Campgrounds and RV parks near Pleasantville, IA

Pleasantville sits in Marion County in south-central Iowa, roughly 25 miles southeast of Des Moines and a short drive from Lake Red Rock, the largest lake in the state. The area gives RV travelers a rural base with quick highway access to the Des Moines metro, Pella, and Knoxville. Most trips here center on the lake, the surrounding state land, and family attractions east of the capital. Camping options range from waterfront state park sites to full-service private RV parks. Elk Rock has two campgrounds for campers: a nonequestrian campground with both electric and non-electric sites plus a modern shower building and trailer dumping station, and an equestrian campground with electric and non-electric sites, a modern shower building, horse stalls, hitching rails, and a 100 foot by 200 foot riding arena. Private options such as River Oaks RV Park and Griff's Valley View RV Park and Campground round out the choices closer to town. Elk Rock State Park boasts more than 50,000 acres of public land available for a variety of recreational activities, and is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest body of water, which anchors most recreation in the region.

State and private sites use different systems, so plan accordingly. The Elk Rock campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required, with advanced reservations made through the online reservation system for Elk Rock State Park, which is operated through the Iowa DNR's ReserveAmerica portal. Book several months out for summer weekends and any date tied to a major race or festival. Private campgrounds, including River Oaks RV Park, Adventureland Campground, Griff's Valley View RV Park and Campground, and the Newton / Des Moines East KOA Journey, are booked directly through each property's website or by phone. To prevent the spread of invasive species, it is advised to obtain firewood locally rather than bringing it from other areas, so buy firewood on site or nearby.