Iowa free to cheap campsites near Dallas County

[ben2go]

I've been following a thread on another forum, not this one. I have taken interest in a Perry, IA, a small town in Dallas County, that has captured my heart through pics and communications with people from around the area. No one knows of any camping areas close to town that I have talked to. I will either be driving my Ranger and camping out of the back, or I'll be on my motorcycle. I hammock camp so I'll need a hammock friendly campground preferably with a lot of trees. Dallas County is kind of central maybe slightly southern central Iowa. Anyone have any info on free to cheap campgrounds? I would pay for a campsite with a bathhouse or restroom facilities. I'd like to be no further away from Perry than an hour if possible. TIA

 

[B and C]

Des Moines, IA is less than an hour away and has campgrounds. I just Googled des moines ia campgrounds. I don't know anything about any of them though.

 

[ben2go]

Thanks. I'll look into it.

 

[jonney38]

Thanks. I'll look into it.

I live in Des Moines and go to Perry often. About 20 minutes to the NW is Spring Lake Campground. It is open all year @ $8.00, more with electric. Has a nice bath house, hot showers.

https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Greene/Park/Spring-Lake-Park.aspx

 

[jonney38]

P. S. I often visit the town of Adel, closer to Dallas Center. I've driven through two small campgrounds there, one is at the county fairgrounds and other nearby. They both look OK. I think they both have showers and their rates are in the $8.00 range --I don't remember exactly. Adel is about 15 miles SE of Perry. Campgrounds run by counties and towns seem common around here. 

We've camped in the Iowa State Parks and they are always nice--bigger sites and lots of trees. They are more expensive but half the price of many other states. Maybe 45 minutes north is Doliver Memorial State Park--we've camped there, nice.

 

[ben2go]

I live in Des Moines and go to Perry often. About 20 minutes to the NW is Spring Lake Campground. It is open all year @ $8.00, more with electric. Has a nice bath house, hot showers.

https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Greene/Park/Spring-Lake-Park.aspx

P. S. I often visit the town of Adel, closer to Dallas Center. I've driven through two small campgrounds there, one is at the county fairgrounds and other nearby. They both look OK. I think they both have showers and their rates are in the $8.00 range --I don't remember exactly. Adel is about 15 miles SE of Perry. Campgrounds run by counties and towns seem common around here. 

We've camped in the Iowa State Parks and they are always nice--bigger sites and lots of trees. They are more expensive but half the price of many other states. Maybe 45 minutes north is Doliver Memorial State Park--we've camped there, nice.

Thank you for your posts. You have given me more options than I thought possible.

 

[jonney38]

I can't stop.   I just remembered that in the country just west of Dallas County, Greene County, where the county park, Spring Lake, I mentioned is located are two other possibilities. The Greene County Seat is Jefferson IA and there is another county park near there I read about but have never seen. Also, there is a casino in Jefferson that might be OK for boondocking.

 

[ben2go]

Overwhelmed with options. That's a good thing to have. Depending on how long I hang around, I may stay at a different place every other night. Right now, I'm thinking I'll be there for two nights and three days. From home base in upstate SC, I may break the trip up into two days to get there and two days back. A full seven day round trip on hopefully smaller roads and little interstate riding. I try to avoid traffic and cities. I like small towns though.