Clear Lake

About Clear Lake

Clear Lake, Iowa is both a summer resort destination and ideal community for year-round living. It offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, events, and attractions that your family will love. #experienceclearlake Clear Lake Iowa is home to the 3,685 acre lake on which it is located. It is home to a number of marinas, state parks, tourism-related businesses, and manufacturers. Approximately 7,700 year round residents are proud to call Clear Lake Home.

Clear Lake is conveniently located in North Central Iowa along Interstate I35(running north/south) and US Highway 18/122 (running east/west), just two hours north of Des Moines, Iowa and two hours south of Minneapolis, Minnesota. In addition, with the Avenue of the Saints, it is an easy drive to Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and Cedar Rapids. Clear Lake is also one mile from the Mason City airport and has two major exits off I35 with restaurants, hotels, gas and truck stops. This makes for a great weekend getaway, no matter how you arrive!

Packed with events year round, Clear Lake has truly become a major destination in Iowa. Clear Lake’s event schedule is jam-packed, including popular upcoming summer events like Thursdays on Main, Saturday’s Farmers Market, Tri Clear Lake (new in 2017!), the biggest and best July 4th Celebration in all of North Central Iowa, Bicycle, Blues and BBQ festival, Brews on the Beach, Iowa Story Telling Festival, Clear Lake Arts Sail, and Lakeside Dixie Fest. In the fall, signature events include: CLASS Car Show, Harvest Festival, and Antiques in the Square. Winter events include The Jack Snowmobile Race, Christmas by the Lake with a lighted parade, world famous Winter Dance Party, and Color the Kite Festival. Signature spring events include Earth Days and the Walleye Classic.

Do you like to go to the beach?

Clear Lake is home to two top beaches according to USA Today in 2012 and they have only gotten better! Clear Lake’s City Beach and Clear Lake State Park Beach were both mentioned in the publication’s Memorial Day Weekend Travel feature, “51 Great American Beaches.” Clear Lake City beach located near downtown, offers a playground and splash pad. Clear Lake’s State Beach is a 900-foot sandy beach, located on the south east side of the lake. Both beaches are a great place to swim. Often boaters will anchor near State Beach. The playground equipment, picnic facilities, bike-path access, and special features like the downtown splash pad are other highlights to the Clear Lake beach experience.

Don’t like to swim in the lake?

Clear Lake also has an Aquatic Center featuring a 7,800 square foot pool with zero depth entry, swimming lanes, floatables, geysers and spray features, diving boards and two slides, both open and closed.

Do you like to bike?

A paved bike trail is accessible between Clear Lake and Mason City on County Road B-35. A beautiful scenic paved trail known as Sister’s Prairie Bike Trail traverses just over a mile through a private prairie-wetland complex beginning at Ventura Heights.
Do you like to fish? Clear lake was mentioned as a lake that provides outstanding fishing much of the year by Bob Jensen in his column, Fishing in the Midwest. There are tagged walleyes in Clear Lake worth $100 to $1,000! Twenty-five walleyes are netted, tagged and released every April by the Department of Natural Resources.

Love to Golf?

Veterans Memorial Golf Club has been recognized both regionally and nationally as one of the finest golf courses in Iowa. It is a city owned par 36 course located on the North side of Clear Lake. Oak Hills Golf Course has been a popular golf venue for over 43 years. It is a par 30 course and is located on the south side of Clear Lake.

Do you want to enjoy the outdoors?

Clear Lake prides itself on providing residents and guests with ample opportunity for outdoor fun. There are more than a dozen city parks and two State Parks for you to explore Iowa’s natural beauty. Stay for a night or a few days camping or rent a “yurt”.
Clear Lake State Park is located on the South east shore of the lake. There are approximately 180 designated camping sites, most with electric hook-ups. They also have a modern restroom, shower facilities and a dump station.
McIntosh State Park is located on the Northwest Shore of Clear Lake, bordering Ventura. There are 49 campsites with electricity and two “yurts” to rent. Docks and boat landings, open picnic area, one mile nature walk and picnic shelter are available.
Clear Lake’s newest park is for dogs! A six acre park located on the east edge of the city’s outdoor recreation complex offers a designated area for both small and large dogs.
Additional private campgrounds are RV Park or Twin Oaks Campground (located on Clear Lake’s south shore), or Deer Valley Lodge (Ventura).
Clear Lake prides itself on providing quality education for our youth educating over 1,300 students K-12 and employing over 200 educators. Clear Lake schools are a great place to learn, grow and achieve. While challenging students with rigorous coursework, and providing unique learning opportunities immersed in a technology rich environment, Clear Lake schools help to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills. Clear Lake is Lion Nation!