Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)

Photo · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Not publishedStatus

ReservableAccess

42Sites

96 ftMax rig

The place

Buck Creek Campground is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just 9 miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa. Camping, boating, swimming, fishing, and picnicking are popular activities at this lakefront campground. Recreation The 11,000-acre lake provides a variety of fishing opportunities for any angler. Crappie, channel catfish, walleye, and largemouth bass are most common. Although power boating is also popular, the prevailing winds on Rathbun Lake, also known as Iowa's Ocean, make it one of the best sailing lakes in Iowa. Facilities This campground offers 42 sites with electric hookups. Keep reading

Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water, a dump station, boat ramp and playground. A marina and bait shop are located nearby. Natural Features Rathbun Lake is situated in the gently rolling hills of the Chariton River Valley in southeast Iowa. The campground consists of open grassy areas dotted with trees. Bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey, and other wildlife can be found at Rathbun Lake. Contact Info This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (641) 647-2464. Nearby Attractions The Rathbun Fish Hatchery is located near the main dam, and offers self-guided tours Monday through Friday year-round. Hundreds of thousands of catfish and walleye are produced here each year. Southern Iowa's only Off Highway Vehicle Park is nearby. It is located on the south bank of the South Fork Chariton River and encompasses nearly 125 acres of an abandoned rock quarry.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 42

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric
LOOP A	A01	standard electric	40 ft	30
LOOP A	A02	standard electric	45 ft	30
LOOP A	A03	standard electric	57 ft	30
LOOP A	A04	standard electric	60 ft	30
LOOP A	A05	standard electric	52 ft	50
LOOP A	A06	standard electric	45 ft	30
LOOP A	A07	standard electric	55 ft	30
LOOP A	A08	standard electric	58 ft	30
LOOP A	A09	standard electric	60 ft	30
LOOP A	A10	standard electric	51 ft	30
LOOP A	A11	standard electric	64 ft	30
LOOP A	A12	standard electric	69 ft	30
LOOP A	A13	standard electric	71 ft	30
LOOP A	A14	standard electric	50 ft	30
LOOP A	A15	standard electric	51 ft	30
LOOP A	A16	standard electric	38 ft	30
LOOP A	A17	standard electric	43 ft	30
LOOP A	A18	standard electric	51 ft	30
LOOP A	A19	standard electric	50 ft	30
LOOP A	A20	standard electric	52 ft	50
LOOP A	A21	standard electric	68 ft	30
LOOP A	A22	standard electric	49 ft	30
LOOP A	A23	standard electric	58 ft	30
LOOP A	A24	standard electric	64 ft	30
LOOP B	B01	standard electric	65 ft	30
LOOP B	B02	standard electric	60 ft	30
LOOP B	B03	standard electric	94 ft	50
LOOP B	B04	standard electric	78 ft	30
LOOP B	B05	standard electric	76 ft	30
LOOP B	B06	standard electric	59 ft	50
LOOP B	B07	standard electric	52 ft	30
LOOP B	B08	standard electric	62 ft	30
LOOP F	F01	standard electric	55 ft	30
LOOP F	F02	standard electric	65 ft	30
LOOP F	F03	standard electric	77 ft	30
LOOP F	F04	standard electric	96 ft	30
LOOP F	F05	standard electric	44 ft	30
LOOP F	F06	standard electric	72 ft	30
LOOP F	F07	standard electric	63 ft	30
LOOP F	F08	standard electric	75 ft	30
LOOP F	F09	standard electric	62 ft	30
LOOP F	F10	standard electric	68 ft	50

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in IA-03. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard