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Established Camping

Sugar Bottom Campground

About

US Army Corps of Engineers

Coralville Lake

Overview

The Sugar Bottom Campground is located on the shores of Coralville Lake. The Coralville Lake Project is a multipule use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in recreation, fish and wildlife management and forest management. Coralville Lake provides many recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, hiking, mountain biking, lake and river fishing, swimming, water activities, picnicking, and hunting.

Recreation

Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for boating, fishing, swimming and water activities. Anglers will find large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish. Hiking and mountain biking are popular activities in Sugar Bottom. Several trails are within Sugar Bottom, including the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, Sugar Bottom Mountain Bike Trail, and a barrier-free asphalt trail.The Sugar Bottom Disc Golf Course is located in the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area and offers 18 partially wooded and open holes. The Sugar Bottom Mountain Bike Trail is located in the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area and offers beginner to expert trails.

Facilities

The Sugar Bottom Campground offers 232 campsites to include full hook-up campsites, 50 amp electric and water hookup campsites, standard 30 amp electric campsites, and non-electric walk-to tent campsites. Amenities include modern restroom and shower facilities, vault toilets, dump station, drinking water supply, entrance station, beach, and boat ramp.

Natural Features

Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City. The Sugar Bottom Campground lies among a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species on the east side of the lake. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. Whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, song birds and other species roam the lands around the lake.

Nearby Attractions

The Devonian Fossil Gorge is 10 miles away, just below the Coralville Dam. It offers a unique opportunity to explore a 375-million-year-old sea floor and discover fossil remains of sea life that once inhabited this tropical marine environment. Twenty Discovery Points can be found throughout the site. Iowa City/Coralville offers the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Iowa campus, hospital and clinics, numerous restaurants and shops as well as Coral Ridge Mall. Cedar Rapids has wonderful cultural, historic and ethnic attractions such as The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library and is the home of the Kernels Professional Baseball Club. West Branch boasts the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and Presidential Library/Museum. At Amana Colonies visit seven quaint villages with outstanding restaurants, wineries, historic sites and specialty shops. Kalona is known as the __?______?__?__?__?Quilt Capital of Iowa__?______?__?__?__? and is home to an Old Order Amish and Mennonite Community.

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Location

Sugar Bottom Campground is located in Iowa

Detail location of campground

Directions

From Interstate 380 (North Liberty, Iowa), take Exit 4 towards North Liberty. Travel east on W. Penn St. for 2.2 miles. At the four way stop sign, turn left onto N. Front St./Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.9 miles. Right after crossing the Mehaffey Bridge, take a right hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Campground is straight ahead. From Highway 1 (Solon, IA), turn west onto 180th St. NE/E 5th St. Travel west on 180th St. NE for 2.3 miles, the road will then become Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.4 miles. Right before the Mehaffey Bridge, take a left hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Campground is straight ahead.

Address

2192 MEHAFFEY BRIDGE ROAD
Solon, IA 52333-9208

Coordinates

41.7563889 N
91.5591667 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

24 Reviews

MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 26, 2023

Okay COE

Check-in was quick and easy. We proceeded to back-in site 61 with water and electric(50/30/20 AMP). We were one and done on what we thought might be a more difficult back-in, but there was enough level ditch in front to allow an easy swing. Our site was somewhat level, but we did have to put blocks under the passenger-side tires. We could back far enough in our site to park our F-450 in front of our rig at an angle and still put our back deck out. We got 2 bars on Verizon and could put out our Starlink. They have a double-hole dump station that can be accessed in both directions. This large COE has a variety of sites, with the 300 loop being full hook-ups. The sites down by the boat launch have electric only and tent sites. There are shower houses throughout the CG. Compared to other COEs we’ve stayed at, the sites here are closer together. The CG wasn’t full during the week but filled up on the weekend while we were there.

