Join the fun near West Des Moines. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—West Des Moines is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near West Des Moines, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$20 - $25 / night
"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."
"Campgrounds amazing views airsoft gun and archery ranges snowshoeing equestrians and cross-country skiing"
$17 - $35 / night
"One 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."
"One of the more beautiful places to camp in Iowa. Awesome hiking trails and really well-shaded campsites."
$11 - $105 / night
$16 - $72 / night
"We stayed in the Elk Rock Equestrian campground and it was so peaceful and beautiful. The facilities were clean."
"We really wnjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses."
$15 - $75 / night
$10 / night
$14 / night
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.
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.
GuideCampgrounds amazing views airsoft gun and archery ranges snowshoeing equestrians and cross-country skiing
ScoutWe stayed in the Elk Rock Equestrian campground and it was so peaceful and beautiful. The facilities were clean.
ScoutThe views around the park are some of the very best in Iowa. Hiking trails often found you coming face to face with deer who look at you inquisitively. Fun for family as the waters over the roadways are a splash for adults and children alike. It's a hidden gem, just outside Boone Iowa.
TravelerThis site was great, it has a reserve site to its right, (the people never showed up) and a FCFS site to the left. No one showed up there either and it was Father’s Day weekend! Super quiet and relaxing. Each site towards the front of the 400’s is BIG. You have plenty of room for 2 vehicles and two sizable tents. There was four of us and a dog.
A couple minor complaints that I developed would be that it is right next to the golf course so there is a lot of near by traffic, and people like to cruise on motorcycles and drive muscle cars through the twisty roads. The nice bathroom in the #300s camping area is a bit of a walk BUT has showers and really clean toilets. Some of the cleanest I’ve seen at a campground in Iowa. DO NOT USE THE “TOILETS” in the #400s area, they are dirty and basically a hole in the ground.
Another downside is that things are pretty spread out, and with it being pretty hot out we weren’t able to walk miles to get to the different trails at the park. The short trails we did walk on were nice and up kept though.
GuideWe really wnjoyed riding the trails here. Good facilities for our horses.
RangerThis is a really busy boat ramp but the campground is pretty big and open. The boat ramp is the closest one to mile long bridge. It also has a cleaning station and restroom available.
The campgrounds are very clean. There are lots of trails around the area.
It’s also a great place if you like to go horse back riding with lots of trails that go near the water.
There are camp hosts to help answer questions. There are also firewood bundles available to purchase for $4. The bathrooms and showers are very clean.
Horse camping in Iowa offers a unique blend of scenic trails and well-equipped facilities for equestrians. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventurous getaway, there are several options to explore.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near West Des Moines, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 29 reviews.
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near West Des Moines, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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