RV Rental Buck Creek Park, IA

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Buck Creek Park is located in southeast Iowa, on the easternmost border of the giant Rathbun Lake. Buck Creek is located just nine miles north of Centerville, 36 miles from Bloomfield, and 35 miles from Ottumwa. This small park is known for its scenic beauty, picnicking, and fun lakeside activities.

Buck Creek Park is made up of hilly grasslands that run along the Chariton River Valley. It shares a border with the easternmost arm of Rathbun Lake and provides full access to the water. The campgrounds are open, grassy areas with a few deciduous trees speckled throughout.

If your motorhome camping trip takes you to Iowa, you’ll definitely want to consider Buck Creek Park. This is a nice, relaxing place to post up and enjoy nature. Bring your boat, or rent one at the marina. Book an RV in Appanoose County today and get your trip underway.

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Getting Outdoors

Rathbun Lake is the main draw for Buck Creek Park campers. This 11,000-acre lake is perfect for swimming, fishing, and boating. Those who go fishing at Buck Creek Park are known to catch crappie, channel catfish, walleye, and largemouth bass in these waters. Grab your fishing gear from the RV rental, toss your line into the water, enjoy the natural beauty of Rathbun Lake, and let your worries fade into the background for a little while.

A Buck Creek Park camping trip isn’t complete without doing some boating on the lake. Whether you have a kayak, a schooner, or a speed boat, you’ll feel right at home here. There's a marina for visitors to park their boats and get them serviced. There are no restrictions on the motorboats permitted in Rathbun Lake. Wind-powered boats are also recommended as the lake is famous for its strong gales and is widely regarded as one of the best sail-boating lakes in Iowa.

Buck Creek is also a great place to see some amazing wildlife in their natural habitats. If you're a birder with your binoculars, a wildlife photographer with your camera, or an outdoor enthusiast with your naked eye, you’ll be excited to see what there is to see in the Buck Creek area. Turkeys and Canadian geese often roam around the lake. You might glimpse a white-tailed deer grazing in the prairie. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a bald eagle as it soars across the sky.

Camping at Buck Creek Park

Visitors camping in a motorhome at Buck Creek Park get to choose between 42 campsites. There are electrical hookups with 30 and 50-amp service that should power just about anything you’d bring on your RV camping trip. There are no water or sewer hookups, and while most sites are back-in only, there are a few pull-through sites as well. The park also provides a dump station to help Buck Creek Park campers safely dispose of their RV waste.

While the park doesn’t have Wi-Fi, most major cell phone carriers have decent service in the area. Each site has its own fire ring, picnic table, and lantern hanger. There are nearby vault and flush toilets, as well as hot showers for campers. A park playground is available for the kids, and the beach is easily accessible from anywhere in the park.

Exploring the Area

Ever wanted to see how a fish hatchery works? The Rathbun Fish Hatchery in Moravia allows self-guided tours around the premises where you can learn all about the process of raising fish to stock the local lakes. The Rathbun Fish Hatchery supplies over 500,000 fry and fingerling fish yearly. This is an educational excursion that can be fun for the whole family.

If you’re looking to play a round of golf, try the Preserve on Rathbun Lake. This championship course has 18holes you can play in the gorgeous Iowa sun. Practice your swing on the 7,000-yard course against a backdrop of sprawling prairies and oak savannas. This award-winning course was voted one of the top five courses to play in Iowa. Whether you're a novice or preparing for the PGA Tour, The Preserve on Rathbun Lake is sure to be a fun time for all.

An hour’s drive north of the park will land you in Knoxville, where you can visit the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. As its name suggests, the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum details the history of sprint car racing. Check out the plaques that commemorate the racers who have made sprint car racing what it is today. See the newest Hall of Fame inductees and visit the museum store. Purchase some sprint car memorabilia for yourself or as a present for the racing fan at home.

When your Buck Creek Park camping adventure has reached its end and the road calls you back, make sure to top off your gas tank first. Just head less than 11 miles down Route 5 and you’ll find a slew of gas stations. Fill your belly as well at any of the seafood restaurants or local grill spots around the lake. When you’re ready to hit the road, the next closest big city is Des Moines, which is a short drive northwest of the park.

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