Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)

20112 Hwy J5 T, Centerville, Iowa, United States
Check Availability
PRAIRIE RIDGE (RATHBUN LAKE)
PRAIRIE RIDGE (RATHBUN LAKE)
PRAIRIE RIDGE (RATHBUN LAKE)

Available sites

54 total sites
RV Sites 54 sites Check Availability

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)

Verified Only

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

Angel S

Verified

September 10, 2025 • Stayed at: A14, Loop: PRIP

4

Great area for family reunions. Not much traffic so it’s easy to let the kids run and have fun. Would LOVE to see a play area for kids in there.

Angel S

Verified

September 10, 2025 • Stayed at: A14, Loop: PRIP

4

Great area for family reunions. Not much traffic so it’s easy to let the kids run and have fun. Would LOVE to see a play area for kids in there.

Angel S

Verified

September 10, 2025 • Stayed at: A14, Loop: PRIP

4

Great area for family reunions. Not much traffic so it’s easy to let the kids run and have fun. Would LOVE to see a play area for kids in there.

james y

Verified

October 21, 2025 • Stayed at: B28, Loop: PUMP

3

Good fishing, jux deep and windy.

james y

Verified

October 21, 2025 • Stayed at: B28, Loop: PUMP

3

Good fishing, jux deep and windy.

james y

Verified

October 21, 2025 • Stayed at: B28, Loop: PUMP

3

Good fishing, jux deep and windy.

Jake H

Verified

June 1, 2026 • Stayed at: B04, Loop: PPL.

5

The campground is awesome. Shower house is good and easily walked to. The road to the campground is gravel. That is the only downside. If it was hard surface it would be great

Cory B

Verified

June 1, 2026 • Stayed at: A03, Loop: PRIP

2

The trees next to our campsites between us and the water were too high and needed trimmed. These were actually not even trees, they were just a bunch of brush but blocked the view of the lake, so it was honestly a disappointed visit and I won’t camp at this location again.

Doua Y

Verified

June 7, 2026 • Stayed at: A01, Loop: PRIP

2

Good place... but shower too far... firewood nowhere to be found wasted $80 at the gas station... this will be the one n only time camp there

Judy D

Verified

June 8, 2026 • Stayed at: B09, Loop: PPL.

5

The campsites are large with beautiful trees, the park is an undiscovered gem. We had a boat and found the dock and ramp very workable. We were surprised to find the fish cleaning table has no electric outlets, something we’ll take in account our next trip. The showers are ok, they were having difficulty with finding help to keep them clean but I think that has been resolved. John, the camp host was extremely accommodating and a pleasure to meet. Our camping experience couldn’t have been better —— and we caught 5 keeper walleyes!!

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.

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Bridgeview Park is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just 13 mi northwest of Centerville, Iowa. Camping, boating, swimming, fishing and picnicking are popular activities at this waterfront recreation area.

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Nearby destinations

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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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