Cottonwood Campground
Cottonwood campground is closed for the 2026 recreation season The Cottonwood Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project. The Coralville Lake Project is a multiple 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 skiing, picnicking and hunting.
More like this: reservable in Iowa · tent only in Iowa · pets allowed in Iowa
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Walk-in | 11 |
| Host/management | 4 |
Site guide
11 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| C01 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C02 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C03 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C04 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C05 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C06 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C07 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C08 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C09 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| C10 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The Cottonwood Campground offers 11 non-electric walk-to tent campsites. Amenities include a modern restroom and shower facility located at the main parking lot. The campground fee booth is located in the West Overlook Campground. The dump station, drinking water, trash and recycling receptacles are located just outside of the West Overlook Campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From Interstate 80 (Iowa City, Iowa), take Exit 244 towards Dubuque St./North Liberty. Travel north on Dubuque St. for 3 miles and turn right onto West Overlook Rd. NE. Travel on West Overlook Rd. NE for 1.1 miles. At the second stop sign, turn right onto Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE. Travel east on Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE for 0.1 miles.
| Nearest town | Iowa City, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41.7229° N, 91.5347° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Active Endeavors ↗ | 3.2 mi |
| RV sales & service | Sun & Fun RV ↗ | 6.8 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 9.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Big Bend National Park Camping. Cottonwood Campground.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City. The Cottonwood Campground lies among a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species on the west side of the dam. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. Whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, song birds and other species roam the lands around the lake.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for camping, boating, fishing, swimming and water activities. Anglers will find large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish. Several trails are within the Dam Complex, including Squire Point, Woodpecker Trail, Tailwater Riverwalk and barrier-free Veterans Trail. The Devonian Fossil Gorge is just below the dam, offering 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 along with a cell phone audio tour. The Turkey Creek Disc Golf Course is located in the Dam Complex and offers nine partially wooden and open holes.
Nearby
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 and Slovak Museum and 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.
Guidebooks for Iowa
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cottonwood Campground?
Sites at Cottonwood Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cottonwood Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cottonwood Campground have?
15 sites, including 11 walk-in sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Cottonwood Campground?
Cottonwood Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Cottonwood Campground?
Amenities include a modern restroom and shower facility located at the main parking lot.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Cottonwood Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Cottonwood Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Cottonwood Campground?
Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for camping, boating, fishing, swimming and water activities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Cottonwood Campground?
Iowa City, Iowa. 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.
Source: Getting there
What if Cottonwood Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Tailwater West Campground (0.1 mi), West Overlook Campground (0.2 mi), and Linder Point Campground (0.5 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby