Campgrounds in central Iowa near Sheldahl offer a variety of accommodation options from tent and RV sites to cabin rentals. Jester County Park provides one of the most comprehensive camping experiences in the area, featuring electrical hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities. Other notable options include Ledges State Park Campground about 10 miles west of Sheldahl and Prairie Flower Recreation Area located near Saylorville Lake. Most campgrounds in this region support both tent and RV camping, with several locations like Griffs Valley View RV Park specifically designed for recreational vehicles with full hookups.
Seasonal considerations affect camping availability throughout the area, with most campgrounds operating from April through October. Saylorville Lake campgrounds, including Cherry Glen and Bob Shelter Recreation Area, typically open in May and close by late September or October. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend stays during summer months when facilities reach capacity. Some campgrounds have specific regulations regarding pets, alcohol, and generator use. Campground roads are generally well-maintained for standard vehicles without specialized clearance requirements. A camper noted, "The campgrounds are clean and quiet. Currently some camping spots are out of use due to flooding, but they are working on clean up."
Waterfront access represents a significant draw for many campgrounds in the area, with several offering views of Saylorville Lake. Campers frequently mention the peaceful atmosphere at waterside sites, though proximity to water may limit availability during peak season. According to one visitor, "We stayed at site 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." Many campgrounds feature well-maintained facilities with clean bathrooms and shower buildings. Families appreciate the additional amenities at locations like Jester Park, which includes hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and wildlife viewing areas with bison and elk. Several campgrounds provide gravel pads with picnic tables and fire rings, creating comfortable sites for overnight stays.
$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."
$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."
$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."
"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"
$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."
$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."
$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."
$35 - $90 / night
"Has a cute pond and is adjacent to a bike and running trail. The main lodge has very clean restrooms and showers with hot water! Recommended"
"There is also a very nice bike trail right outside the park."
"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!"
"My niece lives in Desert Moines and it was a short drive for her to come for a visit and bring some local, delicious tacos for dinner. We will definitely consider this spot next time through!"
ScoutCampsites 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.
Travelerrv site. very cold that night, but nice camping
Travelerreasonable cost. Upgrade taking place when we were there for one night. Will be very nice when finished.
TravelerI'm just stopped here for the night on a long cross country trip. The electricity is on, and the water is off. The campground is completely deserted except for me. The RV campsites are very close together, and I would imagine this would simply be a madhouse in the summertime.
GuideQuarry Springs Park was a one night stay. Quick and easy off/on road location. Was their first year. This is a new RV Park that was once a quarry. Hence the name. Big lakes and good areas to walk. We arrived after dark, not late, just that time of year. Took us a bit of time to figure out where our site was. Would suggest some added signage. Besides that all was good! The moon was full and made for excellent viewing. Not so much for the pictures however 🙄. Would stop again. Just note this is within ear shot of the interstate. Didn't bother us, might others. Thanks for stay!
ScoutNice and quiet along a small river. No restroom, just a portapotty. Few fire rings, but we'll maintained. Canoe launch is just a dirt ramp.
ScoutVery nice campground with running water,electricity and wifi. It's opened year round.
TravelerThis is a great campground if you’re wanting to get out for a night or two w the family. 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.
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!
Camping spots near Sheldahl, Iowa range from rustic tent sites to full hookup RV facilities, with most nestled in the Des Moines River watershed at elevations around 830-850 feet. The region contains multiple recreation areas managed by the Army Corps of Engineers in connection with Saylorville Lake. Campgrounds typically experience high occupancy from May through September when temperatures average between 65-85°F during summer months.
Trail hiking access: Ledges State Park Campground features distinctive sandstone formations with challenging terrain. "This is the best park in the state of Iowa, so much fun going thru the low water crossings!" notes Kent B. The park's trails offer varied difficulty with stone steps and elevation changes.
Fishing opportunities: At Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, anglers can catch bass and bluegill in the oxbow waters. A camper reports: "There are plenty of trails to hike and some really nice views of the prairies. You can bring a kayak/canoe to go on the water. There is also some pretty good fishing. Lots of bass and bluegill."
Wildlife viewing: Beyond hiking and fishing, observation areas for bison are available at Jester County Park. "Jester Park is our go-to camping destination in central Iowa! By far, this county park has a lot of fun activities and access points to the Saylorville waterway circuit. In addition to the water access ways, there is a sweet pond to fish in, several hiking trails, a brand new Nature Center, amphitheater, bison and bird viewing," explains Larissa C.
Privacy options: Campers appreciate secluded spots at specific sites within larger campgrounds. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Elizabeth A. notes a practical concern: "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. Sites do have some space for privacy between them."
Clean facilities: Acorn Valley maintains exceptionally clean restrooms and common areas. "The whole place is super clean, especially the bath house. All the spots are nice and lots of exploring to do!" reports Gina J. Another camper adds: "Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day."
Easy lake access: Multiple campgrounds provide water access points for recreational activities. The Bob Shelter Recreation Area backs up to the river below the dam spillway. Wendy H. describes her experience: "We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer. It backs to the river below the spillway from the dam."
Reservation requirements: Weekends fill quickly, especially during summer months. At Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground, one visitor warned: "I would suggest getting reservations. We stopped on a Friday without one, they were booked. We only wanted one night in a tent. They don't have designated tent sites but they have one overflow site and they let us use it for the night."
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds operate limited schedules. Acorn Valley closes after Labor Day, and Swede Point Park operates from April 15 to October 15. At Ledges State Park, temporary closures sometimes occur due to flooding: "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. It has been closed since January 2018, but it scheduled to re-open in January of 2019."
Wildlife encounters: Several campgrounds report raccoon activity, particularly around food storage areas. At Acorn Valley, John F. advises: "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."
Playground proximity: Swede Point Park offers various recreational facilities for children. "This county park has many amenities not to mention that it is close to a very popular bike trail. There are a few miles of mowed trails along with a couple of trail through the woods up and down hills. Do you like volleyball? They have that and a half court basketball too."
Water safety planning: When camping with children near Saylorville Lake, water levels can fluctuate. At Cherry Glen Campground, a visitor noted: "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."
Educational opportunities: Several parks offer nature centers with youth programming. Jim S. describes Jester Park's features: "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level. They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be."
Site specifications: Griffs Valley View RV Park offers full hookups with concrete pads. Anthony W. describes: "The campground very well kept with spacious concrete pads, both 30/50 amp and full water/sewage hookups. Two nice laundry/shower houses, one in the front and one in the back of the campground."
Dump station congestion: Plan your departure time strategically at popular campgrounds. Elizabeth A. warns about Prairie Flower: "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... that's being generous!"
Water hookup planning: Not all sites feature water connections directly at campsites. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Mia L. advises: "No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park. Lots of prairie area around, spacious sites."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Sheldahl, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Sheldahl, IA offers a wide range of camping options, with 107 campgrounds and RV parks near Sheldahl, IA and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Sheldahl, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Sheldahl, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 30 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Sheldahl, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Sheldahl, IA.
What parks are near Sheldahl, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Sheldahl, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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