We're starting to think about a Girls camping trip to Iowa next spring and with my daughter at ISU it would be great if there were something nice close to Ames. I like a very shady site for tents with water and possibly electricity (for the crockpot and morning coffee) .Something on a river or lake would be fabulous as would be some great sleeping sounds; loons, cows lowing etc. Does anything like that exist in Iowa? Or how close can we get to that ideal? I know we are thinking way ahead here but sometimes it takes a while to get an answer on this forum. TIA!

You're coming from where? When you speak of lakes and loons along with cows I am wondering if you've been to Iowa. Well, there are cornfields and cattle of course. Just kidding...we have fond memories of rereats at the Y Camp near Ames many, many years ago (as Drake students). Iowa isn't a camping destination. Seriously I would recommend Ledges State Park...as a long time camper.

Ozarksbill [email protected]
(just back from high school reunion in Iowa)

Well I guess I thought, being from MN, that everyone had lakes and loons. How about rivers and loons? Iowa seems to have rivers. I'll settle for trees, a river and some cows.

Loons not likely in Iowa...not like Boundary Waters in MN or similar places. I must say that Iowa does have a few nice tourist destinations such as the Lake Okoboji area in NW. And the Amana Colonies west of Iowa City where we dined at the popular Ox Yoke Inn.

Ozarksbill

I imagine this reply is too late for you this year--but maybe it will be useful in the future! We have camped at the Corps of Engineers Campground at Lake Saylorville (between Des Moines and Ames). The campground is lovely, shaded and quiet. And yes, there is a lake nearby. We would highly recommend this campground.