Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Onawa, IA is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Iowa camping has to offer. You're sure to find the perfect campground for your Onawa camping trip.
$15 - $40 / 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."
"They have a table near the boat ramp that, I assume, is for cleaning your caught fish. If it matters, it did not have running water."
"Located far enough from the interstate to avoid any traffic noise River barges were unloading next to the campground when we were here."
"Great location. Very nice campground. Large spacious pull thru sites. Extremely clean bathrooms and showers. We stayed twice, westbound and eastbound. Very friendly, nice people."
$9 / night
"Located directly adjacent to the Preparation Canyon Unit of Loess Hills State Forest; the flora, fauna, and geology of this park are amazing and unique to North America."
"Had no idea such a scenic place could be found in Iowa! I chose the closest walk-in spot, less than a mile in. It was great! Near a little creek if you need water, and really nicely secluded."
$52 / night
"Not to far from the Interstate and Lewis and Clark State Park in Iowa. The gravel site we were on fit our 40 ft fifth wheel without a problem but was slightly off level."
"Has upper amd lower camping area's lower area right next to river . Can stay for months at a time"
"Nice, clean, quiet, lake for swimming and fishing, playground, store, movie nights for kids on Fri and Sat."
RangerLevel spots, water & electric. There is a dump station on site. Great Verizon and T-Mobile speeds here.
You must register online, and it's not easy to find the link. Here it is: https://properties.camping.com/dakota-city-cottonwood-cove-campground/Reservations
There is another review which says you pay the camp host, but they told me it must be done online now. The price in 2025 is $30/night for 30A (not sure if 50A is more), which I think is a little high considering you can camp in some beautiful spots for $30.
There is some kind of bathroom or shower house on site, but it requires a code and when I registered online it did not give me the code. There is quite a bit of traffic coming in and out of the small campground. Almost every camper has at least two cars parked with it, and people keep coming and going.
TravelerDidn’t have any issue finding a spot around 8pm in early May, and it was made way with a spot to register and deposit money on your own. Bathrooms were okay. Very pretty view of the water and the stars were bright!
GuidePlace is well maintained with plenty of hookups, a nice view to the park, picnic tables and a dump station. Price is now 25 dll per night. Besides the traffic noise because it's close to the hwy, the train passed at night like 4 or 5 times, so have that in mind if you light sleep.
GuideNot to far from the Interstate and Lewis and Clark State Park in Iowa. The gravel site we were on fit our 40 ft fifth wheel without a problem but was slightly off level. Amy and Ed are very helpful and friendly, the bathrooms/showers are beautiful and immaculate. Pool and family area won’t open until May, but look inviting to guests. We were able to look in one of the 3 silos for rent. One word to describe: WOW! We will be back!
GuideQuiet little campground. I only saw 3 sites, but there is room for 3 or 4 more. $10 per night and the Rangers came at about 3:30 pm to clean the vault toilet and collect my fee from the lockbox. It's about a half mile from a well traveled road, but as I write this it's 7 in the evening and there's no more traffic. I'm the only person in the campground. There's a hand pump water well. Give it a dozen pumps to get it going. I don't suppose it is potable water. There's a river behind and the sign says you can launch a kayak.
GuideDay <1>Lots of spots to pick from, and I could guess why… middle of nowhere, the bathrooms are dirty as all heck and heard from a local that management can be a bit "Tight" will continue to update, ……
Day <2> Late last night, I mean Late…. we had some company someone else decided to camp at this camp of solitude… granted it is the middle of the week, but we had seen the news article about the campground opening for the season i would imagine that there would be others, like most though we are glad there isn't.
Day <3> Friday is here and with it comes the visitors, this park comes alive Friday afternoon and seems to be about 25% of capacity, everyone is grilling or fishing or even flying their drones... the bathrooms however are still as dirty as ever and no sign of an old grouchy park manager... definitely a nice secluded stay during the week with a lot more activity starting Friday evening. I would also just say no "useable" public restrooms.
ScoutI have stayed several times. Quiet. Nice. Close to town, stores, food. $15. Night in 2025. Fair. Good place for quiet, inexpensive nights. Quite a good deal.👍
LegendThe campground is part of the town park in Pilger. There are five sites, all with electricity and two of them have water. The two sites with water had occupants but we did not see anyone when we were there. The camper pads and road are gravel. Sites have a picnic table and bbq grill.
The sites back up to Highway 15 and you will definitely hear (loud) road noise from cars and trucks. This park seems to cater more to the activities of the town– there is a ballfield, two covered picnic pavilions, and a pool. The pool looked very nice, but on a Monday before school let out, no one was there.
The restrooms/showers are near the pool and are open even when the pool is not. There is some ancient playground equipment and not sure why they left it (other than for nostalgia reasons) as there is new equipment in the same area.
We were there on a Monday afternoon in June and although there were three employees in the pool area, there was no one in the park at all!
TravelerCute little campground, electrical only. Picnic table and grill at each site. No fires. Shower house available until it's gets down to freezing weather. Dump station and water fill.
Camping near Onawa, Iowa, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near Onawa, Iowa, has something for everyone, from families to seasoned RVers. Just remember to pack your essentials and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Onawa, IA is Lewis and Clark State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 parks near Onawa, IA that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
Keep Exploring
