12 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Waubonsie State Park Campground near Hamburg offers a dedicated equestrian section north of the highway for riders traveling with horses. While standard campsites are closer together than some prefer, the equestrian area provides more space for horse trailers and equipment. The park features an extensive trail system with several difficulty levels, making it ideal for riders of various experience levels. Trails are designated for horseback riding only, with no bicycles permitted, preserving trail conditions for equine use. The campground includes fire rings and picnic tables at each site, with modern restrooms and shower facilities available during regular season. Campers should note that aggressive raccoons have been reported in the area, with one visitor observing raccoons approaching within ten feet of humans during daylight hours.
Located approximately one hour from Omaha, Waubonsie State Park provides access to the scenic Loess Hills region with several trails offering spectacular views from ridge lines and bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. The hiking and riding trails feature varying elevation changes, creating natural workout opportunities while traversing through densely wooded areas. Horse owners must bring their own water and feed storage, as specialized equine amenities are limited compared to larger horse-focused facilities. The park maintains clean facilities with water access points throughout, though some visitors note that water pumps may be turned off during certain seasons. For overnight equestrian camping, reservations are recommended as available sites can fill quickly, especially during popular festivals in nearby Nebraska City or during peak autumn foliage season when the trails showcase vibrant colors.
"It 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."
"This also gave us time to really explore those trails I was drooling over. We took one of the more scenic trails and took us over the top of some of those beautiful Loess Hills."
from $15 - $110 / night
Check Availability"There are plenty of camping sites around the park no matter your style, even spots for horses! I prefer the hike in spots myself."
"This is a nice little area with some hiking and horse trails. There’s a trail that’s really steep but the view from the top of the river and the valley is worth it."
from $25 - $30 / night
Check Availability"The tent sites have an area with showers and in door plumbing but there are also many tent sites speckled around the park, some have vault toliets and others are primitive."
"The trails are great. Beautiful scenery and our camp site was spacious. I wish the horse trail rides weren’t closed for the year and the main trail."
from $30 / night
Check Availability"As full-time campers we stay at Mahoney quite often as it is close to the Omaha-metro and there are so many things to do within the park: swimming, golf, zip lines, arts & crafts, trails, nature, horses"
"Walking trails. Camping spots galore. Arts and crafts. Horse riding. Water park. Lodge. Viewing tower. And they just added a ropes course. cabins for rent as well."
from $25 - $485 / night
Check Availability"It’s a bit off the beaten path but we got to enjoy the beautiful horses. Bonus!"
"Good hiking, horse rides, great hills for trail running."
from $35 - $340 / night
Check Availability"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."
"This campground is situated along the Platte River and there is plenty of family fun."
from $15 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Pleasant quiet environment other then nearby train. Location has 2 other RV campgrounds around the corner . It's a city park next to the expo center nice and clean . Pull in next to any hook up."
"The entrance was a little bit confusing. There is a pay box at the edge of the parking box. The bathrooms were locked, but being self contained, we wouldn't have used them."
from $10 / night
Check Availability"A few vault toilets are scattered around the park, but there are no shower facilities. Nearby is a small lake along with a nature center. Park is within a valley with lots of shade trees."
"Nice sites close to the lake with electricity water and wifi."
"Kids absolutely love it, easy access to the water, quiet, and very nice!!"
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!
LegendWaubonsie State Park near Hamburg, Iowa is under construction. That is the road was when we visited. The workers were not the most helpful either. That being said the park employees were very informative, if you could find one.
We visited enroute through the area and enjoyed the trails most of all. Though my map skills are questionable I had a more then usual difficult time navigating by the map supplied. The signage was close to non-existent. I fell back on the tried and true , always go left. Which worked well enough for the ridge line we hiked. Some awesome views.
I often have the problem of comparing places I’ve been. You can’t do this state to state I’ve learned because they all run, staff and take care of their natural resources in different ways. I do my best to base my opinion on face value and impressions of my visit to that park. Waubonsie SP is my first Iowa Park , I was not impressed. BUT it was in the style I like, sparsely used, I saw few campers or employees. Of course school was in and harvest going on and I know that makes a huge difference in certain states. Mostly just blue-hairs camping right now, soon to snowbird to the south :) I aspire to that life someday.
Other then the roadwork the park looked to be somewhat maintained. The cabins I saw need some updating but were functional. The campground was basic, grill, fire ring , picnic table, electric on designated sites. Needed some clean up and graveling on the pads. The facilities were not ancient and were maintained okay. The visitors center looked brand new but was closed so no souvenirs goodies.
