Are you looking for the top spots for Lake Okoboji Camping? Keep reading to find out!
Also known as Iowa’s Great Lakes, the Lake Okoboji Region encompasses several bodies of water, including West Okoboji Lake, East Okoboji Lake, Minnewashta Lake, and Big Spirit Lake.
This region is renowned as an angler’s paradise as well as a hotspot for swimming, boating, and other water sports.
Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or a serene place to park your RV for the summer, you’ll find it below.
So read on to discover the 10 best places for Lake Okoboji camping.
West Okoboji Lake
Let’s first set our sights on West Okoboji, one of the largest lakes in the region. Here are the top camping spots near this pristine lake.
1. Gull Point State Park
A trip to Gull State Park ensures a wide array of recreational opportunities, whether on the beautiful waters of West Okoboji Lake or the peaceful woodland.
If you envision spending a day lounging in the sand, you have multiple beaches to choose from, and most include boat ramps for easy access to the lake. Whether you want to sail, canoe, or water ski the day away, this campground makes it happen.
When you’re not enjoying the lake, you can check out the 1.5-mile self-guided interpretive trail, where you’ll learn about the cultural and natural history of the region.
After soaking up the knowledge of the area, you can observe the wide variety of wildlife and even catch a glimpse of a white-tailed deer if you’re lucky. This same trail is also open for cross-country skiing during the winter, so you can enjoy the peaceful woods after a fresh snowfall.
Gull Point Campground has electric and non-electric sites and includes a spacious lodge that you can reserve for group activities. This Lake Okoboji camping destination is among the most popular in the area, so see what all the hype is about and plan your visit today.
2. Emerson Bay Campground
Emerson Bay State Park is another Lake Okoboji camping spot that’s conveniently located right on the water. While smaller than Gull Point, this Emerson Bay has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a modern campground, including paved roads, boat ramps, bathroom/shower facilities, and electric hookups on each site.
When you stay at Emerson Bay State Park, you’ll be a stone’s throw away from one of Iowa’s best fishing spots. Try your luck at catching walleye, catfish, or pike in the well-stocked lake.
When you’re not fishing, you can laze the afternoon away at the sandy beach while taking in the glistening waters. Plan a lakeside picnic with the whole family and let the setting instill tranquility.
If you’re planning a group camping trip, check out the Emerson Bay Lighthouse Point, where you can reserve a shelter conveniently located on the sandy beach.
Emerson Bay Campground is a must-see Lake Okoboji camping destination if you want to enjoy a smaller-scale outdoor experience.
3. Cutty’s Resort Club
Since 1982, Cutty’s Resort Club has been providing members with fun-filled vacations and long-lasting memories. It’s the ideal setting for families to unwind, relax, and reconnect with one another, all in the picturesque backdrop of Lake Okoboji.
Located just off the lake, Cutty’s offers 300 RV and tent sites with hookups to power, cable, water, and sewer. The practicality of this campground makes it a contender to be reckoned with, but the activities are the real selling point.
This resort includes an indoor pool, mini-golf course, volleyball and basketball court, and multiple playgrounds. You’ll even find a full-stocked arcade to provide fun for the whole family.
Cutty’s is open year-round, so you can plan a getaway regardless of the season. Check out this Lake Okoboji camping destination to become a member today.
4. Camp Boji
Looking for a fantastic spot to park your RV next summer? Check out Camp Boji for a top-rated Lake Okoboji camping vacation.
This seasonal RV park offers 53 sites in the heart of Iowa’s Great Lakes region. There’s also a rental cabin with a fully stocked kitchen and bathroom if you want to enjoy a more modern lodging experience.
Camp Boji is conveniently located steps away from West Okoboji Lake and just seven blocks from Arnolds Amusement Park. You can easily spend a day checking out the park’s wooden roller coaster, maritime museum, and scuba area. When you’ve exhausted yourself with fun-filled activities, return to the campground and enjoy a relaxing, crackling fire.
While you can’t stay at Camp Boko for a weekend getaway, you can reserve a site for a month or season. Just be sure to plan early because this Lake Okoboji camping destination quickly books up.
East Okoboji Lake
Let’s keep our Lake Okoboji camping guide rolling by checking out some of the best camping sites on East Okoboji Lake.
5. Elinor Bedell State Park
Located on the shore of East Lake Okoboji, Elinor Bedell is one of Iowa’s newest state parks. Despite the recent induction into the system, this campground is already making waves as a premiere destination.
