RV Parks In Clear Lake, Iowa

Clear Lake camping splits between two lakeside state parks and one full-hookup private park. On the south shore, Clear Lake State Park is the marquee choice, with roughly 161 electric sites at 20/30/50 amp, eight full-hookup sites, two dump stations, a beach, and a boat ramp. Across the water in Ventura, McIntosh Woods State Park is the quieter option, with 45 electric sites and the only yurts in the Iowa state park system. For full hookups and a big pull-through, Oakwood RV Park sits two blocks from the lake with every site full hookup and 30/50-amp service. Between the public lake sites and the private park, you can camp cheaply on the water or pull into a full-service pad.

Yes, in a couple of places. Oakwood RV Park is the full-hookup standout, where every site has water, electric, and sewer with 30 and 50-amp service, a dump station, and free WiFi. Clear Lake State Park also offers full hookups, but only at about eight sites; most of its roughly 161 sites are electric with central water and two dump stations rather than sewer at each pad. McIntosh Woods State Park is electric-only with a trailer dump station. So if full hookups are a must, book Oakwood or grab one of the limited full-hookup sites at Clear Lake State Park early. If you are happy with electric and a nearby dump station in exchange for lakeside scenery and lower rates, the state parks are a great value.

It depends on public versus private. The two Iowa DNR state parks, Clear Lake and McIntosh Woods, are the budget picks, with electric sites in the low nightly range, roughly the low-to-mid twenties up toward the mid-thirties for premium and full-hookup sites, plus the standard reservation fee. They close for winter and offer mostly electric hookups with dump stations rather than full sewer at every site. Oakwood RV Park, the private full-hookup option, runs higher in the moderate nightly range, in exchange for full hookups, a large pull-through, and free WiFi close to the lake. Weekly and monthly rates at Oakwood lower the effective cost for longer stays, while the state parks are hard to beat for a cheap lakeside night.

It varies by season and event. For summer weekends, reserve both state parks months ahead through ReserveAmerica, because Clear Lake State Park and McIntosh Woods fill fast in warm weather and the town is a popular lake getaway. Pay attention to the February Winter Dance Party weekend, when fans pour in for the anniversary of the 1959 Surf Ballroom concert and rooms fill across the region, though the campgrounds themselves are closed that cold month. Oakwood fills on summer weekends too, so a week or more of lead time is wise, and its season runs mid-April to mid-October. On a spring or early-fall weekday you can often find a site with little notice at the state parks.

Late spring through early fall is the sweet spot, when the parks are open and the lake is the whole point. Summer is the busiest and warmest season, humid with the occasional thunderstorm, and campgrounds fill on weekends, so reserve ahead. Spring is cool, green, and much quieter once the parks reopen in April, and early fall brings crisp days, good color, and lighter crowds before the parks close at the end of November. Winter is very cold and snowy, and the state parks shut water off while Oakwood closes, so it is not a practical RV season here. For the best mix of weather, open campgrounds, and availability, target the shoulder months of May, June, September, and October.

Yes, with a little planning. Oakwood RV Park is the easiest choice for a long rig, with large pull-throughs around 80 feet, a maximum length up to 115 feet, and full hookups just off I-35. Clear Lake State Park works for big rigs too, with sites ranging from 30 to 108 feet and pull-throughs that handle RVs up to about 75 feet, though you should confirm your specific site length when booking. McIntosh Woods is smaller at 60 acres, so double-check site dimensions there for a long rig. The lake-shore approach roads are paved but narrow in spots, so take the last mile slowly and watch the turns into the campground loops. Overall, big-rig owners have comfortable options at both Oakwood and Clear Lake State Park.

Yes, lakeside camping is the main draw. Clear Lake State Park sits on the south shore with a swim beach and a boat ramp, and its electric and full-hookup sites put you steps from the water. McIntosh Woods State Park occupies the northwest shore in Ventura, a quieter 60-acre park with electric sites and lake access. Oakwood RV Park is two blocks from the lake, close enough to walk to the water. Clear Lake itself is a natural 3,600-acre lake stocked with walleye, bass, and crappie, popular for boating, fishing, and swimming, and the Lady of the Lake cruise boat runs sightseeing trips. Reserve lakeside state park sites months ahead for summer weekends, since they are the first to fill.

Yes, two of them right on the lake. Clear Lake State Park, managed by the Iowa DNR on the south shore, is the larger and busier choice, with roughly 161 electric sites at 20/30/50 amp, about eight full-hookup sites, two dump stations, a beach, and a boat ramp, all reservable through ReserveAmerica. McIntosh Woods State Park sits on the northwest shore in Ventura, a quieter 60-acre park with 45 electric sites, a trailer dump station, modern showers, and the only yurts in the Iowa state park system, with about a quarter of its sites kept first-come. Both close for the Iowa winter and reserve roughly April through November, and both give you low-cost lakeside camping within minutes of town.

