South Tailwater Picnic Shelter
Lake Red Rock — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Knoxville, IA, IA
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (2 reviews)
Season: May through October
South Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located on the Des Moines River on the south end of Red Rock Dam adjacent from the visitor center on Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake. It is 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, Flush Toilets, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/south-tailwater-picnic-shelter to be notified when sites open up.
South Tailwater Picnic Shelter offers excellent fishing and wildlife viewing on the Des Moines River at Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake, with clean bathroom facilities and fish cleaning stations. Campers praise it as a great spot for picnicking, hiking, birding, and letting kids play in a small play area.
Wildlife alert: Bald Eagle, Brown Pelican, Red-breasted Merganser, Nashville Warbler, Kansas White-tailed Deer, Eastern Chipmunk, Common Raccoon, Western Painted Turtle
Insider tips for South Tailwater Picnic Shelter: Book early as this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site Take advantage of fish cleaning stations on-site Visit in fall for bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities
Skip South Tailwater Picnic Shelter if: You need hookups — most sites have no hookups. You need camping outside May-October — seasonal operations only. You prefer larger campgrounds — only 1 tent site available.
Best time to visit South Tailwater Picnic Shelter: May - October — Campground operates seasonally May through October.
Nearby campgrounds: North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) (Knoxville, IA), South Overlook (Ia) (Knoxville, IA), Howell Station (Pella, IA), North Overlook Camp (Pella, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter
Cell signal at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter (Knoxville, 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.
South Tailwater Picnic Shelter is located on the Des Moines River on the south end of Red Rock Dam adjacent from the visitor center on Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake. It is 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 as this is a federal campground with only 1 tent site
Take advantage of fish cleaning stations on-site
Visit in fall for bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities
Campground operates seasonally May through October
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 →
1006 Hwy T15 Knoxville, Iowa 50138 From Pella, Iowa, take County Highway T-15 southwest for 4 miles, then follow signs to South Tailwater Recreation Area.
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 South Tailwater Picnic Shelter cost per night?+
What season is South Tailwater Picnic Shelter open?+
Does South Tailwater Picnic Shelter have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?+
How do I make reservations at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?+
What is the cell service like at South Tailwater Picnic Shelter?+
What season is South Tailwater Picnic Shelter open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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