An RV in Iowa is winterized for about 4 months a year at Dubuque, and the median first 32°F night arrives October 11 at Dubuque (NOAA 1991-2020). 10 RV & motorhome storage facilities are listed in Iowa, 2 with indoor or climate-controlled space.
| Month | Des Moines high / low | RV | Dubuque snow | Dubuque high / low | RV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31° / 14° | winterized | 10.7 in | 27° / 11° | winterized |
| Feb | 36° / 18° | winterized | 10.6 in | 31° / 15° | winterized |
| Mar | 49° / 30° | shoulder trips | 5.7 in | 44° / 26° | winterized |
| Apr | 62° / 41° | camping | 1.9 in | 58° / 37° | shoulder trips |
| May | 72° / 52° | camping | 0.0 in | 69° / 49° | camping |
| Jun | 82° / 62° | camping | 0.0 in | 79° / 59° | camping |
| Jul | 86° / 66° | camping | 0.0 in | 82° / 62° | camping |
| Aug | 84° / 64° | camping | 0.0 in | 80° / 60° | camping |
| Sep | 77° / 55° | camping | 0.0 in | 73° / 52° | camping |
| Oct | 63° / 43° | camping | 0.5 in | 60° / 40° | shoulder trips |
| Nov | 48° / 30° | shoulder trips | 2.8 in | 45° / 28° | shoulder trips |
| Dec | 36° / 20° | winterized | 10.3 in | 32° / 17° | winterized |
RV column rule: camping at a 40°F low or warmer with highs under 95°F; shoulder trips above a 28°F low; winterized below.
By that rule an RV at Des Moines has 7 months camping (April to October), 2 of shoulder trips and 3 winterized. By that rule an RV at Dubuque has 5 months camping (May to September), 3 of shoulder trips and 4 winterized.
Iowa is hard-freeze country: Dubuque logs about 144.1 nights at or below 32°F and 61.4 days that never thaw, enough to freeze any water left in the water lines, pump, water heater and toilet valve.
10 live listings in 8 cities; by listed type: 2 indoor, 2 covered and 10 outdoor (types overlap). No Iowa RV & motorhome storage listing publishes a rate on StowHelp.
| Facility | City | Listed storage | Listed amenities | Also listed for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V's RV/Large Storage | Iowa City | indoor, outdoor, covered | Trailer | |
| Streamlined Storage - Iowa City | Iowa City | indoor, outdoor, covered | Trailer | |
| Broken Paddle Lodge & RV Park | Lansing | outdoor | ||
| Latitudes RV Resort | Woodward | outdoor | ||
| Hubinger Landing | Keokuk | outdoor | ||
| Horseshoe Pond Campground | Maquoketa | outdoor | ||
| Cutty's Okoboji Resort Club | Spirit Lake | outdoor | ||
| Lake Shore RV Resort & Campground | Oelwein | outdoor | ||
| Red Barn Campground | Lansing | outdoor | ||
| Fieldstone RV Park | Arnold Parks | outdoor |
| City | RV & Motorhome Storage listings | Indoor | Climate-controlled | Outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Lansing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Arnold Parks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Keokuk | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Maquoketa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Oelwein | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Spirit Lake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Woodward | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
NOAA's 1991-2020 median first 32°F night is October 20 at Des Moines and October 11 at Dubuque; winterize by September 27, two weeks ahead of the earlier date. By our RV rule Des Moines stays camping through October and Dubuque through September, then 2 months of shoulder trips follow at Des Moines. 2 Iowa listings offer indoor or climate-controlled space.
3 at Des Moines (November to March) and 4 at Dubuque (October to April), plus 2 and 3 months of shoulder trips. Those winterized months hold 37.3 of the 42.5 inches of snow Dubuque averages a year (88%), which is the load on a cover or carport roof. At Des Moines an RV is camping from April to October (7 months), against 5 at Dubuque.
Of 10 live Iowa listings, 2 list indoor space and 0 climate-controlled units, against 10 outdoor and 2 covered. By city: Iowa City (2 listed, 2 indoor), Lansing (2 listed, 0 indoor), Arnold Parks (1 listed, 0 indoor) and Keokuk (1 listed, 0 indoor). Most indoor listings: Iowa City (2). Ask whether indoor means heated; listings span 8 cities in all.
At Dubuque, 5 months average a low at or below 32°F: 4 winterized and 1 shoulder trips or camping by our RV rule. Dubuque logs 144.1 nights at or below 32°F and 16.1 at or below 0°F a year; January, the coldest month, averages 11.1°F and is winterized for an RV. Drain or re-protect the RV after any outing in those 1 month.
After the last frost. The median last 32°F night is April 18 at Des Moines and April 28 at Dubuque; the last 28°F hard freeze comes around April 8 and April 17. Our rule makes April the first month camping at Des Moines and May at Dubuque. That month Des Moines averages a 40.6°F low and a 62.0°F high. Reverse each winterization step first.
Iowa RV & motorhome storage listings span 8 cities, led by Iowa City (2 listed), Lansing (2 listed), Arnold Parks (1 listed), Keokuk (1 listed) and Maquoketa (1 listed). For outdoor winter parking, Iowa City (2 outdoor) and Lansing (2 outdoor) lead. Statewide, 10 list outdoor, 2 covered and 2 indoor or climate-controlled spaces. Compare the cities nearest you before October 11.
NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991-2020 (USW00014933, USW00094908); NOAA AOML hurricane impacts 1851-2025; StowHelp listings 2026-10-07 (methodology).