Westfield, Iowa sits at the northern edge of the Missouri River Valley where visitors experience hot summers and cold winters with average temperatures between 10°F in winter and 85°F in summer. Campgrounds in this region range in elevation from approximately 1,100 to 1,400 feet above sea level. The area's camping options span three states—Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska—with most facilities open from April through October, though some maintain year-round operations.
What to do
Hiking trails: Union Grove State Park Campground offers multiple trails through wooded terrain. "Be prepared to higher your campground expectations after this one! Definitely one of the cleanest most well kept campgrounds I've seen in a while," notes one visitor who planned to "come back and hike the trails" which other campers called "beautiful."
Fishing access: Lazy H Campground provides fishing opportunities in a private lake. "Private lake so no fishing license required," explains one camper. Another visitor mentioned that during their stay "not much was biting" but the designated fishing areas remain popular with families.
Water recreation: Riverfront Campground at Ponca State Park connects visitors to the Missouri River. "We camped in the Riverfront campground. No one else there on a Thursday night so we had the whole river to ourselves," reports one visitor. The park also features "playgrounds and a pool for the kids" plus opportunities for "hiking, trail rides, campsites are pretty and easily usable."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Union Grove State Park receives consistent praise for maintenance. "Shower rooms/bathrooms are immaculate, and smell so nice," writes one camper. Another notes the campground has "great restrooms with showers" and is "very well maintained."
Swimming beaches: Lazy H Campground features a "huge swim beach with anchored lilypads" that visitors appreciate. One camper describes it as having "a nice stroll through the woods" and "tons of activities" including "fishing, boating, biking, and swimming."
Wildlife viewing: Stone State Park Campground offers nature observation opportunities. "The park is beautiful with tons of trails and things to explore," reports one camper. Despite being "woody/shaded" with "basic" facilities, visitors appreciate seeing "deer, turkeys and other critters" throughout the park.
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Several campgrounds close during winter. Stone State Park operates from "April 1 to December 31" while others like Windmill RV Park and Union Grove remain open year-round. One camper visited Union Grove "end of October" and "nearly had the park to ourselves."
Site spacing: Oak Bluff Campground at Ponca State Park has varied site configurations. "Sites in upper campground are a little small and close together but very well maintained," notes one visitor. Another camper describes how some sites "are a bit too close together for our preference and despite the park being so wooded, have no foliage or other visible separation."
Cell service: Coverage varies throughout the region. At Lazy H Campground, one visitor reported "Sprint/T-mobile data was around 56 Mbps down." Stone State Park has limited connectivity with a camper noting they "got only 1 bar signal on both Verizon & AT&T. No WiFi."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: KOA Campground North Sioux City offers dedicated children's areas. "Lots of amenities for families including pool, mini-golf, corn hole, jump pad, playground," writes one visitor. The facility is "first class" and "perfect for kiddos."
Beach activities: Lazy H Campground provides water recreation designed for children. "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," shares one camper.
Educational opportunities: Ponca State Park features learning experiences. "Don't forget to stop in to the education center and learn all about the river's history. The education center is top notch and one of our favorite things about the park," recommends a visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Most rv sites near Westfield, Iowa feature level pads. At Ryken's RV Park, "the pads are even" and the park is "well maintained." One long-term visitor noted that "the overall cost of the seasonal spot is the lowest of all the other parks."
Winter storage: Some RV parks offer off-season storage options. Ryken's RV Park provides storage services that are "very cheap" according to a camper who stored their RV "for the winter at the park."
Interior roads: Campground access varies in quality. KOA North Sioux City receives mixed reviews with some noting "pot holes in the roads" while others describe it as "well maintained" with "easy access to the freeway both north and south."
