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Established campgrounds surround Stanton, Iowa, primarily offering RV and tent camping sites with varying levels of amenities. Viking Lake State Park Campground serves as a focal point for outdoor recreation in the area, providing tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin accommodations approximately 7 miles southeast of Stanton. Lake Icaria County Park, located about 15 miles northeast, offers similar camping options with additional cabin rentals and access to water activities. Hacklebarney Woods County Park and Nodaway Valley County Park round out the developed camping options, each providing electrical hookups and basic amenities for overnight stays.
Camping season typically runs from April through December at the state parks, while some county parks remain open year-round with limited winter services. Most campgrounds offer electrical hookups and basic amenities, though drinking water availability varies by location. Shower facilities and modern restrooms are common at the larger parks like Viking Lake and Lake Icaria, while smaller county parks may have more rustic facilities. Reservations are recommended during summer months and holiday weekends when sites fill quickly. A visitor commented that "Viking Lake is clean and well managed. It has several amenities including a restaurant if you left your cooler at home."
The camping experience in the Stanton area centers around lake recreation and quiet, rural settings. Lake Icaria stands out as a popular destination for water activities with one camper noting it's "one of the best campgrounds in SW Iowa, the lake is great, nice beach and boating!" Viking Lake provides fishing opportunities, though some visitors report mixed results following lake restoration efforts. Several campgrounds feature hiking trails varying from flat, easy paths to more challenging terrain. While Pilot Grove County Park receives high marks for seclusion, some smaller county parks like Nodaway Valley have been described as needing updates to facilities. Tree cover is abundant throughout most campgrounds, providing ample shade during summer months and creating a pleasant forest setting for overnight stays.
"We have been going to Viking lake for years. We hadn't been back until just recently. Our absence was due to an invasive species in the lake a few years back."
"We been to Viking Lake a few times over the years. And it has been cool to see this place evolve over time. They did drain this lake a few years back."
from $16 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Hacklebarney is very close to home so it makes for a great quick camping trip destination. Has surprisingly nice shower room for the size of the park."
"This lake has multiple campgrounds spread throughout. It one of the only lakes in Iowa where you can drive your boats fast. Great fireworks show on the 4th of July."
"One of the best campgrounds in the SW Iowa, the lake is great, nice beach and boating!"
"Pierce creek is just on the out side of the town Essex. There is nice quiet lake, with some fish jumping. On the Southside there is a day area with grills and picnic tables."
"It has a quiet lake, with fish a jumpin. It also has multipurpose trails. There are a few different accesses around the lake. There is the south access that is day use area."
"Always seems to be a lot of kids running around and riding bikes. Individual shower rooms. Clean bathrooms. Friendly staff."
"This campground has both RV full hookup and electric sites very close to the lake. Campsites offer a great view of lake and close access to docks."
"Beautiful campground on a man-made lake in Iowa. Very sparsely populated in the middle of the week even during the month of June. A wonderful bike trail circumvent the lake. About 4 miles long."
from $15 - $36 / night
Check Availability"There is a legend about how the Lake of 3 Fires got its name. The legend says that the “Fire Nation”, which was a local Pottawatomi tribe, lived in the area around Southwest Iowa."
"This is one of our favorite campgrounds in Iowa. It has a good sized lake for fishing and kayaking, but not to big for large speed boats."
from $14 - $75 / night
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TravelerNice park, like alot nowadays lots of long term people. Bath and showers are fair. Laundry facilities are clean wit two washers and dryers. Wifi is poor can't get connected.
LegendSmall campground in a city park in Adair Iowa. Adair is known for its water tower with a big yellow smiley face painted on it. There is a lot of charmed to this town.
There is a number of spots in this city campground with electric hook ups. It’s kind of confusing where each site is, however. There are way more hookups than it seems there is room for actual vehicles.
Unfortunately, when I was there, there was some road construction happening, and the traffic was being diverted through the park. So there was more traffic than is probably usual.
Only two other campers spent the night while I was here. Super cute downtown and had a malted milkshake at the local ice cream store. Overall, a great spot to spend the night. $20 for electric hook up and there is a dump station as well.
LegendBeautiful campground on a man-made lake in Iowa. Very sparsely populated in the middle of the week even during the month of June.
A wonderful bike trail circumvent the lake. About 4 miles long.
The sites are pretty close together. For my first two nights I had no neighbors but then on my final night I was surrounded on all sides by a group that was camping together. Hard to escape their campfire, smoke and normal conversation voices.
I ended up staying an extra day because there were tornado warnings in the area. I was awoken at 6 AM to a tornado warning alarm and had to take shelter in the campground restroom. Thankfully, the restrooms were very clean and spacious. Good bonding experience with my fellow campers.
GuideWe were coming into town for the College World Series and intended to stay at Arrowhead. I called ahead and talked to a kind gentleman who let me know that Arrowhead would likely be full, but the fairgrounds would surely have space. With 24-hour self check-in, it was a perfect solution. Twenty-five minutes from Omaha and full, pull-through hook ups made this a solid stop over.
GuideCamp spots are close together and not private. But it's a beautiful spot with lots of hiking trails. Bathrooms are spotless and the host is super nice.
TravelerQuiet and clean campground. Bike/walk trail surrounding the lake. Lots of amenities for fishing and sightseeing on the lake
LegendI was here on a very hot June day. Grateful for the electricity so I could run my A/C. Would have been much nicer if there were some actual trees for shade. No privacy between sites.
