Playground

Timberline RV Campground

158 RV Sites, 10 Cabins, 7 Tent Sites

Timberline RV Campground in Waukee, Iowa, offers 158 RV sites, 10 cabins, and seven tent sites a mile and a half from I-80, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted to 70 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. Full hookup and water-and-electric categories join a pool, jumping pillow, and pond, open all year. One hundred fifty-eight sites run in full hookup and water-and-electric categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted on 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 70 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Accessible sites are available. Ten cabins and seven tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, dump station, restrooms, showers, firewood, and recycling handle the practical side. If the office is closed when you arrive, call 515-987-1714 ahead and they will make arrangements. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a jumping pillow, recreation center, arcade, billiards, ping pong, sports courts, and volleyball filling the grounds. A pond supports fishing, with a playground, dog park, and community fire pit besides. Pets are welcome. The owners describe it as country camping with city convenience, and the geography backs that up — shaded sites in genuine Dallas County countryside, a mile and a half from the interstate and minutes from West Des Moines. Summer is the peak, with the interstate position bringing steady through-traffic year-round. Reserve ahead for summer weekends.

from $39/night

Ted's RV Park

26 RV Sites

At 308 Vine Street in Decatur City, Iowa—half a mile from Interstate 35 at Exit 12 in Decatur County in the rolling prairie countryside of southern Iowa where the open grass and row-crop agricultural landscape of the state's southern tier, the Wayne County line's deer and turkey hunting country, and the quiet rural community character of Decatur City create the specific southern Iowa rural setting that I-35 corridor travelers pass through without stopping when they haven't discovered Ted's RV Park—Ted's RV Park provides 26 full hookup sites with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, a playground, covered picnic area, renovated bathrooms, laundry, and free WiFi in the clean, reliable, year-round operation that a family-built campground opened in 2020 maintains with the owner-attention that chain-managed interstate campgrounds rarely replicate. Built from new infrastructure, the park's electrical, water, and sewer systems have none of the maintenance history that causes the power surges and pressure problems that older campground infrastructure generates. Twenty-six full hookup sites—9 back-in and 17 pull-through positions—with 20, 30, and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer connections serve the full range of RV configurations from modest travel trailers to large diesel pushers on sites designed from initial construction for easy pull-in access and adequate turning radius. Each site includes a fire ring and picnic table, with firewood available for purchase. A covered picnic area provides the outdoor communal gathering space that Iowa's summer afternoon thunderstorms make valuable when the weather interrupts open-air campfire time. A playground serves the youngest guests with the age-appropriate equipment that a family campground maintains as baseline infrastructure. Renovated bathrooms and an on-site laundry room with coin-operated equipment handle the shared hygiene and extended-stay practical requirements. Free high-speed WiFi covers the property for streaming, work, and navigation. Decatur County's southern Iowa landscape reflects the glacially modified prairie topography that the Wisconsin glaciation's ice sheet shaped into the gently rolling hills, wetland pockets, and intermittent stream drainages that the state's southern tier preserves in its agricultural character. The Des Moines River's upstream tributary network in the surrounding county provides the fishing access—channel catfish, largemouth bass, and bluegill in the slower backwaters—that rural Iowa's farm pond and stream fishing culture is built around. The Colyn Wildlife Area and nearby public hunting ground in Decatur County provide the deer and turkey hunting access that makes southern Iowa one of the most actively hunted whitetail landscapes in the Midwest during the November rut. The campground's half-mile distance from I-35 Exit 12 serves both the one-night transit traveler on the Des Moines–to–Kansas City corridor and the extended guest who discovers Decatur City's quiet value as a base for southern Iowa's outdoor recreation. The Missouri border lies 10 miles south, and the Lake Rathbun reservoir area in neighboring Appanoose County provides the most significant recreational water body in southern Iowa within easy driving distance—bass fishing, waterfowl hunting, and the Honey Creek Resort State Park's full-service lodge and recreation complex make Rathbun a practical day trip from the Decatur City base. Ted's RV Park is open year-round, one of the relatively few Iowa campgrounds that maintains winter operations for the small but consistent population of traveling workers, snowbird transitional stops, and hunting camp guests who need south-central Iowa accommodation from October through March. Summer camping, fall hunting season, and the spring turkey season create the three demand peaks. Reserve your pull-through site, check the firewood supply at arrival, and let Decatur County's prairie quiet earn the rest that I-35's 75-miles-per-hour constant motion specifically doesn't provide.

