Granger, Iowa serves as a hub for diverse camping experiences within central Iowa, with several well-established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Jester County Park, located directly in Granger, offers year-round camping with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping options. The surrounding area features multiple water-oriented camping destinations, particularly around Saylorville Lake where Cherry Glen Campground, Prairie Flower Recreation Area, and Acorn Valley provide varied accommodation styles. Ledges State Park Campground in nearby Madrid stands out for its unique sandstone formations and topography that differs from Iowa's typically flat landscape. Most campgrounds in this region maintain moderate to high ratings from visitors, with Timberline Campground in Waukee earning particularly strong reviews for its facilities and 168 designated sites.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability, with many sites operating from April through October. Ledges State Park remains open slightly longer (April-December), while only a few locations like Jester County Park offer true year-round access. Campground amenities vary considerably across the region, with most offering electric hookups and basic facilities. As one visitor noted about Jester Park: "Each site towards the front of the 400's is BIG. You have plenty of room for 2 vehicles and two sizable tents." Wildlife encounters are common, particularly at Ledges State Park where visitors report frequent deer sightings. Highway noise affects some campgrounds, especially those near Interstate 80, though most reviewers indicate the rural setting keeps traffic sounds minimal.
The natural features around Granger's campgrounds receive consistent praise from visitors. Ledges State Park earns particular recognition for its terrain, with one camper noting, "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." Campground cleanliness varies by location and facility type, with newer shower buildings typically rated higher. Several campgrounds around Saylorville Lake offer boat-in access in addition to traditional drive-in sites. Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable rates at county parks like Swede Point, where "Sites with electric are $18/night and primitive sites are $11/night." Raccoons present a notable wildlife challenge at some locations, particularly Ledges State Park, where campers are advised to secure food items carefully.
$20 - $25 / night
"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"
"Iowa county parks are amazing. They pour money into them and it really shows. Clean, I mean immaculate. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level."
$20 - $336 / night
"The Prarie Flower campground at Saylorville Lake is an open, flat grassy campground near wooded trails around the US Army Corps of Engineers land."
"Lots of prairie area around, spacious sites. Varying levels of shade. A25, had a good amount of shade and was near the nice playground and nice bathrooms. No view of the lake from loop A."
$12 - $25 / 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."
$22 - $26 / night
"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."
$14 - $84 / night
"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."
$24 - $26 / night
"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."
"We camped here to be close to the Iowa High Trestle Trail for bicycling and it's very handy for that. Nothing fancy, but has plenty of sites, flush toilets and showers available."
"Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail"
$35 - $80 / night
"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
"The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
"Roadside Oasis, a place to rest a weary head, food, showers, etc. Cabins always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
"I love the beautiful surroundings here. Definitely worth the visit."
$23 - $25 / night
"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."
ScoutCampsites flat and open with water view. Bathrooms were subpar and smells worse than pit toilets. This was a last resort booking as we weren’t finding places open with a shower due to time of year.
Owner was very friendly, but campground not worth the $32 per night charge.
Travelerrv site. very cold that night, but nice camping
Travelerreasonable cost. Upgrade taking place when we were there for one night. Will be very nice when finished.
TravelerI'm just stopped here for the night on a long cross country trip. The electricity is on, and the water is off. The campground is completely deserted except for me. The RV campsites are very close together, and I would imagine this would simply be a madhouse in the summertime.
GuideQuarry Springs Park was a one night stay. Quick and easy off/on road location. Was their first year. This is a new RV Park that was once a quarry. Hence the name. Big lakes and good areas to walk. We arrived after dark, not late, just that time of year. Took us a bit of time to figure out where our site was. Would suggest some added signage. Besides that all was good! The moon was full and made for excellent viewing. Not so much for the pictures however 🙄. Would stop again. Just note this is within ear shot of the interstate. Didn't bother us, might others. Thanks for stay!
ScoutVery nice campground with running water,electricity and wifi. It's opened year round.
TravelerThis is a great campground if you’re wanting to get out for a night or two w the family. 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.
LegendFollowing up on my review from over a year ago, I’m adding a bunch of additional photos as well as an abbreviated post pointing out the HIGHS and LOWS of this roadside pit stop of a campground in rural Iowa.
