Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
Howell Station
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 143
- Hookups
- 135 electric, 2 with water
- Season
- April 16 to October 18
- Max RV length
- 80 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 725 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon weak (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Lake Red Rock
- Nearest town
- Pella
- Address
- 1081 198th Place, Pella, IA, 50219
- Phone
- 641-828-7522
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Ranger Station, Wildlife Viewing
143 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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, 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 and swimming opportunities. Miles of water trails for kayakers and canoeists are designated along the shoreline.
Anglers will find crappie, largemouth and striped bass, walleye, 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 to the Cordova Recreation Area.
Facilities
Howell Station offers 143 campsites with 50-amp electric hookups. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and two dump stations.
Younger campers love the park's playgrounds, while anglers enjoy the great river fishing access.
Natural Features
Hardwood forests cover the riverbanks at Howell Station, offering shade and scenic views.
Wildlife is abundant around the lake. A wide variety of waterfowl, including the American White Pelican, migrate through the area in 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.
Contact Info
For local information, please call (641) 620-1802 or call (641) 828-7522 for general information.
Nearby Attractions
Des Moines, Iowa's capital, is an hour away, with numerous shopping and dining opportunities, museums and the Blank Park Zoo.
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
- Ivans · Army Corps of Engineers · 0 mi · 21 sites
- North Overlook Camp · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 52 sites
- Wallashuck · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 83 sites
- Whitebreast Camp · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 132 sites
- Roberts Creek East Campground · Army Corps of Engineers · 5 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.