Ames Iowa camping spots?

We recently spent the night at Whispering Oaks RV Park - Story City, IA. About 12 miles north of Ames at I-35 exit 124. Very nice, pretty campground except the dump. It was clogged and overflowed when we tried to dump. Also overflowing dumpster. Not a fault of the park but the previous occupant obviously had a large dog and they picked up after it with purple bags and then tossed the full bags on the grass beside the site.

Sounding better!!!! Home made ice cream :)

Do they like ice cream? :) Hickory Park has their own ice cream inside too!

Hickory Park looks good to me but not sure the kids are into BBQ.

If you travel west on I-80, you will see a sign at exit 201 that simply says "What Cheer". I couldn't resist and needed gas anyway, so I took the exit. The answer is not much. A typical small Midwestern town, 20 miles south of the exit. But you have to admire their sense of humor.

Depends on how close you'd like to be:
Whispering Oaks RV Park - Story City, IA
Ledges State Park, Boone, IA
Don Williams State Park, Ogden, IA
and a good one is Jester Park, Granger, IA though a bit further.

Im sure the kids would like to goto "The Cafe" just north of campus or Hickory Park a short drive SE of campus they are among the most popular food stops.

X2 on Hickory Park. Don't leave town without stopping there. :)

I know its not in Ames, but Prairie Flower State Park is one of the best state parks we've stayed at. Nice level concrete sites, super clean showers, and beautiful views of the river / prairie areas. It's in DesMoines.

If you like BBQ, then Hickory Park in Ames is the place

If you want to drive to des Moines, then the Machine Shed is the place.

Try Story City