No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Sugar Bottom Day Use Area continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 13 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026): 11 open for online reservation · 2 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
Load status
Sep 18 – Sep 30, 2026Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 7 fall on weekdays and 4 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Sep 2026September holds the most room. 11 of 13 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| 39 | 11 |
This day-use unit currently has 11 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotThe next bookable date is Sep 20; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 11 | 11 dates | Sep 20, Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30 |
About Sugar Bottom Day Use Area
Overview
Sugar Bottom Day Use Area is a day-use facility located on the shore of Coralville Lake. Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, as well as recreation, fish and wildlife management and forest management. Coralville Lake provides many recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, hiking, mountain biking, lake and river fishing, swimming, water skiing, picnicking and hunting.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Coralville Lake for boating, fishing, swimming and water activities. Anglers will find large and smallmouth bass, crappie, walleye and catfish. Several trails are within Sugar Bottom, including the Cedar Valley Nature Trail and a barrier-free asphalt trail. The Devonian Fossil Gorge is just below the dam, offering a unique opportunity to explore a 375-million-year old sea floor and discover fossil remains of sea life that once inhabited this tropical marine environment. Twenty discovery points can be found throughout the site along with a cell phone audio tour. Sugar Bottom Disc Golf Course is located in the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area and offers 18 partially wooden and open holes. Sugar Bottom Mountain Bike Trail is located in the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area and offers beginner to expert trails.
Facilities
The day-use location offers a large group picnic area with drinking water and electricity. Amenities include flush toilets, playground, beach, disc golf course and mountain bike trail.
Natural Features
Coralville Lake is located in the Iowa River Valley, just north of Iowa City. Sugar Bottom Day Use lies among a heavily wooded forest of mixed hardwood species on the east side of the lake. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, song birds and other species roam the lands around the lake.
Getting there
From Interstate 380 (North Liberty, Iowa), take Exit 4 towards North Liberty. Travel East on W. Penn St. for 2.2 miles. At the four way stop sign, turn left onto N. Front St./Mehaffey Bridge Road NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.9 miles. Right after crossing the Mehaffey Bridge, take a right hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area will be on the left. From Highway 1 (Solon, Iowa), turn west onto 180th St. NE/E 5th St. Travel west on180th St. NE for 2.3 miles, the road will then become Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE. Continue traveling on Mehaffey Bridge Rd. NE for 2.4 miles. Right before the Mehaffey Bridge, take a left hand turn onto the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. Continue on the Sugar Bottom Campground Access Rd. for 1.1 miles. The entrance to the Sugar Bottom Day Use Area will be on the left.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area?
Reservations for Sugar Bottom Day Use Area are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 11 of 13 tracked reservation dates are open (84.6%), though availability can change. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Which month has the most availability at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area?
September 2026, with 11 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 13.
When is the next open date at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Sun, Sep 20 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at Sugar Bottom Day Use Area.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.