Lake Red Rock, Iowa

Bigger doesn’t always mean better… except when it does! Lake Red Rock is the largest lake in all of Iowa, boasting an impressive 15,000 acres of water and 35,000 acres of land. Lucky for us, Lake Red Rock has outdoor recreation covered! From camping to hunting, you can do it all over here. Of course, we can’t forget about all of the water activities. There’s a beach for swimming and lounging, and plenty of boat ramps to get your watercraft where it belongs. And, this massive lake and recreation area is a mere 45 miles southeast and downriver from Des Moines, so getting to this lovely spot won’t have to take up the better part of your weekend.