Map showing campground location near Guthrie Center, Iowa

Camper submitted image from Lenon Mill Park

Lenon Mill Park

With three tent sites and additional RV spots offering electric hookups, Lenon Mill Park operates on a first-come, first-served basis at $20 per night for all sites. The campground sits alongside a dam on the Middle Raccoon River, managed by the Guthrie County Conservation Board.

Sites closest to the water provide direct river access where campers can fish for walleye or search for freshwater clams. Several sites offer good shade coverage, though power pedestals are positioned farther back from parking pads than typical. RV campers should bring longer electrical cords or be prepared to back fully into their spots. The campground provides 50-amp service, so 30-amp users need adapters.

A single water spigot serves the entire campground, and restrooms include flush toilets but no showers. Cell service proves reliable, with strong T-Mobile coverage and adequate Verizon signals reported by recent visitors. The facility lacks on-site trash collection, requiring campers to pack out all waste. Bethanie S. notes that "fishing is legal and there were quite a few around while I was there."

The Guthrie County Historical Village sits within walking distance, offering $2 adult admission when open. Weekend camping can get busy with established groups returning annually, so early arrival helps secure preferred sites near the water.

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Location

Public Campground

Lenon Mill Park is located in Iowa

Coordinates

41.68683482 N
94.37035975 W

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Connectivity

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/19/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Connectivity

T-Mobile5G
Excellent Coverage
Verizon5G
Excellent Coverage
Verified by 2 users
Last on 4/19/26
AT&TLTE
Some Coverage

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
WiFi
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

51 min from Des Moines, IA
1 hr 3 min from Ames, IA
1 hr 41 min from Omaha, NE
2 hrs 24 min from Sioux City, IA

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5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

4.0

out of 5

6 Reviews

Visitors often highlighted spacious sites with river access and peaceful surroundings, particularly for families wanting amenities nearby. Basic facilities and weekend noise were common concerns, along with pricing for the amenities provided.

Bethanie S.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 14, 2025

Lennon Mills

Quaint campground situated alongside a dam. Fishing is legal and there were quite a few around while I was there. Besides me, there was one other camper. Three tent sites, the rest are for RVs.

Each site had a picnic table and fire ring. There was a swing set, shelter, modern bathroom (big enough to fit your bike in), water hydrant, and a few access points to the water.

Two blocks down, you'll find a historic village. Tickets are only $2 per adult. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to browse because they didn't open until 10.

Self-check in is well marked with the gigantic yellow tube. They promised WiFi but I was able to attend a meeting in my tent without it (T-Mobile).

If you wander into town, the market has firewood for $5/bundle, as well as other essentials you can cart back to the site with you.

Site2

Month of VisitOctober

Ryan S.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 29, 2024

Pretty basic, great for an overnight

I stayed here one night while I was traveling. It was a Saturday so the campground was kind of busy. People shouting and loud music. Lots of trucks with noisy exhausts coming and going all day. I'm sure it's more quiet during the week.

Some of the sites are well shaded, and you can access the water. It looked like people had been finding clams (they left the shells all over the picnic table). People were fishing here.

The power pedestals are far back from the parking pad for some reason. If you back all the way into your spot or if you have a long cord you should be fine. There was only a 50A outlet so I needed to use an adapter for my 30A camper.

There is one water spigot, and no dump station.

There are bathrooms, but no showers.

I had great T-mobile signal here (5G, 160 down and 20 up). And a somewhat decent 4G Verizon signal (70 down, 12 up).

The Guthrie County Historical Village& Museum is a 5 minute walk away. It's not open evenings or weekends but there is interesting stuff to walk around and see even when closed. The railroad cars are very cool.

(8) View All

Robert T.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 24, 2023

Good Campsite but expensive compared to other similar sites

I’ve maked this down to 3 stars purely on the basis of the fee - it’s a $20 flat fee whether in an RV with a hookup, or a tent with no hookup, and for that, you get a restroom and a spigot with drinking water, but no shower. Apart from that, the location is quiet and peaceful. Lots of space in the tent area, with some shade and soft grass. Close to town, with restaurants and a grocery store.

SiteTent Area

Month of VisitJuly

Staci I.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 21, 2021

River View!

We settled into one electrical site and one tent site for our adventure. The tent section offers fairly large sites, and views of the river. Our electrical site was decent size and the"backyard" was right up to the river bank. We anticipated some rain so we set up a screen tent for shelter right along the river to enjoy the view while we waited out the rain. Electricity at these sites appears to be brand new. The dirt work that was done to accomplish this had not yet been smoothed out, so making sure your area is lit to avoid tripping and ankle sprains is essential. As it turns out we camped on the same weekend of a large group's annual camp out at this location. 2nd weekend in April every year. Several families with RVs, and while they were great neighbors, we came to understand the site we were in is usually a part of their group. There are no reservations at this campground, so setting up early is the only way to assure you have the site you want. The facility has running water by mid April, no shower, but a single flushing toilet and sink, no soap. The campground does not have a trash can or dumpster on site at all, so you must pack everything out. Really good stay

SiteP

Month of VisitApril

Kelly

Guide

Reviewed Jan. 6, 2021

Great area, next to middle raccoon river with access.

Quiet town, campground. Canoeing, walleye fishing. Turn of century museum within walking distance. National golf course, par 3 golf course at nearby lake panorama is open to the public.

Matt S.

Legend

Reviewed Oct. 1, 2018

Lenon Mill is right next to Lake Panorama

This County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.

This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.

(14) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lenon Mill Park near Lake Panorama for camping?

Yes, Lenon Mill Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama in Iowa, northwest of Des Moines. The park's proximity to Lake Panorama provides campers with easy access to additional recreational opportunities. The area offers canoeing, walleye fishing, and golfing options including a national golf course and a par 3 course that's open to the public. It's a convenient base for enjoying both the river at the campground and the amenities of Lake Panorama.

Are there photos of Lenon Mill Park camping areas?

While specific photo galleries aren't mentioned in the available information, Lenon Mill Park features scenic camping areas worth photographing. The campground offers picturesque settings with river views, well-shaded sites, and natural surroundings. Particularly photogenic are the tent sites overlooking the river and the electrical sites that back up to the riverbank. For official photos, check the county park's website or contact the park management directly.

What camping facilities are available at Lenon Mill Park?

Lenon Mill Park offers both electrical hookup sites and tent camping areas. The campground features restrooms and drinking water from a spigot, though no showers are available. Tent sites are fairly large with views of the river, while the electrical sites are decent-sized with some backing right up to the riverbank. The park charges a flat fee of $20 regardless of whether you're in an RV with hookups or a tent without. Many sites are well-shaded, and river access is available for recreation.

Can you rent RVs for camping at Lenon Mill Park or Lake Panorama?

There's no indication of on-site RV rentals at either Lenon Mill Park or Lake Panorama. However, the campground does accommodate RVs with electrical hookup sites available. For RV rentals, you'll likely need to arrange through rental companies in nearby larger towns or cities like Des Moines. The good news is that the area is surrounded by amenities, with a town just five minutes away, making it convenient to coordinate external RV rentals for your camping trip.

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