Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
Island View (Rathbun Lake)
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 192
- Hookups
- 188 electric
- Season
- May 1 to September 29
- Max RV length
- 130 ft
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 938 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 2
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Rathbun Lake
- Nearest town
- Mystic Iowa
- Address
- 19409 ISLAND VIEW PLACE, Mystic Iowa, IA, 52544-8303
- Phone
- FOR CAMPGROUND INQUIRIES DURING MAY-SEPTEMBER PLEASE CALL 641-647-2079. DURING CLOSED SEASON OCTOBER-APRIL PLEASE CALL 641-647-2464
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Canoeing, Day Use Area, Fish Hatchery, Fishing, Hiking, Information Site, Kayaking, Picnicking, Sailing
191 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Island View Park is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just nine miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa and 8 miles southwest of Moravia.
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.
The prevailing winds on Rathbun Lake, also known as Iowa's Ocean, make it one of the best sailing lakes in Iowa.
Facilities
This large campground offers 187 family sites and one group site, all with electric hookups. Three group picnic sites are also available.
Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A boat ramp, dock, marina, playgrounds, and horseshoe pit are all on-site.
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.
Nearby Attractions
The Rathbun Fish Hatchery is nearby, offering self-guided tours Monday through Friday year-round. Hundreds of thousands of catfish and walleye are produced here each year.
Southern Iowa's only Off Highway Vehicle Park is just 20 minutes from the campground. It is located on the south bank of the South Fork Chariton River and encompasses nearly 125 acres in an abandoned rock quarry.
Contact Info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (641) 647-2464.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 13° | -19° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 38° | 21° | -16° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 33° | 9° | 77° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 63° | 42° | 24° | 82° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 74° | 57° | 40° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 86° | 66° | 50° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 87° | 69° | 60° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 68° | 58° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 63° | 50° | 97° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 46° | 28° | 84° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 52° | 34° | 7° | 73° | 6 of 10 |
| December | 39° | 26° | -5° | 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 · 2 mi · 112 sites
- Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 42 sites
- Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 3 mi · 56 sites
- Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake) · Army Corps of Engineers · 7 mi · 104 sites
- Lake Wapello State Park · Iowa State Parks · 17 mi · 73 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.