- Find a KOA
- The KOA Difference
Why KOA?More
KOA stands out from our competitors in many ways.
- We're Everywhere
- Our Great People
- Our Amenities
- Local Attraction Knowledge
- Size (over 450 locations!)
- Experience
- Campsites & Cabins
Campsites & CabinsMore
UniqueMore
Stay in these unique lodgings and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind camping experience.
Learn More - Resources
Onawa / Blue Lake KOA
- 21788 Dogwood Avenue
- Onawa, IA 51040-8665
-
Get Directions
Directions
I-29 Exit 112, W 1 mile on Hwy 175, then N at flashing light 1 mile.
Get Google Directions
-
Reserve(800) 562-4182
-
Info(712) 423-1633
-
Email
Welcome Message
2011 President's Award
KOA President's Award
Awarded to KOAs that meet exceptional quality standards and are recognized by their guests for outstanding service.
Follow the Lewis and Clark Trail to the Onawa/Blue Lake KOA in the heart of the Loess Hills, formations created thousands of years ago when retreating glaciers left behind fine silt particles called loess.
Follow the Lewis and Clark Trail to the Onawa/Blue Lake KOA in the heart of the Loess Hills, formations created thousands of years ago when retreating glaciers left behind fine silt particles called loess (pronounced "luss"). View the topography on the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway. Relax at the quiet, rural campground with shade trees and open grassy areas. Enjoy sunsets over the lake as well as the pool, paddleboats, fun-cycles and Wi-Fi. Head to 250-acre Blue Lake to fish. Every June, the area hosts a Lewis & Clark Festival with a keelboat display, quilt show and reenactments, plus Graffiti Nights Cruise and Car Show. Watch fireworks on July 4th. In nearby Sioux City, visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the Sioux City Art Center. Spend a day at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, just an hour away.
Meet Your Hosts
If the beautiful flowers and shrubs surrounding the Owawa/Blue Lake KOA look like a lot of work for somebody, don't worry. It's a labor of love for owners Terry and Linda Bearce.
They both love landscaping, flowers and "outdoor anything," according to Linda.
Terry was a plant mechanic for Mid American Energy Company, while Linda was in customer relations for Siouxland Family Healthcare.
Since they both loved camping and being around campers, owning a KOA was a natural fit.
Campground Activities
Fishing / Boating
Excellent bass and northern pike fishing are available on Blue Lake.
Golf
Country Club course open to public.
Antique shops and auctions
Enjoy antique shops and auctions throughout the year.
Loess Hills by-ways
Loess Hills offers scenic by-ways which have been named one of the nations "10 most outstanding scenic by-ways." Scenic America, a non-profit group based in Washington D.C. cited the Loess Hills by-ways "unique scenery, geologic and cultural interest."
Local Attractions
Loess Hills
Along the shores of the Missouri river, discover historical natural wonders in the unique and beautiful Loess Hills. Loess means windblown soil. Strong winds 14,000 years ago swept silt deposits from the Missouri River Valley flood plain into huge clouds of dust, depositing them into rugged bluffs which formed the Loess Hills. Monona and Harrison counties, being the widest and deepest areas of loess soil, are considered the "Heart of the Loess Hills." The Loess Hills Scenic By-Ways in western Iowa have been named one of the nations "10 most outstanding scenic by-ways." The By-Ways stretch 220 miles across western Iowa, the full length of the Loess Hills.
Gambling Casinos
Casino Omaha includes hundreds of slot machines, blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, Big Six, restaurant, lounge and gift shop. The casino is open 7 days a week. The Casino grounds include neon palm trees, mirrored sand dunes, and a glittering fantasy entertainment oasis.
Winnavegas Casino is Western Iowa’s largest casino. You'll find over 700 vegas-style "reel" slot machines, 14 Blackjack tables, craps, roulette, Red Dog, Big Six, breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch buffets, 24-hour snack bar, full service bar and lounge. The casino is open 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Antiques and Auctions
Onawa Antiques has 30 quality dealers with their best in every category of antiques. You'll find glass, furniture, toys, vintage clothing, linens, country, primitives and more.
Museum Complex
The museum complex includes Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot and railroad memorabilia, a one-room schoolhouse, windmill, old jail and a church.
Sioux City Art Center
The Sioux City Art Center is free and has been a cultural focus for Western Iowa and the surrounding region for more than 60 years.
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is where you can explore as Lewis and Clark did, when they traveled through what is now the Sioux City area.
Sergeant Floyd River Museum
Climb aboard the dry-docked motor vessel, The Sergeant Floyd River Museum, and you will get valuable local information as well as a lesson in Missouri River history.
Click on the links below for more area information:
www.iowatheater.com
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge
Loess Hills Scenic By-Way
Graffiti Night Annual Car Show and Nostalgic Cruise
Council Bluffs Visitors Guide
Onawa Chamber of Commerce
Location
Our KOA is located in rural setting on shore of 250-acre, largemouth bass and northern pike producing lake. We are close to gambling casinos, wildlife areas and other attractions.
Paved Access
Shady, Grassy Sites
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
This 110 acre zoo featuring the Scott Aquarium, Lied Jungle - the world’s largest indoor rain forest - and hundreds of animals like tigers, gorillas, elephants, rhinos and giraffes. Get a bird’s eye view of this world-famous Zoo as you hop aboard the steam train or tram.
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge and Bertrand Excavation Site
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge is part of a network of refuges devoted to preserving migratory waterfowl and other wildlife. Visit the pond where the hull of the 178 foot steamboat Bertrand lies buried. Displays explain its excavation and the historic significance of the Missouri river steamboat era.
Riverboat Casinos - Sioux City and Council Bluff
The Belle of Sioux City Casino is Sioux City's premiere riverboat casino. The 1920 styled vessel features over 12,000 square feet of gaming excitement spread over three decks surrounded by huge panoramic windows for spectacular views. They have over 400 slots, Blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, Caribbean stud poker and video keno as well as lunch and dinner buffets. The Belle offers a wide variety of dining and entertainment choices to suit any preference.
Ameristar Casino is located in Council Bluffs. It features the area's finest full-service casino with all of your favorite table games. The riverboat is richly appointed and compliments the elegant Victorian-style architecture of the resort. The interior of the riverboat also features high ceilings and a spacious gaming layout normally found only in larger land-based casinos. 1,000 slot and video poker machines and craps, blackjack and roulette.
Harveys Casino is located in Council Bluffs. Combining the excitement of the present and the nostalgia of the past, Harveys Casino is an entertainment experience you can't afford to miss. An enclosed promenade connects the hotel to the Kanesville Queen, a replica of a grand side wheeler riverboat which operates mostly dockside, allowing guests to come and go as they please. The spacious casino offers 892 new slot machines, video poker, video keno, live Keno games and 50 exciting table games.
Rosenblatt Stadium - Home of the Omaha Royals Baseball Club
Lewis and Clark Park - Sioux City Explorers Baseball Team
Come and catch the excitement with an outing at Lewis and Clark Park to see the Sioux City Explorers professional baseball club.
Upcoming Events
June
Lewis and Clark Festival - Second Weekend in June - Keelboat display, muzzle loader shoot, fun run, quilt show, music, 1880’s crafts and demonstrations, reenactments and encampments. Graffiti Night - Third Saturday in June - Cruise the widest main street in the nation. Enjoy 50’s music, dance and a car show.
July
Independence Day Celebration - 4th of July - Fireworks over campground lake. Monona County Fair - July - Livestock and farm equipment show.
Car Show - third Saturday in August.
Don't miss western Iowa’s largest one day car show.
Independence Day Celebration - 4th of July
Enjoy fireworks over the campground lake.
