$22
Buck Creek
Total sites: 42
Available Tonight: 31
Available this Weekend: 9
Booking Window: 6 months
Available Tonight: 31
Available this Weekend: 9
Booking Window: 6 months
944 ft
78°F
62°F
62°F
fair
Buck Creek Campground, IA - Latest Reviews, Photos & Campground Map
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.
Campground Capacity (Next 30 Days)
Campsite Reviews (47)
4.3 out of 5
| 5 star | 66% | |
| 4 star | 13% | |
| 3 star | 4% | |
| 2 star | 9% | |
| 1 star | 4% |
@TimB5907913 · Camped on Jul 10, 2025 at Campsite #B3
The camp spot (B3) was almost impossible to level our 5th wheel. Because the spot was washed out and not maintained And the tree branches need trimmed back so they dont rub the roof of camper. I talked to a person at the corps office she didnt have a good answer other then trees do have branches
@DebBA91389CC76 · Camped on Jun 27, 2025 at Campsite #A18
Beautiful setting! Bugs were under control better than at our home. Rathbun lake is MUCH cleaner than Red Rock.
@RandyG6320371 · Camped on Jun 26, 2025 at Campsite #F5
We camp about 7 time each summer. This year two weekends we did not get our camp site mowed at all. The grass was very long with long weeds. We enjoy camping at buck creek other than those two visits.Thanks for your efforts to improve our camping experience.
@DaveD9972442 · Camped on Jun 20, 2025 at Campsite #F4
Very nice campground with plenty of space between campsites. Bathrooms could use some sprucing up. Especially the showers.
@NoelleBD2FECAD · Camped on Jun 13, 2025 at Campsite #F6
We love Buck Creek and this spot is great!
@AimeeG8945417 · Camped on Jun 13, 2025 at Campsite #A11
Great spot!
@WardS37EA28589 · Camped on Jun 9, 2025 at Campsite #B4
Weather was cool temps that week. Didnt have to run ac. Slept good. We caught our limits of walleye. Lots of catfish we didnt keep. Plenty of action.
@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.
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.
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
@ChazInSoCal - CA
I just used PerfectCamp.com to book six consecutive August nights at the most popular campsite in one of the most popular campgrounds in Humboldt Redwoods State Park in California. That is not anything I could have accomplished anywhere else with the ease I did here! Thank you, PerfectCamp! I LOVE this site! You will find me on several other camping sites but the design, format, functionality, and personality of this the best. It’s fresh and clean.
@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.
map icon in the lower right corner.
Map Settings
Reset
 Satellite |
 Wildfires |
 National Forests |
 National Parks |
 Air Quality |
 BLM |
 OHV MVUM |
 Love's |
|
Dump Stations
|
Water
|
Propane
|
RV Parking
|
 Super Walmart |
 Cracker Barrel |
 Bass Pro Shops |
| Price*: |
| Length: |
| Amps: |
| Elev: | feet |
| Temp: | °F |
| Down: |
| Up: |
*Earn our Leave No Trace badge to see our free camping sites.
🎉 Earn +5 marshmallows for adding your first favorite.
Use your earned marshmallows to enter our monthly giveaways or to get a Pro Subscription.
Show your commitment in keeping our forests healthy and protecting our public lands by earning the Leave No Trace badge.