Tailwater East Campground, Iowa City, IA

Tailwater East Campground in Johnson county is located just 13 min north of Iowa City, IA with an elevation of 743 feet. There are a total of 27 campsites. The campground is normally open from the beginning of May to mid October. 22 sites can accommodate RVs and trailers between 42 and 68 feet. All sites are currently reservable. 22 sites have electric hookups. Fees range from $14.00 to $22.00.
Make a Reservation
Tailwater East Campground

Campsites Available Tonight, Sep 19, 2024 8

Campsites Available This Weekend, Sep 20, 2024 or Sep 21, 2024 3

Campground Capacity (Next 30 Days)

Campsite Reviews (65)

4.4 out of 5

5 star
55%
4 star
31%
3 star
8%
2 star
3%
1 star
2%
@AubreyB7E12E34 · Camped on Sep 4, 2024 at Campsite #E23
This is not a full service facility-no water or sewer hook-ups. We were very disappointed when I googled it it stated that it was. The bathhouse shower heads were awful and all of my dry cloths got wet and the water was just warm. The camp host came around before we got settled in and then they were no where to be found after that.
@DavidS3927304 · Camped on Jul 27, 2024 at Campsite #E10
The engineers sites are always quite nice.
@RobertWaF65283 · Camped on Jul 8, 2024 at Campsite #E12
Relaxing, clean, great sites n quite.
@TomE1777758 · Camped on Oct 12, 2023 at Campsite #E16
Very hard to find this campground and don't ever try after dark. The right turn into the campground is not lighted and you will drive right by it if you're not carefull, or know exactly where you're going.
@lauriew444CFA0 · Camped on Oct 7, 2023 at Campsite #E16
Nice place
@ShainSCC34D163 · Camped on Oct 5, 2023 at Campsite #E23
Had a great stay!
@MattB110C05711 · Camped on Oct 5, 2023 at Campsite #E12
Level sites, easy to back into. Would definitely recommend.
@CraigF8635877 · Camped on Sep 8, 2023 at Campsite #E13
It was fun camping close to the river. The sites are very tight together with very little space for kids or vehicle parking. We got by for a couple of days but it was just us 2 adults.
@dannyc6A6B713C · Camped on Sep 6, 2023 at Campsite #E19
All good. We would recommend.
@AnnH4487288 · Camped on Jul 30, 2023 at Campsite #E18
Well-kept restrooms with showers, easy to access dump station and paved sites. The sites are a bit closer together than it appears on the website map.
@SherryM3096021 · Camped on Jul 28, 2023 at Campsite #E24
Every campsite has been clean and nice!!!
@williamT449040 · Camped on Jul 18, 2023 at Campsite #E14
Nice view of the water. Kinda tight to get into. Nice concrete pad, too bad it was not level side to side. Had to go 3 blocks high one side. You would think the engineering Corp could figure out level.
@IzakW51A2A6938 · Camped on Jul 7, 2023 at Campsite #E20
Very nice!
@BarbaraD378395 · Camped on Jul 2, 2023 at Campsite #E21
Had water break at time of reservation, thus water was a issue
@AdeleMA12B330E · Camped on May 25, 2023 at Campsite #E10
Very nice riverfront location. Memorial Day weekend so campsite was full but most people followed the rules and respected their neighbors. Campground is fairly small so didn’t get too loud. FYI if you have littles, there is no playscape at this campground, but the one across the river (west) has one. Bathrooms were very clean. Note that the visitor’s Center is not open at this time but there is a map at the Check in gatehouse. The dump station and fresh water is at the main campground/entrance to the beach area.
@BudJB7F36092CC · Camped on May 15, 2023 at Campsite #E19
The grounds could be mowed better and some trees limbs over the campers could be trimmed so not to hit the campers. People in the booth to be up to date with the computer system. Shower heads could be updated and the tile floors really could be deep cleaned Put on auto flush on toilets
@JacobS9807253 · Camped on May 14, 2023 at Campsite #E14
Nice campground Good fishing. Bathrooms out of date.
@CelenaB2736768 · Camped on Oct 11, 2022 at Campsite #E24
I liked the location because it was close to trails. However, there were no trails directly connected to the camping area. There were some up by the road which is .3 miles away. The site was level and close to the restrooms. The restrooms were clean. I didn't take a shower because it was not heated got spoiled at Pulpit Rock Campground). What was disappointing was that I left my Fire tablet plugged in and forgot to pick it up. My fault. However, I've tried and tried to contact someone at the Recreation.gov and at Coralville Lake to see if it was turned in at lost and found. No one answers. No one returns my call. Customer Service is lacking.
@DoyleK3820393 · Camped on Sep 25, 2022 at Campsite #E13
Great! Why? Clean, spacious signs that were easy to back into. Reasonable space between campsites, clean showers with plenty of hot water beautiful views over the dam and the river. Opportunities for beach fun, kayaking, and boating in the warmer weather would stay here again.
@ACH6607761 · Camped on Sep 1, 2022 at Campsite #E20
We love tailwater east it's a small circle.. so that if you want to meet other campers you can. Or just stay to your self. You can fish watch eagles rent a boats. Or just relax in nature.
@KathyB2100069 · Camped on Aug 30, 2022 at Campsite #E13
Quite site, Clean rest rooms.
@DavidR6871281 · Camped on Aug 19, 2022 at Campsite #E18
Tailwater East is always quiet and clean. We always enjoy the view on the river, the fishing and walking the gorge.
@GeraldM7967221 · Camped on Aug 18, 2022 at Campsite #E12
Very nice park on a bluff overlooking the Iowa River below the dam. RV slips don't have a lot of room between campsites. Services include showers and 30amp electricity. No water or sewer at the campsite.
@MarieB7186093 · Camped on Aug 17, 2022 at Campsite #E14
Very nice campground. Beautiful area.
@JonathanR63959 · Camped on Aug 14, 2022 at Campsite #E10
I thought our site had water too - I must've read it wrong. It was electric only. A great spot right on the banks of the river with a nice view. Bathrooms were very clean. Stayed Sunday - Tuesday and there were only a handful of other campers. Quiet, friendly. Will stay here again!

Other Campgrounds Nearby

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

13

Reservation Systems

Campsites Tracking

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.
  1. Availability Map Search
  2. 3000+ Interactive Campground Maps
  3. Campground Virtual Tours
  4. Save Your Favorite Campsites
  5. Favorite Campsites Availability
  6. Campground Mobile Speed Test Maps
  7. National Parks, Forests & Ranger District Layers
  8. Wildfires & Air Quality Map Layer
  9. Satellite View Map Layer
  10. Campsite SMS Cancellation Alerts
  11. Rent your Property & Cabins
  12. Love's & Super Walmart Map Layers
  13. Cracker Barrel & Bass Pro Shop Map Layers
  14. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM) Layer
  15. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Map Layer
  16. 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!!!

Map Settings
Reset
Satellite View
Satellite
Wildfires
Wildfires
National Forests
National Forests
National Parks
National Parks
Air Quality
Air Quality
Bureau of Land Management
BLM
Motor Vehicle Use Maps
OHV MVUM
Love's Travel Stop
Love's
D
Dump Stations
W
Water
LP
Propane
P
RV Parking
Walmart Supercenter
Super Walmart
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel
Bass Pro Shop
Bass Pro Shops
 
Rating:
Price*:
Length:
Amps:
Elev:
feet
Temp:
°F
Down:
Up:
*Earn our Leave No Trace badge to see our free camping sites.