peaceful family camping experience in the scenic Driftless Area. This distinctive region of southeastern Minnesota is known for its limestone bluffs, wooded valleys, spring-fed trout streams, and rolling terrain—creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in the Upper Midwest. Accommodation options include: - Full-hookup RV sites - Comfortable cabin rentals - Traditional tent camping areas - Clean restrooms and showers - Laundry facilities - General store and on-site firewood - Wi-Fi connectivity Guests can enjoy plenty of recreation without leaving the property. More than four miles of groomed hiking trails wind through hardwood forests and limestone bluff terrain, while a spring-fed trout stream provides convenient on-site fishing access. Resort amenities include: - Outdoor swimming pool - Mini-golf course - Children’s playground - Four miles of groomed hiking trails - Spring-fed trout stream - Scenic wooded surroundings - Family-friendly recreation areas The surrounding Bluff Country offers additional opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, cave exploration, and sightseeing. Nearby attractions include: - Niagara Cave near Harmony - Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park - Root River State Trail - Lanesboro’s arts, shopping, and dining - Scenic towns along the Root River - Mississippi River day trips and excursions Hidden Bluffs Resort is open during Minnesota’s warm-weather camping season. Summer is ideal for family recreation, while fall brings spectacular foliage to the hardwood-covered bluffs and valleys. Advance reservations are recommended for summer holiday weekends and the popular fall color season.

Red Barn Campground & Restaurant

33 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 10 Tent Sites, 3 Onsite RV/Trailers

On the bluffs above the Mississippi River in the northeastern Iowa town of Lansing, Red Barn Campground and Restaurant brings together a genuine camping experience and a working restaurant operation in a setting that takes full advantage of the scenic drama of the Great River Road. The campground's signature feature is a beautifully converted early-1900s barn that houses the office, arcade, and bar alongside the on-site restaurant—open Thursday through Sunday—serving as a social focal point for guests who find that a good meal at the end of a river day is worth something. With over 100 sites and easy access to the Mississippi just two miles down the road, this is one of the Upper Midwest's more distinctive camping destinations. Sites at Red Barn are primarily grass pull-throughs on level gravel access roads with modern full hookups suited to rigs of most sizes. Mini golf, a playground, and a spacious pavilion give families on-site options, while a trout stream threading through the property provides immediate fishing access without a drive. Sports courts covering basketball, volleyball, foursquare, and dodgeball supply an athletic outlet, and the barn's arcade keeps younger campers occupied on slower afternoons. Boat rentals are available for those who want to make the short trip to the river itself. Walking trails wind through the wooded grounds, and cabins offer a comfortable alternative to tents or rigs for guests who prefer a roof overhead. The Mississippi River bluff country of northeastern Iowa is among the most scenic river landscapes in the Midwest. Lansing sits at the base of dramatic bluffs that rise steeply from the floodplain, and the views from the heights above town extend across the river into Wisconsin. Effigy Mounds National Monument—preserving the earthwork mounds built by Indigenous people along the river corridor over two thousand years—is a short drive north and among the most quietly moving historic sites in the region. The riverfront is excellent for birding, particularly during spring and fall migration when bald eagles, American white pelicans, and waterfowl concentrate along the Mississippi in large numbers. The town of Lansing has the honest character of a small Mississippi River community—local bars, bait shops, and riverside restaurants without the polish of a tourist destination. The wider region stretches toward the Iowa wine and craft beer trail, where small-scale wineries and breweries have established themselves in the Driftless Area's hills. The Great River Road scenic byway—one of the country's oldest designated scenic routes—runs directly through Lansing and connects to river towns in both directions for leisurely day-drive exploration. Wisconsin's river towns and the bluff country of Minnesota's Hiawatha Valley are reachable for those who want to follow the river further. Red Barn operates seasonally and draws a strong local following that supplements destination campers who come specifically for the Mississippi River setting. Weekend reservations are recommended, and summer weekends fill well in advance. Whether you're driving the Great River Road, chasing the Mississippi bass and walleye fishery, or looking for a campground with a genuinely good burger at the end of the day, Red Barn in Lansing makes a strong case for stopping and staying. Book a site and see the river country at its best.

from $31/night

Golden Acres Park

1 RV Site

On the crystal-clear shores of Square Lake in Washington County, just a short drive from the historic St. Croix River town of Stillwater, Golden Acres Park provides an intimate lakeside camping experience anchored by one of Minnesota's most celebrated natural swimming waters. Square Lake consistently earns recognition as one of the Twin Cities metro area's clearest recreational lakes—a deep kettle lake of exceptional water quality where the sandy bottom is visible well into the depths and the summer swimming ranks among the most refreshing in the state. Nine nightly RV sites with full hookups bring modern camping infrastructure to a serene lakeside setting that has attracted water-loving visitors to this Washington County property for decades. All nine nightly RV sites feature full hookup service with 50/30/20-amp electrical connections, water, and sewer on gravel pads, and high-speed Wi-Fi has been added for the current camping season throughout the park. Pontoon boat, paddleboard, and canoe rentals enable non-motorized exploration of Square Lake's pristine waters without requiring guests to arrive with watercraft, and swimming, boating, and fishing from the park's lakefront give the campground a full recreational identity. The park's small-scale, boutique character creates an atmosphere significantly more intimate than the large commercial campgrounds of the suburban Twin Cities, and returning guests often cite the combination of lake quality and personal service as what brings them back each season. Square Lake's exceptional clarity makes it one of the region's preferred destinations for swimming and stand-up paddleboarding—activities where water quality is visible and immediately appreciable rather than abstractly measured. Washington County's Square Lake Park adjoins the property and provides additional beach access and picnic facilities on the same remarkable lake, giving guests a combined recreational footprint that extends shoreline enjoyment across the full summer day. Fishing for bass, panfish, and northern pike in the clear water provides a rewarding angling experience in conditions where sight-fishing is possible during the calm morning hours when the surface lies undisturbed. Stillwater, one of Minnesota's most historic and charming river towns, lies a short drive west along the St. Croix valley and anchors a downtown district of Victorian architecture, independent bookshops, wine bars, and galleries that serve as the Twin Cities metro area's most beloved small-town getaway. The St. Croix River, a National Wild and Scenic corridor that forms the Minnesota-Wisconsin state line, supports canoeing, kayaking, and riverboat excursions through a bluff-lined valley that remains one of the upper Midwest's most scenic waterway corridors. William O'Brien State Park, along the St. Croix just north of Stillwater, provides hiking, camping, and river access in a protected state land setting easily reached for a half-day outing. The swimming and paddling season on Square Lake runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with the clearest and warmest water conditions arriving in July and August. Fall brings spectacular color to the surrounding Washington County hardwood forests, and the Stillwater district's shops and dining remain active through October for guests who want the lake and the town at a quieter pace. Reserve early for summer weekends—the park's nine nightly sites fill quickly given the exceptional lake quality and the ease of Stillwater and Twin Cities access from this excellent Washington County address.

from $70/night

Ham Lake Resort

5 RV Sites

Ham Lake Resort offers an authentic Minnesota lakefront getaway just 30 minutes north of the Twin Cities. With more than 100 RV sites, tent sites, and cabin accommodations, the resort combines peaceful lake-country surroundings with convenient access to Minneapolis–St. Paul attractions. Resort amenities include: More than 100 RV and tent sites Full-hookup RV sites Cabin accommodations Swimming and fishing on Ham Lake Kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boating Boat dock and lake access Playground and horseshoe area Dedicated dog park Planned activities and themed events Peaceful grounds surrounded by birch and pine trees One of the resort’s most memorable features is its small farmyard, where children can meet goats, alpacas, a miniature horse, a donkey, and a peacock. These hands-on animal encounters, combined with days on the lake and evenings around the campfire, create a unique family camping experience. The surrounding Anoka County area provides additional opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring Minnesota’s parks and trails. Guests can enjoy the quiet atmosphere of lake country while remaining close to shopping, dining, entertainment, and major attractions. Nearby destinations include: Bunker Beach Water Park National Sports Center in Blaine Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Minnesota State Fair Minneapolis museums and cultural attractions Mill District dining and the Mississippi River Twin Cities sporting and entertainment events Ham Lake Resort is open during the spring, summer, and fall, with late spring through early fall offering the best conditions for swimming, paddling, fishing, and other lake activities. July, August, and holiday weekends fill quickly, so early reservations are recommended. Guests should also ask about themed events and planned summer activities when booking.