I would not consider this a destination campground, but the view is worth an overnight enroute somewhere else.
GuideTo be perfectly honest we camp at Nodaway often- but that because of its location - close to work and such. However there are limited activities at Nodaway.
The camp sites are nice and large- easy to get into and each one had its own water and electric. There are 11 on what we call the upper circle and 4 on the lower circle. The bath house is located at the far end so if you are on the lower circle or at the end it can be a walk. It isn't fancy by any means- a single sink, toilet, and shower in the same room- one for each sex. It gets the job done- but it is no frills. There is a dump station centrally located that you can easily pull up to on your way out.
The park is big- lots of trails for hiking and horses. They are usually very well maintained- they keep them mowed in nice wide paths and the trails range from nice and flat to a bit more steep.
There is a little pond but there are no fish in it and it could use some work- lots of moss and such.
There are several different picnic areas and a second bathroom away from the campgrounds. The playground is outdated but there is a large area where kids can play soccer or tag and while the equipment is old it is not in bad shape.
There is a beautiful look out area (away from the camprounds) that looks over Clarinda and is very nice to watch the annual 4th of July fireworks from the Clarinda A's baseball team.
We love Nodaway not because of the amenities but because we can all get together and be close to work/school/home. Camping here does require some yard games and activities for entertainment- but you are just a couple minutes from the store if you forget something!
RangerAs full-time campers we stay at Mahoney quite often as it is close to the Omaha-metro and there are so many things to do within the park: swimming, golf, zip lines, arts & crafts, trails, nature, horses, etc. Huge amount of walk up sites all year long. Little Creek campground is the best place to stay for amenities: laundry, hot showers but avoid any campsite located at the bottom of the hill so you are not washed away by rain water or have a site full of mud.
LegendBe careful not to drive by Hucklebarney Woods, if you're not careful you will pass it by. There is a sign but it is not very visible and you may have to hit your brakes pretty hard, so be careful.
The first entrance to the park is an equestrian campground that was closed when I arrived. Don't stop there, keep driving another 300 yards and you will find the main entrance to the park.
For a county park with limited resources it meets expectations. The biggest detractor is all of the goose poop but I suppose you can live with that, especially if you are pulling a camper. You can't swim in the pond but the views are nice. I would honestly say that this is not where I would choose to camp but it is a great place to stop and have a picnic.
LegendStayed one night on Sept 4. Camped at site 35 in the non-equestrian campground; non-electric fee $15. Parked van on the grass at this site. Like nearly all of the sites in this campground, this site was close to the campground road. Overall, I felt that the campsites were all bunched together - offering no privacy and spacing between sites. The shower house was closed during our visit. Water was also turned off at the wayer pumps in the campground. There was one single vault toilet available for all of the campers; it was reasonably clean. Wayne, the campground host, was nice & helpful. There is a self-serve firewood station in the campground; cost is either $5 or $10, depending on the amount of wood you purchase. The campsites have a picnic table & metal fire ring. I wasn't too pleased with this campground, but I was very happy with the nearby hiking trails within the park. It's a pretty state park with hills & lush forest. The day use areas looked great. I recommend those traveling along I-29 to stop at this park - not necessarily for the camping, but for the hiking. Had some T-Mobile 4G service.
LegendThis is a great weekend spot not much to do around the park. The campsites are nice but close with not much space in between. There are 2 campgrounds, the one north of the highway is a horse campground but required. There are nice trails in this area. The campground on the south is more of a tent site. There are vault toliets, no showers. A lot of great trails o this side. All campsites include a picnic table and fire ring.
GuideThis is a great state park and possibly the busiest since it’s between Omaha and Lincoln. Walking trails. Camping spots galore. Arts and crafts. Horse riding. Water park. Lodge. Viewing tower. And they just added a ropes course. cabins for rent as well.
The only minus besides it’s always busy is the road noise from Interstate 80.
GuideI love Indian Cave for the Oak Woodlands! This is unlike any other campground in Nebraska. There are plenty of camping sites around the park no matter your style, even spots for horses! I prefer the hike in spots myself. There are many trails here with great views of the river as well as family activities for those looking for less walking. The actual cave is not much to write home about as sadly it has been vandalIzed for many years. My favorite spot within 2 hours of Omaha/Lincoln for sure!
