Jester County Park accommodates pets throughout its campground areas with dedicated sites for tents, RVs, cabins, and glamping options. Located near Saylorville Lake, campers can bring their dogs to the spacious sites which feature fire rings, picnic tables, and clean facilities. Ledges State Park Campground also welcomes pets with various accommodation types including tent sites, RV hookups, and pet-friendly cabins. Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Cherry Glen Campground, and Bob Shelter Recreation Area all maintain pet-friendly policies for campers traveling with dogs. Visitors note that campground bathrooms are typically clean and well-maintained, though raccoons at Jester Park have little fear of humans and may investigate campsites for food.
Several hiking trails throughout the region provide exercise opportunities for dogs, with Jester Park offering multiple path options through wooded areas. The park's natural playscape and access to Saylorville Lake create additional recreation possibilities for families camping with pets. Campgrounds in the area feature level gravel sites with sufficient space between neighbors to accommodate pets without crowding. Most sites require pets to remain leashed while in the camping areas. Water quality concerns exist at Saylorville Lake due to blue-green algae from agricultural runoff, which can be toxic to pets. The Jester Park Nature Center includes bison and elk viewing areas that may interest visitors, though pets should remain properly controlled near wildlife viewing zones.
$20 - $25 / night
"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."
$18 - $38 / 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."
"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."
$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."
$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."
"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 ;) )."
"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!"
"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."
"Undergoing big upgrade to lake and facilities. Nice campground, lots of paved trails. Once lake is filled will be a class A area."
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.
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!
The Sheldahl area of Iowa sits at approximately 875 feet above sea level with moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F from June through August. Winter camping is limited as temperatures regularly drop below freezing from November through March. The area features gently rolling terrain with a mix of woodlands and restored prairie landscapes within a short drive of campsites.
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground provides access to multiple fishing spots along Saylorville Lake. "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," notes Luke C.
Nature center exploration: Jester County Park features an educational nature center with wildlife viewing. "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," explains Jim S.
Hiking trails: Ledges State Park Campground offers challenging terrain unusual for Iowa. "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," shares Jennifer M.
Paddling waterways: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt offers peaceful water routes for canoes and kayaks. "This place reminds me of a lazy river. There are electrical and primitive campgrounds. There are also primitive campgrounds out of the main area but close to the road," notes Willy W.
Level sites: Prairie Flower Recreation Area offers well-maintained concrete pads. "It is a COE campground. We stayed in site A25. Not all loops are paved. A is not. But the site was pretty level, wasn't too much trouble to get our trailer backed in and leveled," Mia L. mentions.
Spacious camping areas: Many campgrounds feature generous site dimensions. "This quickly became one of our favorite close to home spots. Sites are large and there is plenty of space between sites. We had a concrete pad with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate," says Heather S. about Cherry Glen.
Clean facilities: Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground maintains high standards for restrooms. "Nice 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," Julian B. reports.
Wildlife viewing: Campers appreciate animal sightings at several locations. "Great spot during the week, on weekends it is way too crowded," Kent B. says about the bison at Jester County Park.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially in summer. "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary. The area does not have a ton of shade - so be weary in the middle of summer," Elizabeth A. advises about Bob Shelter.
Seasonal closures: Acorn Valley and several other campgrounds close after summer. "I tried to stay at Acorn Valley to find out it is closed after Labor Day. Bummer. I was able to get out and look around," Matt S. notes.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience more weekend activity. "If you want to tent camp, bring a cart or something to haul everything with. The parking lot is a LONG WAY from any private tent site. Youth group camp, the ones with all the energy and strength, is next to parking lot," advises Lena H. about Ledges State Park.
Wildlife encounters: Watch for nocturnal visitors at several pet friendly camping areas near Sheldahl. "Campsites are well kept and clean. Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day. Biggest downside is the resident raccoons. Come out every night to rummage through possible food options," John F. warns about Acorn Valley.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "I'm pretty particular about researching and reviewing campgrounds before I book, especially with the kids in tow. This campground 100% lived up to review expectations. Sites were great, facilities were immaculate, playground and pond were awesome for keeping kids entertained," Jessica shares about Acorn Valley.
Water recreation: Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt provides options for water activities with children. "We've taken our canoe here once and really enjoyed the winding, quite, green waterways. This is a relatively obscure place with little amount of crowds on any weekend," Larissa C. explains.
Learning opportunities: Educational facilities enhance family camping trips. "The campground was well maintained and very quite. Great place for a quick trip. Unfortunately you can not rent kayaks or canoes at this time due to water levels," Nathan M. notes about Chichaqua.
Campfire areas: Most pet friendly camping sites near Sheldahl include fire rings. "We had a great stay here, check in was easy, getting firewood was easy, the bathhouses were so clean and nice, hiking and views were amazing!" Lindsey M. says about Jester County Park.
Electric-only sites: Plan water usage carefully at most campgrounds. "This is a lovely spot. We stayed at spot 20 which was extra wide, concrete pad with electric hook up. No water or sewer. Spot 20 is at the end which makes it very private with nice large grassy area adjacent to wooded area," Wendy H. explains about Bob Shelter.
Dump station access: Prairie Flower Recreation Area can have congestion issues. "Now my one complaint - there's one dump station for a campground that is large is size and popularity. Trying to leave on Sunday is a good 1 hour wait," Elizabeth A. warns.
Site selection advice: Look for end sites for more privacy at many pet friendly campgrounds. "For $15/night/camping spot, you can enjoy the best view of stars and amazing sunsets. We go a couple times a year to camp and Jester has even been the place where we hold special events like birthdays/going away parties," Larissa C. recommends about Jester County Park.
Hookup limitations: Many campgrounds offer electric but lack water or sewer connections. "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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Sheldahl, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sheldahl, 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 Sheldahl, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Sheldahl, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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