City, County & Regional Parks · Iowa
Big Sioux Recreation Area
City, County & Regional Parks · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 35
- Hookups
- 35 electric, 35 with water
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 1,175 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Nearest town
- Hawarden
- Address
- 84 W. 10th Street, Hawarden, IA 51023
About
Sioux County 270-acre recreation area with 90 acres of water across prairie, forest, and wetland habitats. 35 sites across two camping areas, electricity and water at all sites, sewer at about a dozen. Swimming beach, canoe/kayak/paddleboard rentals, fishing, hiking trails, and notable bird-migration viewing. Modern restrooms (seasonal) and showers. Pet friendly.
Fees
Day pass: $5/vehicle. Annual pass: $20/vehicle (also valid at Sandy Hollow Recreation Area). Additional household pass: $10/vehicle.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 12° | -23° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 34° | 14° | -23° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 49° | 29° | 5° | 73° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 60° | 37° | 17° | 85° | 8 of 11 |
| May | 70° | 52° | 37° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 64° | 46° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 67° | 53° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 65° | 54° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 61° | 44° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 64° | 43° | 23° | 82° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 48° | 31° | 7° | 73° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 34° | 19° | -18° | 64° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Oak Grove & Big Sioux Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 5 mi
- Alcester City Park Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 7 mi · 2 sites
- River's Bend Wildlife Area · City, County & Regional Parks · 15 mi · 10 sites
- Union Grove State Park · South Dakota State Parks · 15 mi · 25 sites
- Newton Hills State Park · South Dakota State Parks · 16 mi · 136 sites
All public campgrounds in Iowa · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-29. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.