Clear Lake State Park
Notice: Clear Lake State Park: Modern Facilites Closure — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- YesAlso lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(641) 357-4212
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Clear Lake State Park: Modern Facilites ClosureModern Facilites Closure: The water to the fill station, dump station, park hydrants, and full hook sites are currently operational. The water to… (more)
Modern Facilites Closure: The water to the fill station, dump station, park hydrants, and full hook sites are currently operational. The water to these facilities may be turned off anytime depending on overnight temperatures. With the current forecast, the water should be able to stay on into November. The West shower building is closed for the season. The East shower building is currently open and will close on Monday, October 26th. The pit latrine located by site 10 and 11 will remain open until December 1, 2026. (Updated 10-19-26)
Posted by the park 2026-09-21. Official alert
Overview
Covering about 3,631 acres, Clear Lake State Park lies in Cerro Gordo County, in Clear Lake.
The park supports swimming and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach. Camping is available: campsites, including RV sites with full hookups and showers. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers lodge rooms.
Pets
Privately owned animals must be on a leash of max six feet or confined; pets may not be left unattended in campgrounds; most cabins/yurts are pet-free.
Statewide rule from Iowa's park system (source). This park’s page doesn’t state its own pet rules, so check for local restrictions.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Required
- Booking system
- Iowa State Parks reservation system (ReserveAmerica)
- Phone
- 1-877-427-2757
The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campsites Camp in one of the most popular campgrounds in Iowa’s state park system. The campground contains two modern restrooms, shower facilities and two dump stations. Advanced reservations can be made online through the online reservation system for Clear Lake State Park. The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required. The campground accepts reservations April - October and is closed November - March. | — | Electric campsites; Full hook-up campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Camp in one of the most popular campgrounds in Iowa’s state park system. The campground contains two modern restrooms, shower facilities and two dump stations. Advanced reservations can be made online through the online reservation system for Clear Lake State Park. The campground accepts reservations April - October and is closed November - March.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
Reserve an open shelter or day-use lodge for a family gathering. The historic lodge near the beach contains a rustic fireplace, restroom and kitchen and provides a great venue for company events, weddings or large gatherings. The Ritz Shelter is ADA accessible. Lodge and shelter reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Clear Lake State Park.
Things to do
SwimmingHikingCamping
Swimming
Boat in the waters of Clear Lake or soak up the sun at the 900-foot sandy beach area. Visitors can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, windsurfing, sailing or sightseeing at the lake. Year-round fishing brings anglers from all over to test their luck catching walleye, muskie, northern pike and more.
Fishing
Explore the 3-acre Scenic Woodford Island donated to the state of Iowa in 1971 by the Woodford family. The island is managed for wildlife habitat and serves as an excellent spot for fishing.
Open to fishing activity between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 4 a.m. in addition to normal park hours. All fishing must be done from the bank in the areas designated for each lake or river. Vessels are not permitted on the lakes after 10:30 p.m. Parking is allowed in specially marked lots only.
Ritz Unit, Cerro Gordo County: The boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing dock and parking lots.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Playground
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
Lodging
- Lodge or inn rooms
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 6490 S Shore Dr
Clear Lake, IA 50428 - Nearest town
- Clear Lake
- Coordinates
- 43.1113, -93.3893
- Phone
- (641) 357-4212
- Clear_Lake@dnr.iowa.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Iowa State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Iowa DNR 'All Parks' directory (Drupal view, ?page=0..3) — state parks, recreation areas, a state preserve and state forests
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology