campgrounds.fyiIndependent · federal campgrounds · no paid placements
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USACELake Red Rock · Iowa

Elk Rock Campground And Boat Ramp

This recreation area is part of Lake Red Rock
Sites0all reservable
Elev.843ft
Comf.Apr-Oct7 months
Max rigtents
Electricnonesites
From Des Moines1h00real road time
The honest read
Synthesized from
RIDB · Open-Meteo
OSM · OSRM
Updated 2026-05-27

At 843 ft, Elk Rock Campground And Boat Ramp has a 7-month comfortable window (Apr-Oct). Winter nights average around 15°F, so the shoulder seasons turn cold fast. Within about 4 miles: lake or river access.

The campground at a glance

01 · CHARACTER
QuietCoolRoomyShadeRV-fitReserv.

Reads strongest on cool nights and quiet. Softest on quiet.

Six axes, each scored relative to every other federal campground in the region: quiet (miles to a major road), cool (elevation), roomy (average site spacing), shade, RV-fit (longest rig), and how reservable it is. All six come from data, nothing hand-tuned.

When to go

02 · CLIMATE
JFMAMJJASOND
avg highavg lowfrost-freedriest · Feb
Apr-Oct
Comfortable window: nights stay above 35°F, days below 90°F.
73%
Of summer weekend-days are dry.
Apr 16
Last spring frost; first fall frost Oct 25.
69°F
Average July low.

Getting there

03 · ACCESS
01
Des Moines
37 mi
1h00
02
Cedar Rapids
116 mi
2h22
By drive time
Des Moines · 1h00Cedar Rapids · 2h22Camp

Routed road time (OSRM). Nearest major highway 1 mi away.

What's within four miles

05 · TRAILS · PEAKS · WATER

Trails & Peaks

Trail segments
48

Water & Access

Lake / river access
yes
To nearest major road
1 mi
Method

We synthesize public data layers: RIDB and Recreation.gov facility and site records, Open-Meteo climate normals, OpenStreetMap roads, trails, and water, OSRM drive times, and USGS elevation. We take no bookings, no ads, and no paid placements. Independence is the entire point.

Check availability on Recreation.gov →