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Jester County Park accommodates pets at all camping sites with no additional fees, offering diverse pet-friendly lodging including tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. The campground maintains a strict leash policy requiring dogs to remain on leashes no longer than six feet throughout the park, with designated pet waste stations located near restroom facilities. Prairie Flower Recreation Area and Cherry Glen Campground also welcome pets with similar policies, providing access to water and shoreline areas where dogs can cool off during summer months. Campsites feature concrete pads with grassy areas suitable for pets to rest, though barking must be minimized during quiet hours from 10 PM to 6 AM. Dogs bark all night at some campgrounds during peak season.
Saylorville Lake's network of paved trails connects multiple pet-friendly campgrounds, providing several miles of walking paths ideal for daily dog exercise. Bob Shelter Recreation Area offers riverside camping with adjacent wooded areas perfect for morning and evening pet walks, though ticks have been reported on some trails during warmer months. Most campgrounds maintain clean shower facilities and restrooms, with Yellow Banks County Park and Thomas Mitchell Park featuring year-round availability for pet owners. Local restrictions prohibit pets from entering playground areas or public buildings, and all campgrounds require proof of current rabies vaccination at check-in. The campgrounds closest to Ankeny provide easy access to veterinary services within a 15-minute drive for emergency situations.
"Nice CG located on the North end of Saylorville Reservoir. Camped in the upper CG site#145. Numerous shade trees, gravel pad and room for our 20' trailer and TV."
"There was four of us and a dog."
from $20 - $25 / night
Check Availability"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"The only down side of this was the grass was really long so it was bad when taking the dog out in the evenings or mornings. You would come back in with a soaked dog and wet feet."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"We stayed here for two nights while visiting family nearby. It’s a pretty location with the dam and waterway right there. The sites are well spaced."
"Great spot located next to the Des Moines River. Check in was a breeze and conveniently near the fill and dump stations. Peaceful lot near the river. Great fishing in the river."
from $22 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service."
"Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long."
from $24 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Clean bathrooms, close to the lake, playground, and a lot of sites. It does get busy. As you would expect there are a lot of bugs on a hot day in Iowa. Tent sites have good shade from trees."
"Great find on our way through Iowa. Clean and spacious. Very quiet, just listen to the frogs at night."
from $14 - $84 / night
Check Availability"Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. "
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"
"With a theme park on one side and a casino on the other, both in walking distance. It’s more of a park and party place hahaha"
"Short walk to the amusement park. We were there for most of the early summer so we got a season pass to the park which included the water park. They also have workcamper programs."
"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."
"Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and edit the creek throughout the park."
"This is a nice campground it has great trails and is in between Altoona Ankeny and Bondurant"
"Next to skunk river oxbows, kayak, no swimming, water stagnant, no fish, about 4ft depth everywhere. Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come."
GuideI just loved this campground. It has shade trees, grass, free showers and lots of room. It is part of a city park on the outskirts of Winterset. There is a dog park and one of the Bridges of Madison County is located within walking distance of the campground. This was well worth the 20 mile drive off I80. If I had known how m=nice this area was, I would have planned better and stayed here for more than one night.
RangerThis campground has many sites to choose from - RV with hookups as well as some non-electric tent sites. There are quite a few activities in Marshalltown, and it is within the Marshalltown city limits.
The downside is proximity. It is right next to the highway. When I was there in a tent, the hog trucks would drive by all night (loud and smelly). The RV sites are closest to the road, so maybe it is not so bad in an RV, but it is not particularly enjoyable in a tent.
Pros:
+ Marshalltown has quite a few places to eat
+ Nice bike trails (and a great bicycle store downtown)
+ It is near the Iowa River
+ Nice park in general with activities like a dog park
+ Camp host on-site
+ Decent sized campsites
+ Playground for the kids
Cons:
+ It can get busy on a summer weekend
+ Noisy - right by the highway
+ Mosquitos are really bad here
GuideOne of my favorite locations to camp in Iowa as a Boy Scout growing up was Ledges State Park. Since I hadn't been back in years, I decided to check it out and spend a night camping there. It's close to how I remember it.
The campground has a good picnic area, restrooms, and an excellent trail. It's also inexpensive.
What I enjoy most about this park compared to others in Iowa are the sandstone ledges and the slopes on the trail. There are some excellent views, so make sure your phone has enough battery to take photos (unlike me). I also spent a lot of time off the trail. It isn't too hard to get around. I'm not one who enjoys staying at a park that is mostly flat, so this is definitely a good place in Iowa for me to camp.
If you are looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park.
ScoutOne of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites. The hike in spots are great if you like privacy and being in the middle of the woods - but you don’t want to be THAT far from your car.
Beware of the raccoons. They’re plentiful and crazy smart here. We had one open our cooler, steal an egg from the cartoon - without disturbing anything else. Honestly, I was impressed! But some of our friends had them rip through their tents to get at food - not as impressive.
