No horse-specific camping facilities were identified in the Mondamin, Iowa area based on the provided data. The campgrounds in the region, including Lewis and Clark State Park Campground and Onawa-Blue Lake KOA, do not feature horse corrals, dedicated equestrian sites, or specialized amenities for horses according to the features lists. Campground feature data explicitly shows "NO horse-corral" for all listed facilities.
Lewis and Clark State Park Campground offers tent, RV, and cabin camping with electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables along Blue Lake. The park maintains trails that could potentially be used for hiking, but no specific bridle trails or equestrian paths are mentioned in the data. The campground is clean with updated bathroom facilities including showers, and sites are described as having good spacing with shade from large cottonwood trees.
Visitors to the Mondamin area seeking equestrian camping opportunities may need to look beyond the immediate vicinity. Standard campground amenities in the region include water hookups, sanitary dumps, and showering facilities, but none are specifically equipped for horses or horse trailers. For those traveling with horses, contacting campgrounds directly about potential accommodation of horses would be advisable, as the facilities documented in the provided data do not list specific equestrian amenities or policies.
$15 - $52 / night
"Well kept & family friendly camping in Iowa!"
"There’s a pretty big playground near all the sites. When I went in the first weekend of October they had a little trick or treat night too! Extremely nice amenities; flush toilet and showers."
$15 - $40 / night
"The lake is right there, with a nice bike path that comes all the way around."
"Lake Cunningham is a fun destination for getting outside if you only have an afternoon to escape! The lake itself is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing!"
"Conveniently located approximately 2.5 miles West of I29 and on the Eastern edge of Lewis and Clark state park which makes this KOA very quiet."
$15 - $35 / night
"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."
$100 / night
"The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success. Our kid and her friends love the swimming beach."
"Whether I was riding a bike around the paved roads. Fishing in one of the sandpit lakes they have to offer, or the river. Walk around the nature trails, or lakes."
$30 / night
"It is right next to lake 4 with some beach access. There are both reservable and walk up sites here. The walk up process is a little strange."
"Very nice camp sites and playgrounds for children nice clean fishing lakes and river access."
$35 / night
"This is a small campground a little ways before you get to lakeside campground. These spots are electric with fire pits and picnic tables. It is near the road and the dump station is in view."
"Take your pick, river or lakeside. Some areas are more modern than others but all are nice. A few have water hookups"
"Nice campground clean bathrooms the trails are really good quiet and peaceful"
$30 / night
"It’s not close to water like some of the others but it has a nice amount of room between spots and lots of trees for shade. There is an old playground by a vault toilet."
TravelerWell kept & family 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 (~5 setups for different age groups). We could watch the kids play while getting food ready or preparing a line to throw in the water. Short walk to the very clean restrooms with flush toilets & showers. Will come back!
LegendCampground Review
I stayed in this Louisville Rec area a few nights, moving around to three different areas of this HUGE campground are nestled in Nebraska. My plan was to spend a few days taking advantage of the many amenities and activity options this area appeared to have, and I since this is a popular destination option many are considering, I sought to provide a review of the grounds from the perspective of someone who is considering staying in the west, central, or east area of the grounds. This review is for the west area.
General Info on this overall campground
This is a state-funded park, so non-Nebraska plated cars have an additional fee. 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. Near the central lake ("Lake 2") there is a small shop which has a market where basic kick knacks and firewood are available. This is also where you can rent boats like canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddleboards for hrs, half and daily rates. There is a trail in the woods running parallel to the North Platte River. The path is in a heavily wooded area, so no lakeside views, just a nice, quiet hike with the very occasional hummm of a mosquito. There is a swim area along the beach of Lake 2. There is canoe access at the far west side of the park. In summer, it was common to see people wading across the river as it was neither a fast moving current nor deep. This is a Rec area, so day use is also an option. There are numerous locations for picnics, including Grills, and for fishing in the lakes from some roof-covered docks. Coin-operated showers (takes quarters, change machines take $1 and $5 bills) and full-service, ADA-friendly bathrooms scatter the park as well. There is a play area in the center which has a basic jungle gym. Each site has at least a picnic table and a fire pit. All tent sites are park and walk. If you want to have your car next to your picnic table, you need a padded spot. Each area of the park has these options, as well as electrical, then RV. Most sites are reservable and there are some allocated for first come, first serve. Gates will close at 10pm so make sure your road trip stops before they do. Also, packing earplugs is a must, but it won't completely help you. There is a train that goes very near the grounds - the track basically borders the south side of the campgrounds - and it needs to use its horn while passing through, which happens A LOT.
