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State Park

Photo: Army Corps of EngineersPublic domainRecreation.gov

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State parks set their own rules and reservation systems. Fire bans, road closures, and operating dates change seasonally — check the state park website before traveling.

Directions

271

Total Sites

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0 Reviews

271 Tent135 RV

Official sources & verification

Managed by State Park

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Source of truth

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We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this campground using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Oct 11, 2026. Spot an error in our data?

Live availability

via Recreation.gov
See every open campground nearbySame dates & filters, across the whole area

Availability is a recent snapshot, not a live hold — you always complete the booking on recreation.gov.

About

Overview Howell Station Campground sits just below the Red Rock Dam and Lake on the north side of the Des Moines River. Lake Red Rock is Iowa's largest lake, located just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, biking and viewing wildlife. For more information regarding the Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake Red Rock Project, click here: [Lake Red Rock Website](https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lake-Red-Rock/) For a virtual tour of the area, click here: [Lake Red Rock - Virtual Tour](http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/usace/redrock/tour.html) Recreation Lake Red Rock offers excellent boating, water skiing and swimming opportunities. Miles of water trails for kayakers and canoeists are designated along the shoreline. Anglers will find crappie, largemouth and striped bass, walleye, channel and flathead catfish, northern pike and bluegill. Several miles of trails for hiking and biking are in the area. The 15 mile paved Volksweg Trail stretches west from Pella to the Des Moines River and to the Cordova Recreation Area. Facilities Howell Station offers 143 campsites with 50-amp electric hookups. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and two dump stations. Younger campers love the park's playgrounds, while anglers enjoy the great river fishing access. Natural Features Hardwood forests cover the riverbanks at Howell Station, offering shade and scenic views. Wildlife is abundant around the lake. A wide variety of waterfowl, including the American White Pelican, migrate through the area in spring and fall. Bald eagles can be observed from November through March. White-tailed deer, turkeys and other small animals are commonly viewed around the lake. Nearby Attractions Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo. Charges & Cancellations A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. Cancel or change reservations through recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.

Reviews

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How busy it gets

Recreation.gov
Very popular4.6

835 camper reviews on Recreation.gov

Amenities

Showers
Flush Toilets
Potable Water
Dump Station
Electric Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Firewood
Accessible
Picnic Tables
Fire Rings
Trash Service
Cell Service

Cell reception

Camper reports · checked Sep 29, 2026

Some Coverage

Average 1.6 of 4 bars · 635 reports across 3 carriers

Phone calls may occasionally drop; text messages may be delayed. Data service may be unusable. Drop-outs are common and it may be necessary to search for signal. Social media likely unusable.

  • Verizon

    Some Coverage

    1.6/4

    355 reports

  • AT&T

    Some Coverage

    1.7/4

    98 reports

  • T-Mobile

    Major Issues

    1.5/4

    182 reports

Reported by campers on Recreation.gov, not measured by us. Reception varies by handset, weather, and where you stand in the campground. Recreation.gov

Check-in & Check-out

Check-in 3:00 PM

Check-out 2:00 PM

Campground Rules

  • Campfires generally permitted — verify current fire restrictions before lighting

Reservations

This campground accepts reservations. Book early for popular dates.

Make a Reservation

Individual Sites (150)

001
#001

001

Loop PRAI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests65 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
002
#002

002

Loop PRAI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests58 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
003
#003

003

Loop PRAI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests64 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OK
Reserve
004
#004

004

Loop PRAI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests64 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
005
#005

005

Loop PRAI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests70 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve
006
#006

006

Loop PRAI

Check official pricing Max 8 guests62 ft
CampsiteStandardPets OKCampfires
Reserve

Within ~30 miles

Trails near Howell Station

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Nearby Campgrounds

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