Lake Red Rock in Iowa offers multiple established campgrounds with a mix of amenities for various camping styles. Whitebreast Campground, North Overlook Camp, and Wallashuck provide electric hookups with water access, making them suitable for both tent and RV camping. Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake offers more secluded sites with primitive facilities across its 6 campsites. Marion County Park and Howell Station round out the options with additional amenities including shower facilities at select locations. Most campgrounds in the region sit along the shoreline of Lake Red Rock, providing water recreation opportunities.
The camping season at Lake Red Rock generally runs from April through October, with most campgrounds closing by late September or early October. Reservations are recommended, particularly for summer weekends when lakeside sites fill quickly. Most established campgrounds provide drinking water, toilets, and trash service, while shower availability varies by location. Electric hookups are common, with many sites offering 50-amp service for larger RVs. Campgrounds like Whitebreast and Wallashuck include fire rings and picnic tables at individual sites. A review noted, "The campground itself is very nice. There is a lot of space between campsites, which is awesome! Our site had a great view of the lake."
The waterfront setting distinguishes Lake Red Rock camping, with several campgrounds offering direct lake access for fishing, boating, and water recreation. Sites at Whitebreast Campground receive consistently positive reviews for their spaciousness and proximity to the water. Campers particularly appreciate the shade coverage in many areas, with one reviewer mentioning "Lots of shade, quiet" as key benefits. Elk Rock State Park offers additional recreational opportunities with extensive trail systems, including equestrian-friendly areas. Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake provides a more private experience with its limited number of sites spread across the property, described by a visitor as "Peaceful, beautiful, incredible" with "spacious, tranquil, and private" sites. Proximity to nearby towns like Pella and Knoxville offers convenience for supplies and additional activities.
$20 - $288 / night
"Our site had a great view of the lake, as well. The campgrounds are a drive away from the beach and most boat ramps. "
"Can walk down to the dock. We love to camp there every Fourth of July. It is a great place for all ages to enjoy."
$22 - $24 / night
"Howell Station is one out of five COE CG's that are around Lake Red Rock. CG is well kept, has a bike/walking path that borders the River and winds through the woods."
"We will be staying here every year, this is the best site we've stayed at in central Iowa. Great fishing, bike trail right next to the campsite. Great views too. Dam is right there and you can fish."
$20 - $24 / night
"Wallashuck in Pella, iowa is one of my favorite places to camp. It’s mostly quiet and peaceful. Plus town is close and has plenty to entertain or fill up supplies"
"We were able to camp in a tent near RVs without feeling crowded. The restrooms, showers, and playground were all close by…great for camping with kids."
$25 - $120 / night
"The perfect drive up private campsite you will find in Iowa. Very quiet with a beautiful view of three ponds and a sunset you will not want to miss."
"Plus just 6 miles from our fav brewery in Iowa."
"Caveat: you cannot see the lake from the camping spots Camped site 26
Wooded county campground. Many of the spots at the West campground are paved. They all have electric."
"Easy in and around campground. A lot of space between sites. Sites are fairly level with hard pack gravel."
$18 - $78 / night
"There are lots of trails around the area. It’s also a great place if you like to go horse back riding with lots of trails that go near the water.
There are camp hosts to help answer questions."
"We really wnjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses."
$14 - $24 / night
"Camping doesn't get much better than this in Iowa. The North Overlook site is part of a much larger group of COE campgrounds on Lake Red Rock."
"We camped out at site 82 which is a non-electric site and close to a Red Rock Lake shoreline. Spots are pretty close but they perfectly have grass tall enough to give you some privacy between spots."
"Plus, it’s on the outskirts of town so restaurants and grocery stores are nearby."
"Marion County is often overlooked by people in favor of the various Red Rock campgrounds that are nearby, but in my opinion, unless you have a boat, there is nothing that puts Red Rock above Marion County"
"Each of the 10 campsites are spacious and plenty of distance between. Nice quick trails with wildlife. The park is well maintained and well priced!"
"You’ll eventually see the park entrance(a sign and fence). Pass the first bathrooms/shelter/info board. Continue down the gravel road that looks kinda like a trail."
LegendNice Iowa State Park campground just outside of Grenell Iowa. On a lake. Hundreds of sites. So many of the non-electric test sites look amazing. The RV sites are very packed in with little to no privacy.
LegendPulled in from the main entrance on Stage Coach road - saw signs for tent sites to the right, so continued straight to RV sites. Found the little site with about 10 sites and only 2 other campers there. Found a nice place by the water and parked, hooked into electric.
Later took my bike for a ride and realized how many other sites there are around this lake. So many of them right on the water. A beautiful little spot. I was thinking of staying two nights, but discovered 2 ticks on my cat and decided to pull out.
Over night big rain came in and my power pedestal and fire pit were submerged in water! Choose your site wisely if there's a storm coming!
LegendBig beautiful camp ground right on the Des Moines River. All need to be reserved in advance at Recreation.gov
I selected my site based on its proximity to the river. Good choice, as I could watch the eagle and heron fish right from my site.
However the very busy bike/pedestrian path also runs right next to the site. So there’s no privacy. And the bridge that goes across the river is made of loose boards, so every time someone crosses there is a loud clanking sound.
Despite all of that, I did enjoy my experience here a very well kept campground. Big trees. Good enough cell reception for me to work. Electric hook ups, but no water.
ScoutGreat spot in the woods. Lots of trails. They have a bison and elk sanctuary. Also a nature center. A playground. They have several RV spots. Most are pre book but they have a section for first come first serve. Also lots of tent camping. A few group camping areas. Showers are ok. I believe the non shower house bathrooms are all vault toilets. Overall a great place to stay!
ScoutThere are a couple small hiking trails, but they were very well maintained and an easy hike to get my daughter started in her backpack.
ScoutThey show tent camping reservations allowed online and they even let you book a tent to Camp online for paying $32 but then when they come around and talk to you they don't say anything about not having a tent allowed and they don't give you the codes to the restroom and then they just close the office and go to bed and then at 11:00 at night the sheriff comes and tells you to grab all your stuff because there's no camping allowed and put you out on the street with nowhere to go and no more money cuz you wasted all your money on that stupid site that you didn't even get to stay at and then you realize that after you carried all your stuff over to the bar and had to sleep outside on the streets with your service dog when you have disabilities and you told them you have seizures that you had a seizure and now you have to go to the hospital and you lost your tent because somebody stole it so now you have nowhere to live because you're homeless and somebody stole your only house which was your tent because the sheriff kicked you out at 10:00 or 11:00 at night that was really great thanks that was the best experience in my whole life not really and thanks for putting my stress level so high that I went to seizures when people have disabilities you guys should be more accommodating and be more open and honest and be more willing to talk to people
GuideEverything is the same as reported in previous reviews. Good facilities and low price. Easy in and out.
TravelerPark was pretty full, but they found us a spot for the night. Excellent pricing and the yards are BIG compared to other places we've stayed. Would definitely come back
ScoutTesting out a new set up and this has full service with electric, water and sewer line.
Lake Red Rock camping offers riverside settings with diverse options across five Corps of Engineers campgrounds and several other facilities. As Iowa's largest lake, Red Rock spans over 15,000 acres with water levels that fluctuate seasonally, affecting shoreline access. The camping season typically runs from April through October, with fall bringing colorful foliage along the wooded campsites that surround much of the lake.
Fishing and boating: Lake Red Rock provides multiple access points for water activities, with specific campgrounds offering convenient water access. "Great area for camping and fishing," notes a visitor at Whitebreast Campground.
Biking on paved trails: The Volksweg Trail connects multiple campgrounds and offers scenic routes for cyclists and hikers. A Howell Station camper mentions, "There's a nice bike/walking trail around the park and (at least when we've visited) bald eagles, blue herons and pelicans line the river."
Wildlife viewing: The lake area attracts diverse bird species, particularly in migration seasons. One visitor to Elk Rock State Park observed, "We must have been there at just the right time, because lined all through the trees along the lakes edge were eagles upon eagles. I'd say we saw about 70 bald eagles perched in the trees."
Historic village visits: Marion County Park offers cultural attractions beyond natural features. A reviewer notes, "There's also a historic village onsite that's open for tours on weekends during the summer."
Spacious, well-separated sites: Many Lake Red Rock campgrounds feature sites with good spacing between neighbors. At Wallashuck, campers appreciate that "Campsites are well spaced, some have good views of the lake."
Clean facilities: Campground maintenance receives consistent positive feedback. A visitor to Whitebreast Camp remarked, "Beautiful campground, well maintained, lots of trees. Sits on the bank of Red Rock Lake which has great fishing."
Tree coverage: Shade is abundant at most established campgrounds, protecting campers from summer heat. "Dense, tall shade trees. Each site has a nice view of the woods," mentions a camper at Roberts Creek West Campground.