Site61
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by MickandKarla W., August 26, 2023
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by MickandKarla W., August 26, 2023
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by MickandKarla W., August 26, 2023
  • (10) View All
Vladimir M.
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2023

Awesome Campground

This Campground is awesome. Very clean, for me the star attraction here was the solo bathroom & shower both together with lockable door for extreme privacy when needed. The beach was a plus for the kids as well. Great place to relax and enjoy mother nature grounding.

Site53
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Vladimir M., July 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Vladimir M., July 30, 2023
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Vladimir M., July 30, 2023
  • (10) View All
Shana D.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Jun. 25, 2023

Huge!

This place is huge! We stayed here for one night on a cross country road trip. This is definitely a popular local campground. Lots of different sites to choose from (Primitive to fill book up). We had a full hook up site that was nice and back up to a tree line. Most of the sites back up to your neighbors and a lot of sites were very close together. . Clean, individual stall bathrooms. Very nice lady working the check in booth. Swim beach is also a hot spot.

Site308
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Shana D., June 25, 2023
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Shana D., June 25, 2023
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Shana D., June 25, 2023
  • (12) View All
Kristin B.
Reviewed Jul. 18, 2022

Sugar Bottom Campground

Large campground with many excellent sites on a water view. Quiet at night, convenient bath houses and large fill/dump station. Verizon service was not great in the area but could still stay connected for the most part. I was pleased with the size of our site and how it was positioned among the others on our loop.

Site24
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Kristin B., July 18, 2022
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Kristin B., July 18, 2022
n
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2022

Great stay

We stayed for 2 nights. The park ranger was very nice, the area was excellent, and the bathrooms were clean. Great access to the river!

Site47
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by nick D., June 15, 2022
Matthew M.
Reviewed May. 12, 2022

Solid Local Spot

An easy campground to get in and out of. Very reliable and you know what you are getting each time. You stay. Clean restrooms and clean grounds.

Site48
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Matthew M., May 12, 2022
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Matthew M., May 12, 2022
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Matthew M., May 12, 2022
N P.
Reviewed Oct. 10, 2021

Spacious

Stayed for one night in July 2021. Took a dip in the lake: lovely. Bathrooms and showers clean and accessible. Not too much privacy between sites but many sites to choose from. A brave raccoon left his paw prints on my towel drying overnight outside the van but no other detectable critter problems. Lots of families!

Month of VisitAugust
J. T.
Reviewed Jul. 13, 2021

Sweet tent sites on the lake!

Great open air tent sites right on the side of the lake. Perfect access to restrooms close to the beach and close to the beach and write-off the boat dock.

Site97-100
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by J. T., July 13, 2021
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by J. T., July 13, 2021
Therese T.
Reviewed Jun. 26, 2021

Great site

Had an awesome camping trip here. We were last minute and there were 2 spots left, we happened to get an awesome site, away from other campers, right on the river for fishing. Only issue was the whole site is on a hill, so had to pitch a tent on the parking pad. Bathrooms were surprisingly clean. Kids had a blast! Hope to come back again!

Site31
Month of VisitJuly
S
Reviewed Jun. 22, 2021

Well kept, lake front camping

Fantastic campground! Plenty of space, even if it's busy. No special amenities, but a nicely kept state park.

Site164
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Sarah S., June 22, 2021
Therese T.
Reviewed Jun. 20, 2021

Great campsite

Last minute on Saturday night they had only 2 spots left. We were tent camping but they only had electric sites remaining. We got site 31, beautiful spacious area, right off the River for fishing! Bathroom facilities were clean and had hot water. Each site has a water faucet. Host was helpful and the site was well maintained. Glad we found it in a last minute change of plans. Will definitely go back again!

Site31
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Therese T., June 20, 2021
S
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2020

Very well maintained

Very nice COE campground north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area. Beautiful setting, lots of options for sites. A recent wind storm had the area shut down for two weeks but they did a great job cleaning up downed trees and broken limbs. It was very quiet, lots of wildlife and amenities like a boat ramp, beach, playground, walking trails, recycling (!) and an amphitheater (!). Daughter lives close by so we will definitely return.

