Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
Ivans
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 21
- Hookups
- 20 electric
- Season
- April 23 to October 4
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 725 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Lake Red Rock
- Phone
- 6418287522
- Activities
- Biking, Birding, Camping, Hiking, Picnicking, Water Access
20 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Ivans sits just below the Red Rock Dam and Lake on the south side of the Des Moines River, across the river from Howell Station Campground. 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. For more information regarding the Army Corps of Engineers and the Lake Red Rock Project, click here: Lake Red Rock Website
Recreation
Lake Red Rock offers excellent boating, water skiing, wakeboarding and swimming opportunities. Miles of water trails for kayakers and canoeists are designated along the shoreline. Anglers will find crappie, walleye, largemouth and striped bass, channel and flathead catfish, northern pike and bluegill. Several miles of trails for hiking and biking are in the area. The 15 mile paved Volksweg Trail stretches west from Pella to the Des Moines River and the the Corova Recreation Area.
Facilities
Ivans offers 21 campsites with 50-amp electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, showers and drinking water. Anglers enjoy the great river fishing access.
Natural Features
Hardwood forests cover the riverbanks at Ivans, offering shade and scenic views. Wildlife is abundant around the lake. A wide variety of waterfowl, including the American White Pelican, migrates through the area in the spring and fall. Bald eagles can be observed from November through March. White-tailed deer, turkeys and other small animals are commonly viewed around the lake.
Nearby Attractions
Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (641) 828-7522.
Charges & Cancellations
A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation. The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount. Cancel or change reservations through recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Late cancellations are subject to additional fees.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 10° | -24° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 19° | -18° | 68° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 32° | 9° | 77° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 63° | 42° | 23° | 82° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 73° | 56° | 40° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 65° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 69° | 59° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 67° | 58° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 62° | 49° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 46° | 27° | 84° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 34° | 6° | 73° | 6 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 25° | -12° | 71° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Howell Station · Army Corps of Engineers · 0 mi · 143 sites
- North Overlook Camp · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 52 sites
- Whitebreast Camp · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 132 sites
- Wallashuck · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 83 sites
- Roberts Creek East Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 6 mi
All public campgrounds in Iowa · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.