Okoboji is nestled in the northwest corner of Iowa along the Minnesota border. The chain of lakes were formed by a glacier thousands of years ago, and now welcome generations of families to the crisp clean water and beaches! We are excited to welcome your family to create life-long memories in Okoboji (and get a fun t-shirt to prove it!)
Where to Stay
Okoboji has a wide variety of family friendly resorts and hotels that are sure to please every member of your family! Click on the photos below to learn more about some of your options.
Crescent Beach Family Resort
Fillenwarth Beach
Vintage Block Inn & Suites
Family Friendly Activities & Attractions
Okoboji has been designed for family fun! Your family will love the wide variety of activities. Build a sandcastle at one of our many beaches, take a ride on the oldest wooden roller coaster west of the Mississippi, or climb through a life-size honeycomb in the Pollinator Paradise!
Dickinson County Nature Center
You (and most importantly your kids) will be wowed by the stunning new exhibits at the Dickinson County Nature Center. Check out the live animals, indoor beehive, kids space and the all new interactive exhibits in the Pollinator Paradise. Outside you’ll find the Nature Playscape, a perfect spot for kids to be creative and use some energy! The best part…it’s all FREE! The hardest part will be getting your kids to leave!
Arnolds Park Amusement Park
Make memories on more than 30 rides and attractions, including the famous wooden ‘Legend’ Roller Coaster. With the recent renovation you will see for yourself how smooth it really is! No visit is complete without a ride to see the spectacular view of West Lake Okoboji 65′ up on the Ferris Wheel. There are rides for every size child, young and old, and games to challenge your skills.
Beaches
Okoboji has a great variety of public beaches to enjoy the sun, sand and blue water! The kids will love building sand castles, jumping off docks, and floating on a tube in the lake! Terrace Park Beach opened new restrooms last season and is an Okoboji favorite. Orleans Beach in Spirit Lake also has great playground equipment and the Spillway Drive-in, a locally owned ice cream and sandwich stop! Of course Arnolds Park Beach is a favorite and in the center of it all!
Museums
There is NO shortage of history in the Iowa Great Lakes and you can spend days taking it all in! Start your museum tour at the Okoboji Spirit Center / Iowa Welcome Center in Arnolds park where you can tour the Maritime Museum, Arnolds Park Museum and see the state of the art exhibits at the Iowa Rock and Roll Museum. The kids will enjoy all there is there is to see including wooden boats and artifacts of lake life. Then step right next door into the Arnolds Park Museum and ride the wooden slide and play some skee-ball. If you have a car enthusiast check out the Okoboji Classic Car museum. While you are at the Dickinson County Nature Center walk down the path to the Westport Schoolhouse to relive the days of past in a one room schoolhouse. You will also want to make sure and visit the Abbie Gardner Cabin, Higgins Museum of Money, Clark Museum and Dickinson County Museum.
Pearson Lakes Art Center (Get Artsy)
Take an art class, tour the galleries or come play in the Art Smart Gallery, which includes a life size light bright. So much great, free entertainment for all ages at the Pearson Lakes Art Center. You can also check out their class schedule and sign the kids up for a instructor led class while you are here. If you’re kids love getting creative, make sure you stop at the Kurio Kastle, paint your own pottery, in Spirit Lake!
Memorial Park Splash Pad
If you are looking for a great family and friends destination to cool off, splash and play then the FREE Memorial Park Splash Pad in Spirit Lake is the place to go. Overlooking East Lake there are two shelters, playground equipment and picnic tables. Bring your lunch and enjoy a day at Memorial park. Florence Park in Milford or one of the many other great parks around the area. If you’re looking for a pool to spend the day at, visit the Boji Bay Swimming Pools in Milford!
This is just the beginning of fun activities for families you’ll find in Okoboji! Grab an ice cream cone or nutty bar; shop in the Emporium or Queens Court; play the instruments at Harmony Park in the Queens Court; go for a nature hike or bike the trails! Yes we could go on and on!
For more information please call us at 712-332-2209 or request a free visitors guide!