Olivia P.
Scout
ScoutHickory Hills Park
Hiking
There are a couple small hiking trails, but they were very well maintained and an easy hike to get my daughter started in her backpack.
Best Campgrounds near Granger, IA
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.
Best Camping Sites Near Granger, Iowa (104)
1. Jester County Park
30 ReviewsGranger, IA3 milesWebsite+1 (515) 323-5300$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."
2. Prairie Flower Recreation Area
17 ReviewsPolk City, IA7 milesWebsite+1 (515) 984-6925$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."
3. Ledges State Park Campground
39 ReviewsBoone, IA17 milesWebsite+1 (515) 432-1852$18 - $38 / 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."
4. Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground
16 ReviewsJohnston, IA8 milesWebsite+1 (515) 276-0873$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."
5. Acorn Valley
12 ReviewsPolk City, IA5 milesWebsite+1 (515) 276-0429$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."
6. Cherry Glen Campground
13 ReviewsJohnston, IA7 milesWebsite+1 (515) 964-8792$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."
7. Swede Point Park
13 ReviewsMadrid, IA9 milesWebsite"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"
8. Timberline Campground
13 ReviewsWest Des Moines, IA13 milesWebsite+1 (515) 987-1714$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."
9. Des Moines West KOA Holiday
24 ReviewsEarlham, IA20 milesWebsite+1 (515) 834-2729"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."
10. Walnut Woods State Park Campground
14 ReviewsWest Des Moines, IA16 milesWebsite+1 (515) 285-4502$25 - $40 / 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."
Recent Camping Photos near Granger, IA
68 Photos of 104 Granger Campgrounds
Tanner H.
Jester County Park
Nancy C.
Acorn Valley
Mia L.
Prairie Flower Recreation Area
phillip L.
Cherry Glen Campground
Pat F.
Swede Point Park
Stephanie S.
Walnut Woods State Park Campground
Stephen P.
Ledges State Park Campground
Whitney S.
Adventureland Campground
Matt M.
Iowa State Fair Campgrounds
Willy W.
Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt
Charity T.
Des Moines West KOA Holiday
May M.
Yellow Banks County Park
Recent Reviews near Granger, IA
529 Reviews of 104 Granger Campgrounds
Ashley D.ScoutIowa State Fairgrounds
Horrible & expensive
They show tent camping reservations allowed online and they even let you book a tent to Camp online for paying $32 but then when they come around and talk to you they don't say anything about not having a tent allowed and they don't give you the codes to the restroom and then they just close the office and go to bed and then at 11:00 at night the sheriff comes and tells you to grab all your stuff because there's no camping allowed and put you out on the street with nowhere to go and no more money cuz you wasted all your money on that stupid site that you didn't even get to stay at and then you realize that after you carried all your stuff over to the bar and had to sleep outside on the streets with your service dog when you have disabilities and you told them you have seizures that you had a seizure and now you have to go to the hospital and you lost your tent because somebody stole it so now you have nowhere to live because you're homeless and somebody stole your only house which was your tent because the sheriff kicked you out at 10:00 or 11:00 at night that was really great thanks that was the best experience in my whole life not really and thanks for putting my stress level so high that I went to seizures when people have disabilities you guys should be more accommodating and be more open and honest and be more willing to talk to people
- RRussell T.
GuideReece Park
Remote and Relaxing
Arrived at Reece Memorial Park in the early afternoon. I stopped by the Octagonal shelter at the south entrance of the park. This is a large shelter house with a fireplace in the middle of the building with several picnic tables.
I then drove down the road and entered into the west entrance of the park and followed it around the loop. There is a wide open area with a small slide and Merry-go-round, along with a couple of picnic tables.
I found, what I think, the best campsite in the park, and it was open. It sits along the creek and there was a fire ring there. This park is all primitive campsites, and so be prepared for that, although the description of the campground mentions vault toilets, I did not see them.
It was a very nice relaxing campsite, and the fact that there was no cell service, made it even better! There were a few vehicles drive through, and a little road noise, but I enjoyed my stay there. The creek was up, and it looks like part of the park might still be closed on the South side.
To primitive camp, the cost is $10.00 a night, and registration is with a QR Code, but since there is little to no cell service, it was difficult to get registered, so you may want to pay before you go.
- JJeffrey S.
TravelerTrailside Campground
Fair grounds camping
This location is on the east side of Jefferson on the old Lincoln highway at the Greene county fair grounds directly next to the Milwaukee trestle bike trail. It has both tent and RV camping spots. The RV is parallel parking with electric only. Black water dump site is at the waist water treatment plant by the public swimming pool on west Russell street on the south side of the street across from south walnut street entrance. The fairgrounds dose have horse and livestock amenities and events at times of the year with the Greene county fair and other events. It also has an agricultural museum and other events in the summer.
Andrea H.GuideBriggs Woods Park
A wonderful family campground!
I took my mother and my youngest on a Mother’s Day weekend camping adventure. We chose Briggs Woods because of its location and reviews from other campers. It is a larger campground than you think! Spots for primitive tent camping, electrical hook up and full hook ups. The campground offers free WiFi and it reached clear to the back end over by the four little cabins. The pit toilets by the four little cabins were clean and stocked. My daughter was able to walk her little dog around the campground with no issues of other dogs running loose. Quiet hours begin at 10:30 pm and everyone followed the rule. I also like how close to the river this campground is. We stayed in electrical spots in the #60s. I like how you can scan the QR code and pay right there from your phone. Very convenient! The camp hosts were friendly and would often cruise by in their golf cart checking on campers.
Noah P.TravelerGriffs Valley View RV Park
One night stay
Park was pretty full, but they found us a spot for the night. Excellent pricing and the yards are BIG compared to other places we've stayed. Would definitely come back
- RRob M.Scout
Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground
Spots are a little small, but they are level and well kept.
Testing out a new set up and this has full service with electric, water and sewer line.
- RRussell T.Guide
Grammer Grove Wildlife Area
Nice Overnight Getaway
Arrived just before dusk and I was the only person in the park. Set up across the road from the Accessible Porta-potty. There is a nice playground for kids, and a couple of shelter houses. The park is set up to handle a large amount of horses with access to the trails throughout the park. The Iowa river backs up the park, and I felt it was a nice and peaceful evening.
Make sure you check out the boulder down by the creek!
There were just a couple of minor annoyances, and the first was someone’s dog barking at everything for a good part of the night, and the other was some machine noise down the road into the late evening. Other than that though, I felt it was a great time, and plan to visit again, maybe later in the summer or even in the winter, as the park is open all year.
The cost was$10 per night, and you can register on-site with a dropbox.
- TTonyScout
Beaver Lake Campground
Last Resort
Campsites 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.
Guide to Granger
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.
What to do
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)."
What campers like
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."
What you should know
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.
Tips for camping with families
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."
Tips from RVers
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?
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?
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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