TravelerIn a grove of trees in a slightly hilly area. Easy access, but sites are gravel. Nice bit of grass with each site, most are at least partially shaded. Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass.
GuideSome full hook ups, sites not very level, playground ok. Can hear shots from gun range next door. Dog park, pool, arcade. We have camped here a couple times, and stored our rig here for a while. Didn't find there was that much going on here to keep us busy. Not a lot of nature, no trails or biking accessible from campground.
GuideSpots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites. Decent playground, water pillow for bouncing, fishing pond, dog park, swimming pool. Well maintained, lots of planned activities. KOA, so not a lot of nature. But no traffic or train noise. Full hook ups, including TV.
GuideThis is a nice campground it has great trails and is in between Altoona Ankeny and Bondurant
GuideNice CG located on the North end of Saylorville Reservoir. Camped in the upper CG site#145. Numerous shade trees, gravel pad and room for our 20' trailer and TV. CG has a kids playground, hiking trails, Equestrian Center, golf course and nature center. Plenty to do with the city of Ankeny just 15 minutes away. CG was fairly empty until around Thursday and filled on the weekend. Seniors can get$5 off per day of their reservation. Dump station is at the entrance of the CG. We camped at Jester Park in a Travel Trailer.
Camping areas around Ankeny, Iowa sit at elevations of 800-900 feet in the Des Moines River valley region, offering access to Saylorville Lake's 5,950 acres of water and surrounding woodlands. Most campgrounds in the area operate from April through October, though several maintain year-round accessibility with varying levels of services during winter months. Temperatures range from summer highs in the 80s to winter lows frequently below freezing.
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground provides direct access to Saylorville Lake where anglers can catch multiple species. "Good fishing nice open areas and trails to explore. Lots of cool kid activities. Buffalo ranch near by which is cool as well as Pingora outdoor supply store near by where you can purchase firewood and other camp supplies," notes Luke C. about Jester County Park.
Hiking and wildlife viewing: Multiple trail systems connect the lake recreation areas, offering walks through woodlands and prairie areas. At Thomas Mitchell County Park, "The outer loop has a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it. Kids were having a blast in the water... The main hiking trails are wide with smaller ones shooting off the sides," according to Shannon G.
Water recreation: Beyond fishing, the Saylorville Lake system offers multiple kayaking and canoeing opportunities. "This place reminds me of a lazy river. There are electrical and primitive campgrounds... You can bring a kayak/canoe to go on the water. There is also some pretty good fishing. Lots of bass and bluegill," explains Willy W. about Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt.
Spacious, well-maintained sites: Many campgrounds feature concrete pads that simplify setup. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," notes Ron M. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds consistently maintain high standards for restrooms and shower facilities. "Clean campgrounds - nice staff. Pads are on gravel - one downfall," explains Elizabeth A. about Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground.
Lakeside views: Several campgrounds offer direct views of Saylorville Lake. "We pulled into a round about that you just parked on the side of the road with no privacy & no room for any vehicles to go around with our camper slides out," shares Christina H. about one section of Prairie Flower, highlighting the importance of selecting specific sites for optimal experiences.
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate from April through October, with reduced services during off-season months. "Drove 6 hours to find out the campground is closed (apparently for all of fall and winter) without any awareness of that being the case online," warns Katie P. about one location, emphasizing the importance of checking current operating hours.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill quickly, particularly on weekends. "This campground is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out," advises Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Wildlife encounters: Yellow Banks County Park and other wooded campgrounds have active wildlife. "Campgrounds 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," recommends John F.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature modern play areas for children. "Spacious spots. Some are concrete pads. Near a lake. Playgrounds. Very clean shower houses. We are camp here often," notes Tracy V. about Prairie Flower.
Creek exploration opportunities: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt offers water features ideal for supervised play. "Hidden gem just outside of Des Moines! Site 15 for primitive campers is HUGE. Easily the size of 2-3 sites at other campgrounds. Very shady campground, beautiful trees all around," shares Megan M.
Multiple activities within walking distance: Several campgrounds cluster amenities for convenience. "Great place to go tent camping, very clean and quiet. They sell firewood bundles for $5. Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat. There is even a pond for fishing that you can take a trail from the campsite to," recommends Willy W. about Thomas Mitchell Park.
Dump station limitations: Some campgrounds have limited facilities for larger numbers of RVs. "Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait... that's being generous!" warns Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower.
Electric-only hookups: Several campgrounds offer electrical service but require water tanks to be filled upon arrival. "It is a COE campground. We stayed in site A25. Not all loops are paved. A is not. But the site was pretty level, wasn't too much trouble to get our trailer backed in and leveled. No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park," advises Mia L.
Site selection considerations: Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground offers varying quality sites. "This is a lovely spot. We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer. Spot 20 is at the end which makes it very private with nice large grassy area adjacent to wooded area. It backs to the river below the spillway from the dam," recommends Wendy H.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ankeny, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ankeny, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ankeny, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Ankeny, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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