The Orange City area offers multiple campground options within a 40-mile radius, situated among the rolling plains of northwest Iowa where elevations range between 1,200-1,400 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F with evening cooling, while spring and fall camping seasons experience wide temperature swings that can dip below freezing at night.
What to do
Hiking trails: Newton Hills State Park features multiple hiking paths through wooded terrain. "Great trails and a short scenic road, plus some nice open spaces. Bath facilities are convenient, but seem old and marginally maintained. Great stargazing," notes a visitor to Newton Hills Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Rivers Bend Campground provides lakefront fishing with water views from most sites. A camper reports, "Water front on 80% of spots. Two fishing ponds & one swimming," making it a popular choice for anglers seeking rv sites near Orange City, Iowa.
Swimming beaches: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas perfect for cooling off. At Island Park in Rock Rapids, campers enjoy "a huge swimming area with slides for kids, and river with a lot of fish!" The park also offers "brand new shower houses" according to recent visitors.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms at several campgrounds. At Willow Creek Campground, one reviewer noted: "The bathrooms are stupendous! Shiny floor, air conditioned and residential faucets in the showers! No button pushing!" This campground near Orange City also provides good cell signal and wifi.
Lake activities: Lazy H Campground offers multiple water recreation options. "There's fishing, boating, biking, and swimming. 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," explains a camper who visited this RV park near Orange City, Iowa.
Spacious sites: Big Sioux Recreation Area provides camping spots with good separation. A visitor shared: "Our site was nice, level, spacious, and had plenty of grass coverage (instead of dirt). Bugs were a pain but not much you can do about that. Bike trails are awesome."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Weekend slots fill quickly at many campgrounds. For Big Sioux Recreation Area, planning ahead is essential as one camper notes: "Just outside of Sioux Falls. Stayed here for a night on the way to the black hills. It was a nice campground right on the Sioux River. The restrooms were well maintained."
Seasonal considerations: While some RV parks operate year-round, others close during winter months. Willow Creek Campground runs from April 15 to October 15, while Rivers Bend operates May to October.
Noise factors: Some campgrounds experience unexpected noise issues. At Island Park, a camper warned: "The night we stayed, there was racing going on at Rapid Speedway that lasted well into the evening. Extremely LOUD. Make sure to check the race schedule the night you want to stay."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Lazy H Campground stands out for family activities. One visitor shared, "Great for kids! The swim beach has giant floating lily pads that the kids loved."
Playground accessibility: Consider site location relative to play areas. At Big Sioux Recreation Area, tent sites are strategically placed: "We had a tent site, number 24, and it was tucked into the woods but still close to the parking lot!"
Swimming options: Island Park offers excellent water recreation for children. A reviewer explained it has a "huge swimming area with slides for kids, and river with a lot of fish!" making it particularly attractive for families with children who enjoy water activities.
Tips from RVers
Pad quality: Concrete pads at Lazy H Campground receive high marks from RV campers. One noted, "The concrete pads are level and large. The grass and spacing between spots is wonderful," while another called it "probably the cleanest park I've ever been to."
Site configuration: At Willow Creek Campground, the layout accommodates different camping preferences. "We stayed in the old section (no sewer) which had lovely thick trees offering welcome shade in 90+ degree weather. The sites sit on a small rise between the swimming pond and willow creek."
Utility hookups: Full hookup sites with differing amperage options exist throughout the area. A visitor to Rivers Bend Campground mentioned "decent size spots with lakefront views at just about all of them," providing RVers with scenic camping options near Orange City.