Private camping options: For those seeking seclusion, Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake offers a more intimate experience with "four campsites and a soon-to-be glamp site. Spacious, tranquil, and private."
Beach conditions vary: Water levels and shoreline quality differ across lake access points. One camper at North Overlook Camp noted, "The lake is right next to the tent spots and you can walk to the beach which is nice."
Site leveling requirements: Some campgrounds require equipment for leveling. At Marion County Park, campers report, "The sites are somewhat unlevel so you'll likely need to block up tires."
Seasonal considerations: Lake Red Rock camping areas see substantial wildlife activity in specific seasons. "We went in the chillier months so the park definitely was not at its most scenic as it probably usually is," mentioned one Elk Rock visitor.
Highway noise: Some campgrounds sit near busy roads. A North Overlook Camp reviewer cautioned, "This campground sits right next to a busy highway and the tent spots are right out front and have very little shade."
Playground availability: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. Wallashuck campers appreciate that "each sight has a fire ring and table, plus a lantern pole. It is in a city park like setting and on the lake... there is also a children's play ground."
Bathroom proximity: Consider campsite location relative to facilities when traveling with young children. A Wallashuck visitor mentioned they found "a nice mix of convenience and privacy. Perfect location to showers and playground for kids."
Kid-friendly attractions: Marion County Park offers family-oriented amenities beyond standard campground features. "There's a couple of parks onsite for kids- one with a zip line swing- plus a pond for fishing, areas to hike and bike."
Beach access considerations: Lake beaches vary in quality and safety. "The lake was great for kayaking, but the visit to Whitebreast beach knocked the campground scored down... there was muddy, wet clay and the beach floor was slimy and muddy."
Hookup variations: Electric service is standard, but full hookups are limited to select campgrounds. At Howell Station, "Electric only with water and dump station nearby."
Site spacing and size: RV sites offer varying degrees of privacy and room for equipment. At Whitebreast Campground, "We had site 24, sites were very spaced out and they are only on one side of the road so no sites backed up to ours. Plenty of room for our dogs."
Leveling requirements: Some campgrounds require significant leveling for RVs. At Howell Station, campers note "Gravel sites, a little bit of leveling required."
Dump station access: Facilities for wastewater disposal are centrally located rather than at individual sites in most campgrounds. Howell Station offers a "Dump station is easily accessible. The potable water available at the dump station was clear and good for drinking."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the campgrounds located at Lake Red Rock in Iowa?
Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake, features several campgrounds strategically positioned around its shores. North Overlook Camp is located on the lake's northern shore, offering direct beach access with shower facilities. On the western side, Howell Station sits along the river with scenic hiking and biking paths. Other campgrounds include Whitebreast on the southern shore with lake views, Wallashuck near Pella, and Roberts Creek West near Knoxville. Additionally, Elk Rock State Park on the south side contains both equestrian and non-equestrian camping areas. These Corps of Engineers (COE) managed campgrounds are positioned to provide varied recreational opportunities while maintaining the natural beauty of this expansive reservoir.
Are there cabins available for rent at Red Rock Lake in Iowa?
While traditional Corps of Engineers campgrounds at Lake Red Rock primarily offer tent and RV camping, cabin options do exist in the vicinity. Honey Creek Resort near Moravia provides comfortable cabin accommodations along with hotel-style lodging for those seeking more amenities. For a unique experience near the lake, private facilities like Kellogg RV Park offer alternative lodging options. The lake area continues to develop its accommodation offerings, with Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake reportedly adding a glamp site to complement their existing campsites. For those requiring cabin rentals, it's advisable to book well in advance, especially during peak summer season when availability becomes limited.
What camping amenities are available at Lake Red Rock?
Lake Red Rock campgrounds offer extensive amenities to enhance your camping experience. Whitebreast Campground features spacious sites with lake views, drinking water, and clean restroom facilities. For a more private experience, Nature Haven at Red Rock Lake provides tranquil camping with beautiful pond views and spectacular sunsets. Most Lake Red Rock campgrounds include standard amenities such as fire rings, picnic tables, and potable water. Many sites offer electrical hookups for RVs, while others maintain more primitive settings for tent campers. Shower facilities, boat ramps, swimming beaches, and hiking trails are accessible throughout the lake area. Some campgrounds feature playground equipment, dump stations, and camp stores for added convenience.
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