Crawford County offers camping opportunities in western Iowa with most campgrounds open from April through October. Several parks provide water access for fishing and boating. The area has a mix of RV sites, tent camping, and cabin options with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Hiking trails around lakes: Swan Lake State Park Campground features a paved 3-mile trail circling the lake. "Beautiful park! Great trail all the way around the lake, we took a bike ride around it was about 3 ish miles," notes Shane T.
Fishing in multiple locations: Nelson Park Crawford County Park provides a decent-sized lake for fishing and water activities. "It's a good place for camping not perfect. Has a descent size lake good for kayaking and fishing," according to Edger G.
Historic exploration: Lewis and Clark State Park Campground offers educational opportunities beyond camping. "They have a great visitor center with amazing displays and exhibits that mark the history of Lewis and Clark and their travels around the area," reports Timothy S.
Frisbee golf courses: Several parks in the area offer disc golf. "There was a cute frisbee golf on property, a beautiful lake, and a nice paved walking path," shares Deborah C. about Swan Lake State Park.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Hitchcock County Nature Center receives praise for its maintenance. "The facilities were impressively clean and well maintained," notes Abby W.
Spacious campsites: Crawford Creek County Rec Area offers room to spread out. "We camped here over the weekend, sites are pretty spacious and friendly camp hosts!" according to Deb W.
Variety of camping styles: The region provides options from primitive to full-service. "The park has cabins, rv sites, tent camping and backcountry hike in camping. The backcountry campsite have pads with pea gravel for tents and fire rings. Nice and quiet," explains Allison J. about Hitchcock Nature Center.
Shade coverage: Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds provides natural shade. "The established trees all over was fantastic," notes G M., while another camper called it a "Super Shaded" location.
What you should know
Water quality concerns: Some campsites have issues with water supply. "The water at the water for filling smells horrendous," reports Pat V. about Lewis and Clark State Park.
Site type variations: Campgrounds often separate tent and RV areas with different amenities. "This state park camp site close to Carroll, Iowa was nice, but we were the only tent campers there, it seemed more like a permanent RV home site," explains Deborah C. about Swan Lake State Park.
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate April to October, though a few remain open year-round. "They have recently open during the winter which is great because not many campground are open during this time," notes Cire C. about Pottawattamie County Fairgrounds.
Wildlife considerations: Insect activity varies by location and season. "Many water spots on basically what is a mosquito breeding ground," cautions Jeff B. about Lewis and Clark State Park during summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Multiple play areas: Swan Lake State Park Campground offers kid-friendly facilities. "There's a pretty big playground near all the sites. When I went in the first weekend of October they had a little trick or treat night too!" shares Morgan K.
Educational programming: Nature centers provide learning opportunities. "When I think of 'nature center' I think of a stuffy little cabin with taxidermy. This site is far far more than that, with hiking trails, educational programs, a museum, event halls, and of course camping," recommends Lynn G. about Hitchcock Nature Center.
Kid-accessible bathrooms: Look for updated facilities. "Extremely nice amenities; flush toilet and showers. Very nice for Iowa state parks," reports Morgan K.
Playground proximity: Some sites offer direct playground visibility. "We were able to reserve an electric unit (#30) right off the lake and across the road from the large playground (~5 setups for different age groups). We could watch the kids play while getting food ready or preparing a line to throw in the water," shares N K. about Lewis and Clark State Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup access challenges: Thirty Acres Campground — Black Hawk State Park has some placement issues. "Utility location did require us to use a longer hose and extension cord to reach from our site," advises Bruce P.
Pull-through availability: On-Ur-Wa RV Park offers convenient sites for larger vehicles. "Large spacious pull thru sites. Extremely clean bathrooms and showers," reports Maureen A.
RV site privacy: Site spacing varies significantly between parks. "Nice facilities well maintained. I guess most people are looking for this kind of camping, but it's a bunch of campers all piled on top of each other with no real views," cautions Bob H. about Lewis and Clark State Park.
Dump station access: Consider the logistics of waste disposal. "The dump station is a tight squeeze for anything other than a small bumper pull camper," warns Pat V. about Lewis and Clark State Park.
For glamping close to Denison, Iowa, Nelson Park and Crawford Creek Recreation Area offer upgraded cabin camping options. These luxury camping accommodations near Denison provide a comfortable way to enjoy the outdoors without sacrificing amenities.
