Bentonsport: Geode Digging in Van Buren County, Iowa

Public accessBest spot1 mineralVan Buren County, IowaUpdated July 2026

Mineral reported: 1
Elevation: 660 ft
Best months: March to November

Bentonsport, a preserved 19th-century village on the Des Moines River, lies within the same lower Warsaw geode horizon that defines southeast Iowa. Tributary creeks cut the geode-bearing shales and drop quartz-lined geodes and silicified Mississippian coral into the river gravels. The stretch of the Des Moines River between Bentonsport and Farmington is a classic float-and-collect corridor. Reported finds include keokuk geode. Below: coordinates, access notes, nearby spots, and trip-planning links.

Plan your visit

Generally open to casual rockhounding

County: Van Buren County
State: Iowa
Nearest road: Quail Road
Postcode: 52565
Coordinates: 40.70537, -91.86485

Get directions View on Google Maps

Coordinates are approximate. Confirm the exact ground in the RockHoundR app, where land overlays show which agency manages the area.

Land & collecting status

Generally open to casual rockhounding

Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig.

Access note: Collect loose material on public river gravel bars reached from the Bentonsport and Bonaparte river accesses, staying below the ordinary high-water mark. Nearby Shimek State Forest is a state forest rather than a state park, so its rules differ, but confirm them with the forest office before collecting there.

Public-land rules vary by agency, season, and field office. The RockHoundR app pulls live BLM, USFS, NPS, and tribal overlays so you can see exactly which agency manages the ground at this spot.

Best time to visit Bentonsport

32°J

37°F

50°M

63°A

73°M

82°J

86°J

85°A

78°S

65°O

49°N

37°D

Comfortable months (45 to 90°F highs)

Best months: March to November. Typical highs run 86°F in midsummer and 32°F in midwinter, with winter lows near 14°F.

Climate normals: NOAA 1991-2020 monthlies, KEOSAUQUA station (6 mi away).

Geology at Bentonsport

This spot sits on ground mapped as Augusta Group that formed roughly 355 to 330 million years ago. Geodes typically weather free of their host rock and collect as rounded float in soils and drainages.

Mapped unit: Augusta Group
Age: 355–330 Ma (Mississippian)
Elevation: 660 ft

Geologic mapping via Macrostrat and the underlying state geological survey maps (CC BY 4.0). Bedrock at the surface can vary within a mapped unit.

Today's weather

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Sources & verification

Spot details combine the public RockHoundR location dataset, normalized mineral labels, agency land-status checks in the app, and community submissions. Coordinates are approximate until verified in the field.

Iowa Geological Survey
Iowa DNR state park rules
Community submissions reviewed against published agency rules

Found at Bentonsport

Each name opens all spots that produce that material; the encyclopedia link opens the full ID and field guide.

Keokuk Geode Encyclopedia →

Nearby rockhounding spots

Other rockhounding spots within driving distance of Bentonsport.

Farmington (geodes)Van Buren County, Iowa · 8 mi awayGeode
FarmingtonVan Buren County, Iowa · 9 mi awayKeokuk Geode, Coral
DonnellsonLee County, Iowa · 16 mi awayGeode
Skunk RiverHenry County, Iowa · 21 mi awayGeode, Petrified Coral, Limonite
Skunk River gravels near Mount PleasantHenry County, Iowa · 23 mi awayAgate
Mount PleasantHenry County, Iowa · 23 mi awayChert, Geode
LowellHenry County, Iowa · 25 mi awayKeokuk Geode
New LondonHenry County, Iowa · 28 mi awayAgate, Jasper

Across the state line from Bentonsport

Bentonsport is close enough to the Iowa border that the next-closest rockhounding spots are in a neighboring state. Worth knowing if you are already on the road.

KahokaClark County, Missouri · 20 mi awayGeode
Fox CityClark County, Missouri · 23 mi awayGeode, Calcite
St. FrancisvilleClark County, Missouri · 23 mi awayGeode, Barite, Calcite
NauvooHancock County, Illinois · 30 mi awayGeode
NiotaHancock County, Illinois · 30 mi awayFossil, Geode
Alexandria & WaylandClark County, Missouri · 30 mi awayGeode

Bentonsport FAQ

Where is Bentonsport?+

Bentonsport is in Van Buren County, Iowa, at 40.70537, -91.86485. Nearest road: Quail Road.

What rocks and minerals can you find at Bentonsport?+

Bentonsport is reported to produce Keokuk Geode.

Is collecting allowed at Bentonsport?+

Generally open to casual rockhounding. Most public-tagged spots sit on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, or other federal land where reasonable hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed. Confirm posted rules and active mining claims before you dig. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.

What tools should I bring to Bentonsport?+

Bring a crack hammer, a chisel, safety glasses, and a bucket. Candidates are rounder and lighter than solid rock; a soil pipe cutter opens them cleaner than a flat smash.

When is the best time to visit Bentonsport?+

The most comfortable months at Bentonsport are March to November.

How do I get to Bentonsport?+

Open the directions link to navigate to 40.70537, -91.86485 in Google Maps. The nearest road is Quail Road.

More rockhounding in Iowa

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