Iowa: lakes with campgrounds within 5 miles

About this list

These lakes have at least one campground or RV park within 5 miles of the shoreline. Campground locations come from Recreation.gov (federal recreation data) and OpenStreetMap, and distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shore, so the drive is longer. Each lake page lists every campground we found within 15 miles, with the type of site and amenities where the source gives them. Reservations, seasons and fees change, so check with the campground before you go.

14 Iowa lakes qualify today. Sorted by the number of campgrounds within 5 miles, then by the closest one. For every lake in the state, see Iowa lakes & ponds.

Iowa lakes

1. Spirit Lake · Orleans · 5,464 acres · 11 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 1.1 mi
2. Saylorville Lake · Johnston · 5,428 acres · 9 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 0.3 mi
3. Rathbun Lake · Rathbun · 13,869 acres · 6 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 0.3 mi
4. Volga Lake · West Union · 130 acres · 4 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 2.2 mi
5. Crystal Lake · Crystal Lake · 260 acres · 3 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 2.0 mi
6. Lake Manawa · Council Bluffs · 733 acres · 3 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 2.6 mi
7. Rock Creek Lake · Oakland Acres · 515 acres · 2 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 4.2 mi
8. Silver Lake · Lake Park · 1,024 acres · 2 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 7.3 mi
9. Black Hawk Lake · Lake View · 914 acres · 2 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 7.7 mi
10. Clear Lake · Clear Lake · 3,632 acres · 2 campgrounds within 5 miles, closest 9.8 mi
11. Mile Hill Lake · Glenwood · 10 acres · 1 campground within 5 miles, closest 1.8 mi
12. Lake Cornelia · Clarion · 239 acres · 1 campground within 5 miles, closest 4.9 mi
13. Slip Bluff Lake · Davis City · 19 acres · 1 campground within 5 miles, closest 5.9 mi
14. Geode Lake · Danville · 192 acres · 1 campground within 5 miles, closest 11.4 mi

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