Tailwater West Day Use Area in IA -- Campground & RV Camping

Tailwater West is a day-use area located below Coralville Lake Dam in the Iowa River Valley, set in a hardwood forest on the river's west bank. The site features a large group picnic shelter with drinking water, electrical hookups, flush toilets, a playground, an accessible hiking trail, and an accessible fishing pier. Nearby attractions within the dam complex include the Devonian Fossil Gorge sea floor site, the 9-hole Turkey Creek Disc Golf Course, and several trails like Squire Point and Woodpecker Trail.

Getting there: From Interstate 80 (Iowa City, Iowa), take Exit 244 towards Dubuque St./North Liberty. Travel north on Dubuque St. for 3 miles and turn right onto West Overlook Rd. NE. Travel on West Overlook Rd. NE for 1.1 miles. At the second stop sign, turn right onto Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE. Travel east on Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE for 0.2 miles. The entrance to the Tailwater West Day Use Area will be located on the right side of the road. From Interstate 380 (North Liberty, Iowa), take Exit 4 towards North Liberty. Travel east on W. Penn St. for 2 miles and turn right onto N. Dubuque St. for 1.9 miles, at the traffic circle, continue straight onto Dubuque St. NE. Continue traveling south on Dubuque St. NE for 1.9 miles. Turn left onto West Overlook Rd. NE and travel east for 1.1 miles. At the second stop sign, turn right onto Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE. Travel east on Prairie Du Chien Rd. NE for 0.2 miles. The entrance to the Tailwater Day Use Area will be located on the right side of the road.

• Little separation from through roads or other sites here, with the nearest through road 0.1 miles off.
• Estimated night sky: Bortle 5, a rural sky with a glow on the horizon.
• Open country, with nothing named rising within 30 miles.