Highs: (1) Quick& EZ access from I-80 via Exit 173; (2) Incredibly well-manicured campground – very clean and well-organized; (3) Very EZ check-in process; (4) Superb Midwestern hospitality from the CG staff and camping community; (5) RV slots offer very nice FHUs and fairly spacious areas; (6) Picnic tables & fire rings are like brand new; (7) If you get hungry, this CG and fueling station has an imbedded Iowa’s Best Burger Café that does live up to its name; (8) There’s also an embedded Amoco gas station and mini-mart; (9) Spectacularly clean and recently refurbished bathrooms & shower facilities; (10) There’s a small launderette here, which was bonus; (11) Should you visit in the summer, you will benefit from being surrounded by 6 foot tall corn fields that will provide greater privacy and better scenery
Lows: (1) You are just 30 seconds north of I-80, the busiest highway in Iowa;(2) There’s no security gate to prevent any wandering traffic from the highway into this place, so apart from the fact that you're clear out in the boondocks, you are next to the very heavily trafficked I80, so it’s difficult to feel 100% safe & secure here; (3) Lack of privacy between sites as there’s not a ton of trees (welcome to corn country), bushes or brush on the interior of the CG; (4) Most of the RV slots have no shade, so while this isn't exactly Florida, if you're here during the hot summer months, you should bring your own awning or shelter; (5) Some sites have very close proximity to their neighbors; (6) This really isn’t a good place for tent camping, unless you are OK being surrounded by RVs with absolutely no privacy in the open interior; and (7) Apart from FHUs and a decent shower / restroom in the middle of the CG and a small laundry in the NW, there’s not much here in the way of amenities
Happy Camping!
TravelerQuaint 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.
Granger camping options spread across Polk, Dallas, and Boone counties, offering distinct camping environments within a 25-mile radius. The region experiences temperature ranges from 65-85°F during peak camping season (May-September) with moderate humidity. Most campgrounds sit at elevations between 800-1,000 feet, contributing to drainage patterns that affect site conditions during Iowa's periodic heavy rainfall.
Wildlife viewing at Jester County Park: The park maintains a bison and elk enclosure for observation. "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.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple access points exist around Saylorville Lake and the Des Moines River. "Good fishing nice open areas and trails to explore. Lots of cool kid activities," reports a Jester Park camper. The spillway area at Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground attracts many anglers: "Love to camp here and watch the spill way," says Roger O.
Biking on regional trails: Several campgrounds connect to central Iowa's trail system. "Nice little camp ground with easy access to the high trestle bike trail," writes Brian G. about Swede Point Park. The campground "has many amenities not to mention that it is close to a very popular bike trail (High Tressel Trail Bridge)."
Modern bathroom facilities: Bathroom quality varies significantly between campgrounds. "The bathrooms and shower house are nice and clean," reports a camper at Prairie Flower Recreation Area. At Swede Point, visitors appreciate that "the bathroom/shower house has music 🎶."
Natural features: Campers consistently highlight the terrain diversity. "If you're looking for a cool place to camp within an hour of Des Moines, you should seriously consider this park," writes Tom S. about Ledges State Park Campground. "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."
Spacious sites: Site dimensions vary considerably between campgrounds. "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. At Jester County Park, "Each site towards the front of the 400s is BIG."
Seasonal flooding impacts: Water levels affect several campgrounds. At Walnut Woods, a camper notes the park "Floods with lots of rain but still great. No showers." Sites at Bob Shelter can be impacted by spillway operations during high water events.
Reservation requirements vary: Some campgrounds require advance planning while others operate on first-come systems. At Cherry Glen Campground, a camper warns "It's hard to get a reservation!" Swede Point Park campers should "Plan to get here Wednesday or Thursday because this park is FIRST COME basis. NO RESERVATIONS!"
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are particularly active in several campgrounds. "Secure your food and they're no problem unless you're a light sleeper," advises John F. about Acorn Valley. At Ledges State Park, campers should be prepared for deer encounters on trails.
Playground proximity: Some campgrounds offer strategic site placement near play areas. At Acorn Valley, a camper shares: "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."
Water activities: Several campgrounds offer river or lake access. "We just did a day trip here with families who have a bunch of kids. Great park for kids and they loved floating down the river," reports a visitor to Walnut Woods State Park Campground.
Nature programs: Timberline Campground receives praise for its educational offerings. A camper notes the "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level" and suggests families could "make it a two week vacation and never get tired of it."
Site leveling considerations: RV sites vary in preparation quality. "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking," reports Roxanna L. about Timberline Campground, though she cautions about some "slight tilt" issues.
Water connection logistics: Many campgrounds offer electric but limited water access. "On large loops you will need a lot of hose to reach. I think I needed about 80' some campers will need 100'," advises Ron B. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Dump station timing: Plan departure carefully at busy campgrounds. "There's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait.... that's being generous!" warns Elizabeth A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Granger, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Granger, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 30 reviews.
What parks are near Granger, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Granger, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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