Little River Recreation Area

the beach is a great place to cool off!
the beach is a great place to cool off!
the 3 rental cabins are perfect for a weekend getaway
Little River Campground 1
Little River Campground 2

Little River Campground 3
Little River Campground 4
Little River Bait shop Boat Ramp
Campground view from lake


***The shower house is OPEN and expected to close for the season on November 18, 2024****

Jointly managed by the Decatur County Conservation Board and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the 2,200 acre Little River Recreation Area offers something for everyone.  Little River Lake (787acres) has and will provide excellent fishing, waterfowl hunting and pleasure boating, while the surrounding area provides some excellent deer, turkey and upland game hunting.  Other activities include camping, picnicking, archery, cross country skiing, hiking and swimming.  Whatever you enjoy, the choice is yours at Little River Recreation Area. 

Please call with any questions: 641-446-7307



Location

Take Highway 2 east from I-35 (exit 12) 4.5 miles or take Highway 2 west from Leon .5 mile.

Features

Thirty campsites are located on the area.  Of these, sixteen are RV sites with electricity, and fourteen are tent sites.  Potable water is within close proximity to all sites and a shower house with modern restrooms is located in the campground and available to all campers.  The campground is situated close to the lake and boats may be pulled up on shore or use the two docks provided in the campground.  Camping rates at Little River are $15 for a non-electric site and $20 for an electric camping site. We do not accept camping reservations**.  The campground is all first-come first-served.

Rental cabins (log-style) are also available for rent.  These rustic cabins are a great way to experience the outdoors without having to pull a camper or pitch a tent.  Each cabin is one room, handicap accessible and has a patio facing a lake.  Reservations can be made online.

Picnic sites are located throughout the park.  The Coffelt Shelter, built in 2010 features an indoor eating area with a large outdoor covered area, located within a short walking distance from the cabins, beach and playground, it is the ideal place for family gatherings.  The park's largest picnic area, located on the southeast portion of the lake, has restrooms and a playground for the kids.  The shelter may be reserved for a small fee or used on a first come, first served basis.  All picnic sites throughout the park have tables and grills.  Reservations for shelters can be made online.



Closures

  • The shower building and bait shop will be closed during the winter months.
  • The cabins are closed annually from December 1 through March 15.