110 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Slater, Iowa ranges from developed RV campgrounds with full hookups to tent sites, cabins, and glamping accommodations. Jester County Park, located near Granger, provides year-round camping options with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations. Ledges State Park Campground in Madrid, just north of Slater, offers similar diversity with electric hookups and shower facilities in a natural setting. The region's campgrounds typically feature picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water access, with many sites along Saylorville Lake, providing water recreation opportunities for campers seeking developed outdoor experiences.
Most campgrounds in the Slater area operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October. Jester Park and Prairie Flower Recreation Area maintain electric hookups, water access, and sanitary facilities, though availability varies by season. Reservations are recommended, particularly for weekend camping during summer months when sites fill quickly. Several campgrounds offer both reservable and first-come, first-served options, with prices typically ranging from $15-25 per night depending on amenities. Weather conditions can impact camping experiences, especially in spring when rainfall may affect site conditions. As one visitor noted, "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."
Campers consistently mention the variety of recreational activities available at campgrounds near Slater. Jester Park receives praise for its hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and wildlife viewing areas featuring bison and elk. The park's nature center and playground facilities make it particularly family-friendly. Sites along Saylorville Lake provide water recreation options including boating and fishing access. Many developed campgrounds in the area balance natural settings with convenient amenities. "Lots of different camp sites. Large park with great hiking trails and fishing," wrote one visitor about Jester Park. Travelers seeking more secluded experiences can find sites in the 400s loop of Jester Park, which one reviewer described as having "plenty of room for 2 vehicles and two sizable tents" with a "super quiet and relaxing" atmosphere even during busy holiday weekends.
"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."
from $20 - $25 / 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"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."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"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"
"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"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"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"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."
from $35 - $90 / night
Check Availability"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!"
GuideWe came in really late on a Saturday night and were the only ones here. Cons: women’s bathroom was inoperable and men’s was locked; sites aren’t numbered or differentiated that I could tell at 2am. Pros: green & shady in places, nice park, lots of grass. Parked under two shady trees in what I thought was a spot, paid the $10 and slept in the car as usual.
GuideThis is a sweet well-maintained campground just south of Mitchellville, Iowa off of 80. Not many sites and only a handful were occupied mid week in July. There is a little stream running along the edge of the campground. There is one bathroom building with 6 separate rooms - each with a toilet, sink and shower with warm water. Plenty of drinking water at centralized locations. There is shade at most sites when you first enter the campground and in the loop. Along the edges (inc the stream) shade is more variable. The only issue we had was a bright light that was on all night near the end of the loop. We were in site 5 and had to move our truck so it didn’t shine in all night.
GuideLevel sites and very quiet. Great hiking location and photo opportunities.
GuideStaying here for a night on a roadtrip. It was easy to book last minute and wasn’t too expensive. Especially given it has electric hook up at each sight (I believe).
RangerThere’s not a lot going on in the vicinity of this state park, which is on the smaller side, and you will hear some cows, but all in all the campground exceeded my expectations for the two nights I stayed. This was partially because my site, 65, offered ample room away from the neighboring sites and backed up to a small green area with the road further back (minimal noise, aside from the random loud dirt bike). It also had a good mix of shade and sun if you’re hoping for a bit of solar charging, though no shore power or water. The site was long and mostly level with just the smallest tilt, but not enough to be a bother even without leveling blocks. The dumpster is nearby, but it’s a tiny one and was well maintained (aka not smelly). The brand new shower house was within easy walking distance as well. I had enough service (Verizon) to send texts and watch a bit of YouTube (buffering times were a smidge slow), but you likely wouldn’t have a strong enough signal for much more.
RangerQuite a nice campground. Pretty busy for a Monday so I can imagine it gets busy here. Sites are nice and spacious. Great amenities and right next to the water.
GuideHost were very nice and helpful. Well maintained with pretty good shade.
ScoutStayed here last week in July 2025 on a cross-country motorcycle trip. Nice and quiet. Flat grassy spot to set up my tent and a nice fire ring/ grill to cook dinner on also had a picnic table.
Very nice primitive spot. Will go back
TravelerWe booked this spot in February not knowing there was a rodeo on our camp day we were in town for a swim meet, the band was real loud Friday and perfect on Saturday, it has narrow camping spots but overall is a very good campground with full hook ups. Booked on line everything went smooth, great WiFi clean campground.
