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 - $50 / night
"Well kept & family friendly camping in Iowa!"
"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."
"They have cabins and R.V. spots for sure. Owner is very nice and the bathrooms if you need them are clean and well maintained."
$17 - $25 / night
"This campground is secluded and quiet. Next to a county park. Decent bath house with showers. Fire pits, water and electric hook ups at each site. $25 a night"
"Sites had plenty of space between and it was very quiet. There’s a nice long sidewalk for an evening stroll. The lake was drained but the views were still nice. For $25, you can’t beat that!"
"Nice campground clean bathrooms the trails are really good quiet and peaceful"
$10 - $50 / night
"The tent campsites are close together in the campground all of them have fire rings with grates. There is a vault toliet just up from the site."
"Hitchcock Nature Center is north of Crescent, IA and just let outside Omaha, NE. A short drive from the city and you are in the Loess Hills that were explored by Lewis and Clark on their trek west."
$18 - $30 / night
"Scenic Park Campground is in South Sioux City along the Missouri River. Our campsite had a river view, picnic table, and fire ring."
"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!"
"I grew up swimming and camping at Nelson Park but moved away roughly 30 years ago. I wanted a weekend away from the craziness so chose to go "home" for my first solo trip in quite awhile."
"Has a descent size lake good for kayaking and fishing."
"Nice cabins for rent."
GuideOur family and another family shared a primitive tent site near the back of the park. We were first and foremost impressed with the freedom we had in choosing our site. Tent camping here is non-reservable, but once you enter the park, you may choose from any spots containing a fire pit outside of RV loops. Tent sites range from lake-front, to playground side, to more private sites on the outer rim of the park. We chose a large, private site at the back of the park. This site was well maintained and had enough space to easily accommodate two families of four. We even had a picnic shelter all to ourselves. Our site was lined by woods and farmland and had a good view of a small pond. The night was full of exciting animal noises from both the nearby farm and pond. Vault toilets were a short walk away with clean shower facilities just a few loops away. The kids enjoyed riding bikes up and down gravel roads, looking for frogs, and playing on the playground. Canoe and paddle boat rental is extremely reasonable. Hiking trails near the park entrance are rugged. The staff was incredibly kind and easy-going, yet attentive. Just a short drive from neighboring towns, this is a good starter campground for families with younger kids. We hope to return in winter to check out the camping cabins.
GuideThis place did not provide all of the activities they claimed to provide according to our itinerary the weekend we stayed. That was disappointing. But they have cabin rentals and a pool but the pool was shut down. Of course. My kids loved those super expensive backs of and that had “rare gems (rocks)” in them but we found pretty bland types. Overall, enjoyed the surrounding towns amenities over the campgrounds.
LegendThe tent campsites are close together in the campground all of them have fire rings with grates. There is a vault toliet just up from the site. There are also a lot of hike in sites that are equiped with a fire ring, no bathrooms though. Tons of hiking trails ranging from hard to easy. Plenty of RV spots and they have cabins
LegendScenic Park Campground is in South Sioux City along the Missouri River. Our campsite had a river view, picnic table, and fire ring. The campground is part of a large park and was full hookups with cable and wifi included. Our site was a pull through. The area was clean and had a nice appearance. There was also 4 unique modern looking cabins and a tent area.
The park also has tennis courts, soccer fields, and baseball fields. There is a swimming pool and playgrounds, along with trails. The trails I loved were along the river. The only con was that There was a major highway on the other side of the river and ambulances would pass by with sirens going. Otherwise a nice campground.
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!
RangerHitchcock Nature Center is north of Crescent, IA and just let outside Omaha, NE. A short drive from the city and you are in the Loess Hills that were explored by Lewis and Clark on their trek west. The is a $3 day use pass or a $20 yearly pass available.
This place has a lot to offer anyone. They have Nature education events, archery range, a handicapped accessible boardwalk trail, hiking trails, camping, etc. There are miles of trail available with backcountry camping available for $10 per night. RV camping is also available for $15 per night with electric, showers/bathrooms, picnic tables, fire rings, etc. They also offer a couple cabins for rent.
The hiking is fantastic and offers something for every skill level. There are absolutely gorgeous views of the Missouri River valley below. All trails are marked and the a multiple different trailheads, many which start around the visitors center/tower Overlook. During the winter they even over snowshoeing events. It is really a nice place to get outdoors anytime of the year.
TravelerPlanned to stay for the weekend to test out new tent but storms came through & we left after one night. Basic campground in shady area under trees. We did not get an electric hookup. Ground was mostly dirt not grass on our site & mostly dry. Large trees provided shade which helped as very hot & humid. We were next to a ravine but with plenty of bug spray did not get many bites. Hiked the Bear & Buffalo trails. Campground very quiet though a few people came & went. Washrooms are very basic & chose not to use shower. The Park Ranger did check on us & advise on weather conditions. Picnic table & fire pit were fine. Got only 1 bar signal on both Verizon & AT&T. No WiFi. Overall basic, woody/shaded. Good for short stay.
ScoutWe stopped here for the night during our road trip. We were not sure we would even get a spot due to the July 4th Holiday. We found a primitive spot that had a fire ring and picnic table. It was very shady however the campsites are super close to each other and unfortunately the spots were quickly filled. The bathroom was so gross and the shower did not spray. It ran down the wall and I had to get really creative with washing my hair. It served its purpose, shoes were definitely left on while in the shower, and I guess I left cleaner then when I went in. The park ranger came by to verify our rental slip and was very nice. Everyone seemed to respect the 10:00pm quiet time.
ScoutHost was very friendly and helpful. They had some spots on the river. 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! Although no hand soap so bring your own. Showers were free and they had bikes you could check out to ride around. Park is super close to huge park with Tennis courts and other activities.
Cabin camping near Onawa, Iowa offers a serene escape into nature, with a variety of well-reviewed spots that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Onawa, IA is Lewis and Clark State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 20 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 18 cabin camping locations near Onawa, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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