Estherville is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Estherville is surrounded by family-friendly activities. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Estherville, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.
$10 - $16 / night
"A hidden gem in Northwest Iowa. It is Memerial Day Weekend and on Friday night we had one other tent camper on Friday. None on Saturday.
The bathrooms are the old hole going down into a pit."
"Fort Defiance is a forresty natural state park in Iowa. There is Electrical Hook ups a picnic Table and a charcoal Grill already at the camp site."
$15 - $33 / night
"Marble Beach`s campground is the largest in the Iowa Great Lakes Region."
", Easy driving distance to Arnold's Park. Campground is Clean, Showers/Bathrooms are new and modern. Full Hookups are easy to use. many spots in the Oak Woods."
"Good sized park with easy access to a swimming beach and multiple playgrounds for children. Also includes a sand volleyball court and a basketball hoop."
$25 - $35 / night
"Emmerson Bay is the Best for Tubing on tbe Iowa Great lakes so access for your boat here too is also amazing, However theres not a place here to park it."
"Nice state park campground in West Okoboji Iowa. Close enough to the action of Lake Okoboji yet has a fairly remote feel."
$12 - $20 / night
"However, at the time, there were very few campers (none around us) and it had basic amenities like bathrooms, sinks, etc."
"Very close to the lake and a neat nature walk. The campsites were a but muddy, but not too bad."
"We were back on Taylor Ridge so we had a noticeable drive in/out anytime we went anywhere. Bathrooms were clean and maintained. Sites had ample space."
$15 - $20 / night
"Right by a lake. The staff is attentive, kind and welcoming. Have not been able to have a greater look of the surroundings because just staying for a night and leaving early morning."
"Nice place right on the lake. Campground manager is nice. Sites are electric only. Fill with water before setting up. Reasonable and it's clean. If you like to fish you want to come here"
ScoutThe camping sites are a little close to each other. 10 sites with full hookups. If electrical comes out of the rear of your camper you need an extension cord or just pull the camper forward in the site. None of the sites are far from the shower/restroom facilities. Fishing in the pond had a lot of small bluegill and crappie. Perfect for the young fishermen with little patience. Using an ultralight and small jig I was catching them about every second cast. Beautiful sunrise/sunset views if you like that.
TravelerLarge grassy sites with big trees overlooking lake. Bathroom with showers. Can hear train whistle but no cars. Wind sometimes brings farm odors into area so sites at the end of the road may be better if you don’t need elect. Electric and water $25 primitive $15. Some of those are walk in. Dock for boating.
LegendA nice place to stop overnight or spend the weekend. Right on the lake. Nice amenities such as a playground, dog run, and disc golf course. Electric sites with a central faucet (for filling jugs and bottles) and a pump out in the back. Restrooms are clean with free showers. Sites are well spaced but vary in size. You can make a reservation but we arrived and picked out one of many open spots that best fit our needs. Would recommend!
ScoutThe campground was at the end of the park. I asked some fishermen for direction. There are no designated spots just power boxes and I parked between them. Very quiet, right on the river. there's a kayak and canoe launch rights next to it.
GuideWe were the only ones here on a weekday besides the host. Views of the lake through the trees at the back of the campsite. Clean bathrooms and showers. Water and electricity.
TravelerThis is a great campground for a weekend getaway. The pros of this campground are It’s full hook up. It has a brand new shower house. It has a brand new playground. The cons to this campground are the campsites are really close together. overall, it’s a great campground and would recommend.
LegendNice little park to stop at for a night on a trip. Only stayed here for a night on my way out west in 2024. Arrived a bit before dark and decided to sleep in my car rather than my tent just due to the timing and being tucked away by the river by myself. Never did figure out where a bathroom was unfortunately. There was a gas station right down the road for any conveniences you may need. There is a kayak launch right by the campsites that I would've put my inflatable into if I'd had more daylight/time here.
Not sure how larger campers would set up given the layout and how small the pads look, but there was plenty of room in front and behind the pads.
GuideThere are 4 camping spots here, all with electric hook-up. Although the website states $10 fee, there is nowhere to pay. In Oct, the bathrooms are closed already. Park is very close the the main road and you will likely hear trains at night. The campsites are right next to a creek with kayak access. It’s a nice place to stop for a night.
TravelerFirst thing to know is that you cannot pay for anything there directly... no cash, no checks, no credit cards, no tap, nothing. You need to use the Yodel app to purchase firewood and, even if there is staff present, you'll need to pay for your site on the MN State Park reservations system. What's nice is that there is no convenience charge when you are on site. This totally threw us as we are used to pulling up and paying with cash or card to a human. And, they have no wifi. So you'll have to use your phone or, like I did, use your phone as a hotspot to use your laptop/tablet.
Once that was all finally taken care of, we got to enjoy our spacious site. It was HOT, but there is a tree in the center of Site 7 that offered shade and lots of bushes and trees around that offer shade. We just had to keep moving to get it. Each site has a firepit and picnic table. Site 6 has a trail going through it on the edge while Site 7 had a trail on the other side but it was several feet from the actual site. I'm not sure it ever gets busy there, but if it did, you may have people around your site if you choose those edge sites.
This place was SO quiet! I know that also has to do with the other campers, so thank you to our fellow campers that weekend who kept it quiet. No road noise at all. There are fields nearby, so if it's plowing season I imagine it would be quite noisy and quite dusty.
At the end of September, along with the heat, there were tons of what we later learned were Asian Lady Beetles, which actually do sting. Surprise! Then when they started slowing down, here came the midges/no-see-ums. So I came away with a lot of stings. Boo! My spouse did not. So I guess they just liked me a lot.
I would totally recommend Kilen Woods SP! It was a total surprise to use as we were looking for a last minute place to camp, so that was wonderful. If you're driving along I90 in Minnesota or I26 in South Dakota and need an easy overnight, check this place out.
Camping near Estherville, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and friendly campgrounds. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family getaway, there are plenty of options to explore.
Camping near Estherville, Iowa, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're in an RV or tent, there's something for everyone to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Estherville, IA is Fort Defiance State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 1 parks near Estherville, IA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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