$16 - $22 / night

Camper submitted image from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve - 1

Camper submitted image from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve - 3

Facilities

Camper submitted image from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve - 4

Roads

Camper submitted image from Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve - 5

People

Established Camping

Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve

10 Reviews

About

State Park

Suggest an Edit

Location

Pilot Knob State Park — Pilot Knob State Preserve is located in Iowa

Directions

Go 3 miles east of Forest City on Hwy 9. Turn right/south on 205th Ave and go 1 mile to the park entrance.

Address

2148 340th Street
Forest City, IA 50436

Coordinates

43.25312481921176 N
93.56134332258705 W

Open in Google Maps

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Tent Cabin
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites

$16 - $22

/ night

For information regarding reservations, contact this campground directly.

The Dyrt Alerts

Get reservations at sold-out campgrounds.

Learn More

Contact

General Info

Lee D.

Legend

Reviewed Mar. 25, 2023

Layout of campground would be challenging if full

General: A mixture of tent (non-electric) and electric sites, mostly arranged in several rows.

Site Quality: Mixed. Not all sites are level, and most do not have delineated parking pads (there is a small pavement indent to show where to access the site). A fire pit and picnic table complete the site. Most of the sites are too close together for our liking, however, when we were there (a Monday at the end of August, the day before school started), we were only one of three sites occupied so for our stay it didn’t matter.

Bathhouse: Basic but clean. My biggest complaint is there were no hooks or shelves for toiletries by the sinks. The showers looked nice but we did not use them.

Activities: Horseback riding (there are trails for this), hiking, fishing. Although we did see several trailheads, I did not have a map so didn’t explore them. There is an observation tower, but it is a two-mile walk/drive from the campground (on paved roads; I didn’t try to find hiking trails to get there).

Misc: A shout-out to the great host, Pam, who greeted us as we arrived. The observation tower, entrance gates, and picnic shelter were all constructed by the CCC and were beautiful. It almost seemed like the campground was an afterthought as it is outside the entrance gates and nowhere near the tower. The layout of the campground would be challenging if all sites were occupied.

Site17

Month of VisitSeptember

(19) View All

Eric J.

Scout

Reviewed May. 26, 2022

This place is a GEM

Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can’t beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too.

Month of VisitJune

Jacob B.

Scout

Reviewed Feb. 21, 2022

Enjoyable

For $12/night on a 30AMP hookup, I really can't complain. This is my first of many stops in the new RV, needed a place to camp out before getting it serviced the next day. Enjoyable scenery, especially at sunset

Site18

Month of VisitMarch

Tiffany

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 13, 2021

Our favorite

This is our favorite place to camp. Never overcrowded, they have activities put in by Friends of Pilot Knob such as movie nights. Lots to do like hiking, biking, and fishing. Very clean bathhouse and bathrooms, park. Family friendly and quiet place to camp.

Month of VisitAugust

Lisa P.

Ranger

Reviewed Jul. 8, 2019

Lots of room

Pull through sites, bathhouse was clean and showers were individual room with timed lights, motion sensors kept the shower interesting! Got to see turtles laying eggs and deer were all around. Family loved the fishing.

Month of VisitJuly

(7) View All

Madison L.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Pilot knob is AMAZING!

Pilot knob state park is a great place for a week long stay or just a few hours!

The camp ground is on the smaller side but it’s clean and there is a play ground! There is the town of Forest City just a few miles away and it has pretty much everything you need for a stock up for your next adventure!!

Month of VisitJune

Nichole L.

Scout

Reviewed Apr. 29, 2019

Wonderful place to go

I3rd got a few awesome things to see. Hiking trails. Picnic area. We have gone a grew times a year and love it!

Michael W.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2018

Camping in the woods near town

Located by New Ulm, MN this campground has plenty of activities in the park or very near the park. Plenty of hiking trails, playground for the kids, and an amazing sand bottom swimming pond surrounded by sand beach. Golf is also nearby at The New Ulm Country Club which is open to the public. Nice level sites with electric, picnic tables and fire rings.

Site54

Month of VisitSeptember

Michael W.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 26, 2018

Great place to First night camp

If you are picking up a camper from Lichtsinn RV in Forest City they offer to let you stay on their lot with electric hookups during your pick up. But, we found it a little more private and less intimidating to set up camp down the road just a few miles at Plot Knob State Park. Nice level sites with electric hook ups, clean restrooms and showers. Gave us the opportunity to unload our car and figure out our new motorhome without feeling like we were being watched. We didn't explore to much but we noticed they have several hiking trails. Very nice and quiet.

Site17

Month of VisitSeptember

Lisa M.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 14, 2018

Needs a little tender loving care

Great hiking trails.