Emerson Bay State Recreation Area
Iowa State Park
Write a Review 3100 Emerson St Okoboji, IA 51351 712-337-3211 Reservations: 877-427-2757 Official WebsiteGPS: 43.357, -95.1767
Overview of Emerson Bay State Recreation Area
Last Price Paid: $25
Reported by Alternate Roads on 9/15/2024
Longest RV Reported: 35 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by Our Simple Adventures on 7/1/2022
Number of Sites 82
Pad Type gravel
Reservations yes
Elevation 1,377 ft / 419 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 712-337-3211
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Reviews of Emerson Bay State Recreation Area 8 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 6 Users
Last reported 9/15/2024
“Not your typical state park for hiking and nature, but if your a boater it's probably perfect!”
Reviewed 9/15/2024
| Nightly rate: | $25 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 7 |
| RV Length: | 28' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We love state parks as we travel across the country. The access to hiking trails, being immersed in nature, and the peace and quiet. While this campground is ok, it's not like most state parks, in that it's a small part of a much larger private home owned lake community. You drive through a neighborhood to enter and exit it. The ... more
We love state parks as we travel across the country. The access to hiking trails, being immersed in nature, and the peace and quiet. While this campground is ok, it's not like most state parks, in that it's a small part of a much larger private home owned lake community. You drive through a neighborhood to enter and exit it.
The only trail is the paved Iowa Great Lakes trail system, which runs alongside of the busy roadways so not the kind of hiking or nature experience we expected.
The swim beach was full of weeds, some trash, and a sign that recommended against swimming or letting dogs drink the water due to algae bloom in September 24. Not sure how recent or accurate it was since the activities poster at the entry gate shed was from 2015.
It was an ok spot but we have found much better places to stay in Iowa than here. However, we also did not have a boat to play on the lake with so if you do, you'd probably like it much more that we did :)
Site 7 was level, and close to the shower house.
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Verizon 4G
Alternate Roads would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Water Front ”
Reviewed 5/16/2024
| Days stayed: | 17 |
|---|---|
| Site Number: | 1 |
Overall Rating
Great Overnight. Water Front. We Stayed At Site 17. They Have Showers, Dock, Beach, Fish Cleaning Station We Stayed In Mid May and The Campground Was 25% Full.
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Verizon 5G
camper-684243 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful and relaxing with water views. ”
Reviewed 7/1/2022
| Nightly rate: | $26 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| RV Length: | 35' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We arrived the Tuesday after Memorial Day. We were able to find a spot without having reservations. In fact it had pretty much emptied out after the holiday weekend but filled up quickly by Thursday. The sites are clean and level. The bathhouse is clean and well kept. There is a small beach next to the park and piers to fish from and ... more
We arrived the Tuesday after Memorial Day. We were able to find a spot without having reservations. In fact it had pretty much emptied out after the holiday weekend but filled up quickly by Thursday. The sites are clean and level. The bathhouse is clean and well kept. There is a small beach next to the park and piers to fish from and boat dock. The lacks view is breathtaking with beautiful sunsets. There is so much to do in the area all close by. Great bike trails right to town.
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Verizon 4G
Our Simple Adventures would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Very nice state park campground”
Reviewed 5/31/2022
| Nightly rate: | $26 |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 4 |
| Site Number: | 70 |
| RV Length: | 24' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We stayed here over Memorial Day weekend. They have both reservable and day-of sites. The campground was full. The park is well maintained. Our site was level, and the grass around was neatly trimmed. We had FHU. Many sites are electric only. The campground host, Angie, was very personable and available. The beach is nice. Man... more
We stayed here over Memorial Day weekend. They have both reservable and day-of sites. The campground was full. The park is well maintained. Our site was level, and the grass around was neatly trimmed. We had FHU. Many sites are electric only. The campground host, Angie, was very personable and available. The beach is nice. Many people use the boat ramp for launching their boats, pontoons and jet skis.
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Verizon 5G
Jon would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful spot.”
Reviewed 6/21/2021
| Days stayed: | 3 |
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| Site Number: | 5 |
Overall Rating
The location of this park is great. It is right on the lake with a nice adjoining beach area. Though our site (#5) was on the small side, the campground itself was well kept. It also has direct access to the bike trail and is a short drive to stores, etc. We were traveling through in the summer of 2020 and this was a nice area to stop ... more
The location of this park is great. It is right on the lake with a nice adjoining beach area. Though our site (#5) was on the small side, the campground itself was well kept. It also has direct access to the bike trail and is a short drive to stores, etc. We were traveling through in the summer of 2020 and this was a nice area to stop over. It was pretty full mid-week mid-June and seems like a very popular park.
Footloose would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Our Go-To For Ourselves and Guests”
Reviewed 1/6/2020
| RV Length: | 35' (Class A) |
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Overall Rating
We love this park! This lovely little park can accommodate the largest of rigs. The 50amp pull-thrus in the center of the campground are HUGE! The bathhouses are incredibly clean every time we have been there. The view of the lake is so nice and there is a sandy beach a short walk from the main campground area, as well as a boat la... more
We love this park! This lovely little park can accommodate the largest of rigs. The 50amp pull-thrus in the center of the campground are HUGE! The bathhouses are incredibly clean every time we have been there. The view of the lake is so nice and there is a sandy beach a short walk from the main campground area, as well as a boat launch. It's not a huge park, and in the summer months it is very popular, as is the whole Iowa Great Lakes area. The park packs up every weekend in the summer and can still be very busy during the summer weekdays. Early fall, on weekdays, is my favorite time to be in Okoboji. The weather is still warm enough to enjoy all the lakes area has to offer, but the crowd has died down a bit.
Verizon 4G
Go That Road would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Busy, but lovely and great price”
Reviewed 10/8/2019
| Nightly rate: | $11 |
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| Days stayed: | 2 |
| Site Number: | 3 |
| RV Length: | 28' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
We paid the off season rate, but even at $14 this is a steal for an electric hook-up. No discount if you don’t need electric. Sites are close together and not much privacy, will accommodate any size rig, mostly back-in on gravel pads. The lake is lovely. There is a playground and boat launch and several fishing docks. Good paved r... more
We paid the off season rate, but even at $14 this is a steal for an electric hook-up. No discount if you don’t need electric. Sites are close together and not much privacy, will accommodate any size rig, mostly back-in on gravel pads. The lake is lovely. There is a playground and boat launch and several fishing docks. Good paved roads throughout . The showers were endless at no extra a charge, hot and clean. They said they turn off the water on Oct 15. The restrooms were spotless and heated! The whole place was spotlessly clean. There was some daytime noise from boaters. The highway is close enough that there is noise from that also.
This is actually in a resort community so if you like it rustic, you might want to go to Gull Point down the road a couple of miles. Still offers same prices and electric and showers in a more natural environment.
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Verizon 4G
JoyFull Coyote would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Gorgeous, great location, stupid cheap”
Reviewed 7/13/2018
| Nightly rate: | $19 |
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| Days stayed: | 5 |
| Site Number: | 81 |
| RV Length: | 34' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
This is a great campground. It's close to everything, on the bike trails, on the lake and it's so cheap! We stayed in a site with full hookup so we didn't have a great view of the lake, but just a short walk in any direction will get you to a dock or the shore. The sites along the shore with great views are electric and water, some ... more
This is a great campground. It's close to everything, on the bike trails, on the lake and it's so cheap!
We stayed in a site with full hookup so we didn't have a great view of the lake, but just a short walk in any direction will get you to a dock or the shore. The sites along the shore with great views are electric and water, some just electric, and with no honeywagon service, we'd rather sacrifice the views to not have to tear down and dump.
The downsides: the gravel pads make things a little messy and they have a rule that you can't leave dogs unattended in your RV, so we had to splurge on doggy daycare for one day.
You won't find a better deal anywhere.
Sam B Strand would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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12 reviews
Okoboji, Iowa; where we got married and love to visit as often as possible.
Okoboji, Iowa. A hidden gem in an otherwise boring state. AKA, my favorite place on the planet. The Backstory I’m going to give you all the backstory behind why we make the trip to Okoboji every year....
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Amenities
Hookups
- 50 Amp
- 30 Amp
- 20 Amp
- water
- sewer
- Full Hookups
Recreation
- boat ramp
- fishing
- picnic area
- playground
- recreation trail
- swimming beach
- water access
Site Amenities
- big rig
- fire ring
- picnic table
- pull thru
Facilities
- dump station
- restrooms: flush
- showers
- trash
- water available
Pets
- pets
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