Generally yes. Oakwood RV Park welcomes pets, as most private parks do, and the two state parks, Clear Lake and McIntosh Woods, allow leashed pets under standard Iowa DNR rules. Policies on number, leash length, and designated areas vary, so confirm the specifics when you book, especially at Oakwood. The lake shore, the state park trails, and the bike path along the water give dogs plenty of room to walk. As always, bring proof of vaccinations, keep pets leashed in the campground, pick up after them, and never leave a dog unattended at the site in Iowa summer heat. With a little care, Clear Lake is an easy place to travel with a dog.

Plenty for a small town. The Surf Ballroom and Museum is the headliner, a 1948 National Historic Landmark and the final stage for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper in 1959, now home to the Not Fade Away immersive experience, with the Three Stars Plaza and the crash-site memorial nearby. The lake itself is the other main draw, with boating, fishing for walleye and bass, swimming, and the Lady of the Lake cruise. Central Gardens of North Iowa is a free public garden with more than 20 themed spaces, and the compact downtown has local shops and restaurants along the waterfront. It is an easy base for mixing lake days with a real slice of rock and roll history.

Not really, at least not in a hookup site. Both Iowa DNR state parks close their camping for winter and shut water off, and Oakwood RV Park runs seasonally from mid-April to mid-October, so there is no open full-service RV park in the cold months. North-central Iowa winters are hard, with lows well below freezing and regular snow, so even if a site were open you would be fighting frozen pipes and difficult travel. The town still draws visitors in February for the Winter Dance Party tribute at the Surf Ballroom, but those fans stay in hotels, not campgrounds. For RV camping, plan a trip between spring reopening in April and the late-fall close at the end of November.

It is straightforward. I-35 runs north to south right along the east edge of Clear Lake, and US-18 crosses it east to west, so you arrive on open interstate. Exit 193 (4th Ave S) is the main way into town, and Oakwood RV Park is only about a mile from that interchange, an easy approach for a long rig. The state parks are a few minutes farther around the lake on paved shore roads that get narrow in spots, so slow down for the last mile and the campground turns. Des Moines is about two hours south and Minneapolis about two hours north on I-35, and Mason City ten minutes east covers fuel, propane, groceries, and RV service if you need anything Clear Lake does not have.

It is a solid one. Clear Lake puts you right on I-35 with two lakeside state parks and a full-hookup private park, a walkable downtown, and a genuine music landmark in the Surf Ballroom. From here you can spend your days on the lake fishing and boating, day-trip ten minutes east to Mason City, the hometown that inspired The Music Man and home to Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, or use the interstate to push north toward Minnesota or south toward Des Moines. Camp on the water at Clear Lake State Park or settle into a full-hookup pull-through at Oakwood, and you have an affordable, central, easy-access base. For RVers crossing the Midwest who want a lake stop with real character, Clear Lake is an easy recommendation.

Clear Lake camping splits between two lakeside state parks and one full-hookup private park. On the south shore, Clear Lake State Park is the marquee choice, with roughly 161 electric sites at 20/30/50 amp, eight full-hookup sites, two dump stations, a beach, and a boat ramp. Across the water in Ventura, McIntosh Woods State Park is the quieter option, with 45 electric sites and the only yurts in the Iowa state park system. For full hookups and a big pull-through, Oakwood RV Park sits two blocks from the lake with every site full hookup and 30/50-amp service. Between the public lake sites and the private park, you can camp cheaply on the water or pull into a full-service pad.

Yes, in a couple of places. Oakwood RV Park is the full-hookup standout, where every site has water, electric, and sewer with 30 and 50-amp service, a dump station, and free WiFi. Clear Lake State Park also offers full hookups, but only at about eight sites; most of its roughly 161 sites are electric with central water and two dump stations rather than sewer at each pad. McIntosh Woods State Park is electric-only with a trailer dump station. So if full hookups are a must, book Oakwood or grab one of the limited full-hookup sites at Clear Lake State Park early. If you are happy with electric and a nearby dump station in exchange for lakeside scenery and lower rates, the state parks are a great value.

It depends on public versus private. The two Iowa DNR state parks, Clear Lake and McIntosh Woods, are the budget picks, with electric sites in the low nightly range, roughly the low-to-mid twenties up toward the mid-thirties for premium and full-hookup sites, plus the standard reservation fee. They close for winter and offer mostly electric hookups with dump stations rather than full sewer at every site. Oakwood RV Park, the private full-hookup option, runs higher in the moderate nightly range, in exchange for full hookups, a large pull-through, and free WiFi close to the lake. Weekly and monthly rates at Oakwood lower the effective cost for longer stays, while the state parks are hard to beat for a cheap lakeside night.

It varies by season and event. For summer weekends, reserve both state parks months ahead through ReserveAmerica, because Clear Lake State Park and McIntosh Woods fill fast in warm weather and the town is a popular lake getaway. Pay attention to the February Winter Dance Party weekend, when fans pour in for the anniversary of the 1959 Surf Ballroom concert and rooms fill across the region, though the campgrounds themselves are closed that cold month. Oakwood fills on summer weekends too, so a week or more of lead time is wise, and its season runs mid-April to mid-October. On a spring or early-fall weekday you can often find a site with little notice at the state parks.

