Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
North Overlook Camp
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 52
- Hookups
- 43 electric, 6 no hookups
- Season
- April 23 to October 4
- Max RV length
- 90 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 833 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
- Nearest town
- Pella
- Address
- 1007 Highway T15, Pella, IA, 50219
- Phone
- 641-828-7522
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Ranger Station, Swimming
52 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
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. 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
North Overlook offers 46 shady campsites with 50-amp electric hookups, along with 6 primitive tent sites without electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.
Younger campers love the park's playground, and the North Overlook Beach is located within 1/4 mile from the campground.
Natural Features
Lake Red Rock is situated on the Des Moines River. Hardwood forests cover the lake shore at North Overlook, 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 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) 628-1701 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° | -25° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 19° | -19° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 31° | 9° | 76° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 63° | 42° | 23° | 82° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 73° | 56° | 39° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 85° | 64° | 50° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 86° | 69° | 58° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 82° | 67° | 58° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 62° | 49° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 65° | 46° | 27° | 83° | 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 · 1 mi · 143 sites
- Ivans · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 21 sites
- Wallashuck · Army Corps of Engineers · 2 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 2026-07-24. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.