13 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Little Sioux Park Campground and Crawford Creek County Rec Area provide premium glamping accommodations within natural settings, offering guests a luxurious outdoor experience without sacrificing comfort. The glamping options include cozy canvas structures with electricity, climate control systems, and comfortable furnishings that elevate the typical camping experience. Both locations feature well-maintained facilities including clean showers, modern restrooms, and convenient picnic areas perfect for outdoor dining. Several sites offer water views and wooded surroundings, creating a peaceful retreat atmosphere while maintaining resort-style amenities. One guest shared, "Great campground with lots of campsites to choose from, they have lots of buddy system sites!"
On-site activities at these glamping destinations include swimming, fishing, and kayaking, with Little Sioux Park featuring a small beach area perfect for families. Crawford Creek offers multiple play areas for children, making it ideal for family glamping retreats. Both locations maintain hiking trails through natural areas where visitors can observe local wildlife and native plants. The parks operate seasonally, with most glamping accommodations available from April through October. According to a camper, "Multiple play areas for kids. Water good for fishing, kayaking and swimming. Nice cabins for rent." Nearby attractions include Lewis and Clark State Park, which features interpretive exhibits about the historic expedition. Most locations recommend reservations, especially during peak summer months when glamping sites fill quickly.
"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."
from $15 - $52 / night
Check Availability"It’s right by a small truck stop, but the noise was not bothersome at all. There is a small dog park for the pups. Bathrooms and showers are clean."
"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."
"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."
"Nice bath houses. Clean area. Good for the family."
"Scenic park is across the Missouri river from Sioux City, Iowa. It is easy to get to. Very friendly staff. Restrooms are kept clean. "
"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!"
from $18 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"A tent site was $40 with no electricity so it’s more pricy then other sites but they have a ton of things to do. Checkers, chess, swings, play set, mini golf, inflatable bouncy blog, pool, and more."
"Arrived late and left so early we didn’t even see any of the staff. Campground and bath houses were clean. However, campsites are very close together. Great for quick overnight stop.!!!"
"Close to town, stores, food. $15. Night in 2025. Fair. Good place for quiet, inexpensive nights. Quite a good deal.👍"
"It is right next to a busy railroad, but we cranked up our fans and barely noticed the trains and their horns."
"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."
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!
TravelerScenic park is across the Missouri river from Sioux City, Iowa. It is easy to get to. Very friendly staff. Restrooms are kept clean. It is a large campground with several different restrooms with showers. There is a number of permanent campsites, there is also some that can be reserved. Some are also pull thru's. Ice and firewood are available on site. There is a separate area available for tents. With it being on the edge of South Sioux City, Ne and across the river from Sioux City, Ia. there is lots of shopping options close by. It can also be reserved for groups, with a shelter available for use. There are some sunny spots and also spots with lots of shade. I really like this campground!
GuideA tent site was $40 with no electricity so it’s more pricy then other sites but they have a ton of things to do. Checkers, chess, swings, play set, mini golf, inflatable bouncy blog, pool, and more. They had a gift shop with anything you needed to buy. The bathrooms were very nice and clean but did smell a bit. They had electricity/ wall outlets in the bathrooms. The highway is very close so you do hear cars. Privacy fences around the site to block out the neighborhood. Very nice staff!
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.
ScoutWe stayed with our class A RV on our way to and from a further destination. First spot was one right along the river. All the spots are spacious...neighbors are not on top of you. This spot had a nice concrete pad with a picnic table (not so nice with peeling paint). Views of the river and city were nice. Full hook-ups with sewer, water, electric, cable, and wi-if. Second spot was not on the river but equally spacious. No concrete pad with this one. Bathhouses were a mixed bag. One was large with numerous stalls and showers and very clean. The other quite small (2 stalls and one shower) and not so clean. Had to step around empty shampoo and conditioner bottles on floor and a used razor on the soap dish.....there in the early evening and still there around 9 the next morning. Many of the sites seemed to be extended stay and not all trailers were well kept.....plastic covering windows, haphazard decks, etc. All-in-all though an Ok stopover in a longer trip.
TravelerWe stayed with our class A RV on our way to and from a further destination in early July. First spot was one right along the river. All the spots are spacious...neighbors are not on top of you. This spot had a nice concrete slab with a picnic table (not so nice with peeling paint). Views of the river and city were nice. Full hook-ups with sewer, water, electric and (spotty) WiFi. Second spot was not on the river but equally spacious. No concrete patio with this one. Bathhouse’s were a mixed bag. One was large with numerous stalls and showers and very clean. The other quite small (2 stalls and one shower) and not so clean. Had to step around empty shampoo and conditioner bottles on the floor and a used razor on the soap dish...there in the early evening and still around 9 the next morning. Many sites seemed to be extended stay and not all were well kept...plastic covering windows, haphazard decks, etc. All-in-all though an OK one night stopover spot if you’re traveling through.
TravelerNo real complaints. Clean campground, friendly hosts. Prefer more nature, but not a bad stop on a long drive. Right on river, but huge park with lots of campers, and tucked in between soccer fields. Safe and convenient though, and had a camp fire. Wifi not very good, but electric and water hookups were fine.
RangerWe found the Scenic Park RV Campground when we were looking for a spot to stay close to Sioux City, IA for a sports event for our sons. We were extremely happy with this city run campground.
The pads are in great shape. They offer full hookups. We did not have a full hookup site, but still had water, electric, and free cable tv. The view from our camper of the Missouri River and the Sioux City skyline was pretty great.
The staff is friendly and welcoming. The location is quiet and everyone staying there seemed very nice as well. Will definitely be back when we’re up that way again next year.
GuideWe stayed her for one night on our way to the Badlands. Arrived late and left so early we didn’t even see any of the staff. Campground and bath houses were clean. However, campsites are very close together. Great for quick overnight stop.!!!
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.
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.
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."
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."
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.
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Smithland, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Smithland, IA is Lewis and Clark State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Smithland, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 13 glamping camping locations near Smithland, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
