Lake Darling State Park

About

Named after J.N. 'Ding' Darling, a nationally renowned editorial cartoonist and conservation champion, Lake Darling State Park offers a diverse outdoor experience in southeast Iowa. The park's centerpiece is its 302-acre lake, which provides opportunities for fishing, boating at no-wake speeds, and swimming at the beach area. The park features several trails winding through wetland habitats, wooded hills and valleys, and remnants of native prairie, suitable for hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling. The campground is one of Iowa's larger facilities, offering 118 campsites with a range of options to suit different camping styles. Sites include full hookups with sewer, water, and electric (81 sites with electrical hookups), as well as non-electric sites. Two modern restroom buildings with showers serve the campground, along with a conveniently located dump station and playground equipment. The campground is 100% reservable through the Iowa State Parks reservation system. Beyond camping, the park offers 11 cabins ranging from primitive camping cabins with basic amenities to modern ADA-accessible cabins with full kitchens and two bedrooms. Day-use facilities include a newly renovated lodge with a covered patio overlooking the lake, two picnic shelters, and multiple scenic picnic areas. Anglers can fish from the fishing jetty, accessible fishing pier, or along a 1.5-mile paved accessible fishing trail for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, bluegills, and carp. Boat rentals including paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are available through the Friends of Lake Darling concession Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Directions

Take Highway 1 and 78 three miles west of Brighton, then turn north on Lake Darling Road.