There are times on the road when all you want is simple. No frills, no fancy amenities, and most importantly, no fee. You just need a quick, clean, and convenient place to empty the tanks so you can get back to the business of putting miles behind you. For RVers, finding a free dump station right off the highway is like finding a twenty dollar bill in an old jacket. It’s a small victory that makes the whole day better. That’s the simple, beautiful promise of the northbound I-35 rest area near Story City, Iowa, located right at mile marker 120. It represents a perfect, cost effective pause on the long stretch between Des Moines and the Minnesota border.
This isn’t a destination in itself, but it’s situated in a genuinely lovely part of the country. Central Iowa has a quiet, unassuming charm. If you do have a little time to spare, Story City itself is worth a look. It’s one of those classic Midwestern towns with a beautifully preserved 1913 antique carousel and a main street full of antique malls that are perfect for a bit of treasure hunting. Just a short 20 mile drive south will land you in Ames, home to Iowa State University, which gives the city a vibrant, youthful energy. More importantly for the RVer, Ames is your gateway to Ledges State Park. This park is one of Iowa’s true natural treasures, a stunning sandstone gorge that feels completely unexpected in the middle of rolling farmland. It has its own campground and, critically, another dump station, making it a fantastic backup plan if you decide you want to linger in the area for a night or two.
But let’s get back to the rest area. The reality of these state run facilities is all about managing expectations. The Iowa Department of Transportation does a great job of keeping the basics in order. You’ll find clean 24/7 restrooms, some nice picnic shelters for a quick lunch, and a designated pet walk area, which is always a welcome sight after your dog has been cooped up for a few hours. When the dump station is operational, you’ll typically find it located over by the semi truck parking apron. The traffic is usually pretty light, though you might see a bit more activity on weekends, especially if there’s a big farm show or a university event happening nearby.
Now for the big, important caveat. And this is something every RVer needs to know about state rest areas across the country. They are no longer a guaranteed source for dump services. Many states, including Iowa, have been decommissioning them over the years to cut down on maintenance costs. This means you can’t just assume the one you’re heading to will be open and functional. It creates a bit of a gamble. The best approach is to pull in and look for the signs. If it’s open, you’ve scored. If it’s been capped and closed, you’ll need to move on to your backup plan.
The amenities here are as basic as they come, which is part of the trade off for it being free. You’ll get a place to walk Fido and a place to use the restroom. You’ll find plenty of trash bins, so you can do your part to help keep the beautiful Iowa prairie tidy. But that’s about it. There is no advertised rinse water, which is a critical piece of information. This is classic boondocking 101. You must be self sufficient. Always, always carry a dedicated gallon jug of water and a short hose specifically for the purpose of rinsing out your sewer hose and the dump station area after you’re done. It’s just good RVer etiquette. You also won’t find any fuel or propane here. For those essentials, you’ll need to plan a stop at one of the large truck stops in Ames to the south or Ankeny further down the road.
The value proposition is crystal clear. The price, which is almost always free if the station is active, is impossible to beat. Sometimes, you might find a kiosk that requires a token from a vending machine, so it’s never a bad idea to have a few quarters handy just in case, but that’s rare. Saving that ten, fifteen, or even twenty dollars that a private campground or truck stop would charge adds up significantly over a long trip. This is pure, found money for the travel budget. The cost is zero, but the risk is that it might not be there when you need it.
A few insider tips can make your visit smoother. If you’re traveling in the fall, be aware of the Iowa State football schedule. On home game weekends, these rest areas along I-35 can fill up incredibly fast with fans heading to Ames. If you’re traveling in the colder months, from November through March, be extremely cautious. Northern Iowa gets harsh winters, and the concrete pad around the dump station can become a sheet of slick ice. And here’s a tip that anyone who has spent time in the open plains will appreciate: it gets windy. Rest areas are often situated in wide open cornfields with nothing to block the wind. A strong gust can pick up your sewer hose and send it flying at the most inopportune moment. Always use a rubber wheel chock, a heavy rock, or the lid of the dump station itself to weigh down your hose and keep it securely in the drain.
So what's the bottom line? The Story City rest area is a fantastic option for a no frills, no cost dump stop that keeps you right on your route. It’s a gamble, but a low stakes one. It’s the kind of opportunistic stop that savvy, budget conscious RVers rely on. Go in with the right expectations, confirm that the dump valve is still active when you pull in, and always have your own rinse water and a backup plan in mind. If the light is green and the station is open, you’ve just enjoyed one of the best deals in the world of RVing.
Story City, IA 50248
(515) 239-1680
Cost: Price not available
Category: Rest stop
No Water
iowadot.gov/maintenance/rest-areas