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Established Camping

Acorn Valley

Closed For the Season

This campground is closed for the season from October 18, 2024 through April 30, 2025.

Acorn Valley, near Johnston, Iowa, is a clean and peaceful campground that’s perfect for families and nature lovers alike. With spacious sites and a well-maintained playground, it’s an ideal spot for kids to play while parents relax nearby.

The campground is known for its tranquil atmosphere, where visitors can unwind and enjoy the sounds of nature. Campers have praised the cleanliness of the facilities, including the bathrooms, which are kept in top shape. One happy camper noted, “The whole place is super clean, especially the bath house.”

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, Acorn Valley offers access to beautiful riverbeds and trails for exploring. The nearby Saylorville Lake provides opportunities for fishing and hiking, making it a great base for outdoor adventures. Plus, the campground is pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends along for the fun.

While some campers mentioned the occasional late-night noise, the overall vibe is one of relaxation and enjoyment. Whether you’re setting up a tent or parking your RV, Acorn Valley is a solid choice for a memorable camping experience.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Saylorville Lake

Overview

Acorn Valley Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including camping, bicycling, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.

Recreation

Anglers enjoy the lake for its abundance of walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.

Natural Features

The mature Bur Oaks at the entrance to Acorn Valley beckon visitors to explore its 26 acres on the fringe of an upland timber stand. Wildlife is abundant throughout the area. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.

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Location

Acorn Valley is located in Iowa

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-35/80 north of Des Moines, Iowa, take exit 131 toward Johnston/Saylorville Lake. Turn north on Merle Hay Road and continue for 2.8 miles. At the four-way stop, turn left on Northwest Beaver Drive and continue for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Northwest Coryden Drive and follow signs into the campground.

Address

SAYLORVILLE LAKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 5600 NW 78TH AVENUE
Johnston, IA 50131-1941

Coordinates

41.7377778 N
93.7236111 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Fair
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Poor
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group

Features

For Campers

  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations


Reviews

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4.0

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Aug. 2, 2024

Nice playground , well maintained

Nice and well maintained ! We parked at a site by the playground and bathhouse , and could sit at our camper and watch our son play at a safe distance

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jul. 30, 2024

Amazingly Quiet

We lived our time there. It was quiet and we loved listening to the wildlife at night. My only complaint is that they left people in to camp after 10. Which kept me awake for a bit.

Site98
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Nancy C., July 30, 2024
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Nancy C., July 30, 2024
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2022

Peaceful

Clean campground with large lots, beautiful scenery, and very quiet. Would highly recommend

Site3
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by kandice , June 2, 2022
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by kandice , June 2, 2022
Reviewed Apr. 9, 2022

Saylorville is an amazing area

The entire saylorville compound is an amazing place to be I especially liked this area for the access to the water

Siteacorn
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Whitney S., April 9, 2022
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Whitney S., April 9, 2022
Reviewed Jul. 19, 2021

Awesome tent camping

This is a great place to camp! The whole place is super clean, especially the bath house. All the spots are nice and lots of exploring to do!

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Green and praceful

Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night.

Site3
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by ryan S., July 9, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 5, 2020

Lovely!

I'm pretty particular about researching and reviewing campgrounds before I book, especially with the kids in tow. This campground 100% lived up to review expectations. Took the PUP, two kids, dog and grandma (first time in 20+ years) this past weekend. Booked an outer ring site surrounded by trees (and some pretty bold raccoons around bonfire time ;) ). Upon arrival the host swiftly checked our reservation and sent us on our way after a few questions on where to obtain firewood. Sites were great, facilities were immaculate, playground and pond were awesome for keeping kids entertained. Just a short hike down Corydon to the lake, and a short drive to Jester Park for the natural playscape. Would def stay again!

  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Jessica , October 5, 2020
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Reviewed Sep. 6, 2020

Super clean and quiet

Campsites are well kept and clean. Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day. Biggest downside is the resident raccoons. Come out every night to rummage through possible food options. Secure your food and they’re no problem unless you’re a light sleeper.

Reviewed Oct. 14, 2019

Peaceful, lots of riverbed area to explore

We’re big fans of Acorn Valley. It’s quiet and there is plenty of shade in the tent camping area. The tent sites lead to some small trails which end at the riverbed. Our boys love exploring here.

  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Russ G., October 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Russ G., October 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Russ G., October 14, 2019
Reviewed May. 22, 2018

Clean, Busy

This is a large campground & it's clean. It was really busy though. The shower/bath house was clean. There was a party near our tent that raged for quite some time. It's supposedly an alcohol-free campground (which bummed us out) but the tents near ours apparently didn't know or care.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Sep. 22, 2017

Acorn Valley is well maintained but closed after Labor Day

I tried to stay at Acorn Valley to find out it is closed after Labor Day. Bummer. I was able to get out and look around. It is clean and well maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is near the lake and a nice place to use as a home base for spending time at Saylorville Lake.

  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Matt S., September 22, 2017
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Matt S., September 22, 2017
  • Review photo of Acorn Valley by Matt S., September 22, 2017
  • (9) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Acorn Valley have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Acorn Valley has 50 amp electric hookups and water hookups.

  • What is the elevation of Acorn Valley?

    Acorn Valley is located at 947 feet.

  • What is the max vehicle length at Acorn Valley?

    Acorn Valley allows vehicles up to 82 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Acorn Valley?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Acorn Valley, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Acorn Valley have wifi?

    No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Acorn Valley does not have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Acorn Valley?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is poor, and T-Mobile is good.

  • How hard is it to get a campsite at Acorn Valley?

    Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Acorn Valley. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Acorn Valley, try setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts

  • Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Acorn Valley?

    There are 91 campsites at Acorn Valley and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert atTheDyrt.com/alerts