The Coralville Lake area near Riverside, Iowa provides multiple campground options within a 20-mile radius, including established sites at Sugar Bottom Campground, West Overlook Campground, and F.W. Kent Park. Camping areas range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV facilities, with several parks offering both options. The region includes Corps of Engineers managed properties like Hills Access Campground along the Iowa River, alongside state park campgrounds with more developed amenities. For those seeking cabins, Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow and Windmill Ridge Campground offer alternative accommodations to traditional tent or RV camping.
Seasonal conditions significantly impact campground availability, with several locations like Windmill Ridge operating only from April through November. Spring camping tends to be quieter with better site selection, while summer weekends fill quickly. Flooding potential along the Cedar and Iowa Rivers can affect accessibility, particularly at lower elevation campgrounds. Most developed campgrounds provide electrical hookups, drinking water, and basic restroom facilities, though amenities vary widely between locations. Campers should check ahead for campground closures during high water periods. A visitor noted, "One downfall to this park is the possibility for flooding. When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds."
Campers consistently highlight water access as a primary attraction, with sites near Coralville Lake receiving high ratings for swimming, fishing, and boating opportunities. Multiple reviewers praised the Corps of Engineers campgrounds for their well-maintained facilities and natural surroundings. According to one review, "Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites." Family-friendly amenities like playgrounds, beach areas, and hiking trails enhance the camping experience at most developed sites. Several campgrounds feature conservation areas with wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly for bird watching. While sites closest to Iowa City offer convenience for urban amenities, those seeking more seclusion might prefer the primitive camping areas at Lake Macbride State Park or River Junction, which provide simpler accommodations with fewer crowds.
$14 - $260 / night
"Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites."
"Nice grassy sites near lake for fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing. Near Iowa Raptor Project that conducts raptor programs and site with walking tour and live raptors, and Macbride State Park as well."
$22 - $28 / night
"The reservoir behind the dam creates both the Coralville Lake alongside Lake MacBride which is a state park in a side bay."
"LuLu and I stayed for 10 days while visiting family in Iowa City. The campground hosted mainly locals but it’s only a couple of miles off the I80."
$20 / night
"We stayed during an Iowa Football weekend, attended the game in nearby Iowa City, and then enjoyed the rest of our weekend exploring the ponds and trails in the park."
"It is the perfect camping destination between Amana colonies and Iowa City."
"Awesome place by the Iowa river.. clean and quiet, no drinking water..."
"24 years ago River Jct Lone Tree Iowa was Just stumptown. Outhouse at the top. Just a spot by the river. A lone camper. How things have changed . Still primitive tent campgrounds there."
$45 - $65 / night
"Given its proximity to a busy interstate highway, this campground scores high on the convenience factor, but it is just far enough away where you will feel as though you have escaped the busy hustle and"
"Given its proximity to the busy interstate highway, this campground scores high on the convenience factor being EZ on- and off-, but it is just far enough away where you will feel as though you have escaped"
"My niece who lives nearby recommended this place to stay when we went to visit her since was a short drive from where she lives. "
"Close access to boating and town"
$20 / night
"Close to major highway. Gravel sites. Clean campground. Many paved and grass walking trails surrounded by trees and natural areas. Bath/shower house is under construction. Child’s play equipment."
"There are trails and fishing ponds, play grounds and picnic shelters. It is nice for group camping, but you are so close to other campers."
$22 - $49 / night
"Little Bear Campground is located right off I-80 at the West Liberty exit. It is right next to a trailer park. There are a few tent sites ($22/ night)and Rv sites($33/night)."
"Very cute campground right off highway. I called while traveling and Mike was very accommodating. Full hookups and showers. Even got a pool. Gas station nearby full of character."
LegendThis seasonal campground offers picnic tables, fire rings, play area, restrooms, and fire hydrants for water with dump station. The park offers trails, a nature center, shelter, and lake. Situated near convenience stores for Supplies as well.
LegendRV park is all gravel, electric, water on site, Tables, communal, fire pit, situated next to a cornfield, there are shade trees.
LegendThis overnight location is located along interstate 80 and includes restaurants, fuel, food, ice, showers, chiropractor, dentist, auto supplies, propane, car wash. This space though it is well lit, it is very busy. Regular idling sounds from trucks are heard.
