SUMMER SALE 50% off The Dyrt PRO — just $2.49/moGet now
SALE: PRO just $2.49/mo

Dog-Friendly Camping near Hawarden, IA

69 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates
    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Newton Hills Campground and Lazy H Campground provide pet-friendly accommodations near Hawarden, Iowa, with both sites offering tent, RV, and cabin options that welcome dogs. Hawarden City Park Campground allows pets at its basic electric sites with water and sewer hookups, though it lacks firewood sales and shower facilities. Most campgrounds in the area maintain standard leash policies, with several offering designated pet exercise areas. Oak Grove Park's Turkey Ridge and Deer Run campgrounds feature electric hookups, drinking water, and pet-friendly policies for both tent and RV campers. Rivers Bend Campground in Rock Valley includes pet-friendly cabins along with traditional camping options, complete with full hookups and shower facilities. The dog park at KOA North Sioux City is functional though not exceptionally maintained according to visitor experiences.

    Hiking trails throughout Newton Hills State Park welcome leashed dogs, providing shaded paths ideal for summer outings with pets. Big Sioux Recreation Area offers pet-friendly camping with manicured lawns and paved trails that help dogs avoid tick exposure from grassy areas. Several campgrounds feature waterfront access, including Rivers Bend with its two fishing ponds and swimming area, though some visitors have noted issues with neighbors leaving dogs outside barking despite park rules. Sioux Falls KOA Journey provides convenient highway access and pet areas, though tent sites are situated close together in grassy areas surrounding the playground. Most area campgrounds maintain clean restroom facilities, with several offering hot showers and sanitary dump stations for RV travelers with pets.

    Connectivity Maps

    Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
    Map showing cell service coverage and campground pins
    Try Connectivity Maps

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Hawarden (69)

      1. Union Grove State Park Campground

      4.0(16)16mi from HawardenRVs, Tents

      "I'm camping in a tent with my cat and dog and my cat likes to roam free a little bit and there's only I think about 20 campsites here and they're both from tent sides to a full-on RVs."

      "all the tent sites are nicely in the woods but the main road goes pretty close to them. has some pretty decent trails too. shower house is very nice"

      from $10 - $15 / night

      Check Availability

      2. Newton Hills Campground — Newton Hills State Park

      4.6(12)16mi from HawardenRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Love this place very close to the major city of anything is needed. Nature and trails all around, lake for fishing and swimming, love to come out during the summer with the dogs!"

      "The spacious and clean facilities provided the perfect backdrop for our outdoor getaway, offering a blend of adventure and relaxation away from the city."

      3. Lazy H Campground

      4.6(7)13mi from HawardenRVs, Cabins

      "Clean lake with boating. Private lake so no fishing license required."

      "I believe you can even rent or request a golf cart to make getting around easier. The only regret I have is not staying longer. Truly a wonderful place.

      Sprint/T-mobile data was around 56 Mbps down."

      from $45 - $65 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Deer Run Campground, Oak Grove Park

      4.0(1)4mi from HawardenRVs, Tents

      "Larger CG has terraced sites with hard pads, tables, fire rings/ firewood, shaded spots, electric, horseshoes, nature center nearby."

      from $27 / night

      Check Availability

      5. Turkey Ridge Campground, Oak Grove Park

      3.0(1)4mi from HawardenRVs, Tents

      from $25 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Hawarden City Park Campground

      2.0(1)0mi from HawardenRVs, Tents

      from $15 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Rivers Bend Campground

      4.3(4)17mi from HawardenRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "Only 4 stars due to neighbors leaving their dog outside barking constantly until they returned. Against park rules so maybe a one off. Water front on 80% of spots."

      "There is a swimming hole with a little beach and walking/bike trail. They have tent sites that you have to walk to but they are right on the water away from all of the RV sites."

      8. Willow Creek Campground

      4.7(6)21mi from HawardenRVs, Tents

      "We enjoyed all the trails that the city of Le Mars offers. The shower house was exceptionally clean. The campground itself was clean and well kept."

      "The lake is clean and very pretty. The shower house is newly renovated and very nice. One of our favorite places to stay at!!!!"

