Buck Creek Campground, Centerville, IA

Buck Creek Campground in Appanoose county is located 1 hr 31 min southeast of Des Moines, IA with an elevation of 944 feet. There are a total of 42 campsites. The campground is normally open from mid May to the end of September. Sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 43 and 128 feet. All sites are currently reservable. Reservations can be booked up to 6 months in advance. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring. All sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $22.00 to $25.00. Some amenities include shower, dump station, playground, swimming, marina, flush toilets. Activities include biking, fishing, hiking trails, floating sports.

Make a Reservation

40.84442, -92.87052
- Get Directions
- Copy to clipboard
(641) 724-3206 (Information)
(641) 724-3206 (Reservations)
$22 - $25

Campsite Reviews (39)

4.3 out of 5

5 star		69%
4 star		13%
3 star		3%
2 star		10%
1 star		3%

@DonB9851872 · Camped on May 17, 2024 at Campsite #B4

Nice level pull through site, it made set up a breeze. Wonderful view of lake and boaters passing by. Shower house was clean and plenty of hot water. Enjoyed our stay.

@KatherineD6B0F · Camped on Jun 18, 2023 at Campsite #A9

Loved the place. Very quiet and serene while we were there. Our site was such that you could not see other campers, but close enough if you wanted to be social. The Ranger was so nice and helpful. The shower facility was good. The only drawback was all the black wasps at the bathroom. Asked Administration to have the wasps eradicated, but maybe they could not because they are wildlife? We will camp there again.

@BarbK9040586 · Camped on Jun 15, 2023 at Campsite #B6

Nice Campground

@joshuaeE0BE44D · Camped on Jun 9, 2023 at Campsite #F2

Great place to camp

@CrisK7B23B7E3E · Camped on May 26, 2023 at Campsite #B3

Relaxing and great fishing!

@JanetS5249327 · Camped on May 26, 2023 at Campsite #F6

This site has everything you need your close to the water. It’s the best site in the whole campground

@RobertC4745893 · Camped on May 25, 2023 at Campsite #A13

3 of the 4 shower stalls was to dirty to shower in and had stuff stolen from our camper. Been camping there 4 years and never had anything touched till this weekend.

@DouglasJ15C0A6 · Camped on May 19, 2023 at Campsite #F7

19th year we have stayed at Buck Creek to do some crappie fishing at Rathbun Lake.

@JeremyV01A79C6 · Camped on May 19, 2023 at Campsite #F1

This is a nice campground. Sites are decently spaced apart, other campers were friendly, and restrooms were clean. Wish they had the option to buy firewood there so we wouldn’t have to haul our own into camp.

@JeffC9633298 · Camped on May 16, 2023 at Campsite #B3

well kept quiet campground

@PatriciaA12078 · Camped on Sep 18, 2022 at Campsite #A13

We were in campsite A13. When we arrived, the site had cigarette butts, food debris, and dog feces everywhere. I spent at least an hour cleaning the site up. We were there for eleven days, there was never a day I did not pick up trash.

@JohnE3306958 · Camped on Sep 9, 2022 at Campsite #F3

The cell phone data coverage at my site was good. There were very limited TV channels available, though. It was September and the acorns were falling constantly! LOL At least there were lots of trees.

@PHILH4828526 · Camped on Jul 28, 2022 at Campsite #F3

It would be a great place if the camp rules where enforced.

@JeffC9633298 · Camped on Jul 25, 2022 at Campsite #F4

We stayed here for fishing. The campground was clean and quiet

@CraigS2150196 · Camped on Jul 8, 2022 at Campsite #F4

Site F04 on Loop F was a nice campsite for tent camping. We were about the only tent campers at Buck Creek - it's definitely an RV friendly campground. The drive through gravel road could accommodate a long RV - but we don't have one, so we parked a car and a boat being trailered by a SUV - with plenty of room to spare. We pitched our two tents (2 is the maximum per site) between two trees on fairly level ground on the road side of the pull-thru drive, as there's not any other flat ground other than the gravel driveway. We pitched our pop up over the picnic table and it worked well to cook and feed our group of 7. We didn't use the 220v power supply, but the 2 120v outlets let us power all our devices. And the water supply being adjacent to the site was very convenient - and was great cold (and I mean cold) water for drinking and cooking. The toilets were only a few steps (3 sites) away. It was good we brought along toilet paper, as the supply ran out late in the night. We drove across the dam to the Corps of Engineers Island View boat launch ramp (free for anyone camping.) The long ramp and 2 docks were perfect to get the crew onboard and launch/recover the boat. There is plenty of parking at the Island View ramp, and handy bathrooms.

