Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake)
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 104
- Hookups
- 94 electric, 9 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to September 29
- Max RV length
- 89 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 968 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · T-Mobile good · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Rathbun Lake
- Nearest town
- CENTERVILLE
- Address
- 20112 HWY J-5T, CENTERVILLE, IA, 52544-8308
- Phone
- FOR CAMPGROUND INQUIRIES DURING MAY-SEPTEMBER PLEASE CALL 641-724-3062. DURING CLOSED SEASON PLEASE CALL 641-647-2464
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking, Ice Climbing, Information Site, Kayaking, Picnicking, Sailing
104 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Bridgeview Park is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just 13 miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa. Camping, boating, swimming, fishing and picnicking are popular activities at this waterfront recreation area.
Recreation
The 11,000-acre lake provides a variety of fishing opportunities for any angler. Crappie, channel catfish, walleye and largemouth bass are most common.
Whether power boating or sailing, Rathbun Lake, also known as Iowa's Ocean, has something to offer everyone. In particular, the water's prevailing winds make it one of the best sailing lakes in Iowa.
Facilities
This large campground offers 106 family sites, 95 of which have electric hookups. A day-use group picnic shelter for up to 24 people is also available. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water, a dump station, boat ramp, playground and horseshoe pits.
Natural Features
Rathbun Lake is situated in the gently rolling hills of the Chariton River Valley in southeast Iowa. The campground consists of open grassy areas dotted with trees.
Bald eagles, white-tailed deer, Canada geese, wild turkey, and other wildlife can be found at Rathbun Lake.
Contact Info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (641) 647-2464.
Nearby Attractions
Southern Iowa's only Off Highway Vehicle Park is just three miles from the campground. It is located on the south bank of the South Fork Chariton River and encompasses nearly 125 acres of an abandoned rock quarry.
The Rathbun Fish Hatchery is located near the main dam, and offers self-guided tours Monday through Friday year-round. Hundreds of thousands of catfish and walleye are produced here each year.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 12° | -22° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 37° | 20° | -17° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 32° | 9° | 77° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 63° | 42° | 23° | 83° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 74° | 56° | 40° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 65° | 50° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 69° | 59° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 67° | 57° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 62° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 46° | 27° | 84° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 34° | 6° | 73° | 6 of 10 |
| December | 39° | 26° | -7° | 70° | 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
- Honey Creek State Park · Iowa State Parks · 5 mi · 112 sites
- Island View (Rathbun Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 7 mi · 192 sites
- Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 7 mi · 56 sites
- Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 8 mi · 42 sites
- Red Haw State Park · Iowa State Parks · 15 mi · 52 sites
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.