Campgrounds and RV parks near Exira, IA

Water recreation drives most trips. At Lake Anita State Park, anglers fish for largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, and walleye, with several jetties along the shoreline and two boat ramps for lake access. East - Prairie Rose State Park adds a sand beach with a volleyball court, along with boating, canoeing, and kayaking on its 218-acre lake, where any size motors are allowed at no-wake speeds. Trail miles are the other draw. A paved 4.375-mile multi-use trail loops the lake at Lake Anita, and the paved Grass Roots Trail connects the park to downtown Anita. Prairie Rose offers seven miles of multi-use trails. Whiterock Conservancy has more than 40 miles of trails, including single-track and equestrian routes, plus paddling on the Middle Raccoon River. Schildberg Recreation Area Campground adds paved lake-loop paths, a large dog park, and quick access to Atlantic's shops and restaurants.

The Iowa state park camping season is tightly defined. At Lake Anita State Park, the campground is closed January 1 through March 31, off peak April 1 to April 30, peak May 1 through October 15, off peak October 16 to October 31, and closed November 1 through December 31. East - Prairie Rose State Park follows the same calendar, with all sites 100 percent reservable via the state system and the campground closed November 1 through March 31. Summer weekends are the busiest window, especially at Lake Anita, where weekend crowds fill the campground regularly during summer. Park staff generally have water and dump stations open by mid-April at Lake Anita and close them around mid-October depending on weather, so shoulder-season visitors may find modern facilities unavailable. Whiterock Conservancy and Schildberg Recreation Area Campground operate on their own calendars separate from the state park schedule, so travelers looking for late-fall or off-season RV camping in the area should check those two directly rather than assuming state-park dates apply.

Hookups vary by park. Lake Anita State Park offers electric, non-electric, and full-hookup sites with water and sewer, plus two modern shower and restroom buildings. East - Prairie Rose State Park's East Campground contains electric and full-hookup sites with a modern shower and restroom, while the West Campground offers electric and non-electric sites better suited to tents and smaller rigs. Whiterock Conservancy - Oak Ridge RV Campground has 14 electric hookup sites and 17 horse pens, with gravel parking pads, fire rings, picnic tables, three water hydrants, a central dump station, and a shower house with two private rooms. Whiterock Conservancy - River CG is primitive, with five sites accessible to tents, campers, RVs, or horse trailers, picnic tables, fire rings, port-a-potties, a solar-heated water tank, and no electric or water hookups. Expect gravel pads, prairie wind exposure, and train noise near some lake parks.