Best Glamping near Saylorville Lake

Jester County Park houses high-end glamping accommodations just minutes from Saylorville Lake, alongside Timberline Campground's luxury canvas tent options. Both locations feature upscale alternatives to traditional camping with electricity, comfortable furnishings, and direct access to water recreation. One guest shared, "The campgrounds are clean and quiet with beautiful views from our campsite." The sites at Jester Park offer scenic lake views and include amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and proximity to modern shower facilities. Thomas Mitchell County Park and Ledges State Park also provide glamping accommodations with varying levels of comfort and amenities, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in Iowa's natural beauty without sacrificing modern conveniences.

Trails throughout the Saylorville Lake area connect glamping sites to numerous outdoor activities including fishing, boating, wildlife viewing, and hiking. The unique Jester Park Nature Center, opened in 2018, provides educational exhibits and programming for glampers seeking to learn about local ecosystems. A visitor noted, "It's a HUGE park with so many hiking trails! They have a fun kids exploration area along with a viewing area with elk and Buffalo." Most glamping accommodations around Saylorville Lake are available from April through October, with some sites requiring reservations well in advance during peak summer months. The area's proximity to Des Moines (approximately 20 minutes) means glampers can easily access urban amenities while enjoying their upscale outdoor retreat. Several locations offer firewood on-site, and most accommodate pets, though specific policies vary by campground.

Map showing campgrounds near Saylorville Lake, Iowa

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Best Glamping Sites Near Saylorville Lake (26)

1. Jester County Park
30 Reviews
Granger, IA
6 miles
Website
+1 (515) 323-5300
$20 - $25 / night
"The view at campsite 4 was great overlooking Saylorville Lake. Great for families."

"Each site as a gravel drive and then open gravel area with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate. Plenty of room for camp chairs and other furniture you may want to set up. "
2. Cherry Glen Campground
13 Reviews
Johnston, IA
1 mile
Website
+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."

3. Ledges State Park Campground
40 Reviews
Boone, IA
22 miles
Website
+1 (515) 432-1852
$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."
4. Timberline Campground
13 Reviews
West Des Moines, IA
14 miles
Website
+1 (515) 987-1714
$35 - $80 / night
"Arrived just before the office closed at 7pm. They were ready for us and escorted us to our pull-through full-hookups site near the front of the campground."

"Playground was next to us but it was fun watching the kids play. Full sun in the morning but afternoon was shaded by trees. Restrooms and shower was clean and close walking distance."

5. Swede Point Park
13 Reviews
Madrid, IA
14 miles
Website
"Very quiet and nice neighbors camping next store , fresh water well on pump next to our campsite number #1 electric and non electric site’s ,electric sites run $18 a night non electric $11 a night , has"

"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."
6. Yellow Banks County Park
15 Reviews
Pleasant Hill, IA
16 miles
Website
+1 (515) 266-1563
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"

"It’s got access to trails and to the Des Moines river. It’s a great little escape. There is a fishing pond that’s got plenty of bluegill and largemouth bass."

7. Thomas Mitchell County Park
11 Reviews
Mitchellville, IA
17 miles
Website
+1 (515) 967-4889
"Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non electric sites available."

"The drive into the grounds was a little confusing, but I imagine that in the daylight we would have had an easier time."
8. Des Moines West KOA Holiday
23 Reviews
Earlham, IA
23 miles
Website
+1 (515) 834-2729
"Bathhouses were clean and private. Laundry available. Off leash dog area available. Convenient to John Wayne’s birthplace and covered bridges of Madison County."

"Very courteous staff and clean campground. Pizza on site is excellent snd you can order it ahead for your arrival."

9. Ashton Wildwood Park
5 Reviews
Mingo, IA
22 miles
Website
$7 / night
"Most of the sites are tucked into the woods and very spacious. It's only $7/night! There is some play equipment for children. "

"We arrived just after 9p after a long long day of driving and found the park easy to navigate. Please be courteous when finding a spot after dark."
10. Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground
13 Reviews
Indianola, IA
30 miles
Website
+1 (515) 961-7101
$20 - $25 / night
"We entered the park looking for a walk-up spot and landed on Site 67 which was not reserved. The site was spacious with a big tree with good shade and cover if needed."

"They have a beautiful lake and a beach. The water has minimal seaweed and great temperature! They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!"

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Recent Glamping Photos near Saylorville Lake

6 Photos of 26 Saylorville Lake Campgrounds

Glamping Reviews near Saylorville Lake

281 Reviews of 26 Saylorville Lake Campgrounds

Amy G.
Legend
Jun. 2, 2018
Sportsman Park
Beautiful solitude with well manicured campsites
This was one of the nicest county campgrounds I've ever seen. We've been to a lot of them, but this one stands out. Not to mention that the price was unbeatable! So much more reasonable than at home. Set off the road a bit in a tiny little town in Iowa, it's along a river and very close to the Raccoon River Valley Trail, an 89 mile loop trail (paved) that goes through several towns and counties. It costs $2/person/day if you are 18 or older, or a year pass is $10. There is also a lodge that you can rent.

We rented a cabin for $50, because it was only about $10 more expensive than what we were planning on spending for a campsite in Minnesota. Normally, we stay in tents, so we were very pleased to find the options that this campground had to offer at such reasonable cost! If you wanted a tent site without electric, it was only $8. Electric sites were only $12. And the sites were incredibly well groomed. They were clean (I didn't see any trash). And they were tucked into the woods. A caretaker lives on site, and although we rarely saw him, it was obvious that he cared about his job. The bathrooms were clean and cared for too!