  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Steve B., August 28, 2020
Brad B.
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2020

Perfect

We stayed at site 48 and it's a perfect spot just off the lake with great views. Only drawback is it's kinda of a walk from a bathroom and the beach but that is more than ok to deal with...with a pop up. Highly recommend

Laura E.
Reviewed Jun. 17, 2020

Mountain Bikers Dream Spot

A great campground if you want to mountain bike, kayak, boat, hike, fish, play disc golf or just enjoy the view of the lake. Lots of sites to choose from with varying amounts of privacy. All have electric hookup, a few have full and there are some neat hike in tent spots. You really can’t go wrong with this campground. Many activities, very well kept campground, located by Iowa City, Solon, North Liberty so many places to get a bite and see the locals or just get groceries. Here’s a picture from our site 26 stay.

  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Laura E., June 17, 2020
Brittany M.
Reviewed Sep. 8, 2019

Great location

We loved the views from spot 193 but they were lacking in water hook-ups and the staff wasn’t super friendly.

  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Brittany M., September 8, 2019
Amber R.
Reviewed Jun. 16, 2019

Peace and Quiet

Nice park, clean shower houses and nice playground and beach for the kids!

Kelly G.
Reviewed Jun. 15, 2019

Beautifully kept

Gorgeous area, very clean, well kept campground. Lots of water view and water front sites. Nice setup, lots to do (i.e., hiking, disc golf, bike trails, beach and boat launch) even though flooding issues kept us from using the beach or launch. Didn’t use shower facility, but quite a few dump stations to keep checkouts quick! Only issue was that we didn’t have reservations, and there is no way to make in person reservations. Not usually a problem, except that we didn’t have cell service to call or make online. Great experience, we will definitely be back.

  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Kelly G., June 15, 2019
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Kelly G., June 15, 2019
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Kelly G., June 15, 2019
Judith B.
Reviewed May. 23, 2019

One of my favorites

We have stayed here for the past three years in September as part of a group. It is a very nice campground located right on the lake. Most sites are shady and fairly good sized. This is a COE Park so you also can get a discount with your Senior Pass.

  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Judith B., May 23, 2019
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Judith B., May 23, 2019
James M.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2018

Nice access to lake

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.

Sitetent
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by James M., August 29, 2018
Sara P.
Reviewed Aug. 22, 2018

Average

It’s an average campground. Parts are more like an open field. It’s nice, on a popular lake with a resteraunt near by. The people are friendly and it’s close to town. It’s a great place to just come relax and maybe swim.

Emma N.
Reviewed Sep. 25, 2017

Boats and Beautiful Views

Our one-night stay at the Sugar Bottom- Coralville Lake Campground was terrific! My husband and I stopped there during our cross-country road trip. We arrived around 7:30pm on a Sunday in September and easily got a spot. The lady at the entrance station was incredibly kind and answered all of our questions.

The campground is very well marked, with easily visible site number labels. Each site is in a grassy area with a picnic table and fire ring with a grate. Our site had a tree or two that provided some shade, but some other sites were a but more shaded.

We ended up staying in site #103, which is right by the water. What a beautiful view we had! Our campsite was very close to a boat dock, a sand volleyball court, and a sandy beach. We didn't have a chance to swim at the beach, but it looked really nice! It had a large, designated swimming area that was marked with floating ropes. We were also located close to a building with restrooms. Each restroom had a clean, hot shower. The showers were free, which was a plus!

In my opinion, this is definitely a 5-star campground. I can't wait to come back!

Site103
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Emma N., September 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Sugar Bottom Campground by Emma N., September 25, 2017
  • A boat on the lake.
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  • (8) View All
Joey F.
Reviewed Aug. 24, 2016

Grass Everywhere

Being from the west I was pretty surprised to be camping on grass. But it was a nice family campground with a playground, a boat dock and a fish cleaning station. Easy access to surrounding hikes and the Raptor center.