Newton / Des Moines East KOA Journey Blog
Only 30 min E of Des Moines, IA, Newton KOA is the perfect overnight stop after a long day's drive
KOA Journey campgrounds are the perfect oases after a day on the road. Whether it’s along the way or a quick getaway, they’ve got you covered. Located near the highways and byways of North America with long Pull-thru RV Sites, they deliver convenience to the traveling camper. Pull in, ease back and take a load off.
KOA Journey campgrounds are the perfect oases after a day on the road. Whether it’s along the way or a quick getaway, they’ve got you covered. Located near the highways and byways of North America with long Pull-thru RV Sites, they deliver convenience to the traveling camper. Pull in, ease back and take a load off.
From I-80: Turn north at Exit 168 onto Iowa Speedway Dr. Travel about 3/4 mile and look for the "KOA" sign on left. Take a hard left in front of the lighted Newton KOA sign between Barney's towing and a church. Go 1/4 mile down our lane into our KOA.
Check in at the office and you will be assigned a site.
Relax and enjoy!
Do not rely on GPS. You may be routed needlessly through Newton. GPS: N41.684937, W93.013722
Get Google Directions
Reposted from the KOA blog:
Glamping is a type of elevated, “glamorous” camping. It offers a slightly more refined and comfortable outdoor experience compared to more traditional camping methods. You can plan a glamping trip in any of the following spots:
Part of this special experience comes from using a luxury camping tent, or glamping tent. Glamping tents may look like standard tents or could be more decorative, like a yurt or dome.
If glamping is your go-to form of camping, invest in a high-quality, spacious glamping tent that you can take with you as you explore new campgrounds. You can also upgrade the tent you already own into a high-end DIY glamping tent with a few small changes. Glamping tents come in many shapes, sizes and materials. They might look like normal outdoor tents or similar to a canvas wall tent or permanent dome structure.
If you are searching for the perfect portable glamping tent for your family, consider these factors:
Start your search with these six well-reviewed glamping tents on Amazon.
The four-season glampcamp Bell Tent has cotton canvas walls with a ripstop PVC floor and steel frame poles. The entire tent is waterproof and fire retardant with four mesh vents for airflow and natural light. At 13.1 feet in diameter, this luxury camping tent fits one king-sized bed and two twin-sized beds. It sleeps between four and 10. The tallest point reaches 98.4 inches for ample headroom.
The biggest drawback of the glampcamp Bell Tent is the price — it is among the most expensive available. However, you can use the tent for multiple purposes, doubling it as a canopy for outdoor events when you are not camping.
The Danchel Outdoor Four-Season Bell Yurt Tent is another cotton canvas unit with a PVC floor. Double-stitched seams support the snow-proof, waterproof, wind-resistant design, and four mesh windows provide plenty of light and air. Keep extra warm with a built-in 5-inch fire resistance stove jack with fiberglass on one wall.
This 10-foot tent reaches 6.5 feet tall and fits two 75-by-30-inch sleeping bags, creating enough room for three or four people to sleep comfortably. Roll up the removable groundsheet and walls to repurpose your glamping tent into a canopy or enjoy open-air camping.
Though not as costly as some similar variations, the Danchel Outdoor Four-Season Bell Yurt Tent is a considerable investment and best suited for someone who plans on spending a lot of time outdoors.
The Dream House Outdoor Family Camping Bell Tent stays true to its name by providing enough room in this Oxford-cloth dome to sleep two to four people and their mattresses. The 3-meter variation fits one or two twin-size beds, while the 5-meter can easily fit four or more people and their bedding.
The inside of the tent and the groundsheet are coated in a waterproof coating, with a sturdy galvanized steel frame keeping everything in place. Ventilation holes and windows are throughout for optimal airflow and sunlight.
The Danchel Outdoor Backpacking Lightweight Yurt is less expensive than those previously listed and looks more like a traditional tent than a canvas tent because of the green lattice Oxford walls with silver sunscreen coating for water resistance. The yurt comes complete with five ventilation windows, two ventilation holes and two windows, so you can enjoy the sights and sounds of nature when you want to.
Though this tent is only suitable for three-season use, it sleeps four to six people and sits at 13 feet in diameter, leaving plenty of room for the family. At only 25 pounds when rolled, it is also a great option for backpacking excursions.
The Wenzel Eight-Person Klondike Tent is a three-season tent with enough room for two queen-sized air beds and 6.5 feet of headroom. It looks more like a traditional tent but with a large screened-in porch area, fully protected from sun and rain. This cost-efficient option is one of the best glamping tents to buy on a budget.
