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:
While camping is the perfect time to relax around a campfire and go sightseeing on hiking trails, it is also ideal for spending quality time with friends and family. One of the best ways to create a fun, memorable trip is to incorporate plenty of family camping games.
Outdoor camping games are great because they let everyone get active, soak up the sun and get fresh air. Here are some of the best outdoor games to play while camping.
The game of checkers is a fun way to help children develop critical thinking skills, and turning it into an oversized lawn version makes it even more exciting! To create your own portable outdoor checkers game, you need:
To create the game, spray paint a traditional checkboard pattern onto the sheet or tablecloth. Then, paint 12 of the bucket lids one color and the other 12 a different color — these are your checker pieces. You can stick to traditional colors, like black and red or black and white, but feel free to get as creative as you would like.
Cornhole is a classic outdoor game, and all you need to play is two to four players, a set of cornhole boards and bean bags.
Here is how it works:
Like all games, there are rule variations for cornhole. Tailor it to the age ranges participating and the time you have available to play to make it the most fun for everyone.
Ladder ball goes by many names, including ladder toss and ladder golf. Whatever you call it, it is a popular lawn game that involves two ladder-like structures and “bolas,” which are two golf balls attached by a nylon rope. Each player gets three bolas and tosses them at the ladders. Different points are assigned to each rung of the ladder — three for the top, two for the middle and one for the bottom. It is also possible to score additional points by landing a bola on each rung. As players take turns tossing, they can knock other players’ bolas off a rung. The first person to reach but not exceed 21 points wins the game.
What better way to end the day than by tossing a few horseshoes while enjoying each other’s company? This is one outdoor game that both adults and kids will love playing. Some campgrounds, like select Kampground of America locations, include horseshoes as an on-site amenity.
Frisbee is a beloved outdoor game because it is easy to play, and you can involve anyone — including your friends, kids and even your dog! There are also endless different ways to play the game.
Some popular Frisbee games include:
Ringtoss is a fun carnival game you can easily adapt to fit whatever materials you have on hand. For example, instead of empty glass bottles, you can use filled soda, juice and water bottles from your camping cooler. After the game, let the winner keep whichever drinks they toss a ring around!
To make your own rings, all you need is:
Use the scissors or knife to cut the rope into the correct length to fit around your bottles. Once cut, hot glue both cut ends of the rope and attach them in a circular shape. Continue to secure the ends together until the hot glue is completely dry. If using ribbon, add more hot glue to the outside of the rope ring, where the two seams meet. Cut a small piece of ribbon and wrap it around the seam. If you do not want to use ribbon, decorative masking or washi tape will look just as good. Repeat this process until you have at least 10 rings.
To make your ringtoss game a day-long event, set up a craft station at the picnic table and decorate the bottles together before playing.
Capture the flag is one of the best games for camping trips because its something kids and adults can play together. It is also a great way to promote fitness, teamwork, healthy competition and strategic thinking.
Here is how you play:
You can easily adapt this game to fit several teams if you have a large group and ample playing space.
Beat the heat with an exciting water balloon game! There are several types of water balloon games you can choose from, depending on your group’s age and how much space you have available. Change into your swim gear or an old t-shirt and spend the day playing one of the following:
With any of these games, be sure to collect any balloon pieces afterward!
When it comes to camping games for kids, few are as fun and simple to play as tug-of-war.
The only things you need to play are:
Divide the playing area into two separate sections, clearly marking the dividing line. Find the center of the playing rope and tie the ribbon or flag. Have your group separate into two equal teams — each side should have roughly the same number of players, as well as weight. The first to tug the flag onto their side of the dividing line wins!
You could play Jenga on an outdoor picnic table if you would like, but why not try your hand at an oversized, outdoor-friendly version? You can find lawn-sized Jenga games to purchase, but it is also possible to make your own out of six 8-foot 2-by-4 boards. To keep your do-it-yourself lawn Jenga set in-tact, apply a wood protectant, so it does not warp when it is exposed to the moisture in the air.
