Fontana County Park Camping Review, Hazleton Iowa

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We pulled the Coleman 17B into Fontana Park on a quiet weekend and came away genuinely impressed. Officially it is Fontana County Park, run by Buchanan County, and the county does not get talked about enough as a camping destination. This place makes a strong case for changing that. Here is everything you need to know before you book, including campsite options, cabins, and a full set of photos.

We paid for our stay ourselves. Nobody sponsored this review.

Watch the full park tour

Aaron Goes Outdoors walks you through the campsites, live animal display, fishing, the dam walk, and the shelter house at Fontana Park.

Fontana County Park photos

Here is what the park actually looks like, from the campsites to the dam. All photos are from our stay.

Water, sewer, and electric hookups at a full hookup site in the Lakeside Campground at Fontana County Park — Full hookups at a Lakeside Campground site.

Playground with a climbing net and slide next to campsites at Fontana County Park in Hazleton, Iowa — The campground playground, a short walk from the sites.

Restroom and shower building at the Fontana County Park campground — The campground bathhouse. Clean, with showers.

The Fontana Park Nature Center building in Hazleton, Iowa — The nature center, next to the live animal display.

Fishing jetty with a picnic table on Fontana Lake at Fontana County Park — One of the three fishing jetties on Fontana Lake.

View across Fontana Lake toward the trees and shoreline at Fontana County Park — Fontana Lake. Pretty, and shallow, so fish it light.

Arched steel footbridge on the walking trail at Fontana County Park — The arched footbridge on the way to the dam.

Fontana Lake dam and spillway with the red Fontana Mill Shelter House above it — The dam, with the Fontana Mill Shelter House above it.

Inside the Fontana Mill Shelter House with rows of picnic tables and open side panels — Inside the shelter house. The side panels open up to the lake.

Otter Creek and the waterfall below the Fontana Lake dam in Hazleton, Iowa — Otter Creek below the dam, a popular fishing spot.

Where is Fontana Park?

Fontana Park sits about a mile south of Hazleton, Iowa, on Highway 150 in Buchanan County. The address is 1883 125th St, Hazleton, IA 50641. It is roughly 9 miles north of Independence, Iowa, which makes it an easy drive from the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area.

If you have not been through this part of northeast Iowa, it is worth noting: you are in Amish country. The small towns in the area have Amish stores with baked goods, produce, and food that are genuinely worth a stop on your way in or out.

Campsite options and rates

Fontana Park has two distinct camping areas, each with a pretty different feel.

Lakeside Campground

This is the newer section with 26 full-hookup sites. You get water, electric up to 50 amps, and sewer at each site. Sites are a mix of paved back-ins and gravel. The rate is $30 per night on the county’s reservation site, which is hard to argue with for full hookups.

The one honest thing to say about the Lakeside loop: the trees are still small. The campground is newer, and the landscaping just needs time to catch up. Privacy will improve as those trees grow, but right now, it is a more open feel than some campers prefer.

Map of the Lakeside Campground at Fontana Park

Creekside Campground

The original campground has electric hookups only (no water at the site) and the mature trees that the Lakeside loop is still waiting on. If shade and a woodsy feel matter more to you than full hookups, this is worth considering.

Fontana Park camping fees

Site type	Rate per night
Lakeside full hookup (water, sewer, electric)	$30
Site with electricity	$20
Reserved site with electricity	$23
Site without electricity	$15
Sustainable Living Cabin	$95

Rates are from Buchanan County’s camping fees and reservation site. Confirm when you book, since county rates can change from season to season. Firewood is sold by the camp host or park ranger.

Cabins

Buchanan County also offers Sustainable Living Cabins at Fontana Park with solar electricity, two private bedrooms, a living/dining room, and a bathroom with a shower. Cabin rate is $95 per night.

Reservations

Book through mycountyparks.com. Sites are reservable April 15 through October 1. Outside those dates, camping may still be available, but water and sewer get shut off once temperatures freeze. It fills quickly once school lets out in late May, so book early for summer weekends.

The live animal display

This is the thing that kept us coming back to it during our stay. Right within walking distance of the campsites, Fontana Park has a live wildlife display featuring Iowa-native animals that have been orphaned, injured, or human-raised and cannot survive in the wild.

A bison and calf at the Fontana Park animal display

During our visit we spotted a barred owl, a great horned owl, a red-tailed hawk, a coyote, pheasants, ducks, a fox, and a bobcat. The animals are in enclosures and the display is open throughout the day, not just during nature center hours.

If you are camping with kids, plan to walk over here multiple times. Our daughter could not get enough of it.

▶ See the animal display in the video

Fishing at Fontana Park

Fishing is popular here, both on Fontana Lake and below the dam in Otter Creek. There are three jetties on the lake, and fishing below the dam is a well-used spot. Ice fishing is also allowed on Fontana Lake in winter.

The honest fishing note: Fontana Lake is shallow. The maximum depth is around 10 feet. If you are used to fishing deep lakes with heavier tackle and deeper rigs, you may need to adjust. I was not prepared for it on this trip and did not land anything, though I did see small fish in the water. Come with lighter presentations and you will have a better chance.