Late spring through early fall is the sweet spot, when the parks are open and the lake is the whole point. Summer is the busiest and warmest season, humid with the occasional thunderstorm, and campgrounds fill on weekends, so reserve ahead. Spring is cool, green, and much quieter once the parks reopen in April, and early fall brings crisp days, good color, and lighter crowds before the parks close at the end of November. Winter is very cold and snowy, and the state parks shut water off while Oakwood closes, so it is not a practical RV season here. For the best mix of weather, open campgrounds, and availability, target the shoulder months of May, June, September, and October.

Yes, with a little planning. Oakwood RV Park is the easiest choice for a long rig, with large pull-throughs around 80 feet, a maximum length up to 115 feet, and full hookups just off I-35. Clear Lake State Park works for big rigs too, with sites ranging from 30 to 108 feet and pull-throughs that handle RVs up to about 75 feet, though you should confirm your specific site length when booking. McIntosh Woods is smaller at 60 acres, so double-check site dimensions there for a long rig. The lake-shore approach roads are paved but narrow in spots, so take the last mile slowly and watch the turns into the campground loops. Overall, big-rig owners have comfortable options at both Oakwood and Clear Lake State Park.

Yes, lakeside camping is the main draw. Clear Lake State Park sits on the south shore with a swim beach and a boat ramp, and its electric and full-hookup sites put you steps from the water. McIntosh Woods State Park occupies the northwest shore in Ventura, a quieter 60-acre park with electric sites and lake access. Oakwood RV Park is two blocks from the lake, close enough to walk to the water. Clear Lake itself is a natural 3,600-acre lake stocked with walleye, bass, and crappie, popular for boating, fishing, and swimming, and the Lady of the Lake cruise boat runs sightseeing trips. Reserve lakeside state park sites months ahead for summer weekends, since they are the first to fill.

Yes, two of them right on the lake. Clear Lake State Park, managed by the Iowa DNR on the south shore, is the larger and busier choice, with roughly 161 electric sites at 20/30/50 amp, about eight full-hookup sites, two dump stations, a beach, and a boat ramp, all reservable through ReserveAmerica. McIntosh Woods State Park sits on the northwest shore in Ventura, a quieter 60-acre park with 45 electric sites, a trailer dump station, modern showers, and the only yurts in the Iowa state park system, with about a quarter of its sites kept first-come. Both close for the Iowa winter and reserve roughly April through November, and both give you low-cost lakeside camping within minutes of town.

Generally yes. Oakwood RV Park welcomes pets, as most private parks do, and the two state parks, Clear Lake and McIntosh Woods, allow leashed pets under standard Iowa DNR rules. Policies on number, leash length, and designated areas vary, so confirm the specifics when you book, especially at Oakwood. The lake shore, the state park trails, and the bike path along the water give dogs plenty of room to walk. As always, bring proof of vaccinations, keep pets leashed in the campground, pick up after them, and never leave a dog unattended at the site in Iowa summer heat. With a little care, Clear Lake is an easy place to travel with a dog.

Plenty for a small town. The Surf Ballroom and Museum is the headliner, a 1948 National Historic Landmark and the final stage for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper in 1959, now home to the Not Fade Away immersive experience, with the Three Stars Plaza and the crash-site memorial nearby. The lake itself is the other main draw, with boating, fishing for walleye and bass, swimming, and the Lady of the Lake cruise. Central Gardens of North Iowa is a free public garden with more than 20 themed spaces, and the compact downtown has local shops and restaurants along the waterfront. It is an easy base for mixing lake days with a real slice of rock and roll history.

Not really, at least not in a hookup site. Both Iowa DNR state parks close their camping for winter and shut water off, and Oakwood RV Park runs seasonally from mid-April to mid-October, so there is no open full-service RV park in the cold months. North-central Iowa winters are hard, with lows well below freezing and regular snow, so even if a site were open you would be fighting frozen pipes and difficult travel. The town still draws visitors in February for the Winter Dance Party tribute at the Surf Ballroom, but those fans stay in hotels, not campgrounds. For RV camping, plan a trip between spring reopening in April and the late-fall close at the end of November.

It is straightforward. I-35 runs north to south right along the east edge of Clear Lake, and US-18 crosses it east to west, so you arrive on open interstate. Exit 193 (4th Ave S) is the main way into town, and Oakwood RV Park is only about a mile from that interchange, an easy approach for a long rig. The state parks are a few minutes farther around the lake on paved shore roads that get narrow in spots, so slow down for the last mile and the campground turns. Des Moines is about two hours south and Minneapolis about two hours north on I-35, and Mason City ten minutes east covers fuel, propane, groceries, and RV service if you need anything Clear Lake does not have.

It is a solid one. Clear Lake puts you right on I-35 with two lakeside state parks and a full-hookup private park, a walkable downtown, and a genuine music landmark in the Surf Ballroom. From here you can spend your days on the lake fishing and boating, day-trip ten minutes east to Mason City, the hometown that inspired The Music Man and home to Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, or use the interstate to push north toward Minnesota or south toward Des Moines. Camp on the water at Clear Lake State Park or settle into a full-hookup pull-through at Oakwood, and you have an affordable, central, easy-access base. For RVers crossing the Midwest who want a lake stop with real character, Clear Lake is an easy recommendation.

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Clear Lake.