Outdoors
Lakes, reservoirs and rivers near Cedar Rapids for boating, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.
Good to know: Life jackets are required for children on most waters, and many lakes require an invasive-species inspection or a launch fee.
11 mi southeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Sandy Beach Cammpground is located on the northern shores of Coralville Lake. The Coralville Lake Project is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in…
18 mi southeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in recreation, fish and wildlife management, forest management and water quality improvement.
18 mi southeast · US Army Corps of Engineers
The Tailwater East Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project.
Map of 24 places loads as you scroll.
The Sandy Beach Cammpground is located on the northern shores of Coralville Lake. The Coralville Lake Project is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in…
Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in recreation, fish and wildlife management, forest management and water quality improvement.
The Tailwater East Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project.
The Tailwater West Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project.
The West Overlook Campground is located within the Dam Complex at the Coralville Lake Project.
The Mississippi River Project’s Muscatine Ranger Station has gone to a new way to pay for First-Come First-Serve campsites at the Blanchard Island Recreation Area. This new way is called "Scan & Pay".
Shady Creek Campground is a 22-acre park where campers enjoy getaways on the banks of the Mississippi River. A nature trail, shore fishing and fantastic bird watching are offered at Shady Creek.
Clarks Ferry is a outdoor lovers delight, with fantastic bird watching and lots of shore fishing opportunities with our new accessible fishing dock!
The 24,149 acre Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge was established for the protection of migratory birds and other wildlife. Although the U.S.
Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Lynxville, WI. and Guttenberg, IA.
Fifteen campgrounds dot the shoreline along the upper Mississippi River Project. Facilities include campsites, boat ramps, picnic shelters, interpretive programs, hiking trails and eagle watching in the winter months.
Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is a hidden gem located on the Mississippi River. Whether you like camping, fishing, boating, or just taking in nature, Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is the perfect place.
North Overlook Campground is located 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.
Wallashuck Campground is located 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.
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 and is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage and 15 minutes from Knoxville, Sprintcar Capital of the World.
South Overlook is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 miles from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 miles from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Two federally listed endangered species, the Iowa Pleistocene snail and northern monkshood, are found on the refuge.
Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Genoa, WI and Lynxville, WI.
Over 700 campsites are available at this 11,000-acre lake in the rolling hills of southern Iowa. Excellent camping, fishing, hunting, boating, state fish hatchery, and Honey Creek Resort, are major attractions.
The Saylorville Lake Project is 26,000 acres, which stretches for over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Dresbach, MN and Genoa, WI.
Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Trempealeau, WI and Dresbach, MN.
What is now known as Great River National Wildlife Refuge began in 1958 as part of Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge, a sprawling refuge which included units along the Mississippi River in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois.
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Cedar Rapids. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
A DRIVE AROUND TOWN
Cedar Rapids - Iowa - 4K Downtown Drive. A film shared by Mileage Mike Travels.
Watch on YouTube ↗Sandy Beach Camp (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 11 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids as the crow flies. Next are Coralville Lake (18 mi) and Tailwater East Campground (18 mi).
Based on Cedar Rapids’s average highs, May–September. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.