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:
When you stay at Kampgrounds of America, your campsite comes with loads of amenities so you can enjoy the outdoors, like picnic tables, fire pits, grills, and even a deck or patio at some sites. But don’t be bashful about putting your personality into your site and dressing up your campsite with the comforts of home. Turn your camping into glamping with these 20 tips to create personal touches like specialty lighting, colorful decorations, and gourmet indulgences that will have your whole family asking for the next trip before this one is over.
Stake your claim to your campsite when you arrive by hanging out your welcome sign on the road leading to your site. Nothing says you’ve arrived like a personalized flag with a friendly greeting and your name on it. You can even include your hometown, which makes for a great conversation starter when meeting your neighbors.
Set up a patio area to define the space, then add your favorite camp chairs, rockers, and recliners. Toss a few throw pillows and a blanket or two in your chairs so you that early morning golden hour with your cup of coffee is comfortable.
Campground rugs are designed for outdoor use with an open weave to allow sunlight to pass through and avoid holding onto water. They are easy to wash and store and keep your tent or RV cleaner.
Find some trees nearby to give everyone a quiet place to relax in the shade. And don’t forget about the family pet—a portable play yard fence gives your dogs a safe place to join you outside and with plenty of room to rest after that a long hike.
A real book. Keep the electronics to a minimum and spend some time away from screens by relaxing with a good read.
Your RV awning is another place you can show off your decorating chops. Custom designs like the stars and stripes or sports team logos show your personality and are another great topic of conversation when fans from two campsites down stop by to admire your rig. For tent campers, a custom pop-up tent over your tailgate picnic has the same effect and is a great way to show your team spirit.
Waterproof portable speakers let you enjoy your favorite tunes while you’re on the road. For the musicians in the group, an evening campfire is an ideal setting to strum your guitar or jam with friends. Just remember to be mindful of your camping neighbors.
Find a spot in a nearby tree to hang a bird feeder to get a closer look at the native species. Use a bird-watching app (or a good old-fashioned book) to identify different species. Keep a list of all that you see.
Rather than just eating on the standard picnic table, bring along a vinyl tablecloth to spruce thing up. (Remember the fasteners to keep it from blowing away.) Get the kids on the trails to hunt for flowers, seeds, pinecones, rocks, and other treasures from the forest floor. Back in camp, turn your finds into your picnic table centerpiece, then recap the day’s adventures over dinner.
Take a large plastic container with a push-button spout (empty liquid laundry detergent containers work well), fill it with water and put it onto a table alongside a liquid soap dispenser. Now there’s an easy place to wash hands before meals.
Create some nighttime magic with unusual lighting options that take traditional propane lanterns and headlamps to the next level. Turn your campsite into a cozy retreat as the sun goes down and go green with solar lights, which you can line up at ground level along the trails and campsite border or hang in the trees for a firefly effect. Or create rope light trails through camp and string lights in the trees or under your awning to turn the cloudiest nights into starry ones.
They make for an instant party vibe.
Want the ambiance of a fire without the smoke and clean-up? The small and steady blaze of a tabletop propane firebowl or the silky fabric flames of a LED-powered electric fire are can mesmerize just like the real thing.
Bring the kids, grandparents, and everyone in between together for some friendly competition with a few easy-to-pack outdoor games that you can play in camp. Pack foldable boards and bags for a cornhole tournament or paddles and balls for some beach tennis, with or without the beach. Clean the leaves and pine needles from a long and narrow stretch of ground next to your patio to create a bocce ball court. Horseshoes and Frisbee are even easier to set up and great games for all ages.
Think out of the box when it comes to your camping kitchen to enjoy some of your home favorites in the great outdoors. Plastic wine glasses and beer steins make happy hour that much happier.
A hand-crank blender goes well with your tiki torches for a tropical-themed cocktail.
Use a French press to make the morning coffee for richer flavor and easy clean-up.
Sure, everyone loves hotdogs and burgers, but it’s fun to mix things up. Plan ahead for a meal that you don’t normally have while camping, maybe something like pasta with pesto and vegetables? Or do a make-your-own taco night, with beef or chicken cooked over the fire and an assembly station with all the toppings.
Make your trip even more memorable by celebrating the holidays at your campsite. Most KOA campgrounds celebrate major holidays like St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, and Halloween with special activities all weekend long. Join the fun by decking out your campsite with holiday flags, inflatables, holiday-themed light displays, and wreaths. Then sit back in your comfy camp chair and enjoy the parade of campers walking by to admire your decor.
The rest of the year, many KOA campgrounds host family weekends with festive themes like the Wild West, Hawaiian Luau, Mardi Gras, the County Fair. Turn your campsite into a Old West cabin with hay bales, 10-gallon cowboy hats, and stick ponies. Or break out the purple, gold, and green for Mardi Gras, with garlands, beads, jester masks, and anything else that glitters. December may be too cold for camping in some places, but many KOA campgrounds celebrate Christmas in July. This is your big chance to create a winter wonderland with Christmas lights, candy canes, inflatable snowmen and reindeer, and more. Maybe Santa will even visit and leave a present or two under the tree.
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