Can you reserve a site at Howell Station?

Yes, Howell Station is reservable through Recreation.gov.

How many campsites does Howell Station have?

143 sites in total, of which 135 can be booked.

What is the maximum RV length at Howell Station?

80 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.

Are pets allowed at Howell Station?

Yes, pets are allowed at Howell Station.

Are campfires allowed at Howell Station?

Campfires are allowed at Howell Station. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Howell Station

Campground · Iowa · 135 bookable sites ·

Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers

Lake Red Rock (Recreation Area) · Open Access

135
Bookable sites: 80 ft
Max rig length: up to 8
People per site: 2
Accessible sites: 705 ft
Elevation

Howell Station Entrance and Gate Attendant Booth — Photo: Army Corps of Engineers · Recreation.gov

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.

The facts

135 bookable sites
143 sites in total, including non-bookable
2 accessible sites
Vehicles up to 80 ft
Up to 8 people per site
Loops: KVIL, PPOI, PRAI

Site types

135 Standard Electric
8 Management

Amenities

Electric hookups
Campfires allowed
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: water hookups, sewer hookups, fire pits, picnic tables, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

143 campsites at Howell Station

Check-in 3:00 PM · Check-out 2:00 PM

Accessible only

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Max rig	People
057	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
058	KVIL	Management	Back In	Gravel	49 ft	8	🐾
059	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	54 ft	8	🐾
060	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	8	🐾
061	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	8	🐾
062	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	54 ft	8	🐾
063	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	66 ft	8	🐾
064	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	8	🐾
065	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	63 ft	8	🐾
066	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	72 ft	8	🐾
067	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	71 ft	8	🐾
068	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
069	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
070	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	8	🐾
071	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	74 ft	8	🐾
072	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	75 ft	8	🐾
073	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
074	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
075	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	72 ft	8	🐾
076	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
077	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	56 ft	8	🐾
078	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
079	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
080	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	56 ft	8	🐾
081	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	72 ft	8	🐾
082	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	73 ft	8	🐾
083	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
084	KVIL	Management	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
085	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	71 ft	8	🐾
086	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
087	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	8	🐾
088	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
089	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
090	KVIL	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
091	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	72 ft	8	🐾
092	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	61 ft	8	🐾
093	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
094	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
095	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	66 ft	8	🐾
096	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	75 ft	8	🐾
097	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
098	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
099	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
100	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	46 ft	8	🐾
101	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
102	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
103	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	51 ft	8	🐾
104	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	43 ft	8	🐾
105	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	49 ft	8	🐾
106	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	8	🐾
107	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
108	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	54 ft	8	🐾
109	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
110	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
111	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	63 ft	8	🐾
112	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	8	🐾
113	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	66 ft	8	🐾
114	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	47 ft	8	🐾
115	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	56 ft	8	🐾
116	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	61 ft	8	🐾
117	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
118	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	73 ft	8	🐾
119	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	8	🐾
120	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	63 ft	8	🐾
121	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
122	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	76 ft	8	🐾
123	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	76 ft	8	🐾
124	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	76 ft	8	🐾
125	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	63 ft	8	🐾
126	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	76 ft	8	🐾
127	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
128	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	72 ft	8	🐾
129	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
130	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	64 ft	8	♿ 🐾
131	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
132	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
133	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	61 ft	8	🐾
134	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	74 ft	8	🐾
135	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	58 ft	8	🐾
136	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	75 ft	8	🐾
137	PPOI	Management	Back In	Gravel	80 ft	8	🐾
138	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
139	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
140	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Paved	80 ft	8	♿ 🐾
141	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	51 ft	8	🐾
142	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	52 ft	8	🐾
143	PPOI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
001	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
002	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	58 ft	8	🐾
003	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
004	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
005	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
006	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	62 ft	8	🐾
007	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	61 ft	8	🐾
008	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
009	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
010	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
011	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
012	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
013	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
014	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	71 ft	8	🐾
015	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	63 ft	8	🐾
016	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	50 ft	8	🐾
017	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	8	🐾
018	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	59 ft	8	🐾
019	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
020	PRAI	Management	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
021	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
022	PRAI	Management	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
023	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	78 ft	8	🐾
024	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	75 ft	8	🐾
025	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
026	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	64 ft	8	🐾
027	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	80 ft	8	🐾
028	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
029	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	71 ft	8	🐾
030	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	79 ft	8	🐾
031	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	65 ft	8	🐾
032	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	76 ft	8	🐾
033	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
034	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	74 ft	8	🐾
035	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	76 ft	8	🐾
036	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
037	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
038	PRAI	Management	Back In	Gravel	71 ft	8	🐾
039	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
040	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	57 ft	8	🐾
041	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	66 ft	8	🐾
042	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	63 ft	8	🐾
043	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	70 ft	8	🐾
044	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
045	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	71 ft	8	🐾
046	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
047	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
048	PRAI	Management	Back In	Gravel	60 ft	8	🐾
049	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	51 ft	8	🐾
050	PRAI	Management	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
051	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	69 ft	8	🐾
052	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	67 ft	8	🐾
053	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	79 ft	8	🐾
054	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	54 ft	8	🐾
055	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	68 ft	8	🐾
056	PRAI	Standard Electric	Back In	Gravel	57 ft	8	🐾

Getting there

1081 198th Place
Pella, Iowa 50219

From Pella, Iowa, take Highway T-15 southwest for 5 miles, then turn east on Idaho Drive to 198th Place. Travel south and follow signs to campground.

41.36500, -92.97361 · 41°21'54.0"N 92°58'25.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Low °F	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Precip in	1.0	1.2	2.0	3.9	4.6	5.4	4.2	4.3	3.7	2.7	1.9	1.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 2.9 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Howell Station Campsites — Photo: Army Corps of Engineers · Recreation.gov

Howell Station Landing — Photo: Army Corps of Engineers · Recreation.gov

Member photos

Add a photo

Common questions about Howell Station

Can you reserve a site at Howell Station?: Yes, Howell Station is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Howell Station have?: 143 sites in total, of which 135 can be booked.
What is the maximum RV length at Howell Station?: 80 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Howell Station?: Yes, pets are allowed at Howell Station.
Does Howell Station have hookups?: Electric.
Are campfires allowed at Howell Station?: Campfires are allowed at Howell Station. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Camping near Howell Station

South Tailwater Picnic Shelter 0.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Tailwater Picnic Shelter 0.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia) 0.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
South Overlook (Ia) 0.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
North Overlook Camp 1.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Wallashuck 2.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Whitebreast Camp 2.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter (Ia) 3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Whitebreast Point Shelter (Ia) 3.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Fifield (Ia) 4.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake) 33.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake) 34 mi · Campground · we watch it

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.