from $38/night

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

Hickory Haven Campground

50 Tent Sites

Situated on 27 shaded acres just north of Keokuk, Iowa, Hickory Haven Campground has built a devoted following since 1993 by offering a well-rounded, family-friendly camping experience at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers—one of the most historically significant waterways in the American Midwest. Half a mile off Highway 61/218 with quick access to both the river corridor and Keokuk's attractions, the campground combines full hookup sites, a well-equipped pavilion, and a range of activities that make it easy to fill a long weekend without leaving the property. The river culture of southeastern Iowa surrounds the entire experience. Full hookup sites are shaded and well-maintained, with water, electric, and sewer hookups, picnic tables, and clean restrooms complemented by laundry facilities and a general store. A pavilion equipped with a fridge, griddle, BBQ grill, and gas fire pit makes group gatherings comfortable, and outdoor movie nights with popcorn add a social dimension to summer evenings. Walking trails wind through the property's wooded terrain, and a serene fishing pond provides immediate angling access. Pickleball courts, cornhole, a playground, a dog park, EV charging, and community fire pits round out an unusually complete amenity package for a property of this size. The natural setting of southeastern Iowa has a quiet, river-valley beauty that rewards attention. The campground's heavy shade canopy—hickories, oaks, and cottonwoods—creates a cool, dappled atmosphere even on hot summer days, and the sounds of the property carry the character of a Midwestern camping tradition that goes back generations. Stargazing from the campground on clear nights is excellent, and the general pace of the grounds is unhurried in a way that contrasts pleasantly with busier resort destinations. Keokuk sits at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers and offers genuine historical depth. Lock and Dam No. 19, the largest lock on the entire Mississippi River system, is a local landmark worth visiting for the engineering spectacle alone. The Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge flanks the corridor with outstanding birding—bald eagles winter along the Keokuk stretch in impressive numbers—and the broader Great River Road connects to river towns in both directions. Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, is less than an hour south for a deeper dive into Mississippi River literary and cultural history. Hickory Haven Campground is a warm-weather operation that books up for summer weekends through a combination of loyal returning guests and destination campers drawn to the river country. The combination of full hookups, recreational amenities, a shaded natural setting, and proximity to the Mississippi makes it a standout campground in an often-overlooked corner of Iowa. Whether you're following the Great River Road, exploring the lock and dam culture of the upper Mississippi, or simply looking for a well-run campground with good shade and solid amenities, Hickory Haven delivers. Reserve your site and discover what southeastern Iowa's river country has to offer.

from $25/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

Basswood Resort

57 RV Sites, 5 Tent Sites

Basswood Resort in Platte City, Missouri, offers 57 full-hookup RV sites and five tent sites 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 85 feet. Deluxe, premium, and standard back-in and pull-through categories join an outdoor pool, disc golf course, jumping pillow, and lake. Fifty-seven sites span standard back-in 20/30/50-amp, standard pull-thru 20/30/50-amp, standard, deluxe back-in, deluxe pull-thru, and premium back-in categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 85 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Eighty-five feet accommodates the longest coaches with a tow. Five tent sites, cabins, and trailer rentals round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, showers, and golf cart rentals handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a disc golf course, jumping pillow, fitness center, clubhouse, gaga ball, pickleball, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, corn hole, walking trails, hiking, a lake, playground, and dog park filling the rest. Fishing and planned activities round it out, with a golf course, casino, and amusement park nearby. Platte County feels genuinely rural — livestock pastures, creek valleys, and Missouri hardwood forest — while keeping Kansas City's barbecue, jazz history, and professional sports 30 minutes away. Kansas City International Airport is close, which makes this practical for fly-in guests picking up a rig. Summer drives the heaviest demand, with spring and fall the most comfortable months. Reserve well ahead for warm-weather weekends and Kansas City event dates.

