Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)
Rathbun Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: CENTERVILLE, IA, IA
Price: From $22 per night
Price range: $22–$25 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (58 reviews)
Season: Year-round
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.This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (641) 647-2464.This campground offers 42 sites with electric hookups.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): moderate signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/buck-creek-rathbun-lake to be notified when sites open up.
Buck Creek Campground is located on beautiful 11,000-acre Rathbun Lake, just 9 miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa, offering camping, boating, swimming, fishing, and picnicking. The lake provides excellent fishing opportunities for crappie, channel catfish, walleye, and largemouth bass.
Wildlife alert: Great Blue Heron, Wild Turkey, White-tailed Deer, and Eastern Cottontail present in area
Insider tips for Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake): Book early - this is a federal campground with high demand Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly if you need power 11,000-acre lake is known as Iowa's Ocean with prevailing winds ideal for sailing
Skip Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) if: You need water or sewer hookups - only electric hookups on select sites. You expect all sites to have hookups - most sites have no hookups. You need guaranteed year-round availability - seasonal operations apply.
Best time to visit Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake): Year-round — Campground operates year-round according to verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake) (CENTERVILLE, IA), Island View (Rathbun Lake) (Mystic Iowa, IA), Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake) (CENTERVILLE, IA), Howell Station (Pella, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)
Cell signal at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) (CENTERVILLE, IA): moderate overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (641) 647-2464.This campground offers 42 sites with electric hookups.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early - this is a federal campground with high demand
Electric hookups available on select sites only; plan accordingly if you need power
11,000-acre lake is known as Iowa's Ocean with prevailing winds ideal for sailing
Campground operates year-round according to verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Centerville, IA, travel 5 miles north on HWY 5 to HWY J-29, then 4 miles northwest to HWY J5T. Travel 2 miles north and follow signs to campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Rathbun Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Rathbun Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) cost per night?+
What season is Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) open?+
Does Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)?+
How do I make reservations at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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