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Iowa Free Camping Rank and Rules

Iowa ranks #43 of 50 for free camping

Iowa ranks #43 of 50 for free camping, with 1.5 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Data as of

Iowa free camping in numbers

Iowa ranks #43 of 50 for free camping, with 1.5 known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi.

Rank
#43
Known dispersed sites per 1,000 sq mi
1.5
Known dispersed sites
86
Land area
55,857 sq mi
Developed campgrounds
260
State-land rule
Marked sites only
Forest restrictions tracked
0

Dispersed camping in Iowa

Can you camp on Iowa state land?

Marked sites only. There is no class of state land you can camp on freely. The walk-in and remote camping on state forests uses marked sites. Every state, with the rule behind each answer: dispersed camping on state land, state by state.

Where is dispersed camping restricted in Iowa?

We have not yet checked the National Forest restrictions in Iowa. On federal land, check the managing agency's alerts page before you camp.

Each restriction, cited and dated: where dispersed camping is restricted.

How the rank works

We divide the known dispersed campsites in a state by its land area, in square miles, and multiply by 1,000. The rules above sit beside the rank but never change it. The count includes only sites that public sources map, so mapping effort affects the result. Roadside camping corridors and the points we place inside state wildlife and forest areas are not counted.