You need a code to get inside the park. I saw camp hosts drive by in golf carts, but did not interact with them.
All the pads look like they're very new. Cement and level.
While this park is right on the lake, there is no easy access to the lake from the campground. A few of the sites back up to the lake, but even those you'd have to bushwack to get to the water. I did find a spot that I had to practically trespass on another camper's site to get to. It was a small opening between weeds and down some treacherous rocks to launch my paddleboard.
There's a beach a few hundred yards down the path that you have to pay $5 to enter.
The lake does not look very clean. I wouldn't swim in it.
The shower was one of those push button ones and it was fine. Lots of kids running around and being loud past 11pm. Looks like people come here to spend the night and spend the day someplace else.
ScoutI called because there was no link to book and the RV park has closed. There is RV parking if you want to stay in the hotel, but the park with hookups is closed.
TravelerLake Anita State Park is beautiful! Large expanse of green in a hilly terrain. Sites are open but roomy and many new trees have been planted to eventually provide shade. Ranger came through periodically to check on all. People come to fish off the shoreline. Nice shower and bath house nearby. Huge storm came through last night!
Camping sites near Stanton, Iowa offer convenient access to southwest Iowa's natural attractions across Montgomery County and surrounding areas. The landscape features gently rolling hills with elevations between 1,000 and 1,200 feet, creating varied terrain for hiking and outdoor recreation. Summer temperatures typically range from 65°F to 85°F with higher humidity levels, while camping season extends from early spring through late fall with most facilities closing or reducing services after October.
Biking trails around lakes: Lake Anita State Park Campground features a 4-mile paved recreation trail circling the 171-acre lake. "The lake is beautiful, and we also saw people boating, kayaking, and fishing. Although swimming is also allowed, the beach was not the best for this activity," shares Lee D.
Disc golf courses: Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground offers a frisbee golf course among its recreational options. "It has a good sized lake for fishing and kayaking, but not to big for large speed boats. It has miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It has a great frisbee golf course that my boys loved playing," notes Caralee D.
Equestrian camping: Pierce Creek Recreation Area provides dedicated facilities for horse owners. "There is the equestrian camp grounds. This one is pretty Basic, honestly. It has electrical hook ups, horse corals, and out house," explains Tony B., making this a unique option for travelers with horses.
Tree coverage for shade: Lake Icaria Co Park provides well-shaded sites even during hot summer months. "This is a very clean, lovely camp ground. The spots are spacious, and there are tons of options. In the fall we went and had no neighbors. It's busy in summer, but well kept," writes Nicole B.
Fishing opportunities: Viking Lake State Park offers diverse fishing environments despite mixed reviews about catch rates. "We been to Viking Lake a few times over the years. And it has been cool to see this place evolve over time. They did drain this lake a few years back. But this little place has a lot to offer for campers. There trails, fishing, and kayaking," says Tony B.
Clean facilities: Pilot Grove Co Park maintains its grounds well despite its smaller size. "Off the beat campground, perfect for those late night campfires!" mentions Deb W., highlighting its appeal for campers seeking seclusion.
Campsite spacing varies significantly: Sites at Lake Anita State Park Campground can feel crowded during peak season. "Nice state park with all the amenities, but, this State Park definitely needs to be updated to accommodate the bigger and wider campers. If you like to be on top of each other, this is your campground!" warns Deb W.
Limited facilities at smaller parks: Hacklebarney Woods County Park offers basic amenities but might be easy to miss. "Be careful not to drive by Hucklebarney Woods, if you're not careful you will pass it by. There is a sign but it is not very visible and you may have to hit your brakes pretty hard, so be careful," advises Matt S.
Winter camping options: Some campgrounds offer year-round access with reduced services. "Very nice and cheap. 8 for camping, 12 with electric and 18 full hookups. That's a great price for the view. I will definitely be back when it's greener. Verizon is 2 bars of 4g. And Starlink is only possible in select places, as there is a lot of trees," reports 1life1try about winter camping at Viking Lake.
Playground access: Lake View Campground offers family-friendly amenities beyond just camping. "Always seems to be a lot of kids running around and riding bikes. Individual shower rooms. Clean bathrooms. Friendly staff," notes Ashley B.
Beach activities: Lake of Three Fires State Park provides sandy beaches for children. "The beach sandy and clean for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon. We love this campground for the large trees and shade they provide in the summer," mentions Caralee D.
Movie nights: Lake Anita holds special events for children during summer months. "There is a park and on Saturdays during the summer they do Disney movies and free popcorn. The lake is good for fishing. They have a beach and volleyball," shares Laura B.
Hook-up options and pricing: Lake of Three Fires State Park Campground offers various site types for different camping styles. "For the RV or trailer enthusiasts there are 24 standard electric sites and 63 non-electric sites, plus 3 buddy sites. In addition, there are 23 equestrian sites (some electrical) and 1 equestrian buddy site along with plenty of holding stalls and tie outs for horses," Kimberly W. explains.
Site selection considerations: Lake Icaria provides details about campsite characteristics when booking. "Very nice place. Full hook up spots were very nice. Easy to get into, plenty of space, fire pit, picnic table, friendly & helpful park officers," Mike S. shares about his experience.
Internet connectivity: Cell service and satellite internet access vary across camping areas. "Verizon is 2 bars of 4g. And Starlink is only possible in select places, as there is a lot of trees. It's January, so I chose my spot for the internet," notes 1life1try about Viking Lake State Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Stanton, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Stanton, IA is Viking Lake State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 10 reviews.
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