Tailwater East Campground
Coralville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: IOWA CITY, IA, IA
Price: From $14 per night
Price range: $14–$26 per night
Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (110 reviews)
Season: May through October
The Tailwater East Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project. The Coralville Lake Project is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in 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.The Tai
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, Restrooms, Showers, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/tailwater-east-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Riverside campground with concrete slab sites, fish cleaning station, and boat launch. Large sites in a beautiful location near Coralville Lake with access to boating, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking.
Wildlife alert: White-tailed Deer, Cliff Swallow, American Woodcock, Dark-eyed Junco, and Limpkin documented in the area.
Insider tips for Tailwater East Campground: Check in at the campground above the dam, not at Tailwater East. Bring your own water supply; no water hookups available at most sites. Book early—this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly.
Skip Tailwater East Campground if: You need full RV hookups; only electric hookups available and campground is suitable for self-contained RVs only.. You plan to camp outside May-October; seasonal operations only.. You visit in November or winter months; campground is closed..
Best time to visit Tailwater East Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: East Overlook Day Use Area (Iowa City, IA), Turkey Creek Day Use Area (Iowa City, IA), West Overlook Day Use Area (Iowa City, IA), West Overlook Campground (IOWA CITY, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Tailwater East Campground
Cell signal at Tailwater East Campground (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.
The Tailwater East Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project. The Coralville Lake Project is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in 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.The Tailwater East Campground is located on the east bank of the Iowa River below the Coralville Lake Dam.
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 entryCheck in at the campground above the dam, not at Tailwater East.
Bring your own water supply; no water hookups available at most sites.
Book early
this is a popular federal campground that fills quickly.
Campground operates seasonally May through October 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 80 (Iowa City, Iowa), take Exit 244 towards Dubuque St./North Liberty. Travel north on Dubuque St. for 3 miles and turn right onto West Overlook Rd. NE. Travel on West Overlook Rd. NE for 1.1 miles. At the second stop sign, turn right onto Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE. Travel est on Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE for 0.7 miles, across the Coralville Lake Dam. The entrance to the Tailwater East Campground will be located on the right side of the road. From Interstate 380 (North Liberty, Iowa)
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 Tailwater East Campground cost per night?+
What season is Tailwater East Campground open?+
Does Tailwater East Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Tailwater East Campground?+
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What is the cell service like at Tailwater East Campground?+
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●Data sources on this page
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