Enjoy convenient pockets and vents in the roof and walls for high-low air circulation. The water-resistant polyester and polyurethane construction with fiberglass roof frame and steel supports provide long-lasting durability at a fraction of the cost of other large glamping tents.
The Core 11-Person Family Cabin Tent With Screen Room is 204 square feet of camping space, perfect for your next special event or group outing. You can easily fit three queen-sized air mattresses inside the main room. It also has an attached screen room with window panels for added space and versatility.
The tent itself looks like a standard tent but is equipped with features like a lantern hook, storage pockets and a closable electrical cord access port. It is designed with protective Core H20 Block technology with ground vents for dry airflow. The tent includes a carrying bag and weighs just under 37 pounds when not assembled.
Any tent and campsite can be a fun glamping experience with the right upgrades and special touches. Transform your next outing with these DIY tent glamping tips.
Standard camping food is enough to excite anyone, but your glamping menu should take it to the next level. As you create your menu, focus on enjoying your favorite meals and balance them with what is seasonally available.
A few tools will make this easier, like a camping grill with a built-in smoker to create another layer of flavor in your dishes and a cast iron pot, cooking grate and skillet. Bring along your favorite sauces, marinades, herbs and seasonings to infuse every meal with a special touch of flavor. Choose premium meats and vegetables from local shops or farmers’ markets when grilling instead of grocery store variations, too.
Take a look at these suggestions for your glamping menu:
Make cooking a breeze on your glamping trip by pre-prepping some ingredients and storing them in food containers and sealable bags until you are ready to use them.
Your tent might not have too much expendable space, depending on its size and how many people you are camping with, but small upgrades and decorative decisions can transform an otherwise ordinary space into a cozy oasis:
Since glamping is all about enjoying the things you love, supplement your time on the hiking trails or at the beach with these memorable activities:
Comfort is key on a glamping trip, especially when it comes to your bedding. While standard camping trips call for air mattresses, small cots or sleeping bags, the best glamping tents are equipped with soft, supportive and comfortable bedding.
Get a good night’s sleep with these upgrades:
Earplugs and a sleep mask might help you adjust if you are not used to sleeping with others nearby or in a public setting.
Your tent is only one part of the glamping experience — create a special outdoor space that your friends and family will love with these tips:
While part of the fun of traditional camping is setting up your campsite and getting hands-on with the cooking and fire pit, glamping is all about hands-free convenience.
Skip the hard work and keep things simple with these time-saving tips:
Who you bring on your glamping trip makes all the difference and can make the simplest set-ups feel like a vacation. Glamping is ideal for celebrating special occasions with loved ones, like bridal parties, birthday events or a romantic anniversary with a partner. It is also a good method for solo travel because it gives you everything you need to unwind with your favorite book or project.
Make sure your glamping campground has everything you need to have a fun, safe time, like restrooms, on-site amenities and a store to buy last-minute necessities you might forget to pack. The campground itself should be near other interesting or exciting places to enhance your trip, like a bustling city, mountain retreat, yoga studio, spa, shop-lined small town or sunny beach.
KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – offer a variety of glamping experiences to meet every camper’s need. KOA Tent Sites are level and spacious for quick, stress-free tent assembly. Upgrade your experience with a Premium Tent Site, complete with ample parking, electric hookups and a larger tent-pitching area for big groups. Keep an eye on special offerings for Patio Tent Sites, which have surfaced patios with grills and furniture.
For a more ready-to-go glamping trip, try a KOA Camping Cabin or Deluxe Cabin. All cabins come furnished with beds and electricity and offer full protection from the elements. Deluxe Cabin layouts also have private restrooms and, in some cases, may also include kitchenettes, porch swings and a KOA Patio® — contact your campground to learn more.
Looking for something a little more off-the-beaten path? KOA unique lodging options are just what you need. Depending on your KOA Campground and lodging availability, you could stay somewhere truly one-of-a-kind, like:
All locations with Glamping Tents for rent also have access to clean restrooms with hot water and laundry facilities, while select campgrounds have additional things like pet parks, restaurants, bike and kayak rentals, swimming pools, hot tubs and communal fires.
Whether you are investing in your glamping tent or creating a DIY glamping spot at your favorite campground, KOA has the campsite options you need to bring your vision to life. Every KOA campsite has the level space and nearby amenities you need to plan a vacation you will be talking about for years to come.
Choose from over 500 North American locations and start planning your glamping trip today!
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
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