PRAIRIE RIDGE (RATHBUN LAKE)
PRAIRIE RIDGE (RATHBUN LAKE)
PRAIRIE RIDGE (RATHBUN LAKE)

Available sites

54 total sites

About Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)

Prairie Ridge Park is located 6 mi, SW of the Jct of Iowa Highway 5 and J18 at Moravia. Awesome Sunsets- No Extra Charge! Rathbun's off-the-beaten path park offers unique opportunities for lover's of the outdoors. Nestled between Buck Creek and Honey Creek, the high ridge offers wonderful vistas of the lake while surrounded by Iowa's Natural and enhanced prairie life community, with woodland draws and timbered hillsides.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Birding

Birding

Year-round
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

54 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 A01, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 51 × 20 ft
🚐 A02, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 55 × 25 ft
🚐 A03, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 52 × 16 ft
🚐 A04, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 74 × 25 ft
🚐 A05, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 70 × 19 ft
🚐 A06, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 64 × 23 ft
🚐 A07, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 64 × 34 ft
🚐 A08, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 52 × 23 ft
🚐 A09, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 53 × 26 ft
🚐 A10, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 71 × 29 ft
🚐 A11, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 42 × 25 ft
🚐 A12, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 44 × 20 ft
🚐 A13, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 51 × 22 ft
🚐 A14, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 111 × 19 ft
🚐 A15, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 49 × 28 ft
🚐 A16, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 59 × 26 ft
🚐 A17, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 64 × 28 ft
🚐 A18, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 59 × 27 ft
🚐 A19, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 80 × 25 ft
🚐 A20, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 62 × 27 ft
🚐 A21, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 68 × 26 ft
🚐 A22, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 54 × 35 ft
🚐 A23, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 67 × 29 ft
🚐 A24, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 73 × 32 ft
🚐 A25, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 46 × 31 ft
🚐 A26, Loop: PRIP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 68 × 29 ft
🚐 B01, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 43 × 33 ft
🚐 B02, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 37 × 33 ft
🚐 B03, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 43 × 29 ft
🚐 B04, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 47 × 32 ft
🚐 B05, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 87 × 35 ft
🚐 B06, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 45 × 36 ft
🚐 B07, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 43 × 33 ft
🚐 B08, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 90 × 35 ft
🚐 B09, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 69 × 38 ft
🚐 B10, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 50 × 31 ft
🚐 B11, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 45 × 25 ft
🚐 B12, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 42 × 34 ft
🚐 B13, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 B15, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 75 × 47 ft
🚐 B16, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 88 × 25 ft
🚐 B17, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 56 × 29 ft
🚐 B18, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 57 × 28 ft
🚐 B19, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 65 × 39 ft
🚐 B20, Loop: PPL. RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 110 × 35 ft
🚐 B21, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 48 × 24 ft
🚐 B22, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 48 × 28 ft
🚐 B23, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 45 × 33 ft
🚐 B24, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 65 × 35 ft
🚐 B25, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 67 × 40 ft
🚐 B26, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 61 × 36 ft
🚐 B27, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 79 × 28 ft
🚐 B28, Loop: PUMP RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · 82 × 24 ft
🚐 PR Group Camp, Loop: PRID RV
Pet Friendly

Reviews (203)

What Guests Are Saying

Prairie Ridge at Rathbun Lake is praised for its great fishing, peaceful atmosphere, and family-friendly environment, making it ideal for reunions. Campers appreciate the friendly staff, clean facilities, and beautiful lake views, although some express concerns about the rough access roads and inadequate shower facilities. Overall, visitors enjoy the campground's tranquility and plan to return despite some minor drawbacks.

Review Summary

4.0
203 reviews
5
49.3%
100
4
21.2%
43
3
16.7%
34
2
7.9%
16
1
4.9%
10

Gregory L

Verified

July 11, 2023 • Stayed at: A21, Loop: PRIP

2

Roads need work

Teresa A

Verified

June 19, 2023 • Stayed at: B19, Loop: PPL.

5

Very quiet place to relax and enjoy the outdoors with family. Clean facilities and friendly staff. Quick to respond to any issues we had with electrical and swapping spots that fit our needs better.

Teresa A

Verified

June 19, 2023 • Stayed at: B19, Loop: PPL.

5

Very quiet place to relax and enjoy the outdoors with family. Clean facilities and friendly staff. Quick to respond to any issues we had with electrical and swapping spots that fit our needs better.

Teresa A

Verified

June 19, 2023 • Stayed at: B19, Loop: PPL.

5

Very quiet place to relax and enjoy the outdoors with family. Clean facilities and friendly staff. Quick to respond to any issues we had with electrical and swapping spots that fit our needs better.

JOHN B

Verified

June 17, 2023 • Stayed at: B01, Loop: PPL.

5

Our stay at Prairie Ridge was excellent as always. We have camped at this location for many years and love it. Accommodations are very good and the staff very pleasant to interact with. The fishing, swimming, sight-seeing at Lake Rathbun is second to none. Make sure you check out Perch Point in Prairie Ridge Campground. The views from Perch are some of the best on the lake!

JOHN B

Verified

June 17, 2023 • Stayed at: B01, Loop: PPL.

5

Our stay at Prairie Ridge was excellent as always. We have camped at this location for many years and love it. Accommodations are very good and the staff very pleasant to interact with. The fishing, swimming, sight-seeing at Lake Rathbun is second to none. Make sure you check out Perch Point in Prairie Ridge Campground. The views from Perch are some of the best on the lake!

JOHN B

Verified

June 17, 2023 • Stayed at: B01, Loop: PPL.

5

Our stay at Prairie Ridge was excellent as always. We have camped at this location for many years and love it. Accommodations are very good and the staff very pleasant to interact with. The fishing, swimming, sight-seeing at Lake Rathbun is second to none. Make sure you check out Perch Point in Prairie Ridge Campground. The views from Perch are some of the best on the lake!

kim j

Verified

June 6, 2023 • Stayed at: A05, Loop: PRIP

2

Campground is not bad but getting there is a choker for me rock roads just about kill me off with the dust. Need to get the county to pave them would be much nicer.

kim j

Verified

June 6, 2023 • Stayed at: A05, Loop: PRIP

2

Campground is not bad but getting there is a choker for me rock roads just about kill me off with the dust. Need to get the county to pave them would be much nicer.

kim j

Verified

June 6, 2023 • Stayed at: A05, Loop: PRIP

2

Campground is not bad but getting there is a choker for me rock roads just about kill me off with the dust. Need to get the county to pave them would be much nicer.

Location & Directions for Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)

20112 Hwy J5 T, Centerville, IA 52544-8308 United States

Elevation: 286 ft

Getting There

From Moravia, IA, travel 4 mi west on Highway J18, then south 2.5 mi on 200th Avenue (gravel). Follow signs into campground.

Nearest town

Centerville, IA - 16 mi

About 23 min to downtown

Policies & Rules

Arrival & departure

  • Contact the park within 24 hours if you are going to be late to avoid cancellation.
  • Register for campsites during booth hours.

Site capacity

  • Campers can stay a maximum of 14 nights in the same loop within 30 nights, after which they must move to a different loop.

General

  • For more information, visit the Rathbun Lake website http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Rathbun-Lake/

Fires & fuel

  • Buy firewood from local suppliers.
  • If you bring your own firewood, do not leave any behind.
  • Do not move firewood to protect against pests; buy locally and burn on-site.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Centerville, IA

Population: 5,372

Nearby larger city

Des Moines, IA

Approx. 62 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,007 ft

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Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers