Red Haw 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(641) 774-5632
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 2
Partial closure Red Haw State Park: Modern Facilites ClosureModern Facilites Closure: The campground shower house is closed for the season and will reopen in April 2027. The electricy will remain on until… (more)
Modern Facilites Closure: The campground shower house is closed for the season and will reopen in April 2027. The electricy will remain on until November 30, and the pit latrines will remain open year round. (Updated 10/26/2026)
Posted by the park 2026-10-15. Official alert
Construction Red Haw State Park: Road ClosuresRoad Closures: Roads may be partially closed throughout the park as we are doing road repairs. (Posted 11/13/25)
Posted by the park 2025-11-13. Official alert
Overview
Red Haw State Park is a 420-acre park in Lucas County, about 2 miles southeast of Chariton.
Things to do include swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. Water access includes a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and a fishing pier. For overnight stays there are campsites (RV sites with electric hookups and showers).
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 Fish or boat at the park’s 70-acre lake, known as a premier pan fishing destination for large bluegill. Fishing jetties and shoreline provide easy access for bank fishing. Ice fishing is available in the winter. Boating is available at “no wake” speeds on the lake and two boat ramps provide easy access to the water. The lake boat ramps offer ADA-accessible kayak launchers, and the campground dock is ADA-accessible.
Camp at Red Haw’s shady campground overlooking the lake. The campground contains electric hookups, paved roads, modern restrooms and showers and a trailer dump station. Some… | — | Electric campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Fish or boat at the park’s 70-acre lake, known as a premier pan fishing destination for large bluegill. Fishing jetties and shoreline provide easy access for bank fishing. Ice fishing is available in the winter. Boating is available at “no wake” speeds on the lake and two boat ramps provide easy access to the water. The lake boat ramps offer ADA-accessible kayak launchers, and the campground dock is ADA-accessible. Camp at Red Haw’s shady campground overlooking the lake. The campground contains electric hookups, paved roads, modern restrooms and showers and a trailer dump station. Some campsites are ADA accessible. Advance campsite reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Red Haw State Park. The campground accepts reservation 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.
Things to do
HikingSwimmingBoatingFishingCamping
Trails
Hike the four-mile grass trail through timbered areas and around the lake. An upper trail east of the lake, and short trails throughout the park, traverse less developed areas of Red Haw, with scenic views of the park’s wildlife, woods and flowers. Snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are available on the trails in the winter.
Boating and paddling
Fish or boat at the park’s 70-acre lake, known as a premier pan fishing destination for large bluegill. Fishing jetties and shoreline provide easy access for bank fishing. Ice fishing is available in the winter. Boating is available at “no wake” speeds on the lake and two boat ramps provide easy access to the water. The lake boat ramps offer ADA-accessible kayak launchers, and the campground dock is ADA-accessible.
Fishing
Fish or boat at the park’s 70-acre lake, known as a premier pan fishing destination for large bluegill. Fishing jetties and shoreline provide easy access for bank fishing. Ice fishing is available in the winter. Boating is available at “no wake” speeds on the lake and two boat ramps provide easy access to the water. The lake boat ramps offer ADA-accessible kayak launchers, and the campground dock is ADA-accessible.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
- Playground
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Fishing pier
- Fish cleaning station
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
✓ 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
- 24550 US-34
Chariton, IA 50049 - Nearest town
- Chariton — about 2 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.9955, -93.2760
- Phone
- (641) 774-5632
- Red_Haw@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