Campgrounds and RV parks near Durant, IA

Hiking is the main draw at Wildcat Den State Park, where trails offer fascinating views of sandstone bluffs and natural formations such as Steamboat Rock and the Devil's Punch Bowl, and pass the 19th-century Pine Creek Grist Mill. It is a strong pick for families with school-age kids. For water access, Fairport offers two boat ramps that provide plenty of boating access to the Mississippi, along with courtesy docks and river fishing directly from the campground. Cedar River Campground offers Cedar River frontage with tubing, kayaking, a swimming pool, mini-golf, and weekend activities. Day trips from Durant reach the Quad Cities for riverboat cruises, museums, and casinos, plus Iowa City and the Amana Colonies within about an hour.

The main Iowa camping window runs roughly from mid-April through mid-October. Iowa DNR campgrounds accept reservations April 1 through October 31 until 10:00 pm CST the day of arrival, and staff generally try to have the water on and shower buildings and dump stations open by May 1, then start closing them down around mid-October depending on the weather. Wildcat Den's peak reservation season is May 1 through October 15, with off-peak periods in April and late October, and the campground is closed to reservations from November 1 through March 31. Between November 1 and March 31, campers can walk in at Wildcat Den without a reservation, but there is no guarantee modern facilities will be available in the shoulder or winter months. Hidden River Campgrounds and Cedar River Campground both operate on a warm-season schedule that generally runs from spring through mid-October. Summer weekends around July 4 and Labor Day fill first at the state park sites. Fall brings cooler nights and color along the bluffs, while winter is cold and snowy with limited services at any of the public campgrounds.

Facilities vary widely. Fairport offers electric hookups, modern restrooms and showers, a dump station, and sites that can accommodate vehicles up to 55 feet. Interstate RV Park has full or partial hookups on 30- and 50-amp service, pull-through sites for larger rigs, a pool, laundry, and a small store. Wildcat Den is more rustic, with 28 campsites and non-modern restroom facilities, so RV renters should plan for limited amenities and arrive with fresh water and tanks in the right state. Hidden River is quiet and simple, with electric and water sites and no sewer hookups. Expect some background noise near Fairport from the adjacent rail line, and near Interstate RV Park and Cedar River Campground from I-80. Iowa DNR asks campers to buy firewood locally near the park and burn it all during the stay to slow the spread of forest pests, and pets must be leashed at state park campgrounds.