Prairie Rose State Park
Notice: Prairie Rose 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 cabins
- Official site
- iowadnr.gov(712) 773-2701
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Prairie Rose State Park: Modern Facilites ClosureModern Facilites Closure: Modern shower and restroom facilities are closed; hydrants and the dump station will be closed on November 1, 2026. Pit… (more)
Modern Facilites Closure: Modern shower and restroom facilities are closed; hydrants and the dump station will be closed on November 1, 2026. Pit vault toilets remain available for year-round use. Facilities will reopen in late April of 2027. (Updated 10/26/26)
Posted by the park 2026-10-14. Official alert
Overview
In Shelby County, about 17 miles northwest of Atlantic, Prairie Rose State Park covers about 728 acres.
Popular activities here are horseback riding, swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. On the water side, there is a swimming beach and a boat ramp. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites with full hookups, tent sites, group camping, and showers). There are also cabins for rent.
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 campgrounds are 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 Stay overnight in one of two camping cabins or at the East and West campgrounds at Prairie Rose. Each cabin is equipped with heating and air conditioning, a microwave, a small refrigerator, table and chairs, two twin-over-full-sized bunk beds, a picnic table, grill and fire ring. The East Campground contains electric and full hook-up sites with a modern shower and restroom. The West Campground contains electric and non-electric sites. Advance cabin and campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Prairie Rose State Park. The campgrounds are 100% reservable and… | — | Electric campsites; Full hook-up campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Stay overnight in one of two camping cabins or at the East and West campgrounds at Prairie Rose. Each cabin is equipped with heating and air conditioning, a microwave, a small refrigerator, table and chairs, two twin-over-full-sized bunk beds, a picnic table, grill and fire ring. The East Campground contains electric and full hook-up sites with a modern shower and restroom. The West Campground contains electric and non-electric sites. Advance cabin and campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Prairie Rose State Park. The campgrounds are 100% reservable and a reservation is required.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Camping cabins
Things to do
HikingSwimmingBoatingFishingCampingHorseback riding
Trails
Hike seven miles of multi-purpose trails that wind through the park, or venture along the interpretive trail, which highlights the park’s plant and wildlife. All trails within the park are open for hiking and snowmobiling and cross-country skiing in the winter.
Swimming
Boat at the park’s 218-acre lake or swim at Prairie Rose beach. The lake is a popular spot for canoeing and kayaking. Any size boat motors may be operated at “no wake” speeds and two modern boat ramps provide easy access to the lake.
Fishing
Fish for bass, channel catfish, bluegill and crappie at Prairie Rose. Eight fishing jetties provide shoreline access to the water and two fish cleaning docks are also located near the lake. The park also provides an overnight fishing area, which is only available in a few of Iowa’s state parks.
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 side of the embankment of the causeway across the southeast arm of the lake including the shoreline west of the parking area located off County Road M47 and just north of the entrance leading toward the park office.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Playground
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Fish cleaning station
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
- Group camping
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ 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
- 680 Road M47
Harlan, IA 51537 - Nearest town
- Atlantic — about 17 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 41.6006, -95.2129
- Phone
- (712) 773-2701
- Prairie_Rose@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