DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa's state parks are seeing lots of campers since re-opening just before Memorial Day weekend.
"Every weekend since then, every park has seen increased visitation and usage since last year--or year-over-year" says Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau Chief Todd Coffelt.
He says part of the increased activity may come from the COVID-19 pandemic that saw people cooped up in their houses for weeks, and may now be limiting other travel plans.
Coffelt says people who want to camp in Iowa's state parks during the upcoming Independence Day weekend should be planning ahead.
He says, at this point--especially for the Independence Day weekend-- the best bet may be the 25 percent of campsites set aside for those who don't have reservations.
"Sometimes your happy with the one you get. With the popularity of the state parks this year it's really on a first-come, first-served basis and you may have to wait a little while" Coffelt says.
You can get more information at the DNR's campsite reservation website.