Iowa / Johnson County

Tailwater West Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground operates from May 1 through October 31. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

Tailwater West Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project, positioned on the west bank of the Iowa River below the dam. This Army Corps of Engineers campground offers 22 campsites nestled among a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species, providing a shaded camping experience with abundant wildlife including whitetail deer, turkeys, pheasants, and waterfowl. The campground features a mix of full hookup sites, standard electric sites, and non-electric walk-to tent sites, with amenities including a modern restroom with shower facility and fish cleaning station. The nearby Tailwater Day Use Area provides a playground, hiking trail, and ADA accessible fishing piers. A dump station and drinking water are located just outside the adjacent West Overlook Campground. Coralville Lake offers excellent recreation opportunities including fishing for large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Several trails within the Dam Complex include Squire Point, Woodpecker Trail, Tailwater Riverwalk, and the barrier-free Veterans Trail. The Devonian Fossil Gorge, located just below the dam, provides a unique opportunity to explore a 375-million-year-old sea floor with twenty discovery points and a cell phone audio tour. The Turkey Creek Disc Golf Course offers nine holes nearby. Iowa City and Coralville are minutes away, offering university amenities, restaurants, and shopping.

Directions

From Interstate 80 at Iowa City, 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 1.1 miles, then at the second stop sign turn right onto Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE. Travel east 0.2 miles; the campground entrance is on the right.

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