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List your RVCampgrounds and RV parks near Dayton, IA
24 campgrounds and RV Parks near Dayton, IA. Compare campsite amenities, photos, and site types to find the perfect stop for your rig on your route.
24 campgrounds
2070 campsites
11 RVs available for delivery
From $15/night
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Best campgrounds near Dayton, IA
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area - South Equestrian
Iowa (9 miles away)
$$$$$
(92 sites)
+2
Dolliver Memorial State Park
Iowa (9 miles away)
$$$$$
(33 sites)
+4
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area - Beach
Iowa (10 miles away)
$$$$$
(47 sites)
+2
Brushy Creek State Recreation Area - North Equestrian
Iowa (10 miles away)
$$$$$
(125 sites)
+2
Ledges State Park
Madrid, IA (21 miles away)
$$$$$
(94 sites)
+5
Springbrook State Park
Guthrie Center, IA (39 miles away)
$$$$$
(120 sites)
+6
Whiterock Conservancy - Oak Ridge RV Campground
Coon Rapids, IA (42 miles away)
$$$$$
(13 sites)
Whiterock Conservancy - River CG
Coon Rapids, IA (42 miles away)
$$$$$
(6 sites)
+2
Dallas County Fairgrounds Campground
Adel, IA (44 miles away)
Cutty's Des Moines Camping Club
Grimes, IA (45 miles away)
$$$$$
(448 sites)
+8
Timberline RV Campground
Waukee, IA (48 miles away)
Timberline Campground
Waukee, IA (48 miles away)
$$$$$
(112 sites)
+7
Most common amenities
Tables Playground Showers Grills Dump station Toilets Pet friendly Hiking Trails Firewood
Campgrounds near Dayton, Iowa
Dayton sits in Webster County in north-central Iowa, within easy reach of two of the state's most popular public camping destinations along the Des Moines River Valley. RV travelers using Dayton as a base can reach Dolliver Memorial State Park, a public recreation area in Webster County featuring bluffs, canyons and flatlands overlooking the Des Moines River Valley, in under half an hour.
A short drive southeast leads to Brushy Creek State Recreation Area, one of the largest state parks in Iowa, showcasing native prairie, grassland, timber, river and lake habitats across its 6,500 acres. Three separate campground loops operate there: Brushy Creek State Recreation Area - South Equestrian, Brushy Creek State Recreation Area - Beach, and Brushy Creek State Recreation Area - North Equestrian.
Further south, Ledges State Park offers a fourth option roughly an hour from Dayton. Ledges offers 94 campsites with a mix of electric, non-electric and hike-in options, plus modern restrooms, showers, a trailer dump station and a playground in the campground. Together these four parks cover the full range from small bluff-top loops to large multi-use recreation areas.
Things to do near Dayton
At Dolliver Memorial State Park, visitors can hike nearly six miles of rugged trails through forests and canyons to unique sandstone formations known as the Copperas Beds, named for the mineral deposits left behind from erosion of the stone. The park also features Boneyard Hollow and historic Native American mounds along its 594 acres.
Brushy Creek is built around water and trails. The 690-acre lake is the deepest artificial permanent pool lake in Iowa, with walleye, muskellunge, channel catfish, bluegill, crappie and largemouth bass among the target species. The lake has 21 miles of shoreline with four boat ramps and eight fishing jetties. Horseback riders, hikers, and mountain bikers share more than 45 miles of multi-use trail, including a 12-mile gravel loop around the lake.
Ledges adds a different landscape: sandstone ledges that rise nearly 100 feet above the floor of Peas Creek Canyon, plus seasonal water crossings along Canyon Road that families wade during summer.
Camping spots and RV parks near Dayton, IA
Seasonal patterns for RV trips
- spring
March - May
57° / 37°F 80 mmOff-peak opening; Des Moines River flooding possible at Ledges
- summer
June - August
81° / 63°F 115 mmPeak season; weekend sites fill weeks out; thunderstorms common
- fall
September - November
59° / 39°F 60 mmCool nights, fall color, fewer bugs; campgrounds close by month end
- winter
December - February
27° / 9°F 22 mmState park campgrounds closed; frozen ground and snow cover
Iowa state park campgrounds run on a defined season. At Dolliver Memorial State Park, the campground is closed November 1 through March 31, off peak in April, peak May 1 through October 15, and off peak October 16 through October 31. Ledges follows a similar rhythm: the campground accepts reservations March through November and is closed December through February, with peak dates centered on the summer months.
Peak summer weekends fill quickly at all four campgrounds, especially the Brushy Creek beach loop and any equestrian sites during trail-ride season. Peak season at Dolliver and similar Iowa DNR parks carries a 2-night minimum on weekends and a 3-night minimum on major holiday weekends.
Spring and early summer can bring high water. Ledges has a long history of being flooded by the nearby Des Moines River, with major flood levels recorded on a flood pole in the lower area of the park. Fall offers cooler nights, fewer bugs, and strong color along the river bluffs, and the campgrounds remain open into mid or late October.
How to book a site
All four campgrounds are managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and reserved through the same statewide system. Each campground is 100 percent reservable and a reservation is required. The reservation website is iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com and the reservation call center is 1-877-427-2757.
Booking windows are consistent across these parks: at both Ledges and Dolliver, reservations can be made for today and up to 3 months in advance. Brushy Creek uses the same window through the Iowa DNR portal.
Equestrian loops at Brushy Creek accept non-horse campers as well. Non-equestrian campers are welcome to use any of the equestrian campgrounds, which is useful when the main non-equestrian and beach loops sell out for summer weekends.
What to expect on arrival
Site types vary by park. The equestrian campgrounds at Brushy Creek offer a mix of electric and non-electric sites along with hitch rails at every site, a horse wash area, and a modern shower and restroom building. The non-equestrian campground at Brushy Creek has electric sites and full hookup sites with water and sewer, a modern shower/restroom building, a playground, and water hydrants with drinking water; the beach and boat ramp are a short walk away.
Dolliver is more compact and set on the bluffs. The campground layout includes reservable and non-reservable sites, electric hookups at 20, 30, and 50 amp, some full hookup sites, cabins, water, restrooms with showers, non-modern restrooms, a dump station, and a boat ramp.
Expect quiet-hour enforcement, an Iowa firewood rule against out-of-state wood, and steep or winding access roads in the river valley parks. Larger rigs should scout site dimensions before booking.
Own an RV? Earn up to $24,738/year.
List your motorhome or travel trailer for free on RVezy.
Frequently asked questions about campgrounds near Dayton, IA
How do I choose the right campsite for my RV?
Start with the practical stuff: site length, the hookups you need, and whether it's a back-in or pull-through. Camping conditions in the U.S. vary by region and elevation, so check the local season, road access, and reservation requirements before you book. Federal campgrounds use Recreation.gov and state parks each have their own systems. Learn more.
How much are RV campsites near Dayton, IA?
Campsite prices near Dayton, IA depend on the type of campground. State park sites typically run $20-$45 with hookups. Private RV parks in town often run $40-$100, with tourist-hub locations charging more. Nearby Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management sites are usually $10-$25, often without hookups.
Is there any free camping near Dayton, IA?
Free camping near Dayton, IA depends on what federal public land is in driving distance. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land usually allows up to 14 days of dispersed camping at one spot. Check fire restrictions before you head out. Learn more about free camping.
Can I book a campsite through RVezy?
Not directly. RVezy doesn't handle campsite reservations, but each campground listing links to the operator's website or booking page when one's available.
What's the best time to go camping near Dayton, IA?
Camping near Dayton, IA works best in the shoulder seasons, with spring and fall hitting the sweet spot in most of the country. Summer is peak in northern climates; winter is peak in the southern and desert states. Local weather and elevation drive the specifics.
How far are RV campgrounds from Dayton, IA?
There are {campgroundCount()} RV campgrounds within {campgroundDistanceRadius()} of Dayton, IA. The closest are: {closestCampgroundsWithDistance(3)}. Most U.S. cities have a state park or private RV park within an hour's drive.
Where are dump stations near Dayton, IA?
Dump stations near Dayton, IA are usually at private RV parks and state park campgrounds, sometimes for a fee if you're not staying overnight. RVDumpsites.net maps the nearest options.
What's the best time of year to rent a RV in Dayton, IA?
Renting a RV in Dayton, IA works best in the shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October) across most of the U.S. Peak rental demand runs June through August nationwide, while the snowbird stretch from December through March drives winter demand in the southern states and southwest deserts.
What's the best time of year to rent an RV in Dayton, IA?
RV rentals in Dayton, IA peak from June through August when school is out. Shoulder months (April, May, September, October) usually have better availability and lower rates. Winter is high season for snowbird destinations in Florida, Arizona, Texas, and southern California.
Can I have an RV delivered to my home or campground in Dayton, IA?
Yes. Many RVezy hosts in the U.S. deliver and set up at your home, a campground, or a destination. It's especially useful for first-time renters and for trips into remote areas where backing in a big rig isn't fun.
Can the RV be delivered near Dayton, IA?
In most cases, yes. A lot of U.S. hosts offer to drop off the RV near Dayton, IA at your driveway, a campground, or wherever you're starting your trip. It saves you the drive and the setup.