@AnnieM6358077 · Camped on Jul 1, 2022 at Campsite #F2

Grounds were great. Neighbors were friendly. I just wish they were more strict with the rule of keeping dogs on leash. Caused many problems for us over the 4th of July weekend. Again, great overall!

@JeffC9633298 · Camped on Jun 27, 2022 at Campsite #A8

Very well maintained campground

@CurtisT7818357 · Camped on Jun 17, 2022 at Campsite #A18

Site was clean, quiet, and everyone was friendly but kept to themselves. Very peaceful.

@PatriciaA12078 · Camped on Jun 1, 2022 at Campsite #A14

Lake Rathbun is so much more than a fishing destination. Beautiful scenery, lovely views of the Lake and wildlife. Lake Rathbun is my Happy Place. I have been going to Lake Rathbun for almost 50 years.

@RickS735 · Camped on Sep 15, 2021 at Campsite #A16

Great location! Excellent views! Clean area. Camp hosts are knowledgeable and helpful. We recommend Buck Creek campground.

@stevea643 · Camped on Sep 10, 2021 at Campsite #A16

Very nice place and clean.

@ArleneY369 · Camped on Aug 1, 2021 at Campsite #F4

Nice open campgrounds with plenty of parking at the site, quiet and relaxing, right on the water.

@KelleyW527 · Camped on Jul 29, 2021 at Campsite #F1

The lady at the front desk was very rude and unwelcoming. First time campers with little knowledge and she made us feel like we were stupid. The box that she was in smelled like an ashtray also. The first come first serve process needs to be spelled out more clearly. We will be back to Rathbun but will never stay at Buck Creek thanks to the lady at the check-in area.

@TrinityB625 · Camped on Jul 11, 2021 at Campsite #A21

We usually camp at bridgeview but after staying at Buck creek I think we’ll be camping at buck creek from now on

@GregC779 · Camped on Jun 27, 2021 at Campsite #F9

Buck Creek is a great campground but if you want to use the first come first served (best sites) watch out for the non-printed local rules. I moved into a sight that had a tiny tent on it with no camping gear, no one in sight, and no receipt showing paid. In the morning I went to the office and moved my reservation to that site. Around noon a guy shows up and says I am in his site and the ranger is on the way. The Ranger and the Army Corp. of Engineers said I would have to move because he owns that site once he puts a "camping unit" on it. I said I wasn't moving because I had a receipt for the site. I found out the guy did not actually use the site until 3 days after I left.

See other campgrounds near Centerville, IA with availability Tonight
See other campgrounds near Centerville, IA with availability This Weekend

Other Campgrounds Nearby

We track all the sites so you don't have to.

Reservation Systems

Campsites Tracking

Campsite Reviews

Available Tonight

Available this Weekend

Cancellations Today

PRO $2.50/month

You're in Control. We never save credit card information or auto-renew subscriptions.

Availability Map Search
3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
Campground Virtual Tours
Save Your Favorite Campsites
Favorite Campsites Availability
Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
Satellite View Map Layer
Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
Rent your Property & Cabins
Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
RV Propane, Parking, Dump, Water Map Layer

Pro is FREE for 7 days. (No credit card information required!)

Thanks to all our Supporting Members

@BranJen - Santa Clara, CA

I wanted to thank you for this site and especially for the notifications feature. Thanks to your site and my subscription I was able to book a campsite I've been annoyingly trying to book for 5 years unsuccessfully. So thank you.

@Wondering - Oregon

Wow! Woke up this morning to a notification that a favorite had opened at Paulina, and when I went to check, it was there. This membership just paid for itself in the first 24 hours I owned it. Couldn't take the site it conflicted with a trip already set, but it truly was there. Thanks Tons.

@CarlaLThompson - Colorado

I just love this site and I tell everyone about it! It's so competitive to secure desired campsites and the alerts really help track when sites free up. The best part of this story is our alert notified a cancellation the next day!!!!!! Just incredible!!!