We were in a cabin and they were simple, but suited our needs. They had two wooden cabin-style buildings with little front porches (not screened in, but room under the overhang for chairs). Inside, you had two bunk beds, and the bottom bunk of one was a pull out futon, so you really had room to sleep 5 people. (Must mention: The futon in our cabin was horribly uncomfortable. I would have given 4 stars to the review because of it, but the futon alone shouldn't take away from the rest of the campground, which was immaculate). There was also a bathroom with an ADA shower, toilet, mirror and sink. In the room, there was a mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave, little sink and it even had air conditioning! Tucked in the corner was a folding table and chairs. A few hooks scattered around the walls completed the room. The A/C in ours wasn't at full working capacity, but it did chill the room down enough to be very comfortable. And it was very hot outside! We also had a little fire ring and picnic table, just outside the door.

The campground could accommodate plenty of tents and campers alike. Some electric, some not. All with very nice grassy pads for tents, all with picnic tables and fire rings. Grass was well clipped and there were plenty of parking spaces. It was very quiet when we were there, but I assume it gets busy on the weekends. The shower/bath house had separate bathrooms (both unisex) and both with toilet, mirror, sink and shower). Both were very clean for a camp bathroom. A little campground for those wishing to camp together was at the back of the park. It, too, had bathrooms. But they were locked, so I couldn't peek inside.

Bottom line, it was well worth our $50 for the cabin (you can't even get a hotel room for that price any more). I'd love to go back and tent in the quiet of a weekday eve when the crickets are chirping and I can feel the breeze through the tent!

Please note - there are no trash cans at the campground if you are in tents or RV's (the cabins have them inside). It is a carry in/carry out campground

There are LOTS of water pumps all over the campground. Yay for water!!
B
Brent R.
Traveler
Sep. 1, 2016
Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground
Lake Ahquabi During Balloon Classic
We entered the park looking for a walk-up spot and landed on Site 67 which was not reserved. The site was spacious with a big tree with good shade and cover if needed. Also, it had a great fire pit with grill grate that could be moved. It was the perfect overnight location and cheap accommodations during the National Balloon Classic. We spent the night before at the Balloon Glow, came back and had a nice camp fire, then an early morning rise for a balloon flight made for close proximity. There were nearby bathroom facilities that were available. The truth is that the one closest was not lit well and a little messier, perhaps less maintained. The other facility was well lit and not too far a walk. During day light you could see the lake in the distance from this site, and the clearing around the site gave great visibility of stars with very low light pollution. The only downside was this site was near the main entry and exit road on the lower loop, which meant traffic in and out could prove to be a downside. Not for us on our stay at night because of late arrival and early departure, but it is good to know. All in all it was a good stay, the only challenging part was knowing which sites were available and the camp hosts weren't too helpful in knowing or seeking which were still open. But we were lucky to find one!
D
Dylan
Scout
Oct. 8, 2020
Cherry Glen Campground
Better than most in Central Iowa
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.
Matt S.
Legend
Jul. 20, 2017
Cherry Glen Campground
Cherry Glen is clean with plenty of sites
Cherry Glen is very clean and well managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is one of the main campgrounds that service Saylorville Lake. I highly suggest visiting during the week because on the weekends the local boaters invade.

I would suggest looking for camp sites on the back side of the western loops because they have views of the lake. I would look at sites 111-116 and 72-78. These last six are also very close to a shower house.

The shower houses and bathrooms are clean and well maintained. This is a great place to consider camping if you are spending anytime at Saylorville Lake.
P
Patti M.
Ranger
Oct. 18, 2018
Cherry Glen Campground
Relaxing in the beauty that is Iowa
Went in without a reservation. No problem. Pleasantly surprised to find out it's an Army Corps of Engineers park; meaning if you have a annual National Parks pass, you get a discount. Didn't know that. We paid $11 for a tent site. 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. Quiet, relaxing place. Friendly staff. We took a long walk through the campground and others nearby. Boating and swimming in the lake.
Jessica K.
Traveler
Jun. 23, 2016
Jester County Park
National Trails Day
Had a great time with a group of volunteers. The view at campsite 4 was great overlooking Saylorville Lake. Great for families.
A
Amanda H.
Guide
Sep. 28, 2020
Jester County Park
Solid campground
Stayed at this campground for 3 nights while visiting Des Moines. We stayed in Loop 1- site 138 because we wanted electrical. The electrical box has 2 standard household plugs which is nice. This loop was mostly RVs due to the electrical hook ups. There aren't really trees between the sites, but it is in a wooded area which is nice and there is some space between the sites so you don't feel like you are right on top of the other people. Generally, people were pretty quiet, especially once it got dark. Each site as a gravel drive and then open gravel area with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate. Plenty of room for camp chairs and other furniture you may want to set up. There is a grassy area all around the gravel with plenty of room for multiple tents. 2 bath/shower houses within a short walk from the site- they were both clean and solid to use. There are some short trails within the park which are generally well marked, but just 1 trail is longer than about 1/2 a mile. Didn't check it out, but there is also a large lake. Lots of picnic areas throughout the park. There's also a volleyball court and free lending library near one of the bathhouses. Overall, I'd recommend this campground as long as you don't mind seeing your neighbors. Quick drive into Des Moines too.
Mary H.
Scout
Aug. 5, 2021
Jester County Park
Jester campground
A lovely and quiet campground. The huge drawback is the water quality of Saylorville lake. It is toxic— blue algae from farm runoff. Not safe for man or beast.
Matt S.
Legend
Sep. 22, 2017
Jester County Park
Jester Park is clean and quiet
As a kid our boy scout troop always came and camped at Jester Park for our troop campouts. A lot has changed since then. The County has invested a lot of resources into this park making it a great place to stay when enjoying the fun at Saylorville Lake. The facilities are modern and clean and there is some real pride at this park. I highly recommend it.