Most of the campsites with electricity in Iowa’s state parks were reserved early for the July 4 holiday, but procrastinators still have a few options.
As of Tuesday morning, 43 campsites with electricity in eight state parks are available for reservation. Sites are available in Elinor Bedell, Elk Rock (equestrian), Honey Creek south campground, Lake Keomah, Lake Wapello, Pilot Knob, Red Haw and Walnut Woods state parks.
Campers choosing one of the non reservable sites should plan to arrive early.
Information on Iowa state parks is available at www.iowadnr.gov/parks. Reservations are available at iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com.
Campground Etiquette
• Be a good neighbor. Observe quiet hours and pick up after yourself
• Don’t burn trash – only firewood
• Keep pets on a leash and don’t leave them unattended
• Get firewood locally to avoid transporting pests.
• Don’t bring fireworks
Camping Tips
• Keep track of the weather and have a plan in case of severe weather
• Plan to arrive as early in the day to set up the site, look for potential problems and avoid those areas
• Prepare ingredients for meals before leaving home for less time cooking and more time playing
• Bug spray, sun screen and a basic first-aid kit are must haves
• Check the registration kiosk for activities in the area
Firewood
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requires all firewood sold or acquired in Iowa to have the county and state of harvest location on the label of packages and the delivery ticket for bulk firewood. The rules were added to prevent the spread of invasive species.
The rules only apply to firewood sold and acquired in Iowa.
The rule also requires the Iowa DNR to collect firewood from campers that does not have a label.