from $65/night

Split Rock Park Campground

7 RV Sites, 20 Tent Sites

Split Rock Park Campground in Garretson, South Dakota, offers seven RV sites with 30-amp electric service and 20 tent sites on the banks of Split Rock Creek, sized for rigs to 40 feet with fire pits and picnic tables. A boat ramp and playground sit beside a natural waterfall where the creek cuts through pink Sioux quartzite. Seven back-in sites carry 30-amp electric only, sized to 40 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables — there are no water or sewer hookups, so arrive self-contained. Twenty tent sites cover simpler camping. Restrooms and portable toilets serve the grounds. This is a community park rather than a commercial campground, and the infrastructure reflects that honestly. Pets are welcome. The geology is the reason to come. Split Rock Creek cuts through exposed pink Sioux quartzite to form a natural waterfall and narrow gorge — a landscape of ancient bedrock and clear spring-fed water that contrasts sharply with the flat agricultural plains surrounding Garretson. A boat ramp gives paddlers direct launch access, with fishing, canoeing, and kayaking from the creek, and a playground for families. The combination of geological uniqueness, creek fishing, and paddling launch infrastructure gives this small park genuine regional draw well beyond its size. Garretson sits on the northwestern edge of town in eastern South Dakota, within easy reach of Sioux Falls. The campground serves the short northern plains season, with summer paddling and fishing carrying the demand and fall bringing quieter conditions along the creek. With seven RV sites, reserve ahead for summer weekends.

from $20/night

Jellystone Park™ Monticello

188 RV Sites, 8 Cabins, 9 Tent Sites

Jellystone Park Monticello in Iowa offers 188 RV sites, eight cabins, and nine tent sites on the Maquoketa River, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted up to 120 feet. Premium riverside, full hookup, and electric-only categories join a splash pad, disc golf course, and beach in Jones County. One hundred eighty-eight sites span 20/30-amp electric back-in, 20/30/50-amp electric back-in, 30/50-amp full hookup back-in, 30/50-amp full hookup pull-through, and premium riverside categories, sized to 120 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The 120-foot capacity is exceptional, and the electric-only tier gives self-contained rigs a lower rate. Accessible sites are available. Eight cabins and nine tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, boutique shop, laundry, propane fills, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Day use runs $10 per person, with WIBIT passes $20 Sunday through Friday. A splash pad, outdoor pool, and inflatable water toys anchor the summer, with the river and lake supporting boat rentals, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and a beach. A disc golf course, jumping pillow, basketball, gem mining, golf cart rentals, a playground, on-site dining, and a bar fill the rest, with live music and planned activities through the season. Pets are welcome. Monticello sits between Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, near Maquoketa Caves State Park. Summer is decisively the season. Reserve well ahead.

from $31/night

Whiskey Creek Family RV Park

39 RV Sites, 2 Cabins, 1 Glamping Site

Whiskey Creek Family RV Park in Sparta, Wisconsin, offers 39 RV sites, two cabins, and a glamping site across 38.5 wooded acres along the Little La Crosse River, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. A one-acre lined swim pond with an Aquaglide aqua park anchors an unusually deep amenity set behind a gated entrance. Thirty-nine back-in sites run in full-hookup and water-and-electric categories carrying 30 and 50-amp, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Two cabins and a glamping site round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, dump station, restrooms, showers, firewood, recycling, and site WiFi handle the practical side, with a gated entrance controlling access. The recreation is the reason to book. A one-acre lined swim pond with an Aquaglide inflatable aqua park anchors the summer, with a beach, water park, and inflatable water toys besides. A ninja slack line, gaga ball, playground, dog park, sports courts, volleyball, and basketball fill the grounds, with a golf driving range, bike rentals, walking trails, hiking, and biking from the property. A camp store, bar, and snack bar serve pizza, ice cream, a Friday fish fry, and beachside treats, with live music and planned activities through the season. The park also operates as a wedding venue. Pets are welcome. Sparta wears its title as the Bicycling Capital of America with genuine pride, and the Driftless Region's trail connections run directly from the area. Memorial Day through Labor Day is the peak. Reserve well ahead.

Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park

38 RV Sites

Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park in Osceola, Iowa, offers 47 fully equipped campsites with water, sewage, electrical hookups, and Wi-Fi steps from the Lakeside Casino in Clarke County — a campground that combines the practical overnight infrastructure of a full-hookup RV park with the immediate access to the Lakeside Casino Resort's gaming, dining, entertainment, and hotel facilities in the southern Iowa plains community that the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska's Lakeside Casino has sustained as the primary commercial and entertainment hub for the Clarke County region since the casino's opening. Osceola's Clarke County position on Interstate 35 between Des Moines and Kansas City gives the campground the practical interstate convenience that I-35 through-travelers specifically value alongside the casino resort's entertainment programming. Forty-seven fully equipped sites with water, sewer, electrical hookups, and complimentary Wi-Fi adjacent to the casino give guests the complete RV living infrastructure in the most convenient possible relationship to the casino's programming — the walking-distance proximity to the Lakeside Casino eliminates the designated driver logistics that off-site campground guests require for evening casino visits, and the resort's dining options give campground residents the immediate restaurant access that extends the campground's meal planning flexibility. Pets are welcome. The Lakeside Casino, operated by the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska in Clarke County, sustains the gaming floor, multiple dining venues, entertainment programming, and the hotel accommodations that make Osceola's Clarke County position on I-35 a destination stop rather than a pass-through for the Des Moines-to-Kansas City corridor's leisure traveler. The casino's poker room, slots, and table game floor give guests the full Iowa gaming experience in a casino resort setting that the state's river and tribal gaming licenses distribute across the state's commercial recreation landscape. Nine Eagles State Park, 12 miles south of Osceola in Decatur County, provides the natural recreation complement to the casino entertainment programming — a 1,874-acre state park with a 85-acre lake, beach, fishing, camping, and hiking through the southern Iowa rolling timber land that the state park preserves as one of Iowa's most complete south-central state parks. Lake Rathbun, 50 miles east of Osceola in Appanoose County, is the largest lake in Iowa — an 11,000-acre Army Corps of Engineers reservoir that sustains the walleye, bass, and catfish fisheries that Iowa's most productive freshwater lake provides. Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park serves guests year-round in Clarke County's continental Iowa climate, where the year-round casino resort programming sustains visitor demand across all seasons independent of the outdoor recreation calendar. Des Moines, 60 miles north of Osceola on I-35 in Polk County, provides the Iowa State Fair (the largest state fair in the United States by attendance, held annually in late August), the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, and the Drake University campus that give the Clarke County campground's day-trip range into the Iowa capital city's cultural programming. Reserve sites ahead for the Iowa State Fair week and the summer casino entertainment programming peak when the I-35 south Iowa corridor's campground inventory fills from the regional market.

from $45/night

Big Rock Creek

15 RV Sites, 3 Glamping Sites, 1 Yurt

Big Rock Creek in Saint Croix Falls, Wisconsin, provides a natural, river-centered camping retreat on the banks of the St. Croix River in Polk County, where the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway's protected corridor delivers one of the Midwest's most pristine paddling and fishing environments in a landscape that has been federally protected since 1968 as one of the original components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Positioned at the gateway to the St. Croix River's upper segment, the campground serves paddlers, anglers, hikers, and nature-oriented travelers who prioritize the authentic river experience over resort-scale amenities. The campground accommodates guests in cabin rentals alongside tent and RV sites, with amenities calibrated to the outdoor recreation lifestyle the St. Croix River corridor demands: a general store for resupply, showers, bathrooms, Wi-Fi, firewood, and access to the river and a pond for fishing and non-motorized watercraft. Walking trails through the surrounding woodland and a playground serve guests whose camping agendas include both structured outdoor activity and the unhurried pace that river-adjacent camping encourages when the current of the St. Croix itself provides the day's primary entertainment. Pet-friendly policies welcome the outdoor recreation dogs that Wisconsin river camping characteristically attracts. The St. Croix River flows through a glaciated landscape of sandstone bluffs, clear cold water, and dense conifer and mixed hardwood forest that defines the visual character of the upper Midwest's most celebrated river corridor. The river's exceptional water quality—maintained by the restricted development that National Scenic Riverway designation enforces along both the Wisconsin and Minnesota shorelines—supports wild trout populations in the cold upper reaches, walleye and smallmouth bass in the middle river sections near Saint Croix Falls, and the canoe camping culture that has made the St. Croix one of the Midwest's most beloved paddling destinations for multi-day river trips. Interstate State Park in Saint Croix Falls, the oldest state park in Wisconsin, protects the dramatic Dalles of the St. Croix where the river carved a spectacular basalt gorge with glacial potholes carved by swirling boulders in the receding glacial meltwater—a geological display accessible from the park's trail system directly above the river. The Gandy Dancer Trail, a 98-mile multi-use rail-trail extending from Saint Croix Falls north to Superior along a converted railroad grade, provides biking and hiking access through the wooded Polk and Burnett county lake country. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are accessible approximately 60 miles southwest. Big Rock Creek operates seasonally from spring through fall in northwestern Wisconsin's four-season continental climate, with the St. Croix River's paddling season typically running from May through October and the best water levels for canoe and kayak descents occurring in May and June when snowmelt sustains the river's flow. Summer's warmth drives peak demand for river swimming and family camping in the clear St. Croix waters, and fall's hardwood foliage transforms the river corridor into one of the upper Midwest's most scenic landscapes through October. The campground's riverside character and proximity to Saint Croix Falls' outdoor recreation amenities make it a natural choice for paddlers planning St. Croix River multi-day descents.

from $35/night

Coconut Cove RV Resort

52 RV Sites, 10 Cabins, 4 Glamping Sites

Coconut Cove RV Resort in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, offers 52 RV sites, 10 cabins, and four glamping sites on a lakefront property in the Driftless Area, with 20, 30, and 50-amp full hookups and rigs accepted to 72 feet. Five categories include deluxe waterfront back-ins, alongside a water park, jumping pillow, bar, and live music. Fifty-two sites span standard, premium, and deluxe back-ins, deluxe waterfront back-ins, and premium pull-throughs, all carrying water, sewer, and electric on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 72 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Ten cabins and four glamping sites round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, RV storage, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Two wristbands are included with each reservation for the pool, sandy beach, and beach playground; additional wristband access is required beyond that. The amenity scope is exceptional for the region. A water park, outdoor pool, sandy beach, and jumping pillow anchor the summer, with a lake supporting boating, kayaking, paddle boats, paddle boarding, and fishing, plus kayak and boat rentals on site. A clubhouse, recreation center, arcade, bar, on-site dining, and snack bar cover meals and evenings, with live music through the season, golf cart rentals, a playground, pavilion, and dog park besides. Pets are welcome. Hazel Green sits in Grant County near the Mississippi's Wisconsin shore, in the unglaciated Driftless hill country. Dubuque, Iowa and Galena, Illinois are both close. Summer is decisively the season. Reserve well ahead.

from $50/night

Lake Joy Campground

30 RV Sites, 57 Tent Sites

In the gently rolling hill country of southwestern Wisconsin, Lake Joy Campground occupies the shoreline of a pristine, spring-fed lake near the town of Belmont. Sixty acres of clear water define the experience here, and the campground has been built around that lake in every meaningful way—from the swimming beach and boat rentals to the fishing access and lakeside campsites that let you fall asleep to the sound of water. It's the kind of place where the agenda writes itself: swim until lunch, take a kayak out in the afternoon, and watch the stars come out from a lakeside fire after dinner. The lake anchors virtually everything on offer at Lake Joy. A sandy swimming beach gives families a safe and inviting place to splash around, while rentals for rowboats, kayaks, canoes, and pedal boats open up the entire lake to exploration. Anglers will appreciate that no fishing license is required for the campground's water—just bait a hook and work the edges for bass and panfish. Three separate playgrounds keep younger campers occupied between swims, and basketball and volleyball courts provide higher-energy options for those who can't stay still. An arcade and game room offer a welcome indoor fallback when the weather doesn't cooperate. The natural character of the lake is one of its strongest selling points. The spring-fed water stays unusually clear through even the hottest summer weeks, and the lake attracts herons, kingfishers, and occasional deer that wander to the shoreline at dusk. Surrounding the campground, the soft hills and open meadows of southwestern Wisconsin's Driftless Area create a landscape that feels both intimate and unhurried. Campsites are positioned to capture lake views, and the overall pace of the grounds encourages the kind of day where your phone stays in the camper. The Belmont area puts some of Wisconsin's most distinctive countryside within easy reach. Governor Dodge State Park, one of the state's largest, offers more than five thousand acres of oak forest along with swimming beaches and rugged trail networks. The historic mining town of Mineral Point—restored by Cornish immigrants and now home to galleries, excellent restaurants, and working artists' studios—makes for a compelling afternoon excursion. Cave of the Mounds, a nationally designated Natural Landmark with impressive underground formations, is worth a half-day detour. ATV and UTV riders will find roughly 140 miles of trail riding terrain winding through the surrounding region. Lake Joy is a warm-weather campground that earns its reputation through sheer lakefront simplicity. Summer weekends fill up quickly, particularly for waterfront sites and the most popular cabin units, so planning ahead pays off. Whether you're coming for a fishing-focused long weekend, a family vacation, or a week of slow mornings on the water, the campground delivers the full Wisconsin lake experience without a lot of fuss. Reach out early for peak summer dates, pick a site with a view, and let the spring-fed lake set the pace for your stay.

from $40/night