Camping
Mason City welcomes RAGBRAI riders at the end of the Ride of the Century! Our plentiful and beautiful campgrounds will be a welcome respite at the end of a long ride, along with the amazing food and entertainment that will make your Mason City stop a highlight of RAGBRAI 2022. We will have four campgrounds to choose from. Those traveling with RVs are encouraged to camp at the North Iowa Events Center (NIEC), easily accessed as you enter Mason City. There will be water and electrical hookups available, and an RV dumpsite will also be available. A shuttle bus from the NIEC to the Downtown activities, food, and entertainment will be provided. Contact the NIEC at (641) 423-3811 for more information.
East Park will be the main campground, with the Main Information Center and Main Medical Tent. The Des Moines Register campground and baggage trucks will be found here. Outstanding sites at East Park, Parker’s Woods Park, and the Mason City High School/John Adams Middle School will all have shuttle buses to the Downtown activities and vendors.
The designated quiet/family campground is at Mason City High School/John Adams Middle School.
Do you need to park a car somewhere for a few days? North Iowa Event Center (the fairgrounds) is offering car parking for a small fee. Contact the NIEC at (641) 423-3811 for more information.
If you have a team of 20 or more and would like to reserve a specific available site, or if you have campground related questions, please email Campgrounds co-Chair Steven Van Steenhuyse at svansteenhuyse@masoncity.net.
Here are some of the beautiful campsites awaiting you in Mason City for RAGBRAI 2022!
EAST PARK
East Park is Mason City’s premier park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Camp near the rushing waters of Willow Creek or by the tranquil ponds and gardens. Visit the restored Cannonball 457 steam engine or play at the Prairie Playground. Walk or ride across the Winnebago River to the Mason City Aquatic Center for a cool dip. The Main Mason City Information Center and a First Aid/Medical Tent will be located in the park, as well as food vendors and shower trucks. The campground is only ¾ of a mile east of the amazing Downtown activities, food, and bike shops, and a shuttle bus will be available.
Check out photos of this beautiful park on the Visit Mason City website: https://visitmasoncityiowa.com/places/united-states/iowa/mason-city/parks-camping/east-park/
PARKER’S WOODS
Parker’s Woods was donated by the A. T. Parker family to Mason City in 1939. The park was developed from 1939 to 1941 by the National Youth Administration (NYA), a Depression-era relief program that provided part-time work and job training to young men and women. It is a rare example of a park in Iowa that was developed in its entirety by the NYA. The park is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Adjacent to the park is the Willow Creek Trail, a tranquil wooded path, perfect for a slow ride or quiet walk. Northwest of the park, there are several campsites on City property that were acquired after the 2008 flood. A shower truck will be available at this campground. Depending on which campsite you choose, it’s only 6-12 blocks from the amazing Downtown activities, food and bike shops. A shuttle bus will be available.
Check out photos of this beautiful park on the Visit Mason City website: https://visitmasoncityiowa.com/places/united-states/iowa/mason-city/parks-camping/parker-woods/
RIVERSIDE
The Riverside Campgrounds are mostly located within a former single family neighborhood that was destroyed in the flood of 2008. These lands were acquired by the City and are required by law to be perpetual open space. After RAGBRAI, much of this area will be returned to its post flood use: a popular disc golf course. The other portion of this campground is adjacent to the Mason City Aquatic Center. You are welcome to enjoy a refreshing swim at our pool. Shuttle buses to the amazing Downtown vendors and entertainment will be available.
HIGH SCHOOL/MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mason City High School and John Adams Middle School were built in the late 1960s and have been updated numerous times and are now state-of-the-art facilities. A new high school pool and auxiliary gym are currently under construction on the east side of the high school building. The field in front of John Adams is reserved as the Family Camp Ground and Quiet Zone; a perfect location for riders with younger children. Showers will be available in both the Middle School and in the High School. HyVee grocery, HyVee Gas, YesWay gas and convenience store, Ace Hardware, Subway, and Dollar General are just south of the school grounds. A shuttle bus will provide transportation between the schools and the Downtown, where food, bike shops, and entertainment will be found.