When do Iowa public pools open?
Most open between Memorial Day weekend and the first week of June. Here's when each pool opened and closed last season.
The short answer
Of the 24 Iowa public pools that posted 2026 opening dates, 7 opened by Memorial Day weekend (May 23–May 25), 6 in the last week of May, 10 in the first week of June and 1 later in June. The most common opening day was June 6, when 6 pools opened, including Ashworth Pool, Birdland Pool and Nahas Aquatic Center.
Of the 21 pools that posted a 2026 closing date, 13 closed by mid-August, 7 later in August, and 1 stayed open into September through Labor Day (September 7).
2027 dates: Iowa cities usually post opening dates in spring. Each pool's page shows its 2027 dates as soon as the city posts them, and the official link on that page always has the latest. Pools can also close for weather, so check before you go.
2026 opening and closing dates by pool
Last season's dates, as posted by each city. Pools without posted dates are listed below with their usual season.
| Pool | Town | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furman Aquatic Center | Ames | May 23 | September 7 |
| Humboldt Family Aquatic Center | Humboldt | May 23 | August 9 |
| Tama-Toledo Aquatic Center | Toledo | May 23 | Not posted |
| Calmar Swimming Pool | Calmar | May 25 | Not posted |
| New Hampton Pool | New Hampton | May 25 | Not posted |
| West Union Aquatic Center | West Union | May 25 | Not posted |
| Winterset Aquatic Center | Winterset | May 25 | August 9 |
| Decorah Municipal Pool | Decorah | May 26 | August 23 |
| Coralville Community Aquatic Center | Coralville | May 30 | August 19 |
| Fejervary Aquatic Center | Davenport | May 30 | August 15 |
| Indianola Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center | Indianola | May 30 | August 23 |
| Edmundson Pool | Oskaloosa | May 30 | Not posted |
| Rock Valley Swimming Pool | Rock Valley | May 30 | Not posted |
| Fawcett Family Aquatic Center | Nevada | June 1 | August 16 |
| Forest City Family Aquatic Center | Forest City | June 2 | August 16 |
| Guttenberg Municipal Swimming Pool | Guttenberg | June 2 | Not posted |
| Elkader City Pool | Elkader | June 5 | Not posted |
| Ashworth Pool | Des Moines | June 6 | August 9 |
| Birdland Pool | Des Moines | June 6 | August 9 |
| Nahas Aquatic Center | Des Moines | June 6 | August 9 |
| Northwest Aquatic Center | Des Moines | June 6 | August 9 |
| Teachout Aquatic Center | Des Moines | June 6 | August 9 |
| Leif Erikson Pool | Sioux City | June 6 | August 9 |
| Marshalltown Family Aquatic Center | Marshalltown | June 8 | August 16 |
| Altoona Aquatics Park | Altoona | Not posted | August 23 |
| Carlisle Family Aquatic Center | Carlisle | Not posted | August 16 |
| Estherville Aquatic Center | Estherville | Not posted | August 23 |
| Marion Pool | Marion | Not posted | August 30 |
| Beach Ottumwa | Ottumwa | Not posted | August 30 |
Usual seasons, in the cities' words
Many cities describe their season instead of, or as well as, posting exact dates.
- Altoona Aquatics Park, Altoona
Around June to late August
- Bever Pool, Cedar Rapids
Last day of school to the first day of school in the fall
- Cherry Hill Aquatic Center, Cedar Rapids
Last day of school to the first day of school in the fall
- Ellis Pool, Cedar Rapids
Last day of school to the first day of school in the fall
- Jones Pool, Cedar Rapids
Last day of school to the first day of school in the fall
- Riverview Pool, Clinton
Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend
- Prairie Trails Family Aquatic Center, Corydon
Late May through August
- Garner Aquatic Center, Garner
Around Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Grinnell Mutual Family Aquatic Center, Grinnell
Summer, while school is out
- Lake Mills Family Aquatic Center, Lake Mills
Memorial Day to mid-August
- Marion Pool, Marion
Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Orange City Municipal Aquatic Facility, Orange City
Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Beach Ottumwa, Ottumwa
Memorial Day weekend to the last Sunday in August
- Waukon Aquatic Center, Waukon
Memorial Day to mid-August
Open year-round: the indoor pools don't follow the summer season: Bender Pool in Cedar Rapids, Mercer Park Aquatic Center in Iowa City.
Older dates: Prairie Trails Family Aquatic Center in Corydon last posted dates for 2025 (opened May 26).
Dates come from each city's own pool page. Spot something out of date? Suggest a correction.