Camping spots near Slater, Iowa sit within the Des Moines River watershed at approximately 830 feet elevation. The area features a mix of prairie and woodland environments, with camping facilities typically open from April through October. Winter weather makes most campgrounds inaccessible from December through March, with spring rains sometimes affecting ground conditions at tent sites.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple oxbow lakes at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt provide unique water access within 30 minutes of Slater. "Great hiking trails, clean, great camp hosts, ranger. All sites first come. Camp there 2-4 times a year," reports one regular visitor. The stagnant water isn't suitable for swimming but supports kayaking in early season.
Mountain biking access: Regional trails connect to several campgrounds in the area, making them popular with cyclists. "The entire saylorville compound is an amazing place to be. I especially liked this area for the access to the water," notes a visitor about Acorn Valley. Most trails maintain paved sections suitable for families with children.
Wildlife viewing: Bird watching at Swede Point Park offers morning observation opportunities from multiple hiking trails. "Nice and quite little park, very scenic and beautiful area, park rangers are very nice and helpful as well," according to one camper. The park maintains mowed trails alongside wooded paths with elevation changes.
Clean facilities: Modern bathhouses receive consistent praise across campgrounds. A visitor to Ledges State Park Campground noted it has "fun 'eagles view' point that overlooks the ledges. Nice picnic areas are also available. I would be careful hiking in the winter for obvious reason, especially because of the steep edges, etc."
Spacious sites: Concrete pads at several campgrounds accommodate larger setups. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," mentions a camper at Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Electric sites typically cost around $25 per night, while primitive tent sites range from $12-16.
Quiet atmosphere: Weekday camping provides more solitude than weekends at most locations. "We stayed at 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," reports a Prairie Flower visitor. Many campgrounds fill completely on summer weekends.
Reservation requirements vary: Most Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds near Saylorville Lake can be reserved six months in advance, but some operate on first-come basis. "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," advises one experienced camper.
Wildlife concerns: Several campgrounds report active raccoon populations after dark. At Acorn Valley, "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. Secure your food and they're no problem unless you're a light sleeper."
Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate April through October with limited winter access. "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," shared a visitor about previous maintenance closures.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds and child-friendly facilities. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "This is a very large campground with lots of sites and large group camping areas. The bathrooms and shower house are nice and clean." The group camping areas provide circular arrangements with shelters in the middle.
Educational programming: Nature centers operate seasonally at select locations with structured activities. "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!" reports a visitor to Jester County Park. Nature programs typically run May through September.
Walking distances: Consider site location relative to restrooms for young children. At Ledges State Park, "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. That's messed up."
Dump station limitations: Holiday weekends create long waits at single-station facilities. At Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground, "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." However, the single dump station creates congestion during peak departure times.
Water fill locations: Many campgrounds require filling tanks before parking. "There is potable water at dump site. This campground is connected to regional bike trails that will take all the way to Des Moines and suburbs," notes a camper at Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Water connections aren't available at individual sites in many locations.
Site size variations: Different loops accommodate different RV sizes. At Griffs Valley View RV Park, "Sites are large with nicely manicured lawns. My only issue was that my hose was just barely long enough but that was my fault not the campgrounds. The woman that runs it was very nice and met me at the entrance to lead me to my spot." This private park maintains year-round availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping facilities are available at Slater Campground?
For camping facilities near Slater, Thomas Mitchell County Park offers both electric and non-electric sites. The outer loop features a creek flowing behind the campsites with large stairs for access, perfect for kids to play in. Another nearby option is Ledges State Park Campground, which provides restrooms, picnic areas, and excellent hiking trails with well-shaded campsites. They even offer hike-in spots if you prefer privacy while staying relatively close to your vehicle.
Is there camping available at Slater Park?
While there isn't a specific Slater Park in Iowa's camping system, nearby options include Jester County Park which offers peaceful camping with several first-come, first-served sites. For a camping experience close to Slater, Iowa, consider Timmons Grove County Park which provides electric campsites for $18/night. This park tends to be less crowded, making it a good option if you're seeking a quieter camping experience in the area.
How do I make reservations for camping at Slater?
For camping near Slater, reservations for many county parks can be made online through their respective county conservation websites. At Briggs Woods Park, reservations can be made at reasonable rates, and they offer campsites, cabins, and access to various outdoor activities. Some parks like Little Wall Lake County Park have a mix of reservable and first-come, first-served sites. For Iowa state parks, reservations can typically be made through the Iowa DNR website up to 3 months in advance.
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