Sugar Bottom Campground
Closed — Closed for the season. Opens May 1, 2026, though May reservations are currently unavailable due to ongoing construction. Season typically runs May 1 through September 30. Reservations available via Recreation.gov.
Tornado Watch issued March 6 at 8:20PM CST until March 7 at 4:00AM CST by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED TORNADO WATCH 19 IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM CST SATURDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS IN ILLINOIS THIS WATCH INCLUDES 1 COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ILLINOIS ROCK ISLAND IN IOWA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 21 COUNTIES IN EAST CENTRAL IOWA BENTON CEDAR CLINTON IOWA JACKSON JOHNSON JONES LINN MUSCATINE SCOTT IN NORTHEAST IOWA BUCHANAN DELAWARE DUBUQUE IN SOUTHEAST IOWA DES MOINES HENRY IA JEFFERSON KEOKUK LEE LOUISA VAN BUREN WASHINGTON IN MISSOURI THIS WATCH INCLUDES 2 COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST MISSOURI CLARK SCOTLAND THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ANAMOSA, BETTENDORF, BURLINGTON, CEDAR RAPIDS, CLINTON, CREDIT ISLAND, DAVENPORT, DUBUQUE, FAIRFIELD, INDEPENDENCE, IOWA CITY, KAHOKA, KEOKUK, KEOSAUQUA, MANCHESTER, MAQUOKETA, MARENGO, MEMPHIS, MOLINE, MOUNT PLEASANT, MUSCATINE, ROCK ISLAND, SIGOURNEY, TIPTON, VINTON, WAPELLO, AND WASHINGTON. * PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE... A FEW TORNADOES LIKELY WITH A COUPLE INTENSE TORNADOES POSSIBLE. SCATTERED LARGE HAIL AND ISOLATED VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER LIKELY. SCATTERED DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 70 MPH LIKELY. PROBABILITY TABLE: PROB OF 2 OR MORE TORNADOES : 60% PROB OF 1 OR MORE STRONG /EF2-EF5/ TORNADOES : 40% PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE WIND EVENTS : 60% PROB OF 1 OR MORE WIND EVENTS >= 75 MPH : 10% PROB OF 10 OR MORE SEVERE HAIL EVENTS : 60% PROB OF 1 OR MORE HAIL EVENTS >= 2 INCHES : 60% PROB OF 6 OR MORE COMBINED SEVERE HAIL/WIND EVENTS : >95% MEAN STORM MOTION /MPH/ : NE 40
From Recreation.gov
Reservations are currently unavailable for the Sugar Bottom Campground during the month of May due to ongoing construction. Please check back at a later date. Reservations will be available as soon as the construction is complete.
About
Sugar Bottom Campground is the largest campground at Coralville Lake, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Iowa River Valley. Located on the east side of the lake among heavily wooded forests of mixed hardwood species, the campground provides 232 campsites including full hookup sites with water, sewer, and 50-amp electric; sites with 50-amp electric and water; standard 30-amp electric sites; and non-electric walk-to tent sites. Three camping units are permitted per site. The campground features modern restroom and shower facilities, vault toilets, drinking water, a dump station, beach, and boat ramp. Visitors enjoy excellent fishing for large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish. The Sugar Bottom area is renowned for mountain biking with trails ranging from beginner to expert, plus the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and barrier-free asphalt trails. An 18-hole disc golf course is located in the adjacent day use area. Wildlife including whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, and waterfowl are abundant throughout the project. Nearby attractions include the Devonian Fossil Gorge, a 375-million-year-old sea floor with fossil remains just 10 miles away. Iowa City and Coralville offer university amenities, restaurants, and shopping, while regional attractions include the Amana Colonies, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, and Cedar Rapids cultural sites.
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | Yes |
| Water Hookups | Yes |
| Sewer Hookups | Yes |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $14 - $100 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | 66ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | Yes |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| kathryn.s.atkinson@usace.army.mil | |
| Phone | +1 (319) 624-2102 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | Yes |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!