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Water

Established Camping

COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek

COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek is located near Centerville, Iowa, featuring a landscape of rolling hills and open spaces. The area experiences temperature highs around 85°F in summer and lows near 15°F in winter. Nearby attractions include Rathbun Lake for water activities and Honey Creek Resort for additional recreational opportunities.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Rathbun Lake

Overview

Buck Creek Campground is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just 9 miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa. Camping, boating, swimming, fishing, and picnicking are popular activities at this lakefront campground.

Recreation

The 11,000-acre lake provides a variety of fishing opportunities for any angler. Crappie, channel catfish, walleye, and largemouth bass are most common. Although power boating is also popular, the prevailing winds on Rathbun Lake, also known as Iowa's Ocean, make it one of the best sailing lakes in Iowa.

Natural Features

Rathbun Lake is situated in the gently rolling hills of the Chariton River Valley in southeast Iowa. The campground consists of open grassy areas dotted with trees. Bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey, and other wildlife can be found at Rathbun Lake.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (641) 647-2464.

Nearby Attractions

The Rathbun Fish Hatchery is located near the main dam, and offers self-guided tours Monday through Friday year-round. Hundreds of thousands of catfish and walleye are produced here each year. Southern Iowa's only Off Highway Vehicle Park is nearby. It is located on the south bank of the South Fork Chariton River and encompasses nearly 125 acres of an abandoned rock quarry.

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Location

COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek is located in Iowa

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Centerville, IA, travel 5 miles north on HWY 5 to HWY J-29, then 4 miles northwest to HWY J5T. Travel 2 miles north and follow signs to campground.

Address

20112 HWY J5T
Centerville, IA 52544-8308

Coordinates

40.8627778 N
92.8677778 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Electric Hookups
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Reviews

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3.0

out of 5

1 Review

Reviewed Sep. 29, 2016

Buck Creek is a solid campground on the west side of Rathbun Lake

Buck Creek is operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and is one of several campgrounds on Lake Rathbun. There are a lot of campsites with plenty of views of the lake. The campground is clean but needs to be updated.

If you have an RV, or camper, or you prefer to sleep in a tent, there are plenty of sites that would accommodate you. This is a nice campground.

  • Review photo of COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek by Matt S., September 29, 2016
  • Review photo of COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek by Matt S., September 29, 2016
  • Review photo of COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek by Matt S., September 29, 2016
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek has 50 amp electric hookups.

  • What is the max vehicle length at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek?

    COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek allows vehicles up to 96 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek does not have wifi.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek?

    There are 42 campsites at COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts