Looking for the best campgrounds near Council Bluffs, IA? Council Bluffs is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Find the best campgrounds near Council Bluffs, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$10 - $50 / night
"If you are in the Omaha metro you should head across the river and checkout Hitchcock Nature Center just North of Council Bluffs. This is one of my favorite places to camp."
"I pulled in late at night easy to navigate stayed the next day and did some trails apparently the land formations are 1 of only 2 in the world how about that Iowa."
$20 - $23 / night
"Our confirmation email included precise directions from I-29, with an interstate sign confirming the turn for Lake Manawa State Park, and provided the gate code for access."
"Lake manawa is a nice lake, dream park is a fun playground for kids!"
$20 / night
"There is a large paved path that goes all the way around the lake, while also connecting to the greater trail system in the Omaha metro area. There are singletrack trails available too. "
"The location is great - 20-30 min from everything Omaha has to offer. The campground is spacious, affordable ($16/night), and has great reception with ATT and Verizon."
$40 - $50 / night
"Very convenient location close to lots of shopping and the convention center."
"Nice quiet campground away from the hustle and bustle yet close to city for anything forgotten."
"Well,, it was alright, loud because of the toll bridge next to park, sites were close together, level, fire pits, picnic tables, electric, water and a dump station, stayed 3 days to visit family,, $20"
$15 - $40 / night
"Lake Cunningham is a fun destination for getting outside if you only have an afternoon to escape! The lake itself is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing!"
"The lake is right there, with a nice bike path that comes all the way around."
"There were plenty of pit toilets around and they were very clean. The grounds offer plenty of mowed trails to walk about which we enjoyed a lot with our dogs over the weekend."
"Not a bad place to stop for the night, we were able to take the dogs hiking and didn’t have a problem."
$15 - $35 / night
"A nice closed off area for swimming, but not area allows pets to swim. Very polite employees. Showers are kinda expensive and expect to hear the tracks right behind the camping area."
"A HUGE campground with around 250 total sites, with options ranging from walk-in camping tent-only sites to RV areas. There is a 3 decent-size lakes spread evenly across the grounds."
"I only stayed the night, but as I was walking my dogs I saw the camp. Everywhere you turn there was something to do. Good fun."
"The campground itself was fine and very convenient in location to vIsIt famIly."
"Wide open, no shade trees, next to Missouri River and 4 stars for rv camping. Very easy to find with directions posted on this site. Otherwise ... no rv or camper ... turn around."
TravelerPark has easy access from Highway. Nice mix pull-through and back-in sites. Pet friendly with large dog park and plenty of green space with mature trees.
LegendThis is a rv park that is located near Lake Manawa in Council Bluffs, Ia. It appears to have the same fate as camping site at the lake. As if you drive by it, it appears to be a ghost town.
LegendThis was a one night visit in June 2012 and we arrived very late after visiting St. Joseph, Mo Pony express museum that day we decided to keep driving which put us in council bluffs, IA just outside of Omaha at dinner time. We were blessed to get a site here later that had electric which is a plus and It was a very inexpensive site at only $16.00. I do remember there being a beautiful Lake which I wish we could have enjoyed but such is life when you are on a schedule to get to another destination. This park has swimming, boating, hiking, biking, restrooms and picnic area Apparently the campground has been closed since last fall and only shelters and a youth group area are available to rent.
LegendIf you are in the Omaha metro you should head across the river and checkout Hitchcock Nature Center just North of Council Bluffs. This is one of my favorite places to camp. All of the campsites are considered "back country" but don't worry, I think the furthest campsite is about three miles.
My preference is getting one of the campsites on the western edge of the park on top of the ridge. At night you can see the Omaha skyline lit up and the breeze running through there is wonderful.
Hitchcock is smack dab in the loess hills which is one of only two places in the world with the hill formations. The other place is in China.
The trail system isn't huge because of the size of the park, but it has a lot of up and down and is a great place to practice backpacking or test new gear before you leave the plains and head to the rocky mountains for a new adventure.
When your done with your hiking, climb up to the top of the towering platform and bring your binoculars to checkout the visiting hawks and occasional eagle. Don't pass up Hitchcock Nature Center.
LegendIt appears not many people camp in Iowa in February. We had the campground to ourselves. We missed the crazy cold and snow by a day but it was 20 degree with the wind when I hiked the prairie. Lovely little state park, clean and the trail system was pretty neat. Wasn't perfectly flat and had some overlooks. Very much enjoyed!
ScoutWe were passing through Nebraska and opted to stay the night here. The campground is new and will be even nicer when the trees are big enough to provide shade. We only stayed one night but enjoyed the walk to the small waterfall in the park. There is a large dog park, clean restrooms and nice trails for walking.
GuideThe trees at the campsites aren't mature enough for shade, but the ponds and trails more than make up for that. Full hookups, shower house and huge dog park are also onsite making this a Cass County hidden gem. Camp host is great and and you're close to old downtown.
GuideComing from MO, Nebraska is usually just a one night stop for us (as we head onto bigger and cooler states). We were happy to find this clean RV park near Nebraska City. Big, but quiet. Friendly staff. Homey. Green space. Great dog park.
GuideWe only stayed here one night but would have gladly stayed longer. We didn't use everything but it seems to have all the amenities you might need - full hookups, propane, showers, laundry, dog park, play space for kids.
We were pretty close to our neighbors but not so close that it felt uncomfortable. Staff accommodated our need for a late check-in and even called to make sure we knew how to get to our site.
Really beautiful surrounding landscape and not too much road noise. Not sure if that might change depending on the site.
All in all, a good experience!
Discovering pet-friendly camping options near Council Bluffs, Iowa, opens up a world of adventure for you and your furry companions. With a variety of campgrounds that welcome pets, you can enjoy the great outdoors without leaving your four-legged friends behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Council Bluffs, IA is Hitchcock County Nature Center with a 4.7-star rating from 29 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 74 dog-friendly camping locations near Council Bluffs, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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