LegendSummit campground offers basic amenities, including firings, Tables, water, electric, sewer, hard pads, seasonal host, firewood, play area, shower, house, and restrooms. The park offers, swimming, fishing, paddling, lakes, with concessions, disc golf, course, trails, and cabins nearby.
LegendPark Terrace campground offers basic sites, including firing, water, electric septic, picnic tables, gravel, pads, firewood, on site, camp, ground host, seasonally, recycling station, shower, house, and restrooms, play area. The park itself offers lake, fishing and paddling, a beach open seasonally, disc golf course, shelters for rent, tent areas as well.
LegendWe followed our GPS along with the campground instructions, though the written directions were slightly off. Coming off I-80 to IL-92 west, the instructions said to turn left at the third stoplight onto 78th Street, but the correct turn was actually at the second stoplight. Other than that small hiccup, both the GPS and campground directions worked fine. Check-in was quick and easy, and we were guided by golf cart to our site. We were told to make wide turns where the cart did, and by following that advice we had no issues pulling into pull-through site 31 with full hookups. The site was more than long enough for our 40-foot fifth wheel and F450. Most of the utilities were located near the middle of the pad, but we needed about 25 feet of water hose to comfortably reach the connections and align with the sewer. We had 3 bars on Verizon and 2 bars on T-Mobile. The campground has mature trees throughout, so satellite users may need to reposition for a clear shot, though it would be possible. Since our T-Mobile signal was solid, we used T-Mobile Home Internet instead of deploying Starlink. Water pressure was decent during our stay. The campground offers a mix of deluxe patio sites and water-view or water-access sites, though for our one-night stay we were in a basic gravel site. There are permanent and seasonal residents in the campground, but the sites were neat and orderly. Overall, this was a decent campground for a short stop or even a longer stay.
GuideI live in the area we have visited many times throughout my life. The park is always well maintained, clean, friendly rangers, and good accommodations for the size of the park. There’s a swimming area, play grounds, shelters, trails, plenty of places to fish, plenty of parking, and beautiful scenery. I have stayed in both tent sites and camper sites. All were what you would expect from a county park. Nothing extraordinary or fancy but great for what it is and where it is located. It is very popular and there are always many campers even in winter.
LegendI’m following up on my review from over a year ago with updated feedback, some additional pics and a quick summary of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) The campground offers full-hookup RV sites, including pull-throughs and back-ins, along with tent and cabin options that altogether works for a wide range of camping styles; (2) The atmosphere is very family-oriented, with play areas for kids, golf cart rentals, weekend activities and even a communal fire pit near the pond; (3) Amenities are plentiful, with laundry, a small on-site store, free WiFi, kid’s playground, horseshoe pits, a basketball court and plans for a pool; (4) The views are attractive, with sunsets over the pond that create an easygoing, picture-perfect backdrop for evening campfires and s’mores; and (5) The park is Good Sam verified, has a history of positive impressions, and promotes eco-friendly practices.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) There are definitely sites that are uneven or in a few cases, poorly maintained, requiring extra leveling work or creative parking to get set up properly; (2) A few of the facilities feel worn down, with issues like broken water hookups, muddy access points or bathrooms that could use more attention; (3) Inconsistency of maintenance and site quality – sometimes it just depends upon what day of the week you show up to find out whether or not things are organized and in good condition; (4) The beach area near the pond is not especially inviting, as it can be covered in goose and duck doo-doo, which detracts from the idea of relaxing at the shoreline; and (5) Reservations are handled by phone rather than online, which works for some people, but I find it inconvenient and very 1983.
Happy Camping!
LegendThis overnight access is a small town in itself. This site offers not only the basic communities and needs of fuel, including EV, charging stations, but auto parts, showers, dentist, Chiropractic, care, gifts, dog park, and is right next to the I 80 trucking museum. Good lighting in the overnight spots which has room for long RVs.
Camping options near Riverside, Iowa span across Johnson and Washington counties, featuring a mix of Corps of Engineers, county conservation, and state park facilities. The area sits where the Iowa River watershed meets prairie highlands, creating diverse terrain from riverside lowlands to wooded bluffs. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October, with seasonal closures typically occurring after the first hard freeze in late fall.
Water recreation access: Hills Access Campground provides direct access to the Iowa River. "Awesome place by the Iowa river.. clean and quiet, no drinking water," reports one camper who tent camped for five days at Hills Access Campground.
