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Jester County Park's spacious pet-friendly campsites accommodate a variety of camping styles, including tent, RV, cabin, and glamping options. All sites throughout the park's multiple camping loops permit dogs, with clean, well-maintained grounds that provide ample space between campsites. Pets must remain leashed throughout the park, including on trails and in camping areas. Several campers report the park is generally quiet, especially on weekdays, making it ideal for pets who may be sensitive to noise or crowds. Sites include standard amenities such as fire pits with grill grates and picnic tables. The park features modern bathroom facilities with showers in the 300s loop, though campers note the toilets in the 400s camping area are more primitive.
Dogs can accompany owners on the network of hiking trails throughout the park, including short nature walks suitable for older pets or quick exercise breaks. The park's location on Saylorville Lake offers water access points, though pet owners should be cautious as some visitors have reported blue-green algae issues that can be toxic to dogs. The park includes a natural playscape area, picnic grounds, and wildlife viewing opportunities including bison and elk enclosures. Campsites in the 400s loop offer lakeside locations with unobstructed water views, while other sites provide more shade from the wooded surroundings. Pet owners should be aware that wildlife, particularly raccoons, have little fear of humans and may be attracted to pet food, requiring secure storage.
"There was four of us and a dog."
"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."
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"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."
from $18 - $38 / 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"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."
"Took the PUP, two kids, dog and grandma (first time in 20+ years) this past weekend. Booked an outer ring site surrounded by trees (and some pretty bold raccoons around bonfire time ;) )."
from $14 - $84 / 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"Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass."
"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
"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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
TravelerThe campground was nice, but it seems more for RVs. Sometimes you have to share a fire pit with other tents if it's busy. They have a small petting zoo and a small beach. This place feels more like a neighborhood verses camping in nature. Most people use this as a "summer home".
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!
LegendThis County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.
This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.
Jester County Park campsites are located at 11407 NW Jester Park Dr. in Granger, Iowa, at an elevation of approximately 870 feet. The park sits along Saylorville Lake, part of the Des Moines River watershed, offering water access throughout the camping season from April through October. Fall camping brings colorful foliage from the mix of deciduous trees throughout the camping loops, with temperatures ranging from 40-70°F in autumn months.
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground provides direct lake access with a boat launch near the campground. "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," mentions Luke C. about Jester County Park.
Hiking trails: Explore sandstone formations at Ledges State Park, located 30 minutes from Granger. "I did not camp here how ever I drove and took a day hike. The hiking trails are cool. I would say it was a challenging hike. A lot of up and down terrain, stone steps, etc. The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them!" notes Jennifer M.
Bike path access: The Saylorville Lake area connects to regional bike trails. "The park is connected to regional bike trails that will take all the way to Des Moines and suburbs," explains Ron B. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Many campgrounds in the area provide direct access to this extensive trail system.
Clean facilities: The well-maintained facilities receive consistent praise from campers throughout the Granger area. "The bathhouses were so clean and nice, hiking and views were amazing!" reports Lindsey M. about her experience at Jester County Park.
Lakeside views: Acorn Valley offers scenic water views with specific sites positioned for optimal sunset viewing. "We're big fans of Acorn Valley. It's quiet and there is plenty of shade in the tent camping area. The tent sites lead to some small trails which end at the riverbed. Our boys love exploring here," shares Russ G.
Wildlife viewing: Beyond the bison and elk enclosures, campers appreciate the natural wildlife. "Love this it's close to the city yet feel so far away," notes one camper about Cherry Glen Campground, while another mentions, "Clean quiet lots of wildlife."
Reservations essential: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially on summer weekends. "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary," advises Elizabeth A. about Bob Shelter Recreation Area.
Seasonal availability: Many campgrounds operate seasonally. "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," reports Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Dump station congestion: Plan departure timing carefully at busier campgrounds. "There's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait.... that's being generous!" warns Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower.
Playground proximity: When camping with children, select sites near play areas. "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," recommends Dana K. about Acorn Valley.
Wildlife awareness: Secure food and pet supplies, especially at night. "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," advises John F. about Acorn Valley.
Kid-friendly water access: Walnut Woods State Park offers gentler water recreation options. "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," shares Sara S., highlighting alternatives to lake swimming.
Site selection: For optimal privacy and views, experienced RVers recommend specific loops. "We took the PUP, two kids, dog and grandma (first time in 20+ years) this past weekend. Booked an outer ring site surrounded by trees," shares Jessica about her successful stay at Acorn Valley.
Hookup variations: Water hookups aren't available at all sites, even at RV-friendly 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.
Leveling considerations: Timberline Campground offers leveled sites with full hookups. "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking. We just stayed over night since we're heading home. They take you to your site," explains Roxanna L., though she cautions about some site conditions: "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Granger, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Granger, 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 Granger, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 83 dog-friendly camping locations near Granger, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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