Rathbun Lake Recreation

Whatever floats your boat, Rathbun Lake has something for you.

With 11,000 acres of gorgeous water and 150 miles of shoreline, it’s Iowa’s second largest lake. Bring your own watercraft and use our marina with a boat launch, fishing pier and 40 boat slips.

Included in every overnight stay at Honey Creek is the use of:

Kayaks
Stand up paddle boards
Fishing equipment (license not included; can be purchased separately at the hotel gift shop)
Water trampoline
Beach volleyball
Buccaneer Bay Indoor Water Park (for guests staying at The Lodge and The Cottages)
Bicycles, including helmets
Access to daily resort activities
Naturalist programs, including field pack rentals for geocaching, bird watching, and more
Among other fun activities!

Or, choose from a variety of seasonal watercraft rental including:

Jet skis
Ski boats
Pontoons

All activities are first come, first serve, while supplies last.

Watercraft Rentals

Whether you want to cruise, paddle, ski, or fish, you can find the perfect watercraft for enjoying Rathbun Lake. Many Honey Creek Resort guests opt for the pontoon boat that fits a dozen passengers comfortably - you get to be the skipper! Set out on the water, relax, and take in the scenic surroundings.

Watercraft rentals include:

Jet skis (fits 3 people)
Ski boats (fits 8 people)
Pontoons (fits 8, 10, or 12 people)

View Rental Rates (PDF - Requires Adobe® Reader®) Download Acrobat Reader

Call to Rent a Watercraft: 641-724-1450

About Rathbun Lake

Rathbun Lake is a flood protection lake managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps has a Visitors Center that provides information about Rathbun Lake's natural resources. For more information, visit their website or call 641-647-2464.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources manages both Honey Creek Resort and the original 850-acre Honey Creek State Park. Honey Creek State Park offers camping, cabins, heated shower facilities, trails, and boat ramp. For more information, visit their website.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also operates the Rathbun Fish Hatchery, which raises channel catfish, walleye, saugeye, and largemouth bass to stock them in other Iowa lakes. Visitors are welcome year-round. For more information, visit their website or call 641-647-2406.

To get the most updated Rathbun Lake conditions and fishing reports, visit the Iowa Department of Natural Resources website