Make a Reservation
Together, Iowa’s state parks, recreation areas and forests have more than 4,400 campsites for overnight visitors. They range from hike-in primitive sites to full hook-ups (sewer, water and electricity). Seventy-five percent of these campsites can be reserved up to 3 months in advance. The remaining twenty-five percent of campsites are available for walk-in (first-come, first-served) camping. *Exceptions: Ambrose A Call, Clear Lake, Lake Ahquabi, Lake Manawa, Ledges, Lewis and Clark, Maquoketa Caves, Pikes Peak, Pleasant Creek, Walnut Woods, and Wilson Island campgrounds are 100% reservable.
Photos and information about each campsite can be found through the state park reservation system.
CAMPING RESERVATION WINDOW
Reservations can be made 3 months in advance (count back 3 months from the arrival date to figure the opening window). For arrivals beginning on May 29, 30, and 31, the opening window shall be March 1.
For arrivals beginning on July 31, the opening window shall be May 1. The last day to make a camping reservation, if paying by credit/debit card, is 2 days prior to arrival. *Exceptions: Lake Manawa, Maquoketa Caves and Walnut Woods have a same day window, cut-off time of 9 pm CST. Ambrose A Call, Clear Lake, Ledges, Lewis and Clark, Pleasant Creek, and Wilson Island have a same day window, cut-off time of 10:00 pm CST. Lake Ahquabi and Pikes Peak have a same day window, cut-off time of 11:59 pm CST.
Because of unpredictable winter weather, between November 1 and March 31 ALL campsites become walk-in sites and advanced reservations are not available. *Exception: Clear Lake, Lake Ahquabi, Ledges, Maquoketa Caves and Pikes Peak State Parks accept reservations in November and March. Pleasant Creek accepts reservations in November. Walnut Woods State Park accepts reservations year round.
CHECK-IN, CHECK-OUT TIMES
Check-in time for reservable campsites is 4:00 p.m. Check-out time is 3:00 p.m. Walk-in campers must register within 30 minutes of entering the campground. They must check-out or re-register by 3:00 p.m. on their last day.
MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY
No more than six persons shall occupy a campsite except: when families exceed six people, they are immediate family and cannot logically be split into two campsites.
MINIMUM STAY
From May 1 to October 31, campers are required to stay a minimum of two nights (Friday and Saturday) for a weekend stay. From November 1 to April 30, there is no minimum stay required. Memorial Day holiday weekend, Fourth of July and Labor Day holiday weekends will require a minimum 3-night stay. (The 3-night stay requirement for the Fourth of July is required only when July 4th is on a Monday).
MAXIMUM STAY
Campers may camp up to 14 consecutive nights in a state park/recreation area. Campers must then vacate the park (including removing the camping unit) for a minimum of 3 nights before camping in that park again. Campers at Lake Manawa and Walnut Woods State Park may not camp more than 14 nights in any 30-day period.
WALK-IN CAMPING AND CAMPING ON UNRENTED RESERVABLE CAMPSITES
Some state parks, recreation areas and forest campgrounds incorporate a self-registration procedure. Instructions are posted at depositories located at campground entrances. Campers must register within one-half hour of entering the campground. Walk-in campers may occupy an unrented reservable campsite beginning at 10:00 a.m. and may register on a night-to-night basis only. This is due to the rolling reservation window for reservable campsites. Walk-in campers should check the arrival roster daily at the kiosk or check-in station for reservable campsite availability.
Campsites at fort defiance and preparation canyon state parks are not available on the reservation system and are only available as walk-in sites year-round.