Best Glamping near Alton, IA

Located near the banks of the Missouri River, Scenic Park offers unique glamping accommodations with distinctive amenities. Safari tents and yurts provide a comfortable outdoor experience with modern conveniences including electricity, comfortable beds, and climate control systems. The scenic waterfront location provides glamping guests with spectacular views of the Sioux City skyline while maintaining privacy in their luxury outdoor accommodations. Little Sioux Park Campground and Martin Area County Park also feature upscale glamping options with premium features like private decks, high-end furnishings, and in some cases en-suite bathrooms. "Very nice quiet campground with both bathrooms and showers," notes one visitor who enjoyed the elevated amenities.

Glamping sites in the region provide convenient access to recreational activities along the Missouri River and surrounding natural areas. Guests can explore miles of hiking and biking trails directly from their luxury accommodations, with complimentary bicycles available at some locations for exploring the riverfront paths. Water activities like fishing and boating are easily accessible from glamping sites positioned near waterways. The Sioux City North KOA features additional premium amenities including a large swimming pool and activity center for glamping guests. A visitor remarked, "Super friendly hosts and super clean bathrooms with nice showers." Seasonal availability varies by location, with some glamping accommodations like those at Scenic Park offering year-round options while others operate primarily between May and October.

Best Glamping Sites Near Alton, Iowa (7)

    1. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    38 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    50 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "Just another overnight stop on my drive to Iowa. I spent the night in a non-electric tent site so I can't really comment on the other parts of the campground."

    "They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking."

    2. Island Park - Rock Rapids

    8 Reviews
    Larchwood, IA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 472-3456

    $5 - $45 / night

    "A good place to camp for the night with gas and groceries nearby. All sites have electricity but only 20/30/60 amps. Water spigots are spread throughout the campground."

    "Very cheap , 15$ a night for rv with electric and water, 5$ for tents. Huge swimming area with slides for kids, and river with a lot of fish!!! Brand New shower houses ."

    3. Scenic Park

    17 Reviews
    Sioux City, IA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (402) 494-7531

    $18 - $30 / night

    "Scenic park is across the Missouri river from Sioux City,  Iowa.  It is easy to get to. Very friendly staff.  Restrooms are kept clean. "

    "We stayed in a pull through that was very spacious with picnic table and fire pit. Spectated by trees so your not on top of your neighbor. Bathrooms and showers were very clean!"

    4. Martin Area County Park

    1 Review
    Sutherland, IA
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 225-6709

    5. Sioux City North KOA

    5 Reviews
    North Sioux City, SD
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 232-4519

    "A tent site was $40 with no electricity so it’s more pricy then other sites but they have a ton of things to do. Checkers, chess, swings, play set, mini golf, inflatable bouncy blog, pool, and more."

    "Arrived late and left so early we didn’t even see any of the staff. Campground and bath houses were clean. However, campsites are very close together. Great for quick overnight stop.!!!"

    6. Little Sioux Park Campground

    4 Reviews
    Correctionville, IA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (712) 372-4984

    7. Magnolia City Campground

    7 Reviews
    Luverne, MN
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (507) 227-9278

    "I did notice that the power boxes are set up is only few spots with multiple power boxes on the post. So you could need a power cord extention. If all spots by the power boxes are taken up."

    "The electrical and water are a little spaced out. We took the end spot and count quite reach our two water hoses. There two long-term campers who were hooked up to the water spigot closest to us."

Show More
Showing results 1-7 of 7 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Glamping Photos near Alton, IA

2 Photos of 7 Alton Campgrounds


Glamping Reviews near Alton, IA

80 Reviews of 7 Alton Campgrounds


  • Carolyn M.
    Oct. 23, 2019

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Ok place to spend the night, but could have been better

    I spent the night here and had to pay the entrance fee to the park as well as the camping fee for my tentsite. They had only a few tentsites available amid all the RV sites, but they were right on the edge of the playground, so the families had to walk right through my campsite to get to the play area. Not too big a deal as no one wanted to use the play area at night while I was sleeping, but still.  I also looked over at the power lines. There was a flush toilet facility close by but there was a very bright light on all night. Good for families needing to navigate in the dark but not wonderful if you like sleeping in darkness. And though I was told that quiet hours began at 10PM, the site next to me was quite loud through the trees until at least midnight so the quiet hours are not enforced. Meh. I don't think I'll be going back.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Another overnight stop.

    Just another overnight stop on my drive to Iowa. I spent the night in a non-electric tent site so I can't really comment on the other parts of the campground. It does have nice bathrooms with running water and showers. The non-e tent sites are in a forested section, all shaded. Sites include picnic tables and fire rings. Sites are located a very short walk from the designated parking. I had a great night's sleep as it was relatively quiet. I didn't partake but they do have a Frisbee golf course. Took a short walk on their trail system to the suspension walking bridge. My complaint would be the fees. I thought i was paying one fee for the non-e tent site but then there was an additional fee for non-res and another fee for park day use fee or permit. This fee was confusing whether I was supposed to pay this or not. So what looked like a small fee to spend the night turned into much more.

  • Kris H.
    Jul. 24, 2019

    Scenic Park

    very friendly

    Scenic park is across the Missouri river from Sioux City,  Iowa.  It is easy to get to. Very friendly staff.  Restrooms are kept clean.  It is a large campground with several different restrooms with showers.  There is a number of permanent campsites, there is also some that can be reserved.  Some are also pull thru's. Ice and firewood are available on site.  There  is a separate area available for tents. With it being  on the edge of South Sioux City, Ne and across the river from Sioux City, Ia. there is lots of shopping options close by.  It can also be reserved for groups, with a shelter available for use.  There are some sunny spots and also spots with lots of shade.  I really like this campground!

  • Emily C.
    Jun. 19, 2020

    Sioux City North KOA

    Very fun

    A tent site was $40 with no electricity so it’s more pricy then other sites but they have a ton of things to do. Checkers, chess, swings, play set, mini golf, inflatable bouncy blog, pool, and more. They had a gift shop with anything you needed to buy. The bathrooms were very nice and clean but did smell a bit. They had electricity/ wall outlets in the bathrooms. The highway is very close so you do hear cars. Privacy fences around the site to block out the neighborhood. Very nice staff!

  • M
    Jun. 18, 2022

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Clean and Dog Friendly

    Such a nice campground. Nice big shady trees and manicured lawns. They sell campfire wood for 6$ a bundle on site so we had some great campfires going. They have nice long paved trails for walking and biking. We got to walk our dogs on it to avoid tick contact from the grassy trails. There was a cool suspension bridge that was fun to walk on. The showers were very nice and hot without a lot of traffic. 

    There is no sewage hookup or water hook ups. They do that 50/30 amp sites available. There is a dump station right at the entrance to dump when you leave and it also has a separate fresh water station if you want to fill up right when you get there so youre not traveling with a bunch of water in your tank. 

    It was a great campground and the falls were close by and palisades state park was also in the area with a nice hike. 

    There is an extra $8 car fee per night that you have to pay on top of any camping fees. If you are staying longer than 5 days it better to just get the annual parking pass for $32, which would cover parking for all state parks and recreation areas in SD. 

    They have great discounts if you are a veteran and south dakota resident.

  • Susan L.
    Sep. 5, 2020

    Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    Convenient camping near Sioux Falls

    This Recreation Area is large and  located off the Sioux River, which was slow flowing when I visited. It’s not the most picturesque river I’ve seen, so if you’re looking for that look further. However, because it was slow moving it made for a nice round trip paddle. 

    Easy access from 90W, not much road noise and close to the town of Brandon for supplies. 

    There’s a fantastic disc golf course complete with a creaky suspension foot bridge that spans the fiver. 

    Great hiking and biking trails too. I hiked the Valley of the Giants trail, which earns its name because of the many old, “giant” oaks in this river bottom area. It’s an easy hike with one slight incline/decline, but the loop was curtailed by a giant felled oak tree.  The path was completely covered and no matter which way I tried I couldn’t see the trail it had become so overgrown. Sadly it seems that this has been the fate of several the the Giants, perhaps due to the river flooding.

    The campground has gravel pads. My site backed up to the river but there was a bushy berm and the bike/walking bath between the site and the river. No problem to access the river though because there are little paths worn through the bushes. Lots of trees for shade and good space between sites. There’s electric but no water at site. Fill up by the restrooms or before you come. Picnic table and fire ring with grill connected. Fire ring is on a cement pad. I’d never seen that before. 

    There are also  cabins for rent and when I was there the restrooms looked clean and functional.  Picnic shelter and gazebo are on site as well as the Bergeson’s Homestead. It’s always nice to see history being preserved like this! When I’m passing through this area again, I’ll revisit this recreation area.

  • Stephanie S.
    Sep. 5, 2021

    Scenic Park

    Nice quiet park

    Host was very friendly and helpful. They had some spots on the river. We stayed in a pull through that was very spacious with picnic table and fire pit. Spectated by trees so your not on top of your neighbor. Bathrooms and showers were very clean! Although no hand soap so bring your own. Showers were free and they had bikes you could check out to ride around. Park is super close to huge park with Tennis courts and other activities.

  • Chris S.
    Jul. 8, 2019

    Scenic Park

    Nice Stopover Spot

    We stayed with our class A RV on our way to and from a further destination. First spot was one right along the river. All the spots are spacious...neighbors are not on top of you. This spot had a nice concrete pad with a picnic table (not so nice with peeling paint). Views of the river and city were nice. Full hook-ups with sewer, water, electric, cable, and wi-if. Second spot was not on the river but equally spacious. No concrete pad with this one. Bathhouses were a mixed bag. One was large with numerous stalls and showers and very clean. The other quite small (2 stalls and one shower) and not so clean. Had to step around empty shampoo and conditioner bottles on floor and a used razor on the soap dish.....there in the early evening and still there around 9 the next morning. Many of the sites seemed to be extended stay and not all trailers were well kept.....plastic covering windows, haphazard decks, etc. All-in-all though an Ok stopover in a longer trip.