      9. Rock Valley BiCentennial Park Campground

      4.0(2)17mi from HawardenRVs

      10. Sandy Hollow Park Campground

      4.3(3)19mi from HawardenRVs, Tents

      "New seasonal County park and CG has standard sites, fire rings, tables, firewood, swimming beach, fishing, boating, hiking including access to Sioux Center's trail system, shelters, lodge, archery range"

      "Great spot with a swimming lake, fishing lake, and hiking trails through the prairie. Less than three miles from town"

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time


    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Hawarden, IA

    390 Reviews of 69 Hawarden Campgrounds


    • Casey B.
      Jul. 16, 2022

      KOA Campground North Sioux City

      Nice

      This KOA is well-maintained, a little older but the grounds are nice and it is well organized and maintained. The dog park is not so well-maintained but was adequate and the pool was clean, and there is easy access to the freeway Both north and south

    • Angie G.
      May. 5, 2021

      Sioux Falls KOA

      Awesome pet-friendly stopover

      We decided to stay at this campground because it was close to Falls Park. It’s 4 miles away from the KOA to Downtown. It wasn’t crowded, very clean, met lots of Texans and the pet areas were awesome! In fact, Sioux Falls is a very dog-friendly city and was able to take my dog everywhere! The showers were great if you don’t want to use your own in your camper, but they have laundry and such if you need it. We were close to the showers, pet area and laundry house. Yea, it’s next to a Camping World but you know what, it was a great stay with nice folks and the road noise really isn’t a problem, especially if you just go in your camper and watch tv because you shouldn’t be there for that. 🙃 They just opened for the season so they are still adding some things but I would recommend! We were grateful to stay and not travel during 50mph winds.

    • Tracy M.
      Aug. 28, 2021

      Elk Point City Park Campground

      Basic and economical

      Cute and historical city park that offers multiple 30 Amp hook up sites for $15. Water is available. Lots of play grounds, dog park, disc golf, and historic Lewis and Clark campsite.

    • Alicia V.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jan. 1, 2022

      Yankton - Missouri River KOA Journey

      Best campground in area

      Nice park on the east side of Yankton. Would rate much higher except roads need more gravel and there are a few serious dips and bumps in the roads. Really nice staff, super clean restrooms, and nice patio sites for the reasonable rate.

      Dog park, pool and other amenities are well maintained.

    • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jun. 16, 2026

      Tower Campground

      Ok for a night

      This is a moderate size rv park. (90-100 sites) Half are on an asphalt lot, half in a shaded grass area. Some are pull through but those in the grassy area are backin. Full hookups. 30/50 amp. Very nice Bathroom/Showers, laundry, (but no bathroom tissue !) Dog park,dump station. We didn’t see anyone from the park during our stay. No one in the office! Very bright obnoxious flood lights all night and lots of road noise made sleeping difficult! If I’m in the area again I would find somewhere else!

    • AThe Dyrt PRO User
      Sep. 17, 2021

      Sioux Falls Yogi Bear

      Great for passing through

      Clean bathrooms and showers and close to Falls Park. Tons of amenities for families with kids. Close to the interstate. Great for a one night stay on the way to bigger and better sights. Stayed with a dog and was glad to see the other campers had their pets leashed at all times.

    • JThe Dyrt PRO User
      Jul. 14, 2025

      Tower Campground

      Right on the highway, so convenient, but noisy

      A parking lot style campground with nice green areas for pets. Level sites, full hookups. If you are looking for a convenient spot by Sioux Falls, this one fits the bill. Book online as staff is not in the office (or at least were not when we arrived).

    • d
      Jun. 9, 2019

      W.H. Lyon Fairground

      great for the person who wants basic camping with hookups

      this campground is on leash pet friendly.  there are few trees, but it has full hookups, clean restrooms and showers.  pay 6 get 1 free.  however there is a train t

      has no play ground, swimming pool, etc.

      people were very friendly.

      it was exactly what i was looking for.

    • Sue S.
      Jun. 16, 2026

      Union Grove State Park Campground

      Very clean and quiet camping

      The campsites are in a bunch of pine trees and so that cuts down a lot on the weather if there's an issue it's got nice breezes but it gets cold cold at night like down in the 50s. I'm camping in a tent with my cat and dog and my cat likes to roam free a little bit and there's only I think about 20 campsites here and they're both from tent sides to a full-on RVs. There's a nice shower and bathroom and close proximity there's four and inside each one is a modern toilet sink and shower and lockable. The only complaint that I have is that a lot of the campsite spots are at an angle not only to get down to it from the road but an angle for the tent and the pine needles cover the ground which make great starting for fires they burn so fast and so quick that you feel like you're in a tinder box a little bit which is kind of spooky if there's a spark that goes flying it could actually set the whole campfire on a blaze. There is a nice camping pit this is a steak Campground and so able to get campsites for $16 a night. The people that are on staff here are so sweet give you lots of good advice for what's close by there is it's right between Beresford and vermilion so that's like 10 miles each way but there's no ice here so you would have to drive to one of those facilities to get the ice and by the time you got back would probably be melted to be honest with you so that's the only drawback so I would suggest dry ice for sure. There's a children's playground here for kids it would be something I guess you know very fun to go and be explorers in the woods I don't think there's much chance of them getting too lost really. But all in all this is a really good place to stay I've been here six nights now and I've only got a couple more to go and then I'll be moving on.


    Guide to Hawarden

    Hawarden, Iowa sits at approximately 1,178 feet above sea level in the northwest corner of Iowa, near the Big Sioux River that forms the state border with South Dakota. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s, while winter temperatures often drop below freezing. The area offers a mix of developed riverside camping sites and wooded state park options within short driving distance.

    What to do

    Hiking trails: Newton Hills State Park features multiple hiking opportunities through wooded terrain. "Good clean campground with some trails to hike," notes Gene S. about Newton Hills Campground. Another visitor mentions, "If you enjoy water activities, spend some time at Lake Lakota swimming, kayaking, fishing, or just relaxing!"

    Swimming and water recreation: The swimming beach at Lazy H Campground provides family-friendly water activities. A visitor to Lazy H Campground shares, "The beach has giant floating lily pads that the kids loved. There are showers on the beach to wash off feet after you're done swimming." Rentals are available for various watercraft.

    Fishing opportunities: Many local campgrounds offer fishing access without needing additional permits. Donald N. mentions that Lazy H has a "private lake so no fishing license required," making it convenient for casual anglers. Rivers Bend Campground features "two fishing ponds & one swimming" area according to reviews.

    What campers like

    Clean facilities: Many campgrounds in the area maintain exceptionally clean bathrooms and shower facilities. At Union Grove State Park Campground, visitors note the "shower rooms/bathrooms are immaculate, and smell so nice." Another camper commented, "Definitely one of the cleanest most well kept campgrounds I've seen in a while."

    Spacious sites: Several campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with concrete pads. At Willow Creek Campground, "Site 42 is on the beach side which is the newer part of the campground, it's one of the full hookup ones by the sidewalk. It was level and had some shade." Campgrounds like Rivers Bend offer "decent size spots with lakefront views at just about all of them."

    Pet exercise areas: Dog-friendly campgrounds near Hawarden typically include spaces where pets can exercise. Newton Hills State Park has multiple pet-friendly trails, while Union Grove State Park offers "horse trails, hiking trails" that welcome leashed pets. Campgrounds like Sandy Hollow provide access to extended trail systems ideal for dog walking.

    What you should know

    Reservation requirements: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate on a first-come basis. At Sandy Hollow Park Campground, there are "3 Reservable full hook ups, otherwise first come." Union Grove requires online reservations with specific fees that differ from onsite payment.

    Seasonal operation: Many campgrounds in the area have limited operating seasons. Willow Creek Campground runs from "April 15 to October 15," while Rivers Bend operates from "May to October." Winter camping options are limited to a few year-round facilities like Newton Hills State Park.

    Site privacy variations: Proximity between sites varies significantly between campgrounds. At Newton Hills, "some of the sites are pretty close together," while at Union Grove, tent sites #4 and #5 are noted for better privacy: "We had the best tent site on the grounds, corner spot with decent trees and distance, most other spots are right on top of each other."

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Rivers Bend Campground, "there is a swimming hole with a little beach and walking/bike trail," making it ideal for families with children of various ages. Newton Hills State Park is described as "great for families with young children" with "plenty of parks and paved roadways to wander around on."

    Swimming beaches: Sandy Hollow offers a "swimming beach, fishing, boating, hiking including access to Sioux Center's trail system." Lazy H Campground features a "huge swim beach with anchored lilypads" that provides safe, entertaining water recreation for children.

    City amenities proximity: For families who forget supplies, campgrounds near towns offer convenient access to necessities. Rock Valley BiCentennial Park Campground provides just "6 spots" but is located within the town, while Willow Creek Campground is close enough to LeMars that families can enjoy "ice cream at Blue Bunny and beer at Wise I."

    Tips from RVers

    Hookup availability: Full hookup options vary between campgrounds. At Rock Valley BiCentennial Park Campground, RVers enjoy "wonderful little park with full hookups" despite the limited number of sites. Willow Creek Campground offers both partial and full hookup sites: "half of them have electric and water and the other half also have a sewer hook up."

    Pad quality: Concrete pads are available at several campgrounds, offering level parking for RVs. Lazy H Campground provides "pull through sites" that are "fully concrete and level," while Willow Creek features "a really nice level concrete pad."

    Wi-Fi access: Internet connectivity is available at some campgrounds in the area. Willow Creek Campground "furnish[es] wifi which was also good" along with strong cell signals, allowing RVers to stay connected while enjoying the outdoors.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Hawarden, IA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Hawarden, IA is Union Grove State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 16 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Hawarden, IA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 69 dog-friendly camping locations near Hawarden, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.