Lake Manawa State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Not posted
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Statewide rule — see below
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(712) 366-0220
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Construction Lake Manawa State ParkNon-Resident User Fee Discontinued: Effective January 1, 2026, the non-resident user fee pilot project at Lake Manawa State Park has concluded.… (more)
Non-Resident User Fee Discontinued: Effective January 1, 2026, the non-resident user fee pilot project at Lake Manawa State Park has concluded. Visitors are no longer required to pay a non-resident entry fee.
Posted by the park 2026-01-07. Official alert
Overview
In Pottawattamie County, about 3 miles south of Council Bluffs, Lake Manawa State Park covers about 1,577 acres.
Visitors come for horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, swimming, boating, and fishing. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and boat or kayak rentals. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites and group camping.
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
Camping reservations can be made online through the online reservation system for Lake Manawa State Park, and 100 percent of campsites are 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 Enjoy camping beside Lake Manawa in the newly constructed campground. Camping reservations can be made online through the online reservation system for Lake Manawa State Park, and 100 percent of campsites are reservable and a reservation is required. The campground accepts reservations April 15 - October 15 and is closed October 16 - April 14th. | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Enjoy camping beside Lake Manawa in the newly constructed campground. Camping reservations can be made online through the online reservation system for Lake Manawa State Park, and 100 percent of campsites are reservable and a reservation is required. The campground accepts reservations April 15 - October 15 and is closed October 16 - April 14th.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingSwimmingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingFishingCampingHorseback riding
Trails
Hike the trail system that runs through Council Bluffs by traveling along the Wabash Trace Trail and the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge. A paved nature trail offers easy access for anyone wanting to bike or walk at their own pace. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, eight miles of unpaved trails are perfect for mountain biking. These trails can be accessed near the south side of the park.
Swimming
Boat on Lake Manawa or rent a paddle board, canoe or kayak to the Missouri River. Boat motors of any size are allowed, and boat ramps are located on the north, south and west sides of the lake. Sailing opportunities are offered by the Lake Manawa Sailing Association from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. The modern beach facility is perfect for swimming or relaxing in the sun.
Boating and paddling
Fishing is a popular activity for anglers of all ages. Crappie, bluegill, catfish, walleye and bass fish are waiting to be caught throughout the year. Amenities include a fishing jetty, shoreline fishing, accessible pier, boat ramps, and a fish cleaning station.
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.
The west shoreline including both sides of the main park road, commencing at the north park entrance and continuing south 1.5 miles to the parking lot immediately north of the picnic area located on the west side of the southwest arm of the lake.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Playground
- Park or camp store
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
- Fishing pier
- Fish cleaning station
Camping
- Tent camping
- Group camping
✓ 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
- 1100 S Shore Drive
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 - Nearest town
- Council Bluffs — about 3 mi south (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.1960, -95.8696
- Phone
- (712) 366-0220
- Lake_Manawa@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
- Wikidata
- 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