State Parks

UPDATED 3/27/2020. Please note new changes to parks operations during the COVID-19 health emergency.

We greatly appreciate your support and trust. In accordance with CDC guidelines and state recommendations pertaining to COVID-19, we want to  share with you important information about Iowa state parks. 

At this point, Iowa State Parks are open. Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our visitors, volunteers and employees. During this time, we remain diligent in taking steps to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible. 

Here’s how you can help:

• According to State of Iowa recommendations, limit your group to less than 10 people when visiting a state park.
• If you have been sick in the last two weeks, please stay at home for your health and the safety of others.
• Avoid popular areas where people may congregate, and also avoid larger groups in general. Areas to avoid may include scenic overlooks, buildings, playgrounds, etc.
• Please maintain distance between you and other park visitors according to guidelines and recommendations by health officials. Please take into consideration the health of others when spending time outdoors.  
• Pack extra soap or hand sanitizer. Please be aware that bathrooms and showers are closed seasonally every year through April 15. Soap or sanitizer will not be available.  
• Additional information on best practices for keeping you and your family safe can be found online at the CDC website. 

Here’s what we are doing (UPDATED 3/27/2020):

• As of 3/27/2020, pit latrines and port-a-potties will be closed until April 15, 2020. This means no bathroom facilities will be available in Iowa state parks through that date. 
• Because bathrooms will be closed until April 15, 2020, we are honoring camping reservations for self-contained (enclosed) campers that have their own bathrooms and for camping units, such as tents, that have their own portable bathrooms.  If the camping unit is not able to provide its own bathroom facilities, the camper must call the Customer Service Call Center at (877) 427-2757 to cancel the reservation.  Camping from March 27, 2020 through April 15, 2020 will be walk-in only, first-come  first-served.    
• Additionally, shelters, youth camps and camping cabins will be closed through April 15, 2020. Modern cabins will still be available for groups under 10, but all cookware, dishes and utensils are being removed. Guests will be responsible for their own kitchenware.
• Use of playgrounds is not recommended since they will not be able to be cleaned according to CDC guidelines by park staff. User discretion is advised.
• If you feel cancelling your stay is the safest choice, we will waive cancellation fees for visits (cabins, campsites, lodges) with arrival dates through April 30, 2020. To cancel without fees, contact the Customer Service Call Center at (877) 427-2757. If you have a lodge or cabin reservation involving groups of 10 or more, we will be contacting you to cancel your reservation. Additionally, the DNR is working to temporarily limit reservations at lodges and cabins to groups of less than 10, so please be aware of changes that may be coming if you are making plans for the spring.
• We are implementing additional cleaning procedures, according to CDC guidelines, such as more stringent and frequent cleaning of cabins and other public areas.
• We are postponing programs and events at all state parks through April 30, 2020. This will help keep visitors safe, and we will reassess this policy in mid-April. We are also temporarily closing any visitor centers or museums managed by state parks.
• We are monitoring the situation. We promise to remain diligent and intentional in protecting you and making your visit a great experience. As conditions change, so may our policies on park visitation and overnight stays. We will keep you informed of any changes moving forward.

Thank you for your patience and flexibility. We appreciate your support of Iowa state parks as we all work together to keep each other safe.