Central location-specific Info
The harsh part of being located here is if you are looking for any kind of spot that accommodates a flat plot, like sites 206 - 236, you are butted up against the train tracks and that train is LOUD! You will have no chance of a solid night's sleep since the train uses its horn very often. I was in campsite 11 another night, literally as far away from the tracks as possible and wore ear plugs and there was no avoiding it - I was waking up at 5am no matter what. This is the place you want to camp if you are tent camping. The reserve sites or tucked away from a lot of the more family-friendly activities, so you'll get some reprieve from that energy, plus can have some spots that are very close to the N Platte river's edge.
Ranger Review
I was given a pair of the Midland X-TALKER TV1P3 Walkie Talkies to test out from Midland. Since they come with a hands-free option with a compatible accessory, I also got a pair of the AVPH3 Surveillance headsets.
These came in handy (pardon the pun) when I was biking with a friend and skiing. By hooking in the headset to the side of the radio it allowed me to leave the radio in the bag, run a wire and clip a little mic with a talk on/off button to my jacket, then put a little earpiece in around my ear that was out of the way of my helmet. This also protected the radio from debris, as water is easy to collect on electronics when skiing and dust when biking.
These radios aren't big, but they're packed with a lot of features. I personally love the weather scan capability. It locks into the NOAA weather broadcasts to deliver you a forecast. This is very useful while you are on a backpacking trip or in my case doing some kayaking because it helps me plan my routes and assess risk for my activities. They also charge through micro USB if you don't want to pack the included charging cradle (AC powered), so recharging them on the go is pretty simple since you already pack those cables and a portable USB power bank for other electronics.
The 28 mile range is a bit of a stretch (pardon the pun) but this is up to 28 miles. It worked fine for me over some densely forested lakes 2 miles away and even further over open water. I had these up at my cottage in Northern Ontario with me and I was able to get reception on these when I kayaked from one family friend's cottage from ours 8 miles away. It was getting crackly at that point but there is A LOT of interference over that distance so I was shocked they worked at all.
They have 22 channels and 38 privacy codes, so it's easy to create your own network and stay uninterrupted. I also got these working with another pair of radios I had, so they work with other brands. There are some other features, and the product support on their site is great. hey have a reference guide and a user manual to learn how to operate things like the quiet mode - if so inclined.
Overall Pros
Overall Cons
LegendBeen coming to this lake for years. It's a beautiful setting, right in the middle Loess Hills in sw Iowa. The fishing has always been good here. But this camp area is not much at all. The spaces are really small, and not really one view of the lake. There is a new visitor center right by the entrance of the camping area. There also a really small pond by the entrance as well. This place would probably work for a over night stay, but not a destination. But I still love the areas wildlife, and the lake. Or maybe it's just the nostalgia for me.
ScoutThere’s a pretty big playground near all the sites. When I went in the first weekend of October they had a little trick or treat night too! Extremely nice amenities; flush toilet and showers. Very nice for Iowa state parks.
TravelerThis is one of my favorites as well!
This is situated in a very incredible neighborhood of Omaha! Close to the interstate for easy access! Very mature trees and landscape.
Hiking trails, no wake boating, paddle boards (available for rent).
Pros: Great Lake
cons: we felt really on top of our neighbors here, though a simple drive around showed us areas that are better than others.
TravelerNice campground. Very few tent only - mostly RVs/trailers. Washrooms basic but clean. Large site under trees with mix of sun & shade. Grassy area for tent. Access to water close by. Large playground for kids. Campground host had firewood. Picnic table & firepit with grill rack in good condition. Nearby boat ramp to load kayak onto Blue Lake. Many water lilies but sheltered at one end so good for kayak. Everyone seemed friendly though some folk stayed up pretty late on Friday!
LegendThis place was pleasantly clean to me. Blue lake which is the lake this state park sits on. When you drive in from the road you see on your right the lake and to your left are houses. You go farther down and you see picnic accesses off the lake. And there is a swimming area and beach further down with a fully accessible restroom. There is also a keelboat on display and visitor center with a musuem. The center was closed when we were here, (thanks covid). Behind that is a dock and a little look out tower next to it. This is where we saw people kayak mainly. You go farther down and this was where the campsites were. This appeared to be more of a park set up for rv and campers than any tents. You go farther down pass this and you find more accesses to trails, and taller grass. This is a great park especially for a rv, and how clean it is.
LegendPony Creek is an old campground operated in Southwest Iowa. It only has about 6 sites. There is a pond in front of the park for fishing and a small playground. It also has some sort of conference center that looks like it was built recently. Honestly it looks a little out of place.
I would bring my family here for a picnic but it is not where I would camp.
LegendVibe: Relaxed summer lake fun.
Cleanliness: Average
Facilities: Slightly dated but adequate
General spots: Good size, good spacing, not private. Large cottonwood trees offer good shade on lake side spots.
Our site: 10. Close to the swimming area. Not far from bathrooms.
Noise: Friendly chatter. Mostly quiet. Some music from the summer camp across the lake(see below).
