Campgrounds and RV parks near Anthon, IA

The biggest draw west of Anthon is Lewis and Clark State Park on Blue Lake, a 250-acre oxbow of the Missouri River popular for boating, swimming, fishing, and paddling. A full-size reproduction of the Corps of Discovery keelboat is on display, and the seasonal visitor center covers the 1804 expedition. South of town, the Loess Hills offer some of the best hiking in Iowa. Preparation Canyon State Park and roughly 12,000 acres of adjacent public land provide hiking trails and deer and turkey hunting. Loess Hills State Forest adds ridge-top overlooks and gravel scenic drives. Sioux City adds indoor options for rainy days, including the Sioux City Public Museum and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center across the river in South Dakota.

The main RV season in this part of Iowa runs from late April through mid-October. Iowa state parks, including Lewis and Clark, typically open water and shower buildings once overnight temperatures reliably stay above freezing, then shut water service back off in mid to late October. From November 1 through March 31, all Iowa state park campsites revert to walk-in, first-come, first-served status, with no advance reservations accepted. Summer is peak season. Weekends around Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day fill first at Blue Lake and at the Onawa KOA, and shaded sites tend to book out earliest. Mosquitoes are heaviest in June and July near the oxbow lakes. Fall brings cool nights, low humidity, and strong color in the Loess Hills, and it is one of the quietest times to camp aside from the opening of shotgun deer season in early December. Loess Hills Hideaway Cabins and Campground stays open year round, though winter camping is limited to self-contained rigs.

Expect a rural, agricultural landscape with gravel county roads connecting most of the smaller campgrounds. Cell coverage is patchy in the Loess Hills, so plan navigation and reservations before leaving pavement. Hookups vary. Private parks near Onawa generally offer full hookups with 30 and 50 amp service, while Lewis and Clark State Park has a mix of electric and full-hookup sites along Blue Lake, plus a central dump station. Loess Hills Hideaway has six grassy RV and tent sites with gravel pads and 30 to 35 amp electric, no water fill or sewer, with the nearest potable water and dump station about 15 minutes away at Pisgah City Park. Sites at Loess Hills Hideaway accommodate rigs up to 32 feet, and not all pads are level, so bring blocks.