▶ See the fishing spots in the video

Fontana Mill Lake fishing details from the Iowa DNR

Trails and walking

The park has 1.25 miles of looping hiking trails that skirt the lake and move through wooded areas. There is also a 1-mile paved trail connecting the nature center to the town of Hazleton, open for both hiking and biking.

The bridge and dam walk is a highlight. You can get right to the base of the dam, watch the water, and just exist for a while. The sound of the water at the dam is legitimately great. If someone releases a 10-hour loop of that, I will use it.

Playground and family amenities

There is a playground right in the campground area. We positioned our site close to it on purpose so our daughter could run over without going far. It worked exactly as planned.

The bathrooms and showers are clean. The lighting inside is a little dim, but everything you need is there: showers, stalls, solid facilities. No complaints.

The shelter house

Fontana Park has a main shelter house, the Fontana Mill Shelter House, built on the foundation of the original 19th-century Fontana Mill. It overlooks the lake and the dam. The side panels flip up, opening the whole structure to the water and the air. Tables inside, grill outside, a small patio area.

The morning we arrived, a birthday party was wrapping up. Honestly, it is a perfect venue for that. Affordable, beautiful setting, and it can be reserved by calling 319-636-2617.

▶ See the shelter house in the video

Things to do near Hazleton

The area around Fontana Park is worth planning around if you want to extend the trip.

Amish Country: The small towns along Highway 150 and surrounding roads have Amish stores with baked goods and fresh food. Worth stopping on the drive in.
Garage Sales: We happened to hit the area on a county garage sale weekend, which added a fun layer to the drive. Worth checking if a community event lines up with your visit.
Jakway Park: Buchanan County’s other main camping destination, south of Aurora, is worth knowing about as a backup or a comparison if you explore the area.
Non-motorized paddling: Canoe and kayak access is available on the Otter Creek section north of the nature center, with a small launch area near the nature center.

Fontana Park FAQs

Does Fontana Park have full hookups?

Yes. The Lakeside Campground has 26 sites with full hookups: water, sewer, and electric up to 50 amps. The rate is $30 per night. The Creekside Campground is electric-only (no water at site), with electric sites at $20 per night ($23 reserved) and sites without electricity at $15.

How do I make a reservation at Fontana Park?

All reservations are made online through mycountyparks.com. A small processing fee is included in the total. Sites are reservable April 15 through October 1. Camping may be available outside those dates, but water and sewer are shut off once it freezes.

How much does it cost to camp at Fontana Park?

$30 a night for a Lakeside full-hookup site, $20 for a site with electricity ($23 if reserved), $15 for a site without electricity, and $95 a night for a cabin, per Buchanan County’s camping fees. Confirm when you book, since rates can change.

Are there other campgrounds near Fontana Park?

Yes. Morwood Campground & Resort is a private campground about 2 miles south of Fontana, just outside Hazleton. Backbone State Park, Iowa’s first state park, is about 20 miles east near Dundee. Independence and Fairbank also have campgrounds within a short drive. See the map at the bottom of this post.

Is Fontana Park good for kids?

It is one of the better family campgrounds we have been to. There is a playground in the campground, a live animal display with owls, hawks, a coyote, bobcat, fox, and ducks, and a paved bike/hiking trail. The nature center adds another educational stop when it is open on weekend afternoons.

What kind of fishing is available at Fontana Lake?

Fishing is available on Fontana Lake via three jetties and below the dam on Otter Creek. The lake is shallow, about 10 feet at its deepest, so lighter tackle and presentations suited for shallow water will serve you better than deep-water rigs. Ice fishing is also permitted in winter.

Are there cabins at Fontana Park?

Yes. Buchanan County offers Sustainable Living Cabins at Fontana Park with solar electricity, two bedrooms, a living/dining room, bathroom with shower, and a porch. Cabins are $95 per night and are booked online at buchanancountyparks.com.

When does Fontana Park fill up?

The campground fills quickly, especially after school lets out in late May. Summer weekends in particular book fast. Reserve early if you are planning a trip in June, July, or August.

Is there kayaking or canoeing at Fontana Park?

Yes. Non-motorized boats are welcome on the section of Otter Creek north of the nature center. There is a small loading/unloading area near the nature center for launching.

Final thoughts: is Fontana Park worth it?

For $30 a night with full hookups, a live animal display the kids will ask to visit multiple times, clean facilities, good trails, and a beautiful dam walk, yes. It is worth it.

The honest critiques are small: the Lakeside campground trees need time to grow, and the lake is shallow enough that you need to fish it correctly to have success. Neither of those is a reason to skip it.

If you are looking for a no-drama, family-friendly campground in northeast Iowa with full hookups and things to do right in the park, Fontana Park belongs on your list.

Do not have a camper yet? If you are looking for an Iowa camper rental to make the trip, you can rent our Coleman 17B right here in Cedar Falls.

For more honest campground reviews and camping content from Iowa and the Midwest, subscribe to Aaron Goes Outdoors on YouTube. No fluff, no matter who’s paying for the coverage.

Campground details:

Address: Fontana Park, 1883 125th St, Hazleton, IA 50641 (directions)
Phone: 319-636-2617
Reservations: mycountyparks.com
Reservable: April 15 to October 1 (water and sewer off once it freezes)

Fontana County Park Camping in Hazleton, Iowa: An Honest Review (Full Hookups, Cabins + Photos)

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