4.2588 reviews
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Price
$15 - $35/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Cabins available spr...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
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Select a month, then check for open campsites
Price
$15 - $35/night
Booking
Reservable
Sites
Varies
Season
Cabins available spr...
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Learn more about alerts →Palisades-Kepler State Park
700 Kepler Drive, Mount Vernon, Iowa, 52314, United States
Hikers and wildlife watchers get the most from this place. Trails leave directly from the campground, bald eagle sightings are common along the river bluffs, and cabin renters get AC and private showers. Summer weeks book fast, so lock in early.
Sites can be 15 feet apart or less, so privacy-seekers will feel the squeeze. A few reviewers also reported encounters with park staff that felt targeted and unwelcoming, so campers who've experienced that kind of treatment elsewhere should factor it in.
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Summer delivers the most inviting conditions, with daytime highs in the mid-70s to mid-80s and nights in the upper 50s to mid-60s. The river becomes swimmable, trails stay shaded under the hardwood canopy, and rental cabins book up for weekly stays. Holiday weekends and summer evenings draw the largest crowds. Winter transforms the landscape with snow and offers solitude. Spring rains can leave trails muddy enough that some visitors recommend walking sticks. Fall brings cooler temperatures and color to the hardwood forests.
Peak season: warm weather, swimmable river, shaded trails; reviewers praise summer visits.
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Palisades-Kepler State Park offers a variety of amenities to enhance visitors' experiences. These include modern restrooms, showers, a dump station, fire grills, and water hydrants. Cabins on-site are equipped with air conditioning, private showers, restrooms, and kitchenettes. For recreational activities, visitors can enjoy bird watching, boating, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The park also features a lodge, picnic shelters, and a modern boat launch ramp. Several reviews highlight the cleanliness and maintenance of the facilities, with one user noting, 'Quite possibly the cleanest facilities we have ever stayed at.' However, another reviewer mentioned that the shower house was 'filthy' during their visit. Firewood and other essentials are available within 10 miles of the park.
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