Smithland, Iowa camping areas offer diverse natural landscapes along the Little Sioux River at approximately 1,112 feet elevation. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically ranging from 70-85°F, creating ideal conditions for outdoor recreation from May through September. Camping options include both wooded riverside sites and open prairie settings with varying levels of amenities.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lewis and Clark State Park Campground provides excellent fishing access with multiple species available in Blue Lake. "This place has great fishing and 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 exploration: Lewis and Clark State Park Campground features educational exhibits about the famous 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," explains Timothy S., making this a worthwhile stop for history enthusiasts.
Kayaking: Several water bodies near Smithland offer calm paddling experiences. Sharon T. describes her experience at Lewis and Clark: "Nearby boat ramp to load kayak onto Blue Lake. Many water lilies but sheltered at one end so good for kayak."
Swimming: Missouri Valley City Park provides water recreation options beyond what's available at other sites. "Water park. Playground. Open area. Lots of space," notes Don L., highlighting the family-friendly amenities that complement traditional glamping in the Smithland area.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Scenic Park offers roomier camping spots than many alternatives in the region. "All the spots are spacious...neighbors are not on top of you. This spot had a nice concrete pad with a picnic table. Views of the river and city were nice," reports Chris S.
Wildlife viewing: The natural settings provide opportunities to observe local fauna. "It's a beautiful display of Gods handiwork, and i would recommend coming out here and enjoy the breath taking nature of this park," Timothy S. comments about Lewis and Clark State Park.
Well-maintained facilities: Crawford County Park Nelson Park receives praise for its upkeep. "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," Kyle L. reports after his visit.
Seasonal activities: The area offers unique events during different seasons. Morgan K. mentions Lewis and Clark State Park's autumn activities: "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."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most glamping accommodations require advance bookings, particularly during summer. "We arrived on a Saturday evening around 5:30pm and found a site no problem," notes Tim K. about Little Sioux Park Campground, though this experience may vary by season.
Weather considerations: The region can experience significant mosquito activity during certain periods. Jeff B. candidly shares about Lewis and Clark: "Many water spots on basically what is a mosquito breeding ground."
Site variations: Quality and spacing between sites varies considerably between campgrounds. Bob H. observes 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."
Bathroom facilities: Cleanliness standards differ between locations. Pat V. notes about Lewis and Clark: "The dump station is a tight squeeze for anything other than a small bumper pull camper."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Sioux City North KOA offers extensive recreational options for children. "Lots of activities for the kids. Checkers, chess, swings, play set, mini golf, inflatable bouncy blog, pool, and more," Emily C. reports, making this an excellent option for luxury glamping near Smithland with children.
Beach activities: Several parks feature swimming areas with varying amenities. N K. comments about Lewis and Clark State Park: "We were able to reserve an electric unit (#30) right off the lake and across the road from the large playground. We could watch the kids play while getting food ready or preparing a line to throw in the water."
Safety considerations: Pay attention to water depth and swimming conditions when visiting with children. "Short walk to the very clean restrooms with flush toilets & showers," adds N K., highlighting the convenience for families.
Educational opportunities: The visitor center at Lewis and Clark State Park offers learning experiences for children of all ages. "It has a playground for the kids. nice updated bathroom facilities with showers. They also have a beach and boat dock," according to Anessa O.
Tips from RVers
Hookup quality: On-Ur-Wa RV Park provides reliable utility connections for self-contained campers. "Super clean park and very well taken care of. Pulled in, stopped at office, John came in and helped me, asked me if I was a GoodSam member and charged me $43.34 for a full-hookup, super long pull thru," andrew explains.
Site width considerations: Some RV sites may be narrow for larger rigs. "The sites here are shockingly narrow— barely enough width to safely open your slides, let alone enjoy the space," Laura N. cautions about Onawa Blue Lake KOA.
Overnight options: Missouri Valley City Park offers convenient, affordable stops for passing through. "It surrounds a city park and there is plenty of room to spread out in their well manicured park. With 30/50 electric and water this place is well worth the $15 they charge," Kelly R. notes.
Noise factors: Be prepared for potential train noise near certain campgrounds. Marisol G. shares about Missouri Valley City Park: "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."
