Fishing and kayaking enthusiasts will find direct access to Rathbun Lake at this Army Corps of Engineers campground. COE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek operates seasonally from May through September, accommodating RVs up to 96 feet with electric hookups and providing basic amenities including picnic tables and a dump station.
The campground features both forested and open terrain sites, with many offering lake views according to campers. Access roads are rough, so visitors should prepare for potentially challenging driving conditions. For additional options in the area, campers can explore places to camp around Rathbun Recreation Area or consider nearby Honey Creek Resort State Park on Lake Rathbun for a different experience.
Description
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.
Facilities
This campground offers 42 sites with electric hookups. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water, a dump station, boat ramp and playground. A marina and bait shop are located nearby.
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.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundCOE Rathbun Lake Buck Creek is located in Iowa
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
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
VerizonLTESome Coverage- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood Coverage
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&TLTESome Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
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
Drive Time
- 1 hr 24 min from Des Moines, IA
- 1 hr 47 min from Ames, IA
- 1 hr 59 min from Iowa City, IA
- 2 hrs 13 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
