Sugar Bottom Day Use Area
Coralville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Iowa City, IA, IA
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4 out of 5 (0 reviews)
Season: May through October
Sugar Bottom Day Use Area is a day-use facility located on the shore of Coralville Lake. Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, as well as recreation, fish and wildlife management and forest management. Coralville Lake provides many recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, hiking, mountain biking, lake and river fishing, swimming, water skiing, picnicking and hunting.Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Vall
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, Drinking Water, Electric Hookups, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/sugar-bottom-day-use-area to be notified when sites open up.
Sugar Bottom Day Use Area offers beautiful lakeside camping on Coralville Lake with excellent hiking and mountain biking trails, plus direct boat access and fishing opportunities according to verified camper reviews.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, Coyotes, American Woodcock, Black-capped Chickadee, and Red-headed Woodpecker present in the area.
Insider tips for Sugar Bottom Day Use Area: Book early as this is a federal campground with limited availability. Only 1 site available at this day-use area. Multiple recreational activities available including hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and water access at Coralville Lake.
Skip Sugar Bottom Day Use Area if: Seeking hookups — no hookups available at most sites despite amenities listed.. Planning to camp outside May through October — seasonal operations only.. Need multiple camping options — only 1 site total..
Best time to visit Sugar Bottom Day Use Area: May-October — Facility operates seasonally during these months only..
Nearby campgrounds: Sugar Bottom Campground (SOLON, IA), West Overlook Day Use Area (Iowa City, IA), Linder Point Campground (Iowa City, IA), West Overlook Campground (IOWA CITY, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area
Cell signal at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area (Iowa City, 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.
Sugar Bottom Day Use Area is a day-use facility located on the shore of Coralville Lake. Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, as well as recreation, fish and wildlife management and forest management. Coralville Lake provides many recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, hiking, mountain biking, lake and river fishing, swimming, water skiing, picnicking and hunting.Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City.
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 limited availability.
Only 1 site available at this day-use area.
Multiple recreational activities available including hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, and water access at Coralville Lake.
Facility 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 →
From Interstate 380 (North Liberty, Iowa), take Exit 4 towards North Liberty. Travel East on W. Penn St. for 2.2 miles. At the four way stop sign, turn left onto N. Front St./Mehaffey Bridge Road NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.9 miles. Right after crossing the Mehaffey Bridge, take a right hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area will be on the left
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 — Coralville Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Coralville Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Sugar Bottom Day Use Area cost per night?+
What season is Sugar Bottom Day Use Area open?+
Does Sugar Bottom Day Use Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area?+
How do I make reservations at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area?+
What is the cell service like at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area?+
What season is Sugar Bottom Day Use Area 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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