You play lawn Jenga just like you would the boxed version:
An obstacle course is among the top games to play camping because you can use whatever space and materials you have on-hand. The idea is to create a course that is simple enough for your youngest player to complete, but challenging enough that it requires careful thinking and maneuvering.
Some fun camping obstacle course ideas include:
While camping is the ideal time to get outdoors, there is still plenty of fun to be had from the comfort of your RV, tent or cabin. Whether you are waiting out a rainy day or looking for a creative way to unwind after all your outdoor adventures, here are some of the best indoor camping games for families.
Card games are an easy way to relax and unwind at the end of a busy day outdoors. They can also help children develop their concentration and memory.
Some popular family card games include:
Before choosing a card game, remember to check the recommended playing age. Some are ideal for families with young children, while others are better suited for older kids and teens.
Spoons might technically be a card game, but it involves a little bit more attention and quick-thinking than Go Fish or Uno. To play this game, you will need a table large enough for all players to sit comfortably, a deck of playing cards and a plastic or metal spoon for every player except for one. The goal of this game is not to be the player left without a spoon at the end of the round.
Here is how you play:
No matter who is playing, charades is a guaranteed way to get the whole group laughing. To play, just write down the names of movies, books, cartoon characters, well-known phrases, celebrities or even camping related activities onto slips of folded paper. Toss the papers into a bowl and then take turns choosing and acting out the item listed without using your voice.
A full-scale treasure or scavenger hunt might be a little tricky in a tent, but RV and cabin campers will love it! There are endless ways to have an indoor treasure hunt. For example, you could turn it into an educational experience for your kids by having them find different pieces of camping equipment based on a set of clues. You could also transform your treasure hunt into a puzzle challenge by hiding the pieces of a puzzle around your cabin or RV. Make it even more challenging by dividing into teams and hiding two different puzzles — the first team to find, collect and assemble all their puzzle pieces wins!
If you have some disposable cups lying around your campsite, you can use them for several types of stacking games. Have each person choose a different surface to work from and see who can build the tallest tower, or hold a “Minute to Win It” style game, where teams race against each other to see who can stack and unstack cup towers the fastest. You could also reuse the same plastic cups for a game of indoor bowling or mini-golf.
For this indoor game, print premade camping-themed bingo cards from the internet or make your own out of cardstock and stickers. If you go the homemade route, consider filling your Bingo card with pictures of camping-related things, like a tent, fishing pole, bear, tree, campfire or sleeping bag. For place markers, use coins, candy pieces, marshmallows or bring along washable paint daubers. You could also combine your Bingo game with another game, like trivia or a treasure hunt, to make it even more interactive.
The best part about trivia games is that you can adapt them to any age group or subject matter. Try turning basic trivia into an interactive competition between family members to see who can rack up the most points. You can also use camping-related trivia questions to teach your kids important outdoor lessons.
Some camping inspired topics you could use when crafting trivia include:
Board games are traditional family entertainment for a reason — there are many types to choose from, and they are fun for every age. There are even camping and nature-inspired variations of some of the most popular board games, so you can stick with your theme.
Some of the best indoor cabin games include:
You can also use pieces from different board games to create your own unique game.
Who knew a game about following the rules could be so much fun? Kids will love this classic indoor game, and it will help them learn things like sequencing skills, awareness and motor development.
Try out some of these commands for an entertaining, educational playtime:
In addition to the indoor and outdoor games you bring yourself, KOA has plenty of entertainment to keep you busy. All campgrounds have fun playgrounds, as well as level and spacious campsites for you to play your own lawn games. For indoor activities, enjoy the comfort of a Camping Cabin or hook up your RV to a Back-In or Pull-Thru RV site.
Select KOA locations feature additional on-site amenities, such as:
Contact your chosen KOA location for more information about available amenities and events.
Are you ready for a fun-filled family getaway? With plenty of comfortable ways to stay and endless on-site amenities, KOA is the perfect spot for your next vacation. Find a KOA location to get started — just don’t forget to pack the games!
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