Rathbun Lake

Corps Of Engineers, 20112 Hwy J5T
Centerville, IA 52544-9461

Over 700 campsites are available at this 11,000-acre lake in the rolling hills of southern Iowa. Excellent camping, fishing, hunting, boating, state fish hatchery, and Honey Creek Resort, are major attractions.

Directions

From Des Moines, 85 miles southeast on IA 5.

Reviews

Rathbun Lake campgrounds are widely appreciated for their spacious sites with scenic lake views, cleanliness, well-maintained facilities, and friendly, helpful staff. Visitors enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, good fishing, boating access, and family-friendly amenities like playgrounds and planned activities. However, some issues reported include insect problems such as gnats, mosquitoes, and ticks, rough or poorly maintained gravel and paved roads, inconsistent restroom and shower cleanliness, limited water refill stations, and challenges with signage and site assignments. Additionally, enforcement of rules, limited beach access, presence of blue-green algae in the lake, and lack of water or sewer hookups at campsites were noted as drawbacks.

Spacious campsites with lake views

Clean and well-maintained facilities and grounds

Friendly and helpful staff

Quiet and peaceful atmosphere

Good fishing and boating access

Insect problems including gnats, mosquitoes, and ticks

Rough and poorly maintained access roads

Inconsistent cleanliness and maintenance of restrooms and showers

Limited water refill stations and lack of site hookups

Issues with signage, site assignments, and rule enforcement

690 reviews

5 stars

374

4 stars

180

3 stars

2 stars

1 stars

Jeff W

Campground:Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake)

Loop:Bcir

Site:

Reviewed 24 days ago

quiet nice

Mark S

Campground:Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)

Loop:Loop F

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Campsite needed more rock, was very muddy

Mark S

Campground:Island View (Rathbun Lake)

Loop:Icir

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Camp hosts were very friendly and helpful

Karen H

Campground:Island View (Rathbun Lake)

Loop:Nwpi

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

It works very well for a family campout with several camping units. The shelter house has several outlets that can be used for crockpots etc. Large grassy area for games and other activities. Nice private bathroom for the group camp area only.

Marilyn L

Campground:Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake)

Loop:Bbic

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

The signage was a little confusing. We had difficulties finding Loop F. We searched out the host and hostess. They were of great help and lead us to our site. They were great.

Connie M

Campground:Island View (Rathbun Lake)

Loop:Icir

Site:

Reviewed a month ago

Host were prompt and friendly. The pit toilet in our area went 2 days without toilet paper. The main shower house needs cleaned. Two weeks I used the same stall, same glob of hair on the drain, same mold on the wall. ( Shower curtains replacing doors does not give privacy) The private shower house could be nice if the drains were lower so water could actually drain not have 2 inches of water to walk in. Also, the amount of insects and spiders was overwhelming

Keep your options open

Watch for a matching campsite across monitored campgrounds in Rathbun Lake.