from $46/night

Jellystone Park™ Mark Twain Lake

7 RV Sites, 33 Cabins, 12 Tent Sites, 1 Lodge

Jellystone Park at Mark Twain Lake in Monroe City, Missouri, delivers the full Yogi Bear resort camping experience on the shores of Mark Twain Lake—a 18,600-acre reservoir on the Salt River in the northeastern Missouri prairie—creating a destination that combines one of the Midwest's most comprehensive Jellystone activity rosters with the fishing, boating, and natural exploration opportunities of a major Missouri reservoir set in the landscape of Mark Twain's boyhood territory along the Mississippi River's western bank. The park's extraordinary amenity depth and the lake's recreational resources combine to make this one of the Jellystone system's most capable Midwest family destinations. The park's resort infrastructure is exceptional even by Jellystone standards: a water park with splash pad, lazy river, and pool, mini-golf, a snack bar, bar, boutique shop, general store, golf cart rentals, boat storage, RV storage, full hookup sites, and cabin rentals form the physical plant, while the activity calendar delivers gold panning and gem mining, jumping pillow, gaga ball, horseshoes, corn hole, laser tag, volleyball, basketball, biking, stargazing, live music and entertainment, and the signature Yogi Bear character experiences that define the Jellystone brand's family entertainment identity. The pond and lake access extend the fishing and non-motorized water recreation opportunities beyond the water park. Mark Twain Lake, completed in 1984 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, was named in honor of Missouri's most celebrated literary son—Samuel Clemens, who grew up in Hannibal on the Mississippi River approximately 35 miles east of Monroe City—and the reservoir's name celebrates the connection between the northeastern Missouri landscape and the American literature it produced. The Salt River's impoundment created a diverse fishery for largemouth and striped bass, white crappie, walleye, and channel catfish in a reservoir whose numerous coves and points provide structure that supports one of Missouri's most productive multi-species fishing environments. Mark Twain's Hannibal, on the Mississippi River approximately 35 miles east via US-36, is the defining pilgrimage destination for American literature enthusiasts—a small Mississippi River city where the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, the cave that inspired Tom Sawyer's adventures in McDougal's Cave, Cardiff Hill, and the riverfront that shaped Clemens's imagination are preserved and interpreted in a heritage district that draws visitors from across the world. The Mark Twain State Park on the lake's shore provides additional fishing access, camping, and hiking in the surrounding oak and hickory woodland. Jellystone Park Mark Twain Lake operates seasonally from spring through early fall, with summer's school-vacation peak filling the water park and Jellystone activity programming from June through August and the fall fishing season extending meaningful outdoor recreation through October. The summer holiday weekends—Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day—represent the most competitive reservation periods, and families targeting these windows should book as early as the reservation system allows. The lake's consistent bass fishing, the water park's multi-activity recreation, and the Mark Twain heritage day trip create a vacation package of genuine depth for Midwest families within driving distance of northeastern Missouri.

from $25/night

Owl Creek Market & RV Park

74 RV Sites

Owl Creek Market and RV Park in Odessa, Missouri, offers 74 full-hookup RV sites at the I-70 exit, with 30 and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted up to 140 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout — the most generous length allowance in this batch. Concrete and gravel back-in and pull-through categories are listed separately, with an outdoor pool, playground, and a specialty market. Seventy-four sites span concrete back-in full hookup, concrete pull-through full hookup, gravel back-in full hookup, and gravel pull-through full hookup categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with site WiFi, sized to 140 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Publishing the surface by category is genuinely useful, and 140 feet accommodates anything on the road with room left over. Accessible sites are available. A laundry, restrooms, showers, and a snack bar handle the practical side. The market is what sets this park apart from every other highway stop on I-70. The store carries more than 100 varieties of artisan cheese alongside selected meats, wine, Dutch-style foods and spices, jarred goods, and chocolates — a specialty grocery that happens to be the campground store rather than the other way around. An outdoor pool, playground, horseshoes, a creek, and picnicking fill the rest, with wine and beer tasting nearby. Pets are welcome. Odessa sits in Lafayette County 35 minutes east of Kansas City. Demand tracks interstate traffic and Kansas City events rather than a season. Spring and fall are most comfortable. Reserve ahead for holiday travel periods.

from $45/night

Boulder Creek Campground

67 RV Sites

Boulder Creek Campground in Bagley, Wisconsin, offers 67 RV sites in a valley carved into the limestone and sandstone bluffs of the Great River Road corridor, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet. Water-and-electric and full-hookup categories join an outdoor pool, mini-golf, and a jumping pillow. Sixty-seven sites run in 20/30-amp water-and-electric, 50-amp water-and-electric pull-through, and 20/30-amp water-electric-and-sewer categories, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and site WiFi. Check the category carefully — not all sites carry sewer, and a dump station serves those that do not. Cabin rentals round out the accommodations. A general store, laundry, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with mini-golf, a jumping pillow, volleyball, basketball, and a playground filling the grounds. A restaurant and snack bar, game room, and a recreation program of children's activities, themed weekends, and wagon rides give the property genuine family resort energy — this campground has served Grant County's camping community for generations, and the programming reflects that. Pets are welcome. Bagley sits a mile south of the campground in the dramatic river bluff country of Grant County, where Wisconsin's most scenic roads hug the Mississippi on the way toward Prairie du Chien. The Great River Road corridor and the ancient bluffs frame the whole area. Summer is decisively the season along the Mississippi. Reserve well ahead for July and August.

Whitetail Bluff Campground

46 RV Sites, 5 Cabins

On the bluffs above the Mississippi River in Grant County, Wisconsin, Whitetail Bluff Campground and Resort occupies one of the most visually commanding positions of any campground on the upper Mississippi corridor—elevated above the river, with hiking trails that lead to views across the valley floor and the bluffs of the Iowa shore beyond. The combination of a well-equipped family resort operation and direct access to the Mississippi River's natural and recreational resources makes Whitetail Bluff an especially well-positioned destination for families and couples who want both camp-resort amenities and a genuinely spectacular natural setting. In the Grant County bluff country, the scenery earns its billing. The campground's 47 sites include 32 full hookup configurations, five electric-only sites, and 10 primitive tent sites, with deluxe and sleeping cabin rentals available for guests who prefer enclosed accommodation. A zero-depth beach-entry swimming pool is the warm-weather gathering point, complemented by a swimming pond with large inflatable attractions that give the aquatic recreation a different character for different moods. A jumping pillow, playground, basketball court, volleyball court, and pedal carts provide land-based activity options. The family-friendly clubhouse with its restaurant, bar, and game room functions as the campground's social hub, with live music programming through the summer season adding an entertainment dimension. Laundry, a dump station, WiFi, and a camp store handle the practical needs of an extended stay. The bluff-top setting translates directly into hiking trail quality. Trails from the campground wind through the forested blufftops and descend to river-level terrain, providing views of the Mississippi that reward the elevation change with the kind of panoramic river-valley perspective that explains why this stretch of the Great River Road is consistently ranked among the most beautiful drives in America. Wildlife is abundant—bald eagles, great blue herons, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys are daily presences in the bluff-and-floodplain ecosystem—and the river itself is an enduring backdrop to every activity. The Grant County region extends the experience beyond the campground property. Kayak, tube, and canoe rentals on the Grant River provide additional paddling access to the river system just downstream from the Mississippi confluence. The Potosi Brewing Company—one of Wisconsin's most celebrated craft breweries, occupying a beautifully restored historic building in the river town of Potosi—is a short drive for guests who appreciate a well-made beer in a genuinely historic setting. The Dickeyville Grotto, one of Wisconsin's most distinctive folk art sites, provides a remarkable roadside attraction of national significance. Wyalusing State Park, a few miles away, adds state park hiking and camping infrastructure to the region. Whitetail Bluff Campground operates through the Wisconsin camping season from spring through fall. Summer weekends fill the campground quickly, with live music weekends and holiday weekends booking fastest. Fall foliage on the Mississippi bluffs is among the most spectacular in the upper Midwest—the combination of river valley hardwoods and the bluff-top perspective produces color displays that bring leaf-peepers specifically to the Grant County corridor each October. Book early for fall weekends and summer holidays, pack the kayak gear, and let the Mississippi River bluff country deliver what it promises.

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

Sun Retreats Rock River

142 RV Sites, 52 Tent Sites, 7 Cottages

Sun Retreats Rock River in Hillsdale, Illinois, offers 142 RV sites, seven cottages, and 52 tent sites on the Rock River, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 55 feet behind a gated entrance. Deluxe waterfront and 50-amp pull-through categories join a splash pad, beach, mini-golf, and fitness center on concrete pads with patios. One hundred forty-two sites span deluxe water-and-electric 30-amp, deluxe water-and-electric 50-amp, deluxe water-and-electric 50-amp pull-through, and deluxe waterfront categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted with site WiFi, sized to 55 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Seasonal concrete-pad sites with patios are the property's signature. Seven cottages and 52 tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, restrooms, showers, firewood, RV storage, and boat storage handle the practical side. The property was formerly Sunset Lakes RV Resort. An outdoor pool and splash pad anchor the summer, with a lake, beach, and boat docks supporting boating, paddle boats, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Mini-golf, a fitness center, craft room, library, jumping pillow, gaga ball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and corn hole fill the grounds, with walking trails, a playground, dog park, snack bar, and on-site dining besides. Pets are welcome. The Quad Cities sit 15 minutes south, with the Rock River's limestone bluffs framing the property. Summer is the season. Reserve well ahead.

from $49/night