Camping Changes Beginning 2023
Posted:11/28/2023
Kossuth
Kossuth County Campground Information for 2024
The Kossuth County Conservation Board implemented several new services and improvements starting in the 2023 camping season and will remain the same for the 2024 season. The changes provide expanded recreational opportunities and new services for campers. The changes include a 14-day stay limit, a credit card payment option, an online reservation option, new camping rates, redesigned camping sites on the north side of Smith Lake and a renovated restroom facility at the north side of Smith Lake.
Listed below are the new services and changes.
1) Stay Limit- Starting in 2023, campers at Burt Lake, Smith Lake South campground and Siems Park campground will have a 14-day maximum stay limit. The stay limit will be in effect May 13 - September 9, 2024. Once a camper’s 14 days is reached, they will be required to vacate their camper/equipment from the park for a minimum of 72 hours before returning. Before May 13th and after September 9th, all sites are walk-in with no stay limit.
2) Credit Card Option- Starting in January 2023, KCCB will be accepting credit cards as payment for KCCB services and facility rentals including paying camping fees. A credit card machine will be located at the nature center office. In addition, KCCB staff will have a mobile card reader available, and campers can pay online using the QR codes located at the campsite, on the registration envelope, or in the kiosk.
3) Online Reservation Option- Campers now have the option of reserving sites at Siems Park and Smith Lake south campgrounds online. Reservable campsites will be available from May 13 - September 9. The maximum stay limit will be 14 days with the same 72-hour vacancy as required for walk-in sites. If a reservable site is vacant, a walk-in camper can still use it. However if a reservation is received for the site, the reservation takes precedence and the walk-in camper will have to vacate the site. All reservations can be made now, but no later than 5 days in advance of occupying a site. The 14-day stay limit is applicable if a reservable site is utilized as a walk-in, reservable or combination thereof. At each park, 50% of the electrical sites are reservable. The remaining sites are walk-in only sites. All sites are clearly marked at the site post as walk-in only or reservable. The reservation system will not be in effect for any tent camping sites. See below for instructions on how to make a reservation.
4) Camping Rates. At Siems Park, Burt Lake Park and Smith Lake south, all camping rate options are a per night fee. The fee is $15/night for electrical sites and $10/night for tent sites. If you pay by card a 4% convenience will be added to help cover our credit card processing fees. If you make online reservations, you will be charged an additional $4 per reservation that goes to mycountyparks.com for maintenance of the website.
At the full hookup sites at the north side of Smith Lake the new rates are $20/night, $500/month or $2,000/season (May- October).
5) North campground Seasonal Rate option. The KCCB will again be offering a Seasonal Rate option for the 2024 camping season for the north full hookup sites. The Seasonal Rate is $2,000 for May 1-October 31. All 15 sites will be available in a lottery draw held in March. Any sites not chosen at the March lottery draw will be available on a first-come first-served basis. See the Smith Lake Seasonal Site Campsite Application for details on obtaining a Seasonal Site.
6) New Site Design for the Smith Lake North camping sites. The KCCB staff has redesigned the layout of the north full hookup sites. The new design makes the sites more attractive and user friendly for campers. The previous site arrangement, which included two circles with six sites at each circle have been eliminated. The two previous circles have been replaced by one large camping area with 11 single back in sites. The new sites average 40’ long x 15’ wide. In addition to providing full hookup services, each site also has a picnic table and fire pit available for use. See the north campground map for site details.
7) Restroom renovation. The existing restrooms attached to the open shelter on the north side of Smith Lake have been renovated. The two existing restrooms were remodeled into one unisex ADA compliant facility with a toilet, sink and shower.
Reservation Info
Reservations are available at the south campground at Smith Lake and Siems Park for 2024. At each park 50% of the electrical sites will be available. The sites are clearly marked on the site post as a reservable or a walk–in sites. No tent sites will be reservaable at either park. Click the links for a park map for the location of the reservable sites at Smith Lake South, and Siems.
Reservable sites will be available from May 13 – September 9 with a two-week maximum stay. All reservations must be made online thru mycountyparks.com. All reservations must be made a minimum of 5 days prior to stay. There is a minimum stay of 2 nights on the weekends and a minimum of 3 nights for the Memorial Day and Labor Day holiday weekends. See below for instructions on how to make an online reservation.
If a reservable site is vacant, it can still be used by a walk-in camper. However if a reservation is received for that site, the reservation takes precedence and the walk-in camper must vacate the site. All reservations have to be made at least 5 days in advance of occupying a site.
How to Make an Online Reservation
Option 1
1. Go to www.mycountyparks.com
2. Click "Make Reservations" drop down menu in the top middle. Select "Reserve a Campsite".
a. Filter Search on left hand side by "County" or by Searching Park Name in the search bar
3. Scroll through the listings of sites for that county or park.
4. Select site by clicking "View Booking Details"
5. A detailed info page will be brought up about the site and the park to view
6. On the right-hand side click "Book Now"
a. New page will ask if you want to make an account or continue as guest
i. Creating account will save all your info like billing, name, card info, etc.
b. Continue through the processes of Guest or making an Account
c. Next, a calendar will be brought up to view the dates the specific site is available to reserve.
i. Be sure to select the year 2023
d. Select dates you want to reserve
i. Select "Add to Cart"
ii. Your cart will then be displayed for you to review
1. Select "Check Out" and fill in the required fields
i. There is a time limit for checking out, so check out in a timely manor
2. Select "Next Step" to answer billing information
3. Confirm reservation and payment
4. Check your email for confirmation
7. Show up for your reservation on your reserved camping dates and enjoy your time!
Option 2
1. Go to www.mycountyparks.com.
2. Click the "County" drop down box, select Kossuth County.
3. Select "Facility" on the left-hand side menu.
4. Browse the listing of facilities offered by KCCB – online reservable sites, shelters, meeting rooms, and bathrooms are all listed.
5. Scroll through the facilities list to find your desired campsite. Select site by clicking on the facility name (i.e. Siems park North Campsite 3).
6. A detailed info page will be brought up about the site and the park to view.
7. On the right-hand side click "Book Now" OR click "Check Availability" link to bring up a calendar view of the availability the site has for reservations.
a. New page will ask if you want to make an account or continue as guest
i. Creating account will save all your info like billing, name, card info, etc.
b. Continue through the processes of Guest or making an Account
c. Next a calendar will be brought up to view the dates the specific site is available to reserve.
d. Select dates you want to reserve
i. Select "Add to Cart"
ii. Your cart will then be displayed for you to review
1. Select "Check Out" and fill in the required fields
i. There is a time limit for checking out, so check out in a timely manor
2. Select "Next Step" to answer billing information
3. Confirm reservation and payment
4. Check your email for confirmation
8. Show up for your reservation on your reserved camping dates and enjoy your time!
