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Established Camping

Onawa-Blue Lake KOA

7 Reviews

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CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BY

Onawa-Blue Lake KOA, near Onawa, Iowa, is a campground that offers a mix of outdoor fun and essential amenities. With options for tent camping, RVs, and even cabins, it caters to a variety of camping styles, making it a decent spot for families and friends looking to unwind.

The campground features a clean shower house and well-maintained restrooms, which visitors appreciate after a day spent enjoying the beautiful lake. There’s also a swimming pool for those hot summer days, and picnic tables at each site make it easy to enjoy meals outdoors. One camper noted, “The shower house is nice and clean,” highlighting the effort put into maintaining the facilities.

While the lake provides a scenic backdrop, some campers have mentioned that the sites can feel a bit cramped, so be prepared for close quarters. The friendly staff is often noted, but experiences can vary, so keep that in mind when you arrive.

If you’re looking to explore, the surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor activities, and you’re just a short drive from local attractions in Onawa. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Onawa-Blue Lake KOA has the basics covered for a fun camping experience.

Fee Info

Adults 18+, Kids 6-17, Free 0-5

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Location

Onawa-Blue Lake KOA is located in Iowa

Directions

From jct I-29 (exit 112) & SR 175: Go 1 mi W on SR 175, then 1-1/2 mi N on Dogwood Ave.

Address

21788 Dogwood Avenue
Onawa, IA 51040

Coordinates

42.04332057 N
96.15639936 W

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Connectivity

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T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Last on 6/26/25
Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 3 users
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 1 user

Detours Nearby

LOCAL FAVORITES PRESENTED BY

Huff - Warner Access Area

6 min away

Browns Lake Bigelow Park Woodbury County Park

16 min away

Drive Time

Presented by

26 min from Sioux City
52 min from Omaha
1 hr 35 min from Sioux Falls
1 hr 38 min from Lincoln

Connectivity

Presented by

T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Last on 6/26/25
Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 3 users
AT&T5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 1 user

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Cabins
Tent Cabin
Yurts
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Market
ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
WiFi
Showers
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

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Edward B.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 24, 2025

Convenient and quiet

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.

Site13

Month of VisitSeptember

Laura N.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2025

Rude Manager, Unsafe Site, and Terrible Customer Service

We travel full-time with a 40′ fifth wheel and have stayed at many KOAs— but this was by far the worst experience we’ve had. Upon arrival, we were placed in Site 29, which was muddy on both sides, narrow, and clearly not suitable for a rig of our size. We asked for another option and were moved to Site 27, which wasn’t much better. The sites here are shockingly narrow— barely enough width to safely open your slides, let alone enjoy the space. When my husband asked why no gravel had been put down, the staff responded that it had been raining a lot. He said,“Don’t make excuses for someone else. That pisses me off.” He didn’t yell, threaten, or use foul language— just expressed his frustration after a long day on the road. The employee left without issue. Minutes later, the manager came to our site angry, accused my husband of cursing at her staff, and demanded we pack up and leave immediately, despite us having already set up. When I tried to clarify what had actually been said, she refused to listen and insisted she believed her employee. She even told us she“couldn’t help that people didn’t know how to drive,” which I guess was her explanation for the mud— an inappropriate and dismissive response. Meanwhile, we took photos of visible cracks in the soil— clearly it hadn’t been as wet as claimed. To make things worse:• There’s almost no signage for this KOA until you’re practically on top of it— very difficult to find without GPS.• Another campground nearby welcomed us without issue and told us we weren’t the first to show up after leaving this KOA due to similar poor treatment. We’ll be sharing this experience on our blog and social media platforms— and we’ve heard this manager has a habit of calling guests liars when she receives bad reviews. So let me be clear: we stayed there, we have the photos, the receipt, and the conversation details. This was an unacceptable experience, and we strongly recommend avoiding this KOA.

Site29

Month of VisitJuly

Sandra W.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 26, 2021

There are better places

Sites are very cramped. Staff less than friendly. Lake is nice, but shore needs maintenance and to have trees and brush cut back. Shower house is nice and clean. Does have full hookup.

Sitelake front premium

Month of VisitSeptember

Travis C.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 27, 2021

Horrible experience

We came In about 5pm, the place was almost completely flooded. And with not that much rain either .

Spots are essentially on top of each other. Luckily it was me sandwiched between family members but the spots are garbage.

Town was under a boil advisory, and a pretty bad one at that. We never found that out from our hosts.

The drive home to ohio was not pleasant for anyone in our party.

If you have a chance to pass this and just choose somewhere else; I would.

Shower houses were clean at least but there was zero water pressure. I literally had to wash my body with a trickle of water: at least it was warm (unlike my wife’s shower she had which was freezing cold)

Stay away!!

Site119

Month of VisitJune

Jennifer S.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2021

Nice campground, tight sites

Nicely maintained, beautiful lake, clean restrooms and nice pool and playground. Great helpful people! But virtually no space between sites.

Month of VisitJune

Brent L.

Scout

Reviewed May. 12, 2021

Extremely Rude

Tried this place one time last year (first time rv camping and first koa experience). We had never been to this place and were yelled at on multiple occasions on the first day for supposed "campground rule" violations that weren't posted. The owners, rather than approach us and calmly speak to us, chose to immediately start screaming at us. Spoke to others camped around us and they said this is just how the owners are. Wouldn't go back unless there's a complete ownership/ management change.

Month of VisitJuly

Tony B.

Legend

Reviewed Sep. 11, 2020

Not my kind of place I guess

I stopped by here at this site. And honestly I was not really all the impressed. I will say they do have some kind of security. Because I was not in the park long trying to visit a friend. Before I was approached and asked for a park pass. They do have a swimming pool on premises. But the sites were almost on top of each other. And honestly people were not real friendly. The lake access was nowhere as good as the Lewis and Clark side of Blue Lake. I guess just not my kind of camping.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cabin options are available at Onawa KOA near Blue Lake?

Specific details about cabin options at Onawa-Blue Lake KOA aren't extensively documented. The campground does focus primarily on RV camping with full hookup sites. For current information about cabin availability, amenities, and pricing, it's best to contact the KOA directly or check their official website. KOAs typically offer various cabin styles ranging from basic units to deluxe cabins with bathrooms, but exact offerings vary by location.

Are there RV rentals available at Onawa KOA in Iowa?

There's no specific information indicating that Onawa-Blue Lake KOA offers RV rentals on-site. The campground primarily provides spaces for visitors bringing their own RVs, with full hookup capabilities available. For those interested in renting an RV while staying at this KOA, it would be advisable to check with local RV rental companies in the Onawa area or contact the campground directly to inquire about any partnerships they might have with rental services.

What are visitors saying in reviews about Onawa KOA in Iowa?

Onawa-Blue Lake KOA receives mixed feedback from visitors. Positive aspects include the clean restrooms, nice swimming pool, playground, and the beautiful adjacent lake. The campground provides security and has full hookups available. However, many visitors note that the campsites are very cramped with little privacy between sites. Some guests have experienced issues with flooding even after moderate rainfall. Several visitors mention concerns about staff interactions, with some finding the enforcement of rules to be overly strict. The shower house receives positive comments for cleanliness, though lake shore maintenance has been noted as an area for improvement.

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