Lewis and Clark State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- YesAlso lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(712) 423-2829
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 4
Partial closure Lewis and Clark State Park: Winter ClosuresWinter Closures: All water will be shut off and modern restrooms will be closed for the winter off season as of October 20, 2026. This includes the… (more)
Winter Closures: All water will be shut off and modern restrooms will be closed for the winter off season as of October 20, 2026. This includes the shower building, beach bath house, all hydrants and the dump station. Pit latrines will remain open throughout the park. Water and modern restrooms will re-open late April 2027. (Posted 10/20/2026)
Posted by the park 2026-10-20. Official alert
Construction Lewis and Clark State Park: Park UpdatePark Update: Lewis and Clark State Park continues experiencing low water levels in Blue Lake due to the ongoing drought-like conditions. The boat… (more)
Park Update: Lewis and Clark State Park continues experiencing low water levels in Blue Lake due to the ongoing drought-like conditions. The boat ramp dock is not installed until further notice. The beach bath house will also remain closed as the low water levels render the swimming beach unusable. Due to hazard tree removal throughout the park, some areas have not had grass re-established and grounds may appear to be in slight disrepair. Tree stumps are still present and will be ground up and removed after October 2026. (Posted 10/2/2026)
Posted by the park 2026-10-02. Official alert
Weather Lewis and Clark State Park: Visitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit HoursVisitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit Hours: The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit will open Saturdays and Sundays. 8AM-4PM during… (more)
Visitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit Hours: The Lewis and Clark Visitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit will open Saturdays and Sundays. 8AM-4PM during the month of October 2026. If you would like to tour the center outside of these hours, please contact the park office at 712-423-2829. (Posted 10/2/2026)
Posted by the park 2026-10-02. Official alert
Construction Lewis and Clark State Park: Banquet Room ClosureBanquet Room Closure: Reservations for the Banquet Room will be unavailable beginning in 2023 for repairs and updates. The Banquet Room will be… (more)
Banquet Room Closure: Reservations for the Banquet Room will be unavailable beginning in 2023 for repairs and updates. The Banquet Room will be closed for reservations until further notice. If you would like to be notified when the Banquet Room reopens, fill out the following form: Lewis and Clark Google Form. (Updated February 13, 2024)
Posted by the park 2023-04-11. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 247 acres, Lewis and Clark State Park lies in Monona County, about 4 miles west of Onawa.
Popular activities here are boating, swimming, and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites with full hookups, group camping, and showers. There are also lodge rooms for rent.
Pets
Privately owned animals must be on a leash of max six feet or confined; pets may not be left unattended in campgrounds; most cabins/yurts are pet-free.
Statewide rule from Iowa's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Iowa State Parks reservation system (ReserveAmerica)
- Phone
- 1-877-427-2757
100% of the campsites are reservable and a reservation is required.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Camp at the lakeshore campground featuring a new playground, electrical hookups and full hook ups. Modern restrooms, showers and a trailer dump station are also available. Advanced reservations can be made through the the online reservation system for Lewis and Clark State Park. 100% of the campsites are reservable and a reservation is required. The campground accepts reservations April - October and is closed November - March. | — | Electric campsites; Full hook-up campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Camp at the lakeshore campground featuring a new playground, electrical hookups and full hook ups. Modern restrooms, showers and a trailer dump station are also available. Advanced reservations can be made through the the online reservation system for Lewis and Clark State Park. 100% of the campsites are reservable and a reservation is required. The campground accepts reservations April - October and is closed November - March.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Reserve a day-use lodge for large events such as wedding receptions or family reunions. The lodge was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and can be reserved through the the online reservation system for Lewis and Clark State Park.
Things to do
BoatingHikingSwimmingCamping
Trails
Hike a variety of trails featuring the sights and sounds of the park’s wildlife and plant life, including an accessible, paved lakeshore path.
Swimming
Boat in the waters of Blue Lake or enjoy at the sandy beach area. No restrictions are placed on motor size and a double boat ramp is available for easy lake access. Please note: Due to drought, the lake is very low. While boats are able to be launched, boaters are asked to use caution. Additionally, water levels are currently low at the beach, which may impact ability to swim.
Boating and paddling
Boat in the waters of Blue Lake or enjoy at the sandy beach area. No restrictions are placed on motor size and a double boat ramp is available for easy lake access. Please note: Due to drought, the lake is very low. While boats are able to be launched, boaters are asked to use caution. Additionally, water levels are currently low at the beach, which may impact ability to swim.
Fishing
Fish for panfish, bass, channel catfish and northern pike at Blue Lake. High numbers of bullhead and carp are often found in the water. Fish trap structures are in place as part of a lake restoration project.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Playground
- Visitor center
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Group camping
Lodging
- Lodge or inn rooms
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 21914 Park Loop
Onawa, IA 51040 - Nearest town
- Onawa — about 4 mi west (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 42.0419, -96.1645
- Phone
- (712) 423-2829
- Lewis_and_Clark@dnr.iowa.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Iowa State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Iowa DNR 'All Parks' directory (Drupal view, ?page=0..3) — state parks, recreation areas, a state preserve and state forests
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology