21 Camping and Hiking Day Trips from Eastern Iowa

We don’t know about you, but 2020 hasn’t exactly been the best year. It doesn’t seem like much has gone as we expected when we began the year. Maybe, like us, you’re looking for better days ahead.

To help, we’ve provided 21 state parks to help you plan your 2021 camping or hiking day trip. All locations are a day, or weekend trip away from Eastern Iowa and come recommended by fellow hikers and campers. 

1. Lake MacBride State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 15 miles (25min)
2. Pleasant Creek State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 17 miles (26 min)
3. Backbone State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 60 miles (1hr)
4. Maquoketa Caves State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 62 mils (1hr 12min)
5. Union Grove State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 68 miles (1hr 12min)
6. Wildcat Den State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 70 mils (1hr 15min) 
7. Lake Darling State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 72 miles (1hr 15min)
8. Rock Creek State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 88 miles (1hr 23min)
9. Mississippi Palisades State Park (Illinois) - Distance from SOKO - 92 miles (1hr 49min)
10. Pikes Peak State Park (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 100 miles (2hr)
11. Apple River Canyon State Park (Illinois) - Distance from SOKO - 113 miles (2hr 5min)
12. Yellow River State Forest (Iowa) - Distance from SOKO - 115 Miles (2hr 15min)
13. Yellowstone lake State Park (Wisconsin) - Distance from SOKO - 124 miles (2hr 15min)
14. Governor Dodge (Wisconsin) - Distance from SOKO - 130 miles (2hr 10min)
15. Castle Rock State Park (Illinois) - Distance from SOKO - 140 miles (2hr 35min)
16. Governor Nelson State Park (Wisconsin) - Distance from SOKO - 165 miles (2hr 50min)
17. Matthiessen State Park (Illinois) - Distance from SOKO - 174 miles (2hr 42min)
18. Starved Rock State Park (Illinois) - Distance from SOKO - 175 miles (2hr 35min)
19. Devil’s Lake State Park (Wisconsin) - Distance from SOKO - 175 miles (3hr)
20. Wildcat Mountain State Park (Wisconsin) - Distance from SOKO - 175 miles (3hr 21min)
21. Perrot State Park (Wisconsin) - Distance from SOKO - 175 miles (3hr 28min)