Saylorville Lake campgrounds sit within prairie-dominated landscape at 890 feet elevation, where temperatures range from below freezing in winter to humid 90°F days in summer. The campgrounds spread across 26,000 acres of Army Corps of Engineers land that includes 6,750 acres of water surface with fluctuating water levels depending on Des Moines River conditions. Most sites close by mid-October with seasonal reopening in April.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground provides excellent access to Saylorville Lake fishing spots. "Nice place. Bath houses are clean and many. The staff are very friendly and willing to offer info. The local trail is paved and bike/walker/stroller friendly but due to recent flooding at the lake, it was also cut short until clean up could resume," notes reviewer Stacy M.
Wildlife observation: Yellow Banks County Park offers multiple wildlife viewing areas along its trails. "The banks are amazing! River access and a pond to fish! Camped here my whole life. Boy scouts and with friends. Check out the burial grounds. Just wish there was more camping riverside," shares Steve H.
Stargazing experiences: Several campgrounds provide excellent night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. Lake Ahquabi State Park Campground stands out for astronomy enthusiasts. "Great stargazing, campsites cramped," notes Larissa C., adding that "the best parts of the park are the well-kept trails and stargazing!"
Creek exploration: Thomas Mitchell County Park features a creek that's popular with families during hot summer months. "Perfect weather last weekend and loved the little creek to splash around in with the dogs. Loads of rock stairways to enter and exit the creek throughout the park," shares Kimberly W.
What campers like
Unique accommodations: Timberline Campground offers yurt camping near Saylorville Lake alongside tent and RV options. "This is a small campground just off interstate 80. Smaller and quaint. Has a swimming pool and playground. Basketball court and a community hall. It's a great place. Doesn't have the overcrowded, large campground feel to it," says Karey A.
Observatory access: Ashton Wildwood Park provides affordable primitive camping with astronomy programs. "The observatory that's open on Saturdays (except the 1st Saturday) was awesome and the astronomers were great people and very knowledgeable. They showed how their telescopes worked and took us a tour of the building and classroom," writes Willy W.
Scenic hiking trails: Ledges State Park receives consistently high ratings for its varied terrain. "I did not camp here however 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," explains Jennifer M.
Water-based activities: Multiple campgrounds offer water recreation options beyond swimming. Lake Ahquabi visitor CM notes, "The lake is beautiful and the path around it is in great shape!" Another camper adds, "They have rentals for paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, etc, for a decent price!"
What you should know
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. Swede Point Park camper j B. advises, "Plan to get here Wednesday or Thursday because this park is FIRST COME basis. NO RESERVATIONS! And ALL of the electrical sites were full Thursday evening."
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds around Saylorville Lake operate from April through October, with limited winter access. Ledges State Park Campground has experienced periodic closures due to flooding. Matt S. reports, "Ledges State Park is one of the most visited parks in Iowa. I loved coming to this park as a kid and I can't wait for it to re-open."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience more noise than others. Terry G. from Cherry Glen Campground warns, "The sites are great. The noise level is unbearable. Dogs bark all night and day."
Proximity to amenities: The Des Moines West KOA Holiday sits closer to urban conveniences than more remote options. One visitor notes, "Although we were arriving after 10pm, we could still check in without a reservation! They have an awesome 'self check in'. A board marked with available spaces we chose from."
Tips for camping with families
Water features for kids: Thomas Mitchell County Park offers creek access that's perfect for children. "Great place to go tent camping, very clean and quiet. Easy trails for the kids to go hiking and playing in the creek to cool off in the heat," recommends Willy W.
Playgrounds and activities: Many campgrounds feature recreational facilities specifically designed for younger campers. Des Moines West KOA visitor Iris A. mentions, "Would love to visit in the summer as they have a ton of fun amenities for kids such as a pool, dunk tank, gem mining, ladder golf, horseshoes, jumping pillow, water balloon wars, basketball and more."
Educational opportunities: Families can combine camping with learning experiences. Ashton Wildwood Park includes an orienteering course, with Willy W. noting, "There is also a orienteering course but you have to walk in the woods to finish it."
Space considerations: Some sites offer more room for families than others. Topaz G. at Ashton Wildwood Park observes, "The sites are very spacious, could easily accommodate multiple tents."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness varies: Thomas Mitchell Park camper Shannon G. advises, "Thomas Mitchell park is located outside of Altoona Iowa on 197 acres. There are electric and non-electric sites available. The outer loop has a creek that flows behind the sites with large stairs to get down to it."
Full hookup availability: Timberline Campground offers complete services for larger rigs. Bradley N. shares, "This place is wonderful. The staff are all extremely friendly and accommodating. Facilities are all very clean and well taken care of."
Dump station quality: Jester Park earns high marks for its waste facilities. "Only spent two days there but could make it a two week vacation and never get tired of it. Okay, let's address the dump station, I've never been to one so thought out and efficient. Weird favorite thing but if you know you know," reports jim S.
Site surface conditions: Consider the pad material when selecting a spot. Roxanna L. from Timberline Campground notes, "Sites were pretty level, sizable that our 43' motorhome and tow fit without unhooking. 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."
