Prairie Flower Recreation Area spans multiple loops across open terrain near Saylorville Lake, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers just northwest of Johnston. The campground divides into North and South sections, with the South area featuring four named loops—Aster, Blazingstar, Coneflower, and Dogbane—that offer full hookups and concrete pads for RVs up to 85 feet.
Most sites sit on level, paved surfaces with generous spacing between neighbors. The Coneflower loop provides direct trail access to the lake's sandy swimming beach, while six sites in this section offer water views. Loop A remains unpaved but accommodates large rigs with adequate leveling space. Lee D. notes the sites are "very large, all with concrete pads, with a decent amount of spacing between them."
Families gravitate toward the expansive playground divided into age-appropriate sections, plus the designated swimming area at the adjacent beach. Regional bike trails connect the campground to Des Moines and surrounding communities, while fishing opportunities abound along Saylorville Lake's shoreline. The facility includes clean restrooms cleaned twice daily, though campers consistently mention the single dump station creates lengthy waits during Sunday departures.
Reservations through the Army Corps system are essential, particularly for weekend stays when Des Moines residents fill available spots. Elizabeth A. emphasizes that "reservations are a must" and often require booking "six months out." The campground operates from May through October, with rates starting at $20 per night. Water connections aren't available at individual sites, requiring campers to fill tanks at designated areas before setup.
For those exploring central Iowa's recreational opportunities, this Corps-managed facility provides a reliable base with full amenities and lake access within easy reach of urban conveniences.
Description
Overview
Prairie Flower Recreation Area is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find 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.
Facilities
Prairie Flower is a large, open campground covering more than 60 acres. It offers 153 family sites and 10 group sites, all with electric hookups. Many of the family sites in the south end offer a pleasant view of the 6000-acre lake. The north end is made up of mostly group sites in a circle-the-wagon design. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. The campground also provides educational programs, group shelters, playgrounds and a swimming beach. Nearby amenities include a visitor center, hiking trail, volleyball courts and a disc golf course. Boat ramps and a fishing dock are also close by.
Natural Features
Iowa's prairie heritage is celebrated in more than 40 acres of prairie plantings throughout the campground. The wide variety of grass and flowers provides vivid colors from mid-summer to fall. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundPrairie Flower Recreation Area is located in Iowa
Directions
From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny/Oralabor Road and go west for 4.8 miles. The road turns into Highway 415, continue and follow signs to the campground.
Address
SAYLORVILLE LAKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
5600 NW 78TH AVENUE
Johnston, IA 50131-1941
Coordinates
41.7483333 N
93.6875 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 5/3/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 8 usersLast on 5/3/26
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 5/3/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 8 usersLast on 5/3/26
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 19 min from Des Moines, IA
- 28 min from Ames, IA
- 1 hr 50 min from Waterloo, IA
- 1 hr 51 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
