Hiking trails and wildlife viewing: F.W. Kent Park offers multiple habitat types for nature exploration. "Forest, prairie, wetland habitats. Not far from town for quick trip if needed," notes a reviewer who appreciated the F.W. Kent Park conservation education center that offers seasonal programs.
Fossil exploration: The Devonian Fossil Gorge near West Overlook Campground contains ancient marine fossils exposed during the 1993 flood. "This recreation area also includes campgrounds and river recreation downstream of the dam, including a gorge of geologic interest that is filled with Devonian fossils exposed in the flood of 1993," explains a camper who visited in May 2025.
Fall color viewing: October camping provides unique seasonal views around Coralville Lake. "We enjoy the peace and quiet especially with the views of the lake and the fall colors," notes a visitor to West Overlook Campground.
Privacy options: While many campgrounds feature open layouts, F.W. Kent Park offers more secluded spots. "Unique mix of RV and tent sites in a variety of sizes. Some close together would be good for groups and some remote," mentions a reviewer who appreciated the varied site options.
Budget-friendly amenities: Sugar Bottom Campground provides unexpected value for tent campers. "Great campground, cheap sites with electric and water even for tent campers. Fantastic amenities including hot showers and nice bathrooms and a cleaning station with sink basin for camping dishes," reports a satisfied visitor.
Wildlife sightings: Multiple campgrounds offer wildlife viewing opportunities. At Lake Macbride State Park, one camper noted they "saw wild turkeys and dear almost ever day walking the camp grounds," during their extended 10-week camping stay.
Camping close to urban amenities: For those wanting civilization nearby, several options exist. "It is also a nice and inexpensive basecamp for folks visiting Iowa City or the University of Iowa, only about a 15-20 minute drive away," explains a West Overlook Campground visitor.
Water quality varies significantly: Some campgrounds have reported water issues. At Marr Park, one camper warned, "Bring plenty of bottled water for consumption. The water has an awful smell."
Flooding potential: One downfall affecting several area campgrounds is seasonal flooding. Hills Access sits directly on the Iowa River and may experience closures during high water events.
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain. At Beyonder Getaway at Sleepy Hollow, a visitor noted, "Busy on the weekend. Bring a lot of leveling blocks. Most sites are slanted in both planes."
Reservation requirements vary: While some campgrounds require reservations, others operate on a first-come basis. At West Overlook, a visitor emphasized, "The campground is popular... reservations are a must."
Seasonal closures: Several campgrounds close during winter months. Windmill Ridge Campground operates only from April 1 to November 1, making seasonal planning essential.
Playground accessibility: West Overlook Campground offers multiple play areas for children. "There is a bathroom/shower house near sites 1-33 and a second bathroom/shower house near sites 39-60... Horsehoe pits and 2 playgrounds in the campground," notes a visitor who documented the facilities.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming access. Sugar Bottom provides "a nice beach swimming area. Fun for all," according to one visitor, making it ideal for summer family outings.
Educational opportunities: Kent Park offers conservation programs suitable for children. "Conservation education center open seasonally with programs offered," mentions a visitor who appreciated the additional learning opportunities.
Trail accessibility: Marr Park features trails designed for all mobility levels. "Trails are concrete so people with mobility concerns can easily get around," explains a camper, making this park suitable for multi-generational family groups.
Seasonal site selection: Little Bear Campground provides convenient highway access for travelers. "Very conveniently located off I-80, Fair price, full hook up and pull through site $33.00," mentions an RVer who appreciated the ease of access.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "Dump station, drinking water, filling station, trash dumpsters and fish cleaning station are on the right just before the campground entrance," notes a West Overlook visitor, providing important logistics information.
Site spacing considerations: RV sites at some campgrounds can feel cramped. At West Overlook Campground, an RVer observed that "the sites are too visible and usually too close to each other for our liking," which might be important for those seeking more privacy.
Internet connectivity: For RVers needing to stay connected, Marr Park offers a solution. "There is WiFi available at the Conservation Center and if you grab at camping site at the end you can get the WiFi," shares a helpful reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Riverside, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Riverside, IA is Sugar Bottom Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.
What parks are near Riverside, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near Riverside, IA that allow camping, notably Coralville Lake and Mississippi River - Pools 11-22.
Keep Exploring
