88 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Jester County Park near Slater offers multiple pet-friendly camping options with electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. The campground maintains clean facilities with modern restrooms and showers, allowing pets throughout the developed camping areas. Raccoons in the park have no fear of humans, requiring proper food storage for campers with pets. The park provides gravel pads with ample space between sites, though there are limited trees between individual campsites. Ledges State Park Campground also welcomes pets and features both tent and RV sites with 30/50-amp electrical connections, sewer hookups, and water access.
Hiking trails throughout Jester Park accommodate leashed pets with several short, well-marked paths ideal for dog walking. The park includes a nature center with bison and elk viewing areas, fishing opportunities, and a natural playscape for families. Many sites along the 400 loop offer views of Saylorville Lake with enough space for multiple tents and vehicles. The campground fills quickly on summer weekends, making reservations advisable for pet owners. Prairie Flower Recreation Area and Cherry Glen Campground provide additional pet-friendly alternatives with similar amenities, including electrical hookups, drinking water, and sanitary dump stations for RV campers with pets.
"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."
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 $12 - $25 / 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."
"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."
from $20 - $336 / night
Check Availability"Been camping here every summer for about 3 years as pass thru 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."
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."
"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 ;) )."
from $14 - $84 / 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!"
"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."
LegendVery nice state park campground. There are cabins as well as campsites. The park is adjacent to Pine Lake and water based recreation is available including swimming beach and boating. The campground is off a paved road and is near to town. There is a walking path to the boat launch from the campground. Biking/hiking trails are on property.
LegendSmall park with basic amenities along the river. There is a big event center at the entrance and keep going back and the campground is there along the river. This would be a great area for paddling the river. Seemed pretty quite and spaces are moderately spread out. There is a rifle range on the property if that interests you (negatively or positively- there is a photo of the rules in my review). No shooting while I was there.
ScoutNot free $10 a night.
ScoutNot free. $10 a night. Haven’t been here yet just writing a review to let everyone know it’s not free.
ScoutAs you arrive there is parking and a center with rest rooms, maps, and shelter with information. They print out free maps and it is easy to follow. The camp site is a short walk and they have a porta potty for use at the group site which is nice. Kuehn has some fire pits and grates available for a fire. They also have a table which is nice. The trails are in great condition and are multi connected throughout the park. There is also an additional camp spot by the river that we spotted which looked even a bit nicer and secluded. The only cons are At night when it’s still you can hear the highway in a distance ever so faintly and walking to the campsite with toddlers is super manageable but annoying if you need to make multiple trips. Overall it’s a fantastic place and well kept up!
RangerThere have been a total of 3 people camping here this weekend. If you want peace, quiet, and solitude, this is a great place!!! There have been a half dozen cars come through, one being a sheriff, so it’s not TOTALLY, quiet but nothing too noisy. Keep in mind there are no amenities other than a pit toilet(no shower) that was actually quite clean! Anything you need, you have to bring with you including water. There is also no dump station…. It worked out great for me. Also, it’s not free like the website stated. It’s ten dollars a night which is reasonable…
TravelerOnly stayed one night but very convenient location and registration.
Legend9-14-26 Timberline East RV Campground, I do not think this is a KOA anymore. Tent site T1 & 2 was level and on grass with table and fire ring. checked in at 7pm, overcast, Molly was great at the check in, offered a 10% Veteran discount. $34 for the night. We only stayed one night. Showers and bathrooms were decent. T-Mobile was 5G 4 bars. Rained all night, you can hear the noise from the highway but you drown it out.
ScoutThis is a great location by the lake with some spots having great water views. You dont feel like sardines with all the space between sites. You can walk down to the beach as well in no time. We had a nice relaxing weekend. Will be back.
Saylorville Lake dominates the camping landscape near Slater, Iowa, with multiple recreation areas spread around its 5,950 acres of water. At 836 feet above sea level, the area features rolling prairie with oak-hickory forest pockets. Summer temperatures average 74-86°F with moderate humidity, making camping comfortable except during occasional thunderstorms from May through August.
Fishing opportunities: Cherry Glen Campground offers excellent fishing access. "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.
Wildlife viewing: Jester County Park features a nature center with bison habitat. "They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be. Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level," according to Jim S.
Kayaking: Water recreation options abound at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt. "This place reminds me of a lazy river. You can bring a kayak/canoe to go on the water. There is also some pretty good fishing. Lots of bass and bluegill," shares Willy W.
Clean facilities: Acorn Valley maintains exceptional cleanliness. "Campsites are well kept and clean. Bathrooms are immaculate and cleaned every day," reports John F. The area also has "some small trails which end at the riverbed. Our boys love exploring here," adds Russ G.
Site privacy: Many spots provide good separation between campers. At Ledges State Park Campground, "The sites are nice. We didn't have other campers near by. The hiking trails are very short but there is a bike path that evidently connects several parks in the region," notes James D.
Waterfront access: Prairie Flower Recreation Area features lake views from several areas. "This quickly became one of our favorite close to home spots. Sites are large and there is plenty of space between sites. Once settled we had a gorgeous view of the lake and sunsets," explains Heather S.
Reservation needs: Popular dog-friendly campgrounds near Slater fill quickly. "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary," warns Elizabeth A. about Bob Shelter Recreation Area.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons are active at multiple campgrounds. At Acorn Valley, "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," advises John F.
Seasonal closures: Some pet-friendly areas have limited operating seasons. At Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, a visitor reported: "Drove 6 hours to find out the campground is closed (apparently for all of fall and winter) without any awareness of that being the case online," warns Katie P.
Playgrounds: Acorn Valley offers family-friendly amenities. "We parked at a site by the playground and bathhouse, and could sit at our camper and watch our son play at a safe distance," notes Dana K.
Water activities: Adventureland Campground has pool access for kids. "Pool was nice, and also had a few arcade games in the pool house. The biggest draw for us was Adventureland Park which was a five minute walk from the campground