Photo: David Morris, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
🌤 Weather at Kearny State Park by season
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24–71 °F | 59–85 °F | 26–76 °F | 7–32 °F |
Each range runs from the coldest monthly average low to the warmest monthly average high in that season (1991-2020 climate normals), measured at Emmetsburg, 1 mi away, elevation 1,225 ft. Conditions at the park can differ from the station, especially where elevation differs — check a forecast before you go.
Kearny State Park is an Iowa state park on the west shore of Five Island Lake in Emmetsburg, managed by the City of Emmetsburg. It is a compact lakeside campground and boat access next to the Five Island Golf Course, and some city pages spell the name “Kearney”.
Who Runs Kearny
The Iowa DNR lists Kearny among the “state parks managed by other entities” in its 2026 state park guide, with the City of Emmetsburg as operator. The city puts it plainly: although Kearny is a state park, it is not included in the Iowa online reservation system. For questions, call Emmetsburg City Hall at (712) 852-4030.
Camping at Kearny
The campground has designated areas for tents and RVs with electrical outlets; the city’s parks page counts 16 electrical sites and 10 tent sites without hookups. It is first-come, first-served: there are no reservations, and you pay at the drop box. The city’s campground page lists $20 a night for campers with an electric hookup and $15 for tents (as of October 2026). The city’s parks page still shows $15 and $10, so confirm the current rate with City Hall.
A shelter house with bathrooms and showers, a shelter for campers, a picnic area, playground equipment and a fish cleaning station are on site.
Five Island Lake
Five Island Lake covers 973 surface acres and reaches a maximum depth of 23.7 feet (Iowa DNR, 2024), with no motor restrictions. The park has its own boat ramp and dock at 16 North Lawler Street and swimming areas along the shore.
The DNR’s fishing summary calls the lake a premier catfishing destination for northwest Iowa: recent surveys found an abundant channel catfish population with many fish up to 27 inches, plus the occasional giant such as a 27-pound flathead. Bluegill and yellow bass are notably plump, some large enough for Master Angler status, while walleye and northern pike are present in smaller numbers. In winter, the city notes, residents skate and play hockey on the ice and snowmobile across the lake.
Dragoon Monument
For Iowa’s 150th birthday in 1996, the Palo Alto County Sesquicentennial Commission placed a commemorative marker dedicated to the Dragoon Monument at Kearny State Park, next to the golf course. It is open for viewing 24 hours a day.
Getting There
The park is on North Lawler Street in Emmetsburg, Iowa 50536, along the west shore of Five Island Lake.
Sources
- City of Emmetsburg: Campgrounds (campground, first-come camping, fees)
- City of Emmetsburg: Parks & Recreation (site count, boat ramp, operator, reservation system)
- City of Emmetsburg: Attractions (Dragoon Monument)
- Iowa DNR Fish Iowa: Five Island Lake (lake size, depth, fishing summary)
- Iowa DNR state park guide 2026 (list of state parks managed by other entities)
Last checked by the America’s State Parks Editorial Team: October 2026.
⛺ Camping at Kearny State Park: Campgrounds & Cabins
| Campsites | 26 sites — 16 electrical sites and 10 tent sites without hookups (city parks page), in designated tent and RV areas. A shelter house with bathrooms and showers serves the campground. |
|---|---|
| Reservations | First-come, first-served; no reservations, pay at the drop box. Not part of the Iowa online reservation system. Emmetsburg City Hall, (712) 852-4030. |
| Special sites | Camping fees per the city campground page: $20 a night with electric hookup, $15 for tents (the city parks page still shows $15 and $10). Boat ramp and dock, fish cleaning station, playground. |
Camping questions about Kearny State Park
Can you camp at Kearny State Park?
Yes. Kearny State Park has 26 campsites. 16 electrical sites and 10 tent sites without hookups (city parks page), in designated tent and RV areas. A shelter house with bathrooms and showers serves the campground.
How do you reserve a campsite at Kearny State Park?
First-come, first-served; no reservations, pay at the drop box. Not part of the Iowa online reservation system. Emmetsburg City Hall, (712) 852-4030.
Source: emmetsburg.com (verified July 2026). Details change seasonally — confirm when booking.
🐾 Dogs & Pets at Kearny State Park
- Pets allowed? statewide rule
- Pets are allowed in Iowa state parks and recreation areas, including trails and campgrounds, but must be kept on a leash of six feet or less or confined.
- Leash rule statewide rule
- Leash or chain not to exceed 6 feet, led or carried by the owner, or confined
- Beaches & swim areas statewide rule
- Animals are prohibited within designated beach areas statewide
- Cabins & lodging statewide rule
- Only dogs or assistive animals are allowed in designated dog-friendly cabins/yurts (limit two dogs); all other cabins are pet-free; dogs must be kenneled if left unattended inside
- Statewide exceptions statewide rule
- Hunting dogs in designated hunting areas during season are exempt from the leash rule; pets may not be left unattended in campgrounds
Are dogs allowed at Kearny State Park?
Pets are allowed in Iowa state parks and recreation areas, including trails and campgrounds, but must be kept on a leash of six feet or less or confined. Individual parks can post stricter rules — check signage on arrival.
Rules verified July 2026 via iowadnr.gov. More: Iowa state parks guide · Dog rules in all 50 states compared
Park Map
Plan your gear for Kearny State Park
From our editorial guides, matched to this park’s activities:
