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Sportsman Park

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Sportsman Park near Dawson, Iowa, features flat terrain with open spaces and scattered trees. The area experiences temperatures ranging from 20°F in winter to 85°F in summer. Visitors can explore the nearby Raccoon River Valley Trail, a popular spot for hiking and biking.

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Location

Sportsman Park is located in Iowa

Detail location of campground

Directions

In Dawson, follow Railroad Ave east approximately ¾ mile. Railroad Ave becomes 130th St as it curves north. In about ¼ mile, the road curves east again. At that bend, the entrance gate is on the left.

Address

13821 130th Street
Dawson, IA 50066

Coordinates

41.84897063131188 N
94.20901334927572 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BYToyota Trucks
Spring Lake County Park

Spring Lake County Park

27 min away

Don Williams Park

Don Williams Park

31 min away

Drive Time

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Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&TLTE
    Some Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info


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Reviews

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5.0

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3 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 27, 2025

Sportsman Park

Dawson is such a cute little park. I rented a primitive tent site for two nights and it was $20. The self-registration was super simple!

They say there’s a live-in park employee. I never met him/her, which was a bummer. Theres two cabins, ten electric sights and five primitive, a shelter, a playground with slides and swings, and a bigger building you can reserve. I clocked four water spouts.

The place was well maintained, people were polite, modern restrooms and showers. Everything was handicap accessible. You can tell the employees put a lot of care into their work. So glad I was able to stay here.

Site13
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sportsman Park by Bethanie S., August 27, 2025
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2023

Awesome

Great camping sites! Can’t beat the price. Showers and toilets that were clean. Very peaceful. Best place we camped from Michigan to Washington!

Site1
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2018

Beautiful solitude with well manicured campsites

This was one of the nicest county campgrounds I've ever seen. We've been to a lot of them, but this one stands out. Not to mention that the price was unbeatable! So much more reasonable than at home. Set off the road a bit in a tiny little town in Iowa, it's along a river and very close to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, an 89 mile loop trail (paved) that goes through several towns and counties. It costs $2/person/day if you are 18 or older, or a year pass is $10. There is also a lodge that you can rent.

We rented a cabin for $50, because it was only about $10 more expensive than what we were planning on spending for a campsite in Minnesota. Normally, we stay in tents, so we were very pleased to find the options that this campground had to offer at such reasonable cost! If you wanted a tent site without electric, it was only $8. Electric sites were only $12. And the sites were incredibly well groomed. They were clean (I didn't see any trash). And they were tucked into the woods. A caretaker lives on site, and although we rarely saw him, it was obvious that he cared about his job. The bathrooms were clean and cared for too!

We were in a cabin and they were simple, but suited our needs. They had two wooden cabin-style buildings with little front porches (not screened in, but room under the overhang for chairs). Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people. (Must mention: The futon in our cabin was horribly uncomfortable. I would have given 4 stars to the review because of it, but the futon alone shouldn't take away from the rest of the campground, which was immaculate). There was also a bathroom with an ADA shower, toilet, mirror and sink. In the room, there was a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, little sink and it even had air conditioning! Tucked in the corner was a folding table and chairs. A few hooks scattered around the walls completed the room. The A/C in ours wasn't at full working capacity, but it did chill the room down enough to be very comfortable. And it was very hot outside! We also had a little fire ring and picnic table, just outside the door.

The campground could accommodate plenty of tents and campers alike. Some electric, some not. All with very nice grassy pads for tents, all with picnic tables and fire rings. Grass was well clipped and there were plenty of parking spaces. It was very quiet when we were there, but I assume it gets busy on the weekends. The shower/bath house had separate bathrooms (both unisex) and both with toilet, mirror, sink and shower). Both were very clean for a camp bathroom. A little campground for those wishing to camp together was at the back of the park. It, too, had bathrooms. But they were locked, so I couldn't peek inside.

Bottom line, it was well worth our $50 for the cabin (you can't even get a hotel room for that price any more). I'd love to go back and tent in the quiet of a weekday eve when the crickets are chirping and I can feel the breeze through the tent!

Please note - there are no trash cans at the campground if you are in tents or RV's (the cabins have them inside). It is a carry in/carry out campground

There are LOTS of water pumps all over the campground. Yay for water!!

SiteFox Den Cabin (#2)
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Sportsman Park by Amy G., June 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Sportsman Park by Amy G., June 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Sportsman Park by Amy G., June 2, 2018
  • (9) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Sportsman Park Campground in Dawson, Iowa?

Sportsman Park offers excellent facilities including clean showers and toilets, electric sites (10 total), primitive tent sites (5 available), and cabin rentals (2 cabins). The park features a shelter area and playground for recreation. Located along a river, the park provides a peaceful setting in a small Iowa town. It's conveniently situated near the Raccoon River Valley Trail, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is well-maintained and managed with a live-in park employee on site.

Are there photos of Sportsman Park Campground to view before visiting?

While specific photo galleries aren't mentioned, you can likely find images of Sportsman Park on county park websites or outdoor recreation platforms like The Dyrt. The park is described as one of the nicest county campgrounds with a picturesque setting along a river in a small Iowa town. It features cabins, electric sites, primitive camping areas, a shelter, and a playground in a peaceful environment. For the most recent and comprehensive photos, check the Dallas County Conservation Board website or call the park office directly.

Do I need reservations for camping at Sportsman Park in Dawson?

Sportsman Park utilizes a self-registration system that's described as simple and user-friendly. Reservations don't appear to be required, allowing for flexible camping plans. The park offers both electric and primitive tent sites at very reasonable rates. Primitive tent sites cost around $20 for two nights. For the most current reservation policies, especially during peak seasons or for cabin rentals, contact the park directly before your visit.