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Ottumwa Park
Overview
Ottumwa Park is a sprawling 340-acre municipal gem located in the heart of southeast Iowa. Managed by the city, this destination serves as a recreational hub for both locals and RV travelers. It provides a unique balance of riverfront scenery and urban convenience, making it a reliable stop for those traversing the region. The park is characterized by its wide-open green spaces and its commitment to public outdoor activity, offering a welcoming atmosphere for visitors to settle in.
Location & Surroundings
Situated directly along the Des Moines River, the park offers a scenic backdrop for your stay. Its central location in Ottumwa, IA, means that major routes like Highway 34 and Highway 63 are easily accessible. Travelers will find themselves within a short distance of local grocery stores and restaurants, yet the park’s vast acreage helps buffer the site from the noise of the city, creating a peaceful riverside retreat that feels connected to the community.
Amenities & Park Features
The campground within the park provides a variety of sites designed to accommodate different RV sizes and needs. Guests can enjoy several key features during their stay:
- Full hookup sites providing water, sewer, and electricity for modern rigs.
- Access to clean shower houses and restroom facilities located near the camping loops.
- Multiple fishing lagoons and river access points for those who enjoy being near the water.
The sites are mostly level and many are shaded by mature trees, offering a comfortable environment during the warmer Iowa summers.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
There is no shortage of activity within walking distance of your campsite. The park is home to a variety of recreational opportunities:
- The Beach Ottumwa water park is adjacent to the campground, offering slides and pools for all ages.
- Miles of the Greater Ottumwa Park Trail system provide paved paths for biking and walking.
- An on-site disc golf course and multiple tennis courts offer competitive fun for visitors.
The nearby downtown area also provides a glimpse into local history and culture just minutes from the park boundaries.
Who This Park Is Best For
This park is an excellent choice for families with children who will appreciate the immediate access to the water park and multiple playgrounds. It is also ideal for active RVers who want to stay close to paved hiking and biking trails without leaving the campground. If you prefer a vibrant, community-oriented atmosphere with plenty of recreational amenities over a secluded forest setting, Ottumwa Park is a fantastic fit for your Iowa itinerary.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- Internet
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Heather Steele
It's the best place to watch the sun set and the moon rise.
Alexis Dyer
It's such a nice big beautiful park it's just a shame that it's not equipped with more up-to-date equipment for children and accomodations for parents or larger gatherings
Rexanna Haines
It's a nice, quiet park. This used to be an excellent park. It had a tennis and basketball court. Nice sized bathrooms and lots of swings, merry-go-round etc., for the little ones to play on. Lots of family reunions, birthday parties, took place in this park under the nice shelter.This all changed as we knew it after Jerry Parker was no longer head of the city of Ottumwa"s Parks Department. Mr. Parker genuinely cared about the town of Ottumwa and this neighborhood park!! For some reason our parks department doesn't have the same opinion in keeping this park updated as a few other parks in this town mainly because of it being located in the west end of town. But that is a question for our parks department. What is the criteria required to keep Union Park as important and updated as per say Wildwood Park with all of its nice updates and I will say it has always been a nice, well kept park! The Westend people have always loved this park and tried to care for it and watch over it. But there have been times when you couldn't even find a picnic table under the shelter to hold a gathering because the city had removed them from the park to use someplace else. I'll bet they never stripped Wildwood Park of it's tables. Let alone closed the restrooms without reopening them. Just padlocks on the doors. Without Jerry Parker the west ends Union Park will never stand a chance! What a waste. We need to oust all of these so-called city leaders (and I use the term loosely) and vote all new who want to help all of the city not just their own adgenda and their narrow-minded and bigoted opinions.that these "leaders" have been trying to shove down our throats for way too long!. They aren't anymore qualified to run this town than you or I . All we get are their opinions and how they want this town to be run not necessarily what the people of Ottumwa want. Think about it, it is only how these people on the city council and lowly officials want this town to be ran. Do you honestly believe that they are doing the things they do or passing all these ridiculous and asinine city ordinances they keep passing, are for the good our city as a whole? No its all about their own personal agenda. They could give a rats axx less about what you want. They really have no true interest in our opinion. Yes, they will have opinion polls now and then but they do not care what the polls say. They are still going to do what they want. The polls are just something to pacify us with! Case in point, the so called pit bull ban debate. There is no debate. According to one man on the city council, they have already decided they will not reverse this ridiculous banning of a breed of dog.that I have come to learn is a wonderful loving breedalways have that opinion of this breed of dog.. But after taking the time to truly educate myself with facts not hysteria, I have found how wrong and unfair in my judging of the pit bull breed I have been.They are a wonderful and loving breed! My daughter had a small pomeranian dog that I would be far more afraid of. He may have been small, but he managed to do alot of damage on several occasions before she finally had to have him put down for fear he would hurt someone else. It was all because this poor little dog was abused before he came to live with her. Don't pursicute the breed. Hold owners that abuse their animals accountable and not with just a slap on the wrist and a minuscule fine.Educate about animal abuse! MAKE ANIMAL ABUSE A CRIME!! But that is never going to happen in Ottumwa. This town turns a blind eye to animal abuse and makes a whole breed pay for it. Just like Ottumwa to take the easy way out rather than having an inforced ordince against animal abue they would rather use their collective lack of intelligence to pass really important ordinances telling you it is now a no- no for you to park on your. own yard. What's next? Young people should escape this town as It holds nothing for them here! So sad..
Jessica Brumbaugh
Spent alot of time here as a kid loved the park an lived in that trailer park made alot of memories here haha my childhood hoping to visit this par hopefully this yr if not nxt yr!
Elizabeth Fairey
Not our favorite park in Ottumwa as we prefer Wildwood park but a wonderful one nonetheless. It has a covered shelter. Baseball fields. Swings. My 3 and 4 year old had a blast there on a very hot day. There are actually two playgrounds a smaller, older, one and a bigger, newer one! There are no restrooms that we found.
