Best Glamping near Hawarden, IA

Several glamping options near Hawarden, Iowa include Sioux Falls KOA and Palisades State Park Campground, both offering elevated outdoor experiences beyond traditional camping. Sioux Falls KOA provides comfortable cabin accommodations with modern amenities including electricity, climate control, and proximity to city attractions. One guest noted, "We were so grateful we chose to stay in a cabin which had a/c," highlighting the comfort advantage over standard tent camping. Palisades State Park Campground features log cabins nestled among scenic rock formations along Split Rock Creek, providing a more nature-immersed glamping experience while maintaining essential comforts like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to clean shower facilities.

The Big Sioux Recreation Area, located along the Sioux River, offers glamping accommodations with convenient access to outdoor activities. Visitors can explore the Valley of Giants trail featuring ancient oak trees, paddle along the slow-moving river, or cross the creaky suspension bridge to the disc golf course. A reviewer highlighted that "the sites were level with lots of shade and grass" with spacious accommodations that don't feel crowded. Scenic Park in Nebraska, approximately 45 minutes from Hawarden, provides additional glamping options including yurts with full hookups and riverfront views. The campground's proximity to city amenities makes it ideal for those seeking a balance between outdoor adventure and urban convenience, with free bikes available for guests to explore the surrounding parkland.

Best Glamping Sites Near Hawarden, Iowa (9)

    1. Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux

    35 Reviews
    Brandon, SD
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 582-7243

    "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."

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

    2. Scenic Park

    17 Reviews
    Sioux City, NE
    36 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!"

    3. Sioux Falls KOA

    28 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-9987

    "There’s a fair size staff working; you could see 3-5 people at any given time. Good selection in store open 8am to 9pm in July. Nice size pool and laundry room."

    "Easily accessible from the highway. Felt clean and secure.  Staff was friendly.  

    We arrived on a Saturday, and there was a food truck at one of the sites!"

    4. Palisades State Park Campground

    30 Reviews
    Garretson, SD
    48 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 594-3824

    "Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot."

    "The campsite was easy to find and close to the town of Garretson. There was a small grocery store there."

    5. Island Park - Rock Rapids

    8 Reviews
    Larchwood, IA
    34 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 ."

    6. Clay County Park — Clay County

    6 Reviews
    Vermillion, SD
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 809-2071

    "The whole area was thoroughly cleaned, trees trimmed, trails groomed, restrooms spiffed, etc.  Guest feedback on these changes was overwhelmingly positive and we expect further growth this season. "

    "Electric, water, and dump station available here. In the trees, shaded, and a short walk along a pleasant trail to the Missouri River. The trail system, which is accessible from campground, is great."

    7. Sioux City North KOA

    5 Reviews
    North Sioux City, SD
    32 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.!!!"

    8. Tower Campground

    12 Reviews
    Sioux Falls, SD
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (605) 332-1173

    "Clean showers and laundry room. We stayed on the west side. It’s literally in town but very easy on and off interstate. The airport is close by which made it neat to watch."

    "This campground is a great location when passing through Sioux Falls. It is right off I29, and there a quick in and out sites up front."

    9. Magnolia City Campground

    6 Reviews
    Luverne, MN
    49 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."

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Glamping Reviews near Hawarden, IA

147 Reviews of 9 Hawarden Campgrounds


  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 31, 2022

    Sioux Falls KOA

    Very noisy

    Lots of noise since it’s off the highway. Has running water and bathrooms at least.

  • 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.

  • Katrin M.
    Jul. 7, 2019

    Palisades State Park Campground

    A very nice getaway!

    We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground is within 10 miles off of I90.

    The park is not very big so there are not many campsites. Some have electric hook up, others are just for tent camping. All of them provide a picnic table and a fire pit. They also have little log cabins. We stayed at campsite 6 which was a very good spot. Some of the other sites seemed very close together without much privacy or shade.

    The park staff (rangers, camp host and volunteers) was extremely friendly. They always made sure that we had everything we needed. The rangers also offer different programs on the weekend like learning about geocaching or how to make campfire desserts.

    There is one bathhouse for the entire campground. It seemed a little old but got cleaned daily. There are also several vault toilets around the area. From the campground you have access to the water. There are also several short hiking trails from where you can see the rock formations.

    It was just a very short ride to the Devils Gulch (Jesse James historical site) or Split Rock Park. There is also a Dollar General close by. We would definitely recommend the campground.

  • rThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 10, 2021

    Tower Campground

    Friendly but noisy

    Very friendly and accommodating staff. This park is open year round and well set up for cold weather, the water spigot is heated so if you invest in a heated water line and have an insulated camper you should be good for the cold. Many units were tucked in for winter with skirting and large external propane tanks. The negatives are noise and lights. Highway noise was very very loud. Easy to see outside but not a lot of camp feel. Bright light through skylites while sleeping. Didn’t use bathrooms or showers so no comment on facilities.

  • Brittney  K.
    Jul. 17, 2020

    Sioux Falls KOA

    It could have been worse

    We are new to the KOA chain and just learned they are on a tiered system. This location is a journey KOA, which means it is right off the highway and more of a place to stop than a nature experience. We were so grateful we choose to stay in a cabin (which had a/c) the tent sites are literally in parking spaces next to each other in the grass surrounding a child’s play area...rude. There are bright lights around the buildings that shine into your sites. The pool has a chain link fence around it. Because we were in a cabin with the air running, the highway noise was significantly muted. However if that’s not your situation, I’d seriously reconsider. The bathrooms were not up to the regular KOA standards I had come to expect. They just didn’t feel/look clean. The bed was not terrible and we were able to get a good night sleep. I don’t plan on staying at journey locations in the future unless absolutely necessary.

  • J
    Jul. 10, 2021

    Sioux Falls KOA

    Easy off 90, clean, friendly

    There’s a fair size staff working; you could see 3-5 people at any given time. Good selection in store open 8am to 9pm in July. Nice size pool and laundry room. Store seemed well stocked with a variety of items. The mini golf was the only thing run down but the kids played it 3 times and didn’t care.

    There were 2 bathroom/shower houses both nice. The one by the laundry and game room seemed newer.

    Laundry and bathrooms open 24 hours. Game room closed at 9pm.

    Everyone was extremely nice and customer oriented there.

    We upgraded to a patio so as not to drag everything out for one night. Very nice. I can’t comment on the grill as we “glamped” on our 5th night from PA and ordered Uber Eats. A friendly worker escorted the driver to our site via golf cart. There are also trees throughout and fences to give you a feeling of privacy. We pulled through the space and used risers to level it.

    I used the laundry room and shower. Both were nice. They even had a full length mirror in the shower area. We’d stay there again and recommend.

    Edit: My grandsons loved this because there was enough to do but “peaceful” too. Their words so we stopped on our return back from Yellowstone.

  • T
    Jun. 2, 2022

    Tower Campground

    Not what was expected

    Booked our reservation in feb for memorial weekend- paid for the upgraded premium site and selected our site- upon arrival we were moved to a different site then selected at reservation, which was also a premium site with a fire pit and large lot area, however it was directly next to the hwy and the road noise was terrible all hours of the day. Not a lot to do at the campground, but had nice rest rooms and shower building. Large campsites if you pay for the upgraded premium site. Other sites appeared small and close together. Not my style of camping experience.

  • Nik J.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2022

    Sioux Falls KOA

    Clean and Easy

    First experience with a KOA.  Easily accessible from the highway. Felt clean and secure.  Staff was friendly.  

    We arrived on a Saturday, and there was a food truck at one of the sites!

    There was no fire pit at our site, and we fell asleep to the familiar sounds of highway traffic. 

    Made a decent one night stop to start on route to Yellowstone, and will consider stopping through here again, but not as a destination.

  • E
    Aug. 26, 2021

    Palisades State Park Campground

    Beautiful but loud

    The campsite was easy to find and close to the town of Garretson. There was a small grocery store there. We only stayed one night on our way West, the sites were nice and grassy with mixed sun and shade. It’s been a dry year so the mosquitos were minimal. We explored split rock creek which is a5 minute walk from the campsite- very beautiful rock formations and an old walking bridge built in 1908. Pictures don’t do the rocks justice, they are beautiful! However, the water was very brown and murky, smelled suspiciously like manure. We saw some people swimming but opted not to because of the color and smell of the water. We did see many large fish in the creek. There were also nice picnic areas on the creek with tables and fire pits. Last issue with the campsite was the noise. The night started out quiet with lots of insect sounds, which are loud but so great when you are camping! The unexpected noises were trains passing by (sounded super close in the middle of the night), planes flying overhead, and cars driving by. This is of course not the fault of the park but the surrounding area…still wouldn’t recommend a long quiet camping trip here if you want to escape the everyday sounds of humans. Overall a very sweet campground, good bathrooms and showers. Staff was very friendly and helpful.


Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Hawarden, IA is Big Sioux Recreation Area — Big Sioux with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 glamping camping locations near Hawarden, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.