Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)

Rathbun Lake

🏕️ CampgroundLake Red RockIowa⭐ 4.3 (76)

🟢 6 open windows as of Sep 19 — soonest Sat Sep 19–Tue Sep 22

Availability checked 8h ago · changes fast, verify before you drive

🐕 Dogs allowed — all 42 sites here that publish a pet policy say yes.

Per-site pet policy from Recreation.gov site details (RIDB), checked 3h ago.

Book / check availability →🧭 Directions

💡 In short

Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) in Iowa has 6 open booking windows on Recreation.gov right now, the soonest Sat Sep 19–Tue Sep 22. Reserve directly through the booking link above — cancellations go fast. To catch future openings the instant they appear, set a free CampSage cancellation alert.

📅 Open dates

Sat Sep 19 – Tue Sep 223 nightsbook these dates →👥 6 in a row, LOOP A #A14–LOOP A #A19 next to each othersites LOOP A #A01, #A02, #A03, #A04, #A05, #A06, #A07, #A08, #A09, #A11, #A14, #A15, #A16, #A17, #A18, #A19, #A21, #A22, #A23, #A24, LOOP B #B01, #B02, #B05, #B06, #B07, LOOP F #F01, #F02, #F03, #F08

Sat Sep 19 – Mon Sep 212 nightsbook these dates →sites LOOP B #B08

Sun Sep 20 – Wed Sep 233 nightsbook these dates →👥 LOOP A #A12 & LOOP A #A13 next to each othersites LOOP A #A10, #A12, #A13, LOOP B #B04, LOOP F #F04, #F10

Fri Sep 25 – Mon Sep 283 nights🗓 weekendbook these dates →👥 6 in a row, LOOP A #A14–LOOP A #A19 next to each othersites LOOP A #A01, #A02, #A04, #A05, #A06, #A07, #A08, #A09, #A10, #A11, #A14, #A15, #A16, #A17, #A18, #A19, #A21, #A22, #A23, #A24, LOOP B #B01, #B02, #B03, #B05, #B06, #B07, LOOP F #F02, #F04, #F09

Mon Sep 21 – Thu Sep 243 nightsbook these dates →sites LOOP B #B03, LOOP F #F05, #F09

Sun Sep 27 – Wed Sep 303 nightsbook these dates →👥 6 in a row, LOOP F #F03–LOOP B #B08 next to each othersites LOOP A #A03, #A12, LOOP B #B04, #B08, LOOP F #F01, #F03, #F05, #F06, #F07, #F08, #F10

📷 What these sites look like

Photos of sites that are open right now, from recreation.gov. Angles vary by park — usually the site and its parking pad.

Campsite LOOP A #A01 — Buck Creek Campground Site# A01 — **Site LOOP A #A01** · Buck Creek Campground Site# A01USACE - Volunteer

Campsite LOOP A #A02 — Buck Creek Campground Site# A02 — **Site LOOP A #A02** · Buck Creek Campground Site# A02USACE - Volunteer

Campsite LOOP A #A03 — Buck Creek Campground Site# A03 — **Site LOOP A #A03** · Buck Creek Campground Site# A03USACE - Volunteer

Campsite LOOP A #A04 — Buck Creek Campground Site# A04 — **Site LOOP A #A04** · Buck Creek Campground Site# A04USACE - Volunteer

Campsite LOOP A #A05 — Buck Creek Campground Site# A05 — **Site LOOP A #A05** · Buck Creek Campground Site# A05USACE - Volunteer

Campsite LOOP A #A06 — Buck Creek Campground Site# A06 — **Site LOOP A #A06** · Buck Creek Campground Site# A06USACE - Volunteer

🔭 Planning further ahead?

We watch the next 60 days closely — that's where cancellations show up. recreation.gov takes bookings out to about March 2027, so there may be 2+ night stays past our window.

🏕️ About this campground

💵 $22–$25/nightStandard Electric🎒 biking🎒 boating🎒 car camping🎒 fishing🎒 hiking🎒 swimming

Ratings

4.3★★★★☆76 ratings

Star ratings from recreation.gov (they don't publish written review text). Read & leave reviews on recreation.gov ↗

💡 Insider tips from campers

❓ Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) FAQ

How do I reserve a campsite at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)?

Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) in Iowa takes campsite reservations through Recreation.gov. On this page, use the “Book / check availability” button to open the live booking page, see which dates are free, and reserve your site.

How much does it cost to camp at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)?

Campsite fees at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) run about $22–$25/night, as listed by Recreation.gov. Exact rates vary by site type, number of campers, and season.

How can I get a spot at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) when it's fully booked?

Popular campgrounds like Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) often fill months ahead, but campers cancel every day and those sites reopen for booking. CampSage checks availability for you and sends a free email the instant a cancellation opens — set an alert on this page and you can grab the spot before anyone else.

Is Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) a good campground?

Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) holds an average rating of 4.3/5 from 76 camper ratings on Recreation.gov. The full star breakdown is shown above.

Where is Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) located?

Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) is located in Lake Red Rock, Iowa. Tap “Directions” above for driving directions, or see nearby campgrounds lower on this page.

🔔 Get a free opening alert

We'll email you when a site opens at Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake).

🎯 Only these dates (optional): to

Only weekends (Fri/Sat nights)

🌙 Minimum stay (Pro):

Skip the 1-night midweek openings — only hear about stays worth the drive.

👥 Group size (Pro):

Camping with a group? Only hear about openings with that many sites NEXT TO EACH OTHER on the same dates — consecutive numbers in one loop, not just that many free somewhere in the park.

🚫 Skip site types (Pro):
No hookup/electric sites (tent or van camping)
No hike-in / walk-in / boat-in / backcountry sites
No group sites (solo/family camping)

Works where the booking system publishes per-site types (rec.gov campgrounds).

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<iframe src="https://campsage.app/camp/embed/buck-creek-rathbun-lake-233438" width="340" height="280" loading="lazy" style="border:0;border-radius:14px" title="Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake) cancellations"></iframe>
<p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;margin:6px 0 0">Live campsite availability for <a href="https://campsage.app/camp/site/buck-creek-rathbun-lake-233438">Buck Creek (Rathbun Lake)</a> · powered by <a href="https://campsage.app">CampSage</a></p>