Iowa's oldest state park features steep limestone bluffs and the rugged Devil's Staircase.
Reservation needed
None
Usually no advance permit needed
Nearest airport
ALO · 1 h 38 min drive
Waterloo Regional Airport
Private campsites and glamping just outside the park often stay open when park campgrounds are full. Availability is set by each partner.
Campsites near Backbone State Park on Campspot
Price on requestRV parks near Backbone State Park on RoverPass
Price on requestGoing in May? Book campsites around Nov, any entry permit around Jan, and your RV or car around Mar. Always check official park rules for exact release dates.
Checks availability with the partner directly — not a confirmed booking on our end.
Illustrative · Forest Service - Northern Region · Public domainOutside the park · easier to bookMinialife's pickCampground
Best for: Tent camping
Private campgrounds, cabins and glamping just outside the park, often with availability when park sites sell out.
Illustrative · Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY 2.0Outside the park · easier to bookRV Park
Best for: RV travelers
Book RV parks and campgrounds online with full hookups near the park.
RV Park
Best for: RV travelers
Membership for overnight RV stays at farms, wineries and other unique spots along your route.
Minialife may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Checks availability with the partner directly — not a confirmed booking on our end.
Class C Motorhome — Sleeps 4
From $245 / day
Sprinter Adventure Van
From $189 / day
Car rental · Car rentals at ALO
Price on request
One of the classic ways to experience Backbone State Park.
One of the classic ways to experience Backbone State Park.
One of the classic ways to experience Backbone State Park.
From Waterloo Regional Airport
1 h 38 min
about 57 miles by car · times vary with traffic and road closures
Download offline maps before you go — signal drops near the park.
Stays near the end of your drive
Keeps phones, lights and a cooler charged at campsites without hookups.
One fill in the morning is all most day hikes need.
Handles a 30-degree swing between sunrise and lunch without a change.
The difference between finishing a sunset hike and turning back early.
Twenty dollars now beats cutting a trip short over a blister.
Weighs nothing in your pack and saves every cold evening.
