Hoot Owl Hollow Campground: Your Welcoming Getaway in Dubuque, Iowa

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground Introduce

Hello there, fellow Iowans! Are you looking for that perfect blend of peaceful outdoor escape and vibrant community spirit for your next camping adventure? Then you simply must learn about Hoot Owl Hollow Campground, a beloved local gem nestled conveniently near Dubuque, Iowa. This isn't just a place to park your RV or pitch a tent; it's a destination where you're guaranteed to feel welcomed, find plenty of activities, and maybe even make friends for life.

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground has earned a stellar reputation for its warm hospitality, well-maintained facilities, and commitment to creating a memorable experience for every guest. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what makes this campground a standout choice for locals across Iowa. We'll explore its ideal location, offering both tranquility and accessibility, delve into the extensive services it provides, and highlight the unique features that truly make it special. Get ready to discover why Hoot Owl Hollow Campground is the perfect spot for your next family vacation, group gathering, or quiet retreat right here in our beautiful state.

Location and Accessibility

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground is ideally situated at 1650 Hoot Owl Drive, Dubuque, IA 52002, USA. Its location offers a fantastic balance between being "off the beaten path" enough to provide a quiet, serene camping experience, yet it's just minutes away from the vibrant City of Dubuque. This means campers can enjoy the tranquility of nature while having incredibly convenient access to urban amenities like grocery stores, dining options, shopping, and local attractions.

For Iowans, this location is highly accessible from various parts of the state. Dubuque is a major hub in Eastern Iowa, with good road networks connecting it to cities like Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Waterloo. This ensures a relatively easy drive for most, minimizing travel time and maximizing relaxation time. The campground is described as having "flat terrain typical of the region" and being "big rig friendly," with many pull-through accessible sites, making it easy for even large RVs to navigate and settle in. This combination of peaceful seclusion and convenient access to a bustling city makes Hoot Owl Hollow Campground an attractive destination for diverse camping needs.

Services Offered

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground prides itself on offering a comprehensive range of services designed to ensure a comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable stay for all guests. The management and staff are consistently praised for their helpfulness.

Full Hookup Campsites: The campground features full hookup RV pads (a total of 70 RV pads), including water, electric (30 and 50 amp options available), and sewer connections. This is a crucial amenity for RV owners, providing all the necessities for a comfortable stay.
Tent Sites: For those who prefer traditional camping, the campground also offers tent sites, providing options for all types of campers.
Clean Restrooms and Showers: Guests consistently highlight the cleanliness of the "nice pool area, clean bathrooms, showers and grounds." This commitment to hygiene is a significant comfort for campers.
Firewood Sales: Firewood is available for purchase at a "good price," making it easy for campers to enjoy traditional campfires.
Sanitary Dump Station: The campground has a dump station for convenient waste disposal, a standard yet essential service for RVers.
Laundry Facilities: On-site laundry facilities are available, which is a valuable amenity, especially for longer stays.
Pet-Friendly Policy: The park allows pets, ensuring that furry family members can join the camping adventure.
Online Booking & Phone Accessibility: While reviews praise the owner's communication and the on-site couple (Scott and Brenda), guests can typically expect clear communication channels for reservations and inquiries.

Features / Highlights

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground truly shines with its engaging features and the exceptional hospitality provided by its staff, making it a memorable experience for many.

Friendly and Accommodating Staff (Scott and Brenda): A recurring highlight in reviews is the "sweet owner" and the "kind and helpful" couple, Scott and Brenda, who run daily operations. Their accommodating nature and dedication to ensuring guests have everything they need create an incredibly welcoming atmosphere.
Engaging Weekend Events: For those staying over holidays or peak weekends, the campground offers a variety of events for campers. Reviews mention "events going all weekend for the campers," contributing to a lively and fun environment, particularly for families.
Clean Swimming Pool: The "clean pool" area is a significant draw, providing a refreshing spot for relaxation and fun, especially during warmer months.
Small Playground for Kids: A dedicated "small playground for kids" ensures that younger campers have a safe and fun area to play and burn off energy.
Strong Sense of Community: Reviewers emphasize the welcoming nature of other campers, noting that "everyone was so welcoming." This fosters a strong sense of camaraderie and contributes to making "friends for life."
Excellent Hospitality and Assistance: Beyond just amenities, the campground is noted for its exceptional hospitality. Stories of staff (like Scott) and fellow campers providing immediate assistance (e.g., jumper cables for a dead battery) highlight the supportive and friendly community spirit.
Quiet Atmosphere: Despite the potential for weekend events, the campground is often described as "very quiet" and a "nice quiet park," making it suitable for those who value peaceful camping.
Proximity to Dubuque Attractions: Being just minutes from Dubuque means campers can easily explore local attractions such as the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Crystal Lake Cave, the historic Fenelon Place Elevator, and various dining and shopping options.
Well-Maintained Grounds: Consistent praise for "clean grounds" indicates that the campground is diligently cared for, contributing to a pleasant overall environment.

Contact Information

For reservations, inquiries, or to learn more about Hoot Owl Hollow Campground, please use the following contact details:

Address: 1650 Hoot Owl Drive, Dubuque, IA 52002, USA

Phone: (563) 580-9453

Mobile Phone: +1 563-580-9453

Website: While an official dedicated website URL isn't explicitly provided, more information and booking may be available via resources like Travel Dubuque, RoverPass, or by calling directly. Travel Dubuque lists: www.hootowlhollowcampground.com.

Conclusion: Why This Place is Suitable for Locals

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground is an outstanding choice for locals across Iowa, offering a unique blend of convenience, comfort, and an incredibly welcoming atmosphere. For residents in Eastern Iowa, particularly those in or near Dubuque, its location is a significant advantage. Being just minutes from the city means that campers can easily access essential amenities, enjoy local dining, or explore Dubuque's attractions, all while having a tranquil home base. This blend of urban access and natural serenity is precisely what many Iowans look for in a local getaway.

What truly sets Hoot Owl Hollow apart for local users is the exceptional hospitality from the owner and the on-site management couple, Scott and Brenda. Their dedication to making guests feel welcome and ensuring their needs are met, as evidenced by numerous glowing reviews, creates a genuine sense of community. This personal touch, combined with the friendly nature of fellow campers, means you're not just booking a site; you're joining a supportive and fun-loving extended family. For families, the clean swimming pool and small playground offer safe and enjoyable activities for children, ensuring everyone has a blast. The presence of engaging weekend events further enhances the experience, making every visit a potential new adventure.

Furthermore, the practical amenities, including full hookup RV sites (some big-rig friendly pull-throughs), clean restrooms, and affordable firewood, cater to the core needs of campers, providing a hassle-free stay. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned camper, looking for a lively holiday weekend with planned activities, or a quiet weeknight escape, Hoot Owl Hollow Campground adapts to provide a fantastic experience. Its consistent praise for cleanliness, quietness (despite activity), and outstanding hospitality makes it an ideal, recurring destination for any Iowan seeking a high-quality, friendly, and convenient camping experience right here in our home state.

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground Photos

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground Location

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground

Iowa Dubuque County Dubuque Hoot Owl Drive

1650 Hoot Owl Drive, Dubuque, IA 52002, USA

Hoot Owl Hollow Campground Reviews

We stayed over the Labor Day weekend and it was great! First timers, we called to reserve last minute because we were having trouble finding somewhere for our big group and they didn't hesitate to find us a spot and work with us. The owner was very sweet and the couple that run things in the Park (Scott and Brenda) are so kind and helpful, also very accommodating in making sure we had everything we needed. They had events going all weekend for the campers, and everyone was so welcoming, it was a blast. The showers were very convenient, pool was clean, small playground for kids, and firewood for a good price. As we packed up to leave we had a dead battery and within minutes Scott and a couple other campers had jumper cables in hand to help us out. Thanks for the great hospitality, we had a great weekend, well definitely be back.
Sep 03, 2024 · Janessa Thill
The experience at this campground was above and beyond. Great communication with the owner and the couple (Scott and Brenda) that over see the day to day operations. Nice pool area, clean bathrooms, showers and grounds. Had a little issue with rain from Mother Nature and Scott and Brenda were out doing what they could to keep everyone safe.Just minutes away from the city with amenities.Very Quiet. We loved our stay and would do it again.Thanks so much for the hospitality Scott and Brenda. Keep doing what you’re doing as you’re doing a fantastic job.God Bless. Stay SafeMike and Bonnie
Jul 03, 2024 · Bonita Mentzer
I don’t quite know how to rate my stay, but I’ll try. For the last 3 years my wife and I had a full time spot. The campground was ran and maintained by a very nice lady, Kelli. Very, very nice lady that allowed the people with permanent spots to make them a little like home. If you had issues, she worked very hard to fix whatever the problem was. Wonderful lady. Now come to the 2024 season and the campground was under new management, and all hell broke loose. I had my lawn equipment covered and stored on the deck that I built. The beginning of May, I went down to the spot to prep it for my rv. I pulled up and found someone took the tarps off my deck. Was told the campground maintainer was told by the new owner to tear everything down and hall it off to the dump. I went down on a Friday early evening and he was told to hall it away Saturday morning. Keeping in mind that I was paid up until November 2024 and not even a call, she made plans to tear everything down. She thought the spot was abandoned. Paid up until November, I couldn’t see how she thought that. She was also a real bi.ch, very unprofessional and had to have everything her way. Will have to take her to court if she doesn’t our remaining 6 months on our contract. Stay away as far as you can. Too bad, we made some really nice friends down there.
May 21, 2024 · Michael Jaeger
We stayed at the Hoot Owl Hollow campground in Dubuqe, IA for four nights. This appears to be a once proud campground that is suffering from a general lack of attention. We were told by locals that the campground was run by a husband and wife team, and that the husband, who was the driving force behind the facility had passed away. It shows. With a little love and a few bucks this could once again be a very, very nice campground.During our stay, what appeared to be the office and/or camp store was closed and appeared to be abandoned. When you pull up to what was the office, there is a sign on the door with a phone number to call. To make a reservation you call the number and talk with a lady who I assume is the wife of the husband/wife team who ran the campground. There is a Facebook page but it is not up to date. The website is no longer active. We found that making a reservation was a bit of a challenge but we got it done.The public bathrooms and showers were in operation and seemed OK. The swimming pool was not in service. It appeared that the maintenance man was attempting to revive it. The campground appears to have a great many permanent or seasonal campers. We had a perfectly fine full hook up site, and it was level enough that our leveling system could find a solution without external cribbing. We met the maintenance man and his wife. They came to drop off our invoice and pick up our payment, which by the way, is cash or check, NO CREDIT CARDS. They were very nice people and we were able to chat for a while. The maintenance man has his hands full.There is no wifi but cell reception is adequate. Off air TV reception is limited to a local Christian oriented channel and a PBS channel. That wasn't an issue for us but if you were looking for the three major networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC, you better have satellite. There is no cable TV offered in the park. There is no laundromat but we found one about three miles from the campground. Sticker shock, the washers were $5.95/load, the dryers were cheaper. Hey, it was the biggest and neatest laundromat we ever saw, but it was not cheap!Downtown Dubuque is close by and worth the drive. We spent several hours downtown and had a great time. Make sure you ride the incline. There are also plenty of stores nearby including Walmart, the camper's go to store!My biggest gripe is that we were charged $70/night for a 50 amp full hookup site on grass and stone. We've stayed at KOAs for less money. Based on the condition of the park and the lack of amenities, $40/night would have been more appropriate in my opinion.If you need a place to drop anchor for a few days, this is an OK place to do that. Just understand that it is a very basic campground with little or no amenities, and it is a bit pricey. Maybe someone will purchase this campground and bring it back to a really nice facility.
May 09, 2024 · Rick Markey
We camped here one weekend. The campsite facilities were clean, especially the pool area. The campground was quiet. Nice size pool with zero gravity chairs. The campsites were average size. The owner was excellent and worked with us in our special circumstances. We had decent Verizon cell reception and very little TV reception, but we were not there to watch TV. The fee was a little pricey, but worth it. ($45 electric & water, $55 full hookup) We intend on coming back.
Jul 18, 2023 · Robert Blayer