Howell Station
Lake Red Rock — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Pella, IA, IA
Price: From $22 per night
Price range: $22–$24 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (656 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/howell-station to be notified when sites open up.
Howell Station sits below Red Rock Dam on Iowa's largest lake with spacious, scenic campsites and excellent bird watching opportunities. Campers praise it as a peaceful, clean campground with great views of the Des Moines River.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed deer, eastern chipmunk, brown pelican, red-breasted merganser, American white pelican, blue-winged teal, and western painted turtle documented in the area.
Insider tips for Howell Station: Book early—this is a federal campground with high demand Only select sites have electric hookups; most sites have no hookups Bring tools to flatten ground if needed due to mole activity reported by campers
Skip Howell Station if: You need water or sewer hookups—only electric available on select sites. You plan to camp outside May through October. You prefer developed campgrounds with all hookups available.
Best time to visit Howell Station: May through October — Campground operates seasonally during these months only.
Nearby campgrounds: South Tailwater Picnic Shelter (Knoxville, IA), North Tailwater Picnic Shelter (Pella, IA), South Overlook (Ia) (Knoxville, IA), North Overlook Camp (Pella, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Howell Station
Cell signal at Howell Station (Pella, IA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
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.
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.
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
Only select sites have electric hookups; most sites have no hookups
Bring tools to flatten ground if needed due to mole activity reported by campers
Campground operates seasonally during these months only
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 →
1081 198th Place Pella, Iowa 50219 From Pella, Iowa, take Highway T-15 southwest for 5 miles, then turn east on Idaho Drive to 198th Place. Travel south 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 — Lake Red Rock fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Lake Red Rock before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Howell Station cost per night?+
What season is Howell Station open?+
Does Howell Station have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Howell Station?+
How do I make reservations at Howell Station?+
What is the cell service like at Howell Station?+
What season is Howell Station open, and what are check-in times?+
Official resources
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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