  • Chris S.
    Jul. 28, 2019

    Scenic Park

    Nice Stopover Spot

    We stayed with our class A RV on our way to and from a further destination in early July. First spot was one right along the river. All the spots are spacious...neighbors are not on top of you. This spot had a nice concrete slab with a picnic table (not so nice with peeling paint). Views of the river and city were nice. Full hook-ups with sewer, water, electric and (spotty) WiFi. Second spot was not on the river but equally spacious. No concrete patio with this one. Bathhouse’s were a mixed bag. One was large with numerous stalls and showers and very clean. The other quite small (2 stalls and one shower) and not so clean. Had to step around empty shampoo and conditioner bottles on the floor and a used razor on the soap dish...there in the early evening and still around 9 the next morning. Many sites seemed to be extended stay and not all were well kept...plastic covering windows, haphazard decks, etc. All-in-all though an OK one night stopover spot if you’re traveling through.


Guide to Alton

Glamping accommodations near Alton, Iowa offer campers access to the Missouri River corridor and the surrounding agricultural plains. The region sits within the rolling hills of northwest Iowa where the average summer temperature ranges from 75-85°F. Most upscale outdoor experiences are available from May through October, with several sites featuring climate control systems for comfortable year-round stays.

What to do

Water recreation at Big Sioux: The Big Sioux Recreation Area provides riverside activities with hiking trails and a suspension walking bridge. "We have stayed here many times. Nice quiet state campground. Our site was nice, level, spacious, and had plenty of grass coverage (instead of dirt)," notes Heidi M. about the Big Sioux Recreation Area.

Disc golf courses: Several parks near Alton feature disc golf courses for beginners and experienced players. "I didn't partake but they do have a Frisbee golf course. Took a short walk on their trail system to the suspension walking bridge," shares Tyson K. about his visit to Big Sioux Recreation Area.

Family swimming: Island Park offers dedicated swimming facilities with children's slides and river access. "Huge swimming area with slides for kids, and river with a lot of fish!!! Brand New shower houses," reports amber P. about Island Park in Rock Rapids, highlighting the water recreation options for families.

What campers like

Riverside views: Campsites along the Missouri River offer views of the water and surrounding landscape. "The view from our camper of the Missouri River and the Sioux City skyline was pretty great," writes Pat V. about Scenic Park in South Sioux City, which features full hookup sites along the water.

Affordable options: Several campgrounds offer budget-friendly glamping options with surprising amenities. "Very cheap, 15$ a night for rv with electric and water, 5$ for tents," notes amber P. about Island Park, making it an economical choice for visitors to the Alton region.

Recreation facilities: Many parks feature multiple activity options beyond typical camping. "Plenty to do for everyone. Very well kept park. Can't be beat," says Benjamin P. about Little Sioux Park Campground, which offers a beach area and multiple playgrounds.

What you should know

Seasonal availability: Many glamping accommodations close during winter months. "October 31st is their season ending date on website," notes Jesse H. about Magnolia City Campground, reflecting the typical seasonal pattern for many sites in the region.

Site spacing considerations: Campground layouts vary significantly across the region. "The campsites are lined up next to each other. One is not and is nestled in some trees. The rest have the sun into the evening," explains Art S. about Magnolia City Campground, highlighting the importance of site selection for privacy.

Noise factors: Some locations experience noise from nearby highways or attractions. "The night we stayed, there was racing going on at Rapid Speedway that lasted well into the evening. Extremely LOUD. Make sure to check the race schedule the night you want to stay," advises John G. about Island Park.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Choose sites with nearby play facilities for children. "The playground was rated 'amazing' by our kids," shares Jessica B. about her family's experience at Magnolia City Campground.

Activity centers: Some glamping locations feature dedicated recreation centers. "Awesome place to stay. Lots of activities for the kids. Staff was awesome," reports Dusti H. about her family's stay at Sioux City North KOA.

Swimming options: Look for parks with dedicated swimming areas during summer months. "Small beach area for swimming. Two playgrounds. Very nice field of wild comb flowers blooming near the shower house," describes Tim K. about Little Sioux Park Campground.

Tips from RVers

Power requirements: Check electrical hookup options when reserving sites. "The power boxes are set up is only few spots with multiple power boxes on the post. So you could need a power cord extension," advises Jesse H. about Magnolia City Campground.

Pull-through availability: Several campgrounds offer convenient pull-through sites for larger rigs. "Nice pullthru campsites, with lots of activities, large pool," notes Bill Z. about Sioux City North KOA.

Dump station locations: Not all sites have sewer hookups at individual sites. "A dump station is located at the west entrance across the driveway from the pay station," mentions Daniel C. about Island Park, providing important information for RV travelers planning their glamping experience near Alton.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Alton, IA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Alton, IA is Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux with a 4.5-star rating from 38 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Alton, IA?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 glamping camping locations near Alton, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.