Waubonsie State Park features two distinct camping areas divided by the highway. The equestrian section north of the highway provides spacious sites specifically designed for horse trailers, while the standard camping area offers sites with modern amenities during regular season. For horseback riders, the park maintains a comprehensive network of trails traversing the unique Loess Hills landform, with elevations reaching 300 feet above the Missouri River floodplain. Water pumps throughout the campground may be shut off during certain seasons.
Trail exploration on foot: Waubonsie offers multiple hiking trails with varying difficulty levels through densely wooded areas. According to one visitor, "Trails are beautiful and quiet, with several scenic overlooks. Bikes are not allowed on trails. This was a perfect place to take my 12-year-old daughter hiking, and we will be back!"
Enjoy the Missouri River views: Take time to walk to the sunset viewpoint. As Wayne H. notes about Waubonsie State Park Campground: "This is a very nice and clean spot to camp for a bit. They have great hiking and bike trails. If you go make sure you hike over to the sunset viewpoint that looks out to the West."
Visit nearby attractions: Travelers can combine camping with day trips to Nebraska City, just across the river. Tony B. describes Indian Cave State Park as having "about 20 miles to hike in this park and there is a special camping area for folks who bring horses. I was here in the spring but was told fall is the best time because of the changes in the trees."
Ridge line hiking: The Loess Hills provide unique terrain for hikers of all abilities. "We took one of the more scenic trails and took us over the top of some of those beautiful Loess Hills. I still believe it is a great hiking park, and is only a hour away from Omaha for us," writes Tony B. about his second visit to Waubonsie.
Quiet camping environments: While Waubonsie can get busy on summer weekends, it maintains a peaceful atmosphere. Emily M. shares about Waubonsie State Park: "Grew up camping and hiking here. Not many amenities but the bathrooms are clean and the trails are fantastic. The view is great from the side bluff trail. Tent sites are not too close together."
Affordable sites: Campers appreciate the reasonable pricing. Fred S. notes: "Camped at site 35 in the non-equestrian campground; non-electric fee $15. Parked van on the grass at this site. The campsites have a picnic table & metal fire ring."
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons at Waubonsie are notably bold and may approach campsites during daylight hours. Danni A. confirms: "There are signs in the bathrooms warning of the raccoons. These signs are not exaggerating. We had a raccoon at our campsite trying to steal our food while we were there, like the raccoon was less than 10 feet from humans during mid-day."
Water availability varies: Water access points may not function year-round. Fred S. reports: "Water was also turned off at the water pumps in the campground. There was one single vault toilet available for all of the campers; it was reasonably clean."
Site arrangement: Standard campsites at Waubonsie are positioned closer together than some campers prefer. Tony B. explains: "For me this is not the greatest camping area. The sites just are too close for me as a tent camper. The could almost use some of the day use picnic area as primitive sites."
Reserve ahead during peak seasons: Family-friendly sites can fill quickly, especially during popular times. Amy H. from Waubonsie State Park advises: "If you are wanting a site here it would be best to reserve one there were not a lot to choose from when we got there just about every spot was reserved. But overall was a great place to camp for a family."
Bring games and activities: With limited structured recreation options, bringing your own entertainment is wise. Jennifer M. reports: "Waubonsie's camping area has tent and rv, power and no power sites. Modern restrooms and showers are available. This was a perfect place to take my 12-year-old daughter hiking, and we will be back!"
Equestrian camping with children: For families bringing horses, the north campground provides appropriate facilities. Tarrah C. explains: "There are 2 campgrounds, the one north of the highway is a horse campground but required. There are nice trails in this area. The campground on the south is more of a tent site."
Campground selection: RV campers should consider site spacing when choosing a location. According to Shelly S., "The campground was basic, grill, fire ring, picnic table, electric on designated sites. Needed some clean up and graveling on the pads. The facilities were not ancient and were maintained okay."
Setup considerations: Level sites with appropriate hookups are available but can fill quickly. A camper at Louisville State Recreation Area notes: "There are 2 campgrounds, the one north of the highway is a horse campground but required. There are nice trails in this area. All campsites include a picnic table and fire ring."
Cell service information: Mobile connectivity is limited but available in some areas. Fred S. mentions: "Had some T-Mobile 4G service" at Waubonsie, which can be important information for RVers who need to stay connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Hamburg, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Hamburg, IA is Waubonsie State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Hamburg, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 equestrian camping locations near Hamburg, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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