Crawford County offers glamping in Ida Grove, Iowa and surrounding areas with elevation ranges from 1,200 to 1,400 feet above sea level. The region experiences four distinct seasons with hot summers reaching 90°F and cold winters dropping below 10°F. Local campsites sit near tributaries of the Missouri River system, creating varied water recreation opportunities within a predominantly agricultural landscape.
What to do
Explore water activities: Crawford Creek Recreation Area provides multiple water-based recreation options including fishing and kayaking. "Multiple play areas for kids. Water good for fishing, kayaking and swimming," notes one visitor at Crawford Creek County Rec Area.
Visit historical exhibits: Learn about regional history at Lewis and Clark State Park. "They have great fishing and... a replica of the Boat that Lewis and Clark traveled on many years ago. They will also occasionally take it out and give rides. They also have a history museum to accompany the boat," shares a camper at Lewis and Clark State Park Campground.
Enjoy hiking trails: Black Hawk State Park offers walking paths around its lake. "Pretty busy with lots of campers. Nice walking path around the lake," mentions a visitor who appreciated the accessible outdoor exercise options.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Visitors appreciate the well-sized campsites at Crawford Creek. "We camped here over the weekend, sites are pretty spacious and friendly camp hosts!" reports one camper who enjoyed the room to spread out.
Clean facilities: Nelson Park maintains well-kept grounds and amenities. "The grounds and facilities at the park were in excellent shape even though many of the buildings were still the same ones that I had known from childhood," notes a visitor at Nelson Park Crawford County Park.
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds in the area cater to families with children. "Clean & kid friendly camping in Iowa! We were able to reserve an electric unit (#30) right off the lake and across the road from the large playground," shares a camper at Martin Area County Park.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most glamping locations near Ida Grove operate from spring to fall. On-Ur-Wa RV Park runs from "Apr 15 - Oct 15" while Nelson Park operates from "May 15 to October 15."
Shower facilities vary: Bathroom quality differs between campgrounds. "Bathhouses were a mixed bag. One was large with numerous stalls and showers and very clean. The other quite small (2 stalls and one shower) and not so clean," explains a visitor at Scenic Park.
Mosquito management: Some water-adjacent sites have insect challenges. "Many water spots on basically what is a mosquito breeding ground," warns one camper about certain areas, suggesting visitors bring repellent during summer months.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Position your glamping site near play areas for convenience. "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," recommends a family at Lewis and Clark State Park.
Swimming options: Several parks offer swimming areas for kids. "Multiple play areas for kids. Water good for fishing, kayaking and swimming," notes a visitor about recreation options.
Special events: Look for parks with seasonal activities for children. "When I went in the first weekend of October they had a little trick or treat night too!" shares a camper at On-Ur-Wa RV Park, highlighting how some campgrounds offer extra entertainment.
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Check utility placement before setting up. "Utility location did require us to use a longer hose and extension cord to reach from our site," advises an RV camper.
Pull-through availability: Several campgrounds offer convenient pull-through sites. "Charged me $43.34 for a full hook-up, extra long pull thru on the outside of the trees. I watch for that now after the top of a tree fell on power lines above my camper last year," shares an RVer who valued this safer setup option.
Dump station access: Not all parks have equal dump facilities. "The dump station is a tight squeeze for anything other than a small bumper pull camper," warns a visitor, suggesting larger rigs may want to plan accordingly.
