We've camped here two years in a row. Last year we really enjoyed it and this year we feel as though the campground as a whole has regressed. The staff has been very friendly. The things that have declined in the past year: 1) The pool - it's now extremely dirty, the bottom is slimy and slick because it hasn't been cleaned and there is dirt everywhere. 2) The wibit has changed and gotten smaller than it was last year. 3) The expensive firewood was so wet the two times we ordered it that it wouldn't burn after an hour of trying everything. 4) The quality of food has decreased significantly. Last year we really enjoyed the fresh squeezed lemonade and the pizza, however, this year it was super disappointing (especially for the price you pay). 5) The amount of bugs and flies is almost unBEARable, (see what I did there). I understand we are camping and that there are going to be bugs, but this is excessive to the point where we didn't want to sit outside to eat or enjoy a potential fire, because they were attacking from every direction (despite candles, spraying the grass around our site and bug spray). Overall, there are still some things we would return for, but super sad that it isn't the experience we had last year. read more

I love this park. It's bigger than it looks. Lots of activities for kids. Site easy to get to and level. Water pressure good. Camp store is amazing. Staff super friendly and helpful. Reasonably priced. We'll be back, for sure. read more

Monticello Jellystone Park - Entrance from inside park - Campgrounds Near Me - Monticello, Iowa

Upon pulling in with my girlfriend to meet her family of 5 and around 12 other friends they were camping near (5 pull behind campers total). The first thing that happened was the shorter heavy set brunette lady and younger brunette lady in the middle shack wouldn't let us drive through. Totally understandable you don't want random people going in. Well then after we attempted to explain to them we are with a large group and showing up late to meet everyone we were spoken to in a very harsh tone completely uncalled for and accused multiple times of lying, one of the first things said to us is we were gonna be kicked out, we're never gonna be allowed back here and then again called liars. For a little background info me and my girlfriend both young adults have stayed at least 2 years in a row prior and have always been able to drive through and go get our wristbands (which you need to be in the park) from her family who bought them for us since you need them to show the workers that you are supposed to be here. Well, after telling her our last name of who we were staying with she said nope you guys didn't buy enough wristbands (every person there had a wristband and once our friends drove by they dropped off two wristbands for us so...there was definitely enough wristbands). After finally getting the wristband I held it up to show the lady that we "lied to" that we definitely are not lying and here legally and are properly following the rules we just had no way of getting the wristbands without driving back to get them or someone bringing them up she then told me I was being disrespectful and sarcastic(for holding my wristband up to show her since she was on the other side of the shack). On top of this they argued with us about passes and wristbands and I said to her "you need to talk to the adults about this" and she said you are adults then I said "the adults that brought their campers and payed" because how are we supposed to be responsible for all of the people older then us for one but for two we had quite literally just showed up. Then, the lady got even ruder somehow and said I was being disrespectful (over half this conversation she had with my girlfriend because I was so distraught I would go sit in my car and wait for her to be done) to her when she was quite literally yelling at me and my girlfriend to the point where I stopped and said "mam why are you yelling" then this conversation with the shorter heavy set brunette lady went on for at least another 5-10 minutes before she eventually told us to leave. It was just very unwelcoming for this to be the start of our stay for the 4th of July as well as this happening on the 4th of July. It would be nice if the people you had to talk to had better people skills and have a little bit better of an attitude. You'd expect a nice welcome with all the money we've brought them but I guess not around here. This is a great campground to stay at in a nice area with lots of fun things to do. For some reason there's always multiple staff that just never have the people skills needed for a job like that dealing with mass amounts of people. Although they did remove the slide and tower from the wibet which were arguably the most fun things it's still fun and they definitely offer a lot of other activities as well as having spots on the park to tube the Maquoketa river and if you started upstream there's a nice beach to end the float on. I hope to come back one day but man is it really a challenge when EVERY year I have to deal with rude employees. read more

The worst camping experience of our lives happened here. We are 67 and 63 years old. The first night was okay. The next morning we were woke up, by the three barking, howling, whining dogs behind us before 6 a.m. Once the two families were up, we got to hear SHUT UP when the dogs would bark. Then we got to hear one of the Mothers yelling, share the fucking ball. Sit the Fuck down. You fucking smeared dog shit on the mat, etc.... They left all 3 dogs unattended all day except for when they would come back for 10 mins to get something. It was over 90 degrees. At one point the puppy got so wrapped up in his 3-4 ft lead that he was yelping. He had about 12 inches to move. My husband and I had to untangle the leash and him. That afternoon, I was so upset that I was out riding my bike and stopped a worker in a cart. I asked if there was a manager on duty or a camp host. He said no. I asked who I could file a complaint with. He told me I could go to the office and tell the girl at the counter. I didn't see the point in that, since there was no manager on duty. That night the dogs were left again. Early the next morning, we were woke up again by the dogs and yelling. I called the manager as soon as my feet hit the floor. I talked with Julie and told her everything. She kept repeating and repeating that her worker told me she was in the office. Do you Really think I would flag a worker down and ask for a manager and then not go talk to them? So, my husband went into the office to talk to her and try and get just a 1 night refund. He got the same treatment as I did. She would not give him the contact info for the corporate office, so we could call them. I found info online and emailed them. They apologized and said they would send the info to the owner and I would hear in a few days. I have yet to hear anything and it's been close to a week. We would Never Ever stay at Jellystone again. When you are camping, you shouldn't go to bed and cry. This place was awful! And the manager could care less! We also had video of the dogs and the barking. Didn't want to see them. She should not be in a management position. This place is the WORST! read more

We were traveling through the area and stayed for the night. Clean, friendly environment and although we do not have children, this is certainly the place for them! Huge shout out and thank you to Suzy who works at the store/check-in desk and her husband, Randy in maintenance at the campground. They went above and beyond to help us with a mechanical issue we were having with our RV. read more

Came here shortly after pools opened. Aqua park is very fun. Water shoes make it a little easier and more fun. First weekend we came, we had side by side sites with our friends. We would have had no room if they didn't have a pop up and shared space. We enjoyed ourselves so much, we reserved another weekend. We showed up 2 minutes before check in time and they gave our site away! I had even emailed them asking if the site we picked would be able to accommodate our TT size and they responded yes. NO picnic table. NO fire ring. BARELY had enough space to open our slide outs, and our stairs was extremely close to our neighbors. And we couldnt open our awning. I asked if they gave away sites often... response: "it happens all the time"... you have to "lock in" your SITE, not fees... when it lists extra fees at the end of booking. They did the same thing to 5 other families that booked in january (6 months in advance to be next to one another)! They wanted to leave as they barely got in their sites as well, but told them they wouldn't get their money back. They worry about the bottom dollar, not the customer... we have about 20 families that will never go back! read more

The Wibit bounce is great for kids and only $20. That was the plus. Otherwise, the sites are way too close together. Our awning was touching our neighbor's slide out. The staff was not very accommodating. Was told when I called to confirm our site two weeks prior that we did not need to reserve a golf cart as there were many available. Then when we checked in, was told by young staff again that we would not need to reserve a cart for the following day, Friday, but that Saturday was already booked. Was told to come back to office at 9:00 am on Friday. When we went to office at scheduled time, was told there were none available. Had one available at the more expensive price (of course) but would not be available to later that day. The scheduled rate for cart rental is from 3:00 pm to 11:00 am the following day, which is not even 24 hours and considering most of the time is night time hours. Quite the rip off. If you are going to buy anything at their store, BRING LOTS OF CASH. They got the gig out. Prices marked up 200 to 600% of normal. The food items available are ice cream, mustard and ketchup. Not a very accommodating store. All other items are Jellystone-product related, i.e., shirts, swimsuits, etc. Will not go back there again. read more

I took 4 kids to the aqua park / jump pad and they had an absolute ball. Ages 6-13 played for hours having the best time. This tired mom even got in in the action and enjoyed every minute. I don't think I've had this much fun since Covid started. And to top it off we had ice cream in their cafe - Delish ! Will def be going back again next year. read more

Monticello Jellystone Park - Campgrounds Near Me - Monticello, Iowa

This was a great campground. The staff was really friendly and helpful. The sand by the river was a nice place to pitch a tent. I cant wait to come back soon. Would recommend to a friend! read more

Was seasonal site for several years and am not going back. Was a great place on the weekends to go until Park was purchased 2 years ago. Since then they have increased the prices for seasonal sites 1400 dollars and have almost doubled the cost of nightly rentals. Only improvements done: adding a 6 stall shower that runs out of hot water all the time, updated the office to sell more over priced stuff, dug a puddle in the field that is now a mosquito breeding ground that was said to be a "Floating pond" when there is a larger pond already. All the pads for campers are gravel, Roads are gravel causing lots of dust all the time. There is a five mph limit that the staff doesn't even follow causing more dust. The number of people coming has steadily dropped over the last 2 years. They eliminated 25% of the seasonal sites last year hoping to fill all them up this year with nightly rentals that didn't happen. Holiday weekends/Fair week used to be completely full and this year there were several sites available that were never filled. It used to be very family oriented and the staff made it fun. Now it is just a job for them and most of the staff don't really engage with the Kids even though it is a Jellystone campground. There are other things that have happened under the new management that I can not say here but the direction the park is going I don't want to be a part of or fund with my seasonal fees. I would rather take my business elsewhere. read more