Union Grove State Park
- 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(641) 473-2556
Official page last checked Oct 30, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Partial closure Union Grove State Park: Modern Facilites ClosureModern Facilites Closure: All of the modern restroom and shower facilities are closed for the season. RV dump station and water hydrants will remain… (more)
Modern Facilites Closure: All of the modern restroom and shower facilities are closed for the season. RV dump station and water hydrants will remain on. Pit latrines are available in the campground. (Posted 10/15/2026)
Posted by the park 2026-10-15. Official alert
Overview
In Tama County, about 11 miles northeast of Marshalltown, Union Grove State Park covers about 309 acres.
Visitors come for boating and hiking. Water access includes a boat ramp. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites with full hookups 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 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 Stay overnight in one of two modern family cabins or at the park’s modern campground. Both cabins are ADA accessible, and the campground contains full hookup sites, electric sites, modern restrooms and showers, and a dump station. Advance reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Union Grove State Park. The campground is 100% reservable and a reservation is required. | — | Full hook-up campsitesShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Stay overnight in one of two modern family cabins or at the park’s modern campground. Both cabins are ADA accessible, and the campground contains full hookup sites, electric sites, modern restrooms and showers, and a dump station. Advance reservations can be made through the online reservation system for Union Grove State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 30, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Modern family cabinsADA accessible (per amenities list)
Things to do
HikingBoatingCamping
Trails
Hike three miles of scenic trails, winding through diverse plant and wildlife habitats. Deer, turkey, songbirds and waterfowl are often spotted, and a beautiful re-established prairie and pine plantation can be found in the northeast corner of the park. Snowmobiling is a popular trail activity in the winter.
Swimming
Boat in the waters of Union Grove Lake or swim at the unsupervised swimming beach. Two boat ramps, one near the beach and the other on the west side of the lake provide lake access; boats can be operated at “no wake” speeds. Anglers of all ages and experience will find abundant bluegill, bass, crappie and catfish. 24 hour fishing access is available from the inlet stream to the west shelter and along the face of the earthen dam.
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 dam embankment from the spillway to the west end of the parking lot adjacent to the dam; the area of state park that parallels BB Avenue, from the causeway on the north end of the lake southerly to a point approximately one-tenth of a mile southwest of the boat ramp.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Flush toilets
- Showers
Water
- Boat ramp
Camping
- RV dump station
- RV camping
- Electric hookups
- Water hookups
- Sewer hookups
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
- 1215 220th Street
Gladbrook, IA 50635 - Nearest town
- Marshalltown — about 11 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 42.1245, -92.7239
- Phone
- (641) 473-2556
- Union_Grove@dnr.iowa.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Iowa State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 30, 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