Cell signal: Good (Verizon)
Other: The lake isn’t huge, but the water was not murky and you could wade out pretty far and still be shallow enough to stand. A summer camp is across the lake and they played some evening music and morning music starts at 7:30.
Campgrounds near Mondamin, Iowa cluster along the Missouri River floodplain, typically sitting at elevations between 1,050-1,100 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Most campsites in this region feature large cottonwood trees providing natural shade during hot summer months.
Fishing opportunities: Lewis and Clark State Park Campground offers multiple fishing spots along Blue Lake. "The fishing is very well maintained not to mention that they have a replica of the Boat that Lewis and Clark traveled on many years ago. They will also occasionally take it out and give rides," notes Katie S.
Historical exhibits: Visit the Lewis and Clark visitor center to learn about the expedition. "They have a great visitor center with amazing displays and exhibits that mark the history of Lewis and Clark and their travels around the area," according to Timothy S.
River recreation: At Two Rivers State Recreation Area, access the Platte River for wading and water activities. "Fishing in one of the sandpit lakes they have to offer, or the river. Walk around the nature trails, or lakes. Or swimming in the swimming area, or wading in the Platte River," shares Tony B.
Paddling: Lake Cunningham Campground has non-motorized boating options when open. "The lake itself is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, and sailing! People do swim near the beach area but it is technically not allowed. I like the beach for letting my dog swim!" explains Kwin K.
Spacious sites: Many campers appreciate the well-spaced camping areas at Lewis and Clark State Park. "Nice clean updated bathroom facilities with showers, and sites are described as having good spacing with shade from large cottonwood trees," states Sharon T.
Cleanliness: Louisville State Recreation Area Campground maintains clean facilities. "The East end shower facility was very clean, as the host camper was cleaning it at 6 am," Ryan A. mentions.
Water features: Campers enjoy the lakes and river access at nearby campgrounds. At Two Rivers State Recreation Area, Tony B. notes "They have a day use area for the river where you can go and visit in the day or picnic. They also have old remodeled Union Pacific caboose you can stay in."
Family activities: Playgrounds and kid-friendly areas rank high on camper priorities. "Well kept & family 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 (~5 setups for different age groups)," shares N K. about Lewis and Clark State Park.
Limited equestrian facilities: Despite searching surrounding areas, no dedicated horse camping facilities exist near Mondamin. For those seeking equestrian camping around Mondamin, Iowa, prepare to travel further or make special arrangements with campgrounds.
Train noise: Louisville State Recreation Area has railroad tracks nearby. "This has the capability to be a great little state park, but and a huge one at that is at night the trains go by about every 17 minutes. The tracks run right get along the park," Justin R. warns.
Reservations recommended: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during summer months. "It really depends if you get a good spot. Sometimes it's super packed," Jordan H. mentions about Two Rivers State Recreation Area.
Weather considerations: Sites can flood during heavy rain. Sarah N. notes about Goldenrod Campground, "I stayed here on a night where it rained maybe as much as an inch, and some campsites did flood. I stayed at site 104 and it ended up being a good choice because it was shaded and on higher ground."
Playground access: Lewis and Clark State Park has excellent facilities for children. "There's a pretty big playground near all the sites. When I went in the first weekend of October they had a little trick or treat night too!" shares Morgan K.
Fishing with kids: Fawn Meadows Campground offers accessible fishing for young anglers. Rick J. notes about Two Rivers, "This is a great campground for camping and fishing with kids. The fishing is easy in all the lakes and they have a pay fishing trout lake that nearly guarantees success."
Specialty lodging: Consider staying in a converted train caboose at Two Rivers. "We usually tent camp but have also stayed in the cabooses a couple times, the kids really enjoy that," says Rick J.
Shade importance: During summer months, seek shaded sites for comfort. "A lot of them have absolutely no shade whatsoever, so be mindful of that," Sarah N. cautions about Goldenrod Campground.
Hookup availability: Lewis and Clark State Park offers full services. "Oh my the rate was 19.00 for full 50 amp hookup. Beautiful state park in the water nice level sites paved. Fire rings and tables," reports Kathy F.
Site spacing: While some RV areas can feel crowded, others offer more privacy. Bob H. mentions about Lewis and Clark, "Nice facilities well maintained. I guess most people are looking for this kind of camping, but it's a bunch of campers all piled on top of each other with no real views."
Level sites: Oak Grove Campground offers well-maintained camping pads. Shannon G. describes it as "peaceful and offers electric and electric plus, fire pit, and picnic table. Most of these campsites are reservable. It's not close to water like some of the others but it has a nice amount of room between spots and lots of trees for shade."
Dump station access: Plan ahead for dumping stations as they can get busy. Shannon G. notes about Fawn Meadows, "It is near the road and the dump station is in view. There is sometimes a line of campers at the dump station."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Mondamin, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Mondamin, IA is Lewis and Clark State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Mondamin, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 equestrian camping locations near Mondamin, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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