Iowa / Johnson County

Cottonwood Campground

Closed — Closed for the 2025 recreation season. Typically operates May through October.

About

Cottonwood Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City. This intimate campground features 11 non-electric walk-to tent sites tucked beneath a canopy of mixed hardwood species, providing private, wooded settings for tent camping. The campground offers modern restroom and shower facilities located at the main parking lot. Coralville Lake provides abundant recreational opportunities including boating, fishing for large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish, swimming, and water skiing. Several trails are accessible from the Dam Complex, including Squire Point, Woodpecker Trail, Tailwater Riverwalk, and the barrier-free Veterans Trail. The Devonian Fossil Gorge, located just below the dam, offers a unique opportunity to explore a 375-million-year-old sea floor with fossil remains. The Turkey Creek Disc Golf Course offers nine holes within the Dam Complex. Wildlife viewing is excellent throughout the project, with whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, and songbirds commonly seen. Nearby attractions include the University of Iowa campus, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, and the historic Amana Colonies.

Directions

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. The entrance to the Cottonwood Campground will be located on the right side of the road.

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