Best Places For Weekend Float Trips in Iowa

Warm weather is coming! As we creep closer to summer, and spend more time outdoors, it's time to start planning some fun things to do to enjoy the sunshine.

One of my favorite summer activities is floating. Where I'm from (Missouri), the floating scene is huge. People will spend an entire weekend doing just that. Normally, you would drive to the campsite on a Friday night, set up camp, and hang out.

The next day you would wake up, hop on a bus (usually an old school bus) that takes you up river, and float away! There may also be a bit of beverage drinking during an an all-day float. But, don't worry, you float right back to your campsite. No driving involved.

I've noticed that the floating experience in Iowa is a little different. The places I've been to don't have campsites and are more just for day floating. So I asked listeners for some suggestions on places in Iowa where you can camp & float, like I do back home. I got some great suggestions!

Here are some places in Iowa where you can spend your weekend outdoors on the river.

1
Outback Canoe Rental (Monticello)
If you're looking to float the Maquoketa River, this is the way to go. They offer full service floating too, meaning they will make sure you're parked, transport you upstream, and you'll end up back at the campground where you parked your car. You can float with a canoe, kayak, or on an inner tube. They also offer a variety of camping from primitive sites to cabins.
2
Lou Lous Landing (Olin)
Canoe, camp, and tube at Lou Lous! They have two floating routes approximately seven miles long. They'll shuttle you upstream and you will float to the campground sandbar, or downstream to the boat ramp where they will pick you up. If you're interested in floating for the holiday, they're offering tax-free rentals on the 4th of July!
3
Flying Squirrel Campground (Central City)
Not only is this a scenic float on the Wapsipinicon River, but there's a ton of other stuff to do! The campground is located in Pinicon Ridge Park and you'll have your choice of tent camping, RV sites, and cabins. They also feature a wildlife exhibit, hiking & snowmobile trails, and an observation tower that provides a scenic overlook of the area!

There you have it! If you're looking to get outdoors this summer, these are some great places to get your float on. The only difference I noticed when comparing these places to the floating scene in Missouri is that none of the places here seem to offer rafting. In Iowa tubing seems to be the big thing, where people float on individual tubes. I'm used to floating on a big raft with a bunch of friends (as seen in the photo below).

Danielle

Regardless, all of these places sound like a ton of fun. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and let me know in the comments if you have any more!

Also, if you're looking for more fun places to spend the summer at, these are a worth looking into.

Iowa Airbnbs on the Water You Should Check Out This Summer

If you're longing for a little time on the water this summer, there's no need to leave the state! Iowa has some awesome Airbnbs on the water for rent. Here are some of the coolest ones that we found!

Gallery Credit: Courtlin

Source: Best Places For Weekend Float Trips in Iowa

Filed Under: camping, Canoeing, float trip, floating, nl, Tubing

Categories: Local News