86 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Jester County Park accommodates pets at all campsites with designated pet exercise areas throughout the grounds. Dogs must remain leashed at all times on a lead no longer than 6 feet. The park offers electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings at pet-friendly sites that accommodate tents, RVs, and cabins. Yellow Banks County Park and Prairie Flower Recreation Area also welcome pets with similar leash requirements. Timberline Campground features a small dog park with pea gravel surface rather than grass, providing a dedicated space for pets to exercise off-leash. Most campgrounds in the area require proof of current vaccinations and limit pets to two per site. Raccoons are plentiful at Ledges State Park, so secure food storage is essential when camping with pets.
The hiking trails at Ledges State Park provide excellent opportunities for leashed dogs, with sandstone formations and varied terrain making it one of the more scenic pet-friendly hiking options near Polk City. Thomas Mitchell Park offers creek access behind select campsites where dogs can cool off during summer months, with large stairs leading down to the water. Jester Park's nature center and conservation areas require extra vigilance with pets to protect wildlife. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours beginning at 10 PM, which includes barking dogs. The nearest emergency veterinary services are located in Des Moines, approximately 20 minutes south of Polk City. Ticks are prevalent in warmer months, particularly at Grant Park where campers report constantly removing them from pets, so appropriate preventative medication is strongly recommended.
"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"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"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"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"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"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"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."
"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."
"We haven't camped here, but have seen that the tent areas are right next to the water. Super serene with great hiking trails and bird watching!"
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.
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!
Polk City camping offers ready access to Saylorville Lake's 26,000 acres of water with sites typically situated between 850-900 feet elevation. The region experiences humid continental climate with summer temperatures averaging 74-86°F while spring and fall fluctuate between 45-65°F. Camping season runs April through October with most facilities closed during winter months.
Fishing opportunities: Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground provides direct access to fishing spots along the Des Moines River. "Great fishing in the river. Near a city so you don't run short on supplies," notes Julian B. The campground's proximity to the spillway creates prime fishing conditions.
Wildlife viewing: The natural areas around Ledges State Park Campground feature diverse ecosystems for wildlife spotting. "The ledges along the river were beautiful and depending on the river height you can walk right along them! They have a fun 'eagles view' point that overlooks the ledges," reports Jennifer M. The sandstone formations create unique habitat zones.
Water recreation: Campers at Cherry Glen Campground enjoy proximity to boating and swimming activities. "They cut down some trees and brush now you can see the lake. Bath houses are clean play grounds are nice," says Chris W. The campground connects to the lake via paved paths.
Concrete pads: Prairie Flower Recreation Area offers level sites with paved surfaces. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," notes Ron M. Sites throughout Loop D feature these paved pads for easier setup.
Riverside sites: Many campers appreciate the secluded spots at Jester County Park along waterways. "Our favorite spot to camp is 410 and 409. It's a secluded area within the 400s that is lined with trees on one side and a drop off into the Saylorville water circuit on the other," shares Larissa C. These waterfront sites provide views of sunsets across the water.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks high in camper priorities. "Super clean and quiet. Campsites are well kept and clean. Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day," reports John F. about Acorn Valley. The campground maintains multiple restroom buildings throughout the loops.
Reservations essential: During peak season from May through September, campgrounds fill quickly. "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.
Seasonal closures: Several campgrounds close completely outside main season. "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 Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. Always check current operating dates.
Water levels affect activities: River and lake activities depend on seasonal water conditions. "Unfortunately you can not rent kayaks or canoes at this time due to water levels," reports Nathan M. about Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. Water levels fluctuate significantly throughout the season.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated 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," shares Dana K. about Acorn Valley. Sites 15-25 offer the closest proximity to play equipment.
Educational opportunities: The nature centers provide family learning experiences. "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level," notes Jim S. about Jester County Park. Programs typically run weekends from 10am-4pm during summer months.
Water activities: Children enjoy the shallow water access points. "It's a fairly quiet campground - younger families mixed with older adults," says Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Designated swimming areas include lifeguards on weekends between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Dump station timing: On busy weekends, plan accordingly for departure. "Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait," warns Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Consider weekday departures when possible.
Site selection for big rigs: Larger RVs require careful site selection. "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking," reports Roxanna L. about Timberline Campground. Request site measurements when making reservations.
Water access planning: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park," advises Mia L. about Prairie Flower. Bring extra hose lengths as some water connections require 80-100 feet to reach all sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Polk City, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Polk City, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Polk City, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 86 dog-friendly camping locations near Polk City, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
