Canoeing/Kayaking

Split Rock Park Campground

7 RV Sites, 20 Tent Sites

Split Rock Park Campground in Garretson, South Dakota, offers seven RV sites with 30-amp electric service and 20 tent sites on the banks of Split Rock Creek, sized for rigs to 40 feet with fire pits and picnic tables. A boat ramp and playground sit beside a natural waterfall where the creek cuts through pink Sioux quartzite. Seven back-in sites carry 30-amp electric only, sized to 40 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables — there are no water or sewer hookups, so arrive self-contained. Twenty tent sites cover simpler camping. Restrooms and portable toilets serve the grounds. This is a community park rather than a commercial campground, and the infrastructure reflects that honestly. Pets are welcome. The geology is the reason to come. Split Rock Creek cuts through exposed pink Sioux quartzite to form a natural waterfall and narrow gorge — a landscape of ancient bedrock and clear spring-fed water that contrasts sharply with the flat agricultural plains surrounding Garretson. A boat ramp gives paddlers direct launch access, with fishing, canoeing, and kayaking from the creek, and a playground for families. The combination of geological uniqueness, creek fishing, and paddling launch infrastructure gives this small park genuine regional draw well beyond its size. Garretson sits on the northwestern edge of town in eastern South Dakota, within easy reach of Sioux Falls. The campground serves the short northern plains season, with summer paddling and fishing carrying the demand and fall bringing quieter conditions along the creek. With seven RV sites, reserve ahead for summer weekends.

from $20/night

Wilder Park

52 RV Sites, 6 Tent Sites

Wilder Park in Allison, Iowa, offers 51 RV sites and six tent sites across 88 acres, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet. Full-hookup and water-and-electric categories in both back-in and pull-through join two fishing ponds, a disc golf course, mini-golf, and a storm shelter. Fifty-one sites run in 30/50-amp water-and-electric back-in, water-electric-and-sewer back-in, and water-electric-and-sewer pull-through categories, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and site WiFi. Six tent sites round out the accommodations. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, and a storm shelter sits on the grounds — a genuine safety feature in Iowa. The recreational range is unusually broad for a park this size. Two fishing ponds support angling and paddle boats, with a boat ramp for canoeing and kayaking. A disc golf course, mini-golf, ball field, sports courts, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, walking trails, hiking, biking, a playground, dog park, library, and community fire pit fill the 88 acres, with planned activities through the season. Off-roading is nearby. Pets are welcome. Allison sits on Iowa Highway 3 in Butler County, and the park works as both a genuine destination and a practical overnight for travelers crossing the state. The J&C Grocery, Allison Variety Store, and municipal swimming pool are in town, with Waverly 25 minutes away, Cedar Falls 35, Mason City 60, and five golf courses in the area. Summer is peak. Reserve ahead for warm-weather weekends.

from $16/night

Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park

38 RV Sites

Lakeside Casino Resort RV Park in Osceola, Iowa, offers 38 pull-through RV sites steps from the casino, with 30 and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 60 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout. A single 30/50-amp pull-through category means no backing at any site, with a lake, outdoor pool, fitness center, and on-site dining. Thirty-eight sites are pull-through throughout, carrying water, sewer, cable TV, and site WiFi, sized to 60 feet, with picnic tables. One consistent spec and no guesswork. A general store, dump station, restrooms, showers, and a business center handle the practical side. Two seasonal notes worth planning around: the main water is shut off for the winter beginning December 1, with potable water available at the north end of the park, and in severe weather or a tornado warning guests should seek shelter as directed on arrival. An outdoor pool and fitness center anchor the property, with a lake supporting boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming, plus hiking and on-site dining. The casino sits immediately adjacent. Pets are welcome. The casino adjacency is the whole proposition — a full-hookup RV park where the gaming floor, restaurants, and entertainment are a walk rather than a drive, which is a genuinely uncommon combination in Iowa. Clarke County sits on I-35 about 45 minutes south of Des Moines, which also makes this a practical interstate stop. Demand runs year-round on casino traffic rather than a tourist season, with summer the peak. Reserve ahead for event weekends, and plan around the winter water shutoff.

from $45/night

Hidden Bluffs Resort

Hidden Bluffs Resort near Spring Grove, Minnesota, offers a peaceful family camping experience in the scenic Driftless Area. This distinctive region of southeastern Minnesota is known for its limestone bluffs, wooded valleys, spring-fed trout streams, and rolling terrain—creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in the Upper Midwest. Accommodation options include: - Full-hookup RV sites - Comfortable cabin rentals - Traditional tent camping areas - Clean restrooms and showers - Laundry facilities - General store and on-site firewood - Wi-Fi connectivity Guests can enjoy plenty of recreation without leaving the property. More than four miles of groomed hiking trails wind through hardwood forests and limestone bluff terrain, while a spring-fed trout stream provides convenient on-site fishing access. Resort amenities include: - Outdoor swimming pool - Mini-golf course - Children’s playground - Four miles of groomed hiking trails - Spring-fed trout stream - Scenic wooded surroundings - Family-friendly recreation areas The surrounding Bluff Country offers additional opportunities for hiking, cycling, fishing, cave exploration, and sightseeing. Nearby attractions include: - Niagara Cave near Harmony - Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park - Root River State Trail - Lanesboro’s arts, shopping, and dining - Scenic towns along the Root River - Mississippi River day trips and excursions Hidden Bluffs Resort is open during Minnesota’s warm-weather camping season. Summer is ideal for family recreation, while fall brings spectacular foliage to the hardwood-covered bluffs and valleys. Advance reservations are recommended for summer holiday weekends and the popular fall color season.

Camping 109

40 RV Sites, 1 Cabin

Camping 109 in Big Stone City, SD, offers 40 full-hookup RV sites and 1 cabin, with 30 and 50-amp service. Sites come as back-ins and pull-thrus, each carrying water, sewer, and electric with a fire pit and picnic table. Maximum rig length isn't published, so call with your dimensions before booking. Laundry, a bathhouse with showers, firewood, and a dump station cover the essentials. Pets are welcome, and there's a playground. Rates are posted plainly: RV sites from $35 daily and $175 weekly, and the cabin from $250 daily. A boat ramp puts guests onto Big Stone Lake for boating, fishing, kayaking, and birding, with wine tasting nearby. Big Stone City sits on the eastern shore of Big Stone Lake in the far northeast corner of South Dakota, at a point where the state line runs straight through the water. Rates are on the booking page. Forty sites next to a boat launch on a border lake — reserve ahead for the fishing season and confirm your rig's fit.

from $35/night