You’ll discover 80 acres of prairies, wetlands, and oak savanna landscapes that encompass the camping area, creating a picturesque setting to enjoy during a weeklong vacation.
The park features an extensive system of paved hiking trails, including a raised boardwalk through wetland areas. These trails are approximately 7,500 feet long and accessible for those with mobility impairments.
This campground is welcoming to RVs, with full hookups at each site. You’ll also find modern restrooms and a trailer dump station on the premises. There is a small area for tent camping, but it’s reserved only for youth groups.
If you’re looking for a Lake Okoboji camping area that immerses you in nature, you can’t beat Elinor Bedell State Park.
6. Ranch RV Park
Looking for a great Lake Okoboji camping spot to park your RV for the whole season? Check out Ranch RV Park, where the convenient location places you a hop, skip, and jump away from East Okoboji Lake.
The affordable price includes complimentary water, trash disposal, and wireless internet. The electricity is metered, but this is a small price to pay considering the inexpensive rates.
This RV campground is wrapped with mature trees and sits right on a beautiful bike trail that takes you through the Lake Okoboji region.
There are 54 spots, but be sure to book early since they fill up fast.
Minnewashta Lake
Despite being the slightest body of water in the region, Minnewashta lake offers the same fishing, boating, and swimming opportunities on a smaller scale. Check out these top places to camp on Minnewashta lake.
7. Oar’s Campground
Situated just east of Minnewasta Lake, Oars Campground has been offering premier Lake Okoboji camping since 1966.
Golfing, restaurants, summer theaters, and historical sites are nearby, and Arnolds Amusement Park is within walking distance.
This serene spot includes spaces for RV parking that rent seasonally and four weekend spots for family and friends of existing campers.
If you’re looking for a quiet spot with friendly neighbors, you can’t beat Oars Campground.
8. Minnewashta Campground
Do you want to wake up right next to Minnewashta Lake? Check out Minnewashta Campground for an enjoyable camping experience.
This park is small but mighty, with only 15 sites that are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis. You’ll find multiple restrooms with a single shower in each.
There’s a boat ramp that provides easy access to the lake. You can stay for up to 2 weeks at this quiet spot. If you prefer to camp in a more secluded area, you’ll love this Lake Okoboji camping spot.
9. Fieldstone RV Park
Fieldstone RV Park offers 200 deluxe seasonal spots with full hookups to water, sewer, and individual electric meters. You’ll love the close proximity to the lakes, public parks, golf courses, and boat ramps.
With modern amenities like bathrooms, showers, and a laundry room, you can rest comfortably at Fieldstone while accessing the plentiful natural attractions nearby. This Lake Okoboji camping destination is the ideal place to spend the long days of summer.
Big Spirit Lake
Let’s end our Lake Okoboji camping guide with the largest body of water in Iowa, Big Spirit Lake. This shallow lake offers over 5,500 acres of pristine waters to explore and ensures plentiful fishing for the avid angler.
10. Marble Beach Recreation Area
Marble Beach is one of Iowa’s most popular campgrounds and includes easy access to some of the best fishing in the state.
A boat ramp situated right on site provides effortless entry to explore the vast waters. You’ll find an ample supply of fish like bass, crappie, and perch, to name a few.
The campground has been recently renovated and includes sites with full electric and water hookups for RVs and primitive sites for tenting. There are modern restroom and shower facilities and a sanitary dump station.
The paved paths at Marble Beach connect to several trails in the region, so you can spend the afternoon hiking without getting in the car.
All these reasons combined make Marble Beach Recreation Area the ideal Lake Okoboji camping destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Best Places for Lake Okoboji Camping: Summed Up
Whether you want to explore the vast waters of Big Spirit Lake or traverse the boardwalks of Elinor Bedell State Park, Lake Okoboji camping is something every Midwesterner needs to do at least once.
Looking for more camping guides? Check out our Outdoors page to plan your next wilderness adventure.
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Born in Madelia, MN, to a now 5-generation Minnesota family, Ryan’s MN roots go deep.
A painter by day, Ryan founded Life in Minnesota in 2013 with his wife Kelly to chronicle their musings on everything Minnesota. Ryan and Kelly are raising their 7 kiddos in Maple Grove, MN.
When he’s not shuttling his kids around to hockey practice, you might find him in the shop working on his leatherwork. Undoubtedly, there will be a family trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area every summer, and of course weekends at Grandpa’s cabin up north in the summer.