Campgrounds in Iowa

22 public campgrounds in Iowa's national forests, parks and lakes. 2 of them have no electric hookups.

22campgrounds

1,873campsites

20with electric sites

22allow pets

Parks and forests in Iowa

Coralville Lake

7 campgrounds in Iowa

Lake Red Rock

4 campgrounds in Iowa

Rathbun Lake

4 campgrounds in Iowa

Saylorville Lake

4 campgrounds in Iowa

Mississippi River - Pools 11-22

3 campgrounds in Iowa

All campgrounds in Iowa

Campground	Area	Nearest town	Sites	Electric	Max RV
Acorn Valley Campground	Saylorville Lake	Johnston	85	29	82 ft
Bob Shetler Recreation Area	Saylorville Lake	Johnston	67	67	62 ft
Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake) Campground	Rathbun Lake	Centerville	103	94	58 ft
Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) Campground	Rathbun Lake	Centerville	42	42	–
Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area	Mississippi River - Pools 11-22	Clinton	24	None	–
Cherry Glen Campground	Saylorville Lake	Johnston	125	125	53 ft
Clarks Ferry Campground	Mississippi River - Pools 11-22	Muscatine	42	42	70 ft
Cottonwood Campground	Coralville Lake	Iowa City	11	None	–
Howell Station Campground	Lake Red Rock	Pella	135	135	80 ft
Island View (Rathbun Lake) Campground	Rathbun Lake	Mystic Iowa	188	188	145 ft
Linder Point Campground	Coralville Lake	Iowa City	14	14	85 ft
North Overlook Camp	Lake Red Rock	Pella	49	43	84 ft
Prairie Flower Recreation Area	Saylorville Lake	Johnston	252	252	85 ft
Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake) Campground	Rathbun Lake	Centerville	55	54	75 ft
Sandy Beach Camp	Coralville Lake	Solon	56	48	66 ft
Shady Creek Campground	Mississippi River - Pools 11-22	Muscatine	53	51	92 ft
Sugar Bottom Campground	Coralville Lake	Solon	234	220	89 ft
Tailwater East Campground	Coralville Lake	Iowa City	22	22	68 ft
Tailwater West Campground	Coralville Lake	Iowa City	22	20	69 ft
Wallashuck Campground	Lake Red Rock	Pella	79	79	71 ft
West Overlook Campground	Coralville Lake	Iowa City	89	89	73 ft
Whitebreast Camp	Lake Red Rock	Knoxville	126	126	65 ft

Gear for camping in Iowa

Portable power stations

Silent battery power for lights, phones, fans, CPAP machines and 12V fridges.

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Foldable solar panels

Recharge a power station during the day, so it lasts the whole trip.

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Quiet inverter generators

More power for RVs and air conditioning. Check the campground's generator hours.

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12V portable fridges

No ice runs. Runs off a car socket or a power station.

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Rotomolded coolers

Keeps ice for days at sites with no power.

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Family camping tents

Room for everyone plus gear.

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Rooftop tents

Sleep off the ground on top of your car or truck.

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Self-inflating sleeping pads

The cheapest way to sleep better in a tent.

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Frequently asked questions

How many public campgrounds are in Iowa?

This guide lists 22 campgrounds in Iowa that can be booked through Recreation.gov, with 1,873 campsites between them.

Which Iowa campgrounds have electric hookups?

20 of them have at least some electric sites. Check the Electric column in the table above.

What are the largest campgrounds in Iowa?

Prairie Flower Recreation Area (252 sites), Sugar Bottom Campground (234 sites), Island View (Rathbun Lake) Campground (188 sites).