The Saylorville Lake campgrounds are some of the most popular in Central Iowa. 500+ campsites offer beautiful views, clean facilities, and access to everything Saylorville offers. Here at Des Moines Outdoors, it ranks among our favorite places to go camping near Des Moines.
Saylorville is a 26,000-acre area designed to protect natural resources and control flooding. And it has an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. Boating, fishing, hiking, biking, and, of course, camping are a few of the many things to do around the 6000-acre lake.
For more, see: A Guide to Saylorville Lake in Central Iowa
Saylorville Lake Campgrounds
Saylorville Lake has over 500 campsites in four beautiful, well-maintained campgrounds around the lake. Each has a registration booth, modern restrooms and showers, and a dump station. Reserve any campsite at Saylorville through Recreation.gov.
2023 Campground Closures
Prairie Flower and Cherry Glen Campgrounds are closed for improvements for the 2023 camping season. Acorn Valley and Bob Shetler will remain open (and take reservations).
Prairie Flower Campground
Prairie Flower is the largest of the Saylorville Lake campgrounds. It covers over 60 acres of prairie and woodlands, and it’s close to Oak Grove Beach and the marina. Spacious campsites, scenic lake views, and concrete pads make it a favorite.
Don’t miss the Prairie Flower hiking trails through the prairie and woodlands (with great views!). You can also access the paved, 25-mile Neal Smith Trail, which runs through the campground.
This campground has five loops of individual campsites and 10 group areas that can accommodate RVs. Each loop has a separate modern restroom/shower facility.
- 152 reservable electric sites
- 10 group sites with electricity (60+ total sites, each circle around a greenspace/picnic area)
- All sites are back-in, and most have concrete pads
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Four playgrounds
- Potable water
- Dump station (two stalls)
- Located at 10498-10534 NW Lake Dr, Polk City, IA, west of Hwy 415, near the marina
Cherry Glen Campground
Cherry Glen is a 13-acre campground on the east side of Saylorville Lake. It’s north of the dam on a wooded ridge above the lake. And it’s one of the most popular campgrounds due to easy access to the lake, boat ramp, Cherry Glen Picnic area, and more.
The Neal Smith Trail is at the campground entrance. And Red Feather Prairie and the Visitor Center are nearby.
The campground is a series of connected loops. Two modern restroom/shower facilities and two more modern restrooms are available.
- 121 reservable electric sites
- All sites are gravel, back-in
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Two playgrounds
- Potable water
- Dump station
- Boat ramp
- Located at 4338 NW 94th Ave, Ankeny, IA 50021
Bob Shetler Campground
Bob Shetler is a grassy, compact campground near the spillway. Though there aren’t lake views, it is along the Des Moines River. Campers enjoy excellent fishing at the river and its backwaters. There are also several picnic areas nearby and a short trail with access to the Neal Smith Trail.
A small camping loop is on the river’s west side, with another small loop on the east side. The main campground is a loop with six campsites on each of eight short lanes. Two modern restroom/shower facilities are in the central area. Find the campground on the south side of Saylorville Lake, near the dam and Visitor Center.
- 63 reservable electric sites
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Back-in and pull-through sites (concrete and gravel)
- Two playgrounds
- Potable water
- Dump station
- Vault toilets
- Fish cleaning station
- Located on Camp Road near the intersection of NW 78th Avenue and Water Avenue in Johnston.
Acorn Valley Campground
Acorn Valley is a 26-acre campground on the west side of Saylorville Lake. Though you can’t see the lake from most campsites, campers enjoy the shade and beauty of the Bur Oaks in this quiet campground. Unlike the other campgrounds, Acorn Valley has dedicated tent sites in grassy areas.
The electric sites are in one loop, with a playground and modern restroom/shower facility. Tent sites are along the road and in a loop on the campground’s south side. There are two modern restrooms/showers in the tent areas. One important thing to note is that this is a dry campground—no alcohol allowed.
- 28 reservable back-in electric sites
- 54 primitive tent sites, and two group tent areas (one youth only)
- Modern showers and restrooms
- Two playgrounds
- Potable water
- Dump station
- DRY campground – no alcohol
- Located off of Corydon Drive near NW Beaver Drive, Johnston
The youth group campground has 24 campsites for youth organizations only. It has electricity, water, a picnic shelter, and a fire ring with benches. See the brochure for more information.
Reservations and Check-In at Saylorville Campgrounds
Saylorville campgrounds are super popular, and we recommend making reservations if you can. All campsites are reservable and otherwise available first-come, first-serve.
Make reservations through Recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777. You can make reservations up to 24 hours before your arrival.
When you arrive at the campground, you must stop and check in (whether you have reservations or not). Registration booths are at the entrance to each campground. If you arrive after hours, you can set up camp and register the following day. If you don’t register in 24 hours, the campsite opens to first-come, first-serve camping.
Other campground information
- Campgrounds are open mid-April/May through Sept/October each year. Check Recreation.gov for availability.
- See the Saylorville Lake Camping Guidelines here.
- For maps and important phone numbers, check out the Corps of Engineers Campground brochure.
Go Camping at Saylorville Lake Today!
Saylorville Lake is a few short miles north of Des Moines.
For more info…
- Check out our Guide to Saylorville Lake.
- Take a virtual tour of Saylorville Lake!
- For FAQs on reservoir and dam operations, go here and here.
- Go to the Rock Island Corps of Engineers site for more info and the latest Saylorville Lake news.
