Indian Lake Park — Hotel in Keosauqua

Stayed here one night while passing through on a road trip. We were tent camping with 4 small children. We chose this campground due to having available electric for tents, bathrooms with running water and a shower house. We later found out that there was a beach area which was a nice bonus. However it is down a steep hill and you must park at the top and walk down to the lake. A little challenging for small children.

The tent area was a large, shaded space at the very back of the campground and we had it all to ourselves mid-week. The terrain was pretty rocky and had many tree roots sticking up. However there were only 2 electric boxes. Thankfully we brought a 100' extension cord and it barely made it inside our tent. There was also a large amount of vehicle traffic back there which was unusual. There was nothing else back there except for camp sites, so I'm not sure what the traffic was about... even after dark.

However after a long, hot sweaty day of traveling, we were ready for a shower. After getting our kids to bed, I went to the shower, only to find out it was coin operated! $1 for approximately 6 minutes. I would have happily paid, but it was nearly 10pm and had no change in our vehicle, forcing me to clean up at the bathroom sink. Just wish I had been notified so I could have prepared myself with coins. This was the first time I have ever seen this at a campground. The shower house (with bathrooms) and water tap were not within a reasonable walking distance from our site. You had to drive to get to both. There was a porta-potty somewhat near the tent sites and fairly clean. The men's bathroom was very dirty, the woman's wasn't super clean but did offer an infant changing table.

If we go back to the area, we will likely choose...

I've bicycle camped at Indian Lake at Farmington and have also car tent-camped there with my wife. Indian Lake used to be a state park, but it was so close to Lacey-Keosauqua that is was sold to the city of Farmington. Because it's owned by a small town, the park has that rambling, rustic look that a lot of the new state parks have lost. My wife and I like that, since some of the new state parks, although with great facilities, have that "tract home" look, the camping equivalent of a mobile home park.

The facility has flush toilets and hot showers, although a bit "rustic." The lake has a walking/bike path around it that my wife and I enjoyed biking. The trail includes educational signs. There is a beach with sand and boat rental opportunities. WiFi is pretty strong there, so my wife can bring her laptop and work some for her consulting business. The town has small-town facilities that include a store and a couple of restaurants.

Shimek State Forest is nearby, which I've bicycled and camped in. It's an opportunity to see some forest land which is big enough to not turn around and see the corn and bean fields behind you--although, honestly, you have to make sure you position yourself well.

Indian Lake is rural, peaceful, yet it has facilities (including modern RV hookups) that allow for a quiet, old-time...

It used to be much better kept. The cabin we stayed in had bugs and dirt on the floor, so it obviously wasn't cleaned before we stayed there. There was so much dirt swept from under the bed and trash that was definitely not ours. The AC didn't work very well. The filter in it was so filthy! There was no light on the porch, so we couldn't see at night which was dangerous on a deck with stairs. The price was more expensive than years before which doesn't make any sense. Family members of ours stayed in the new cabin which was very nice! I definitely wouldn't mind paying 80 per night for that cabin. Cabins 5 and 6 need remodeled or just replaced with new cabins like number 7. This park has been part of my family since before I was born. My mom attended the same park when she was a little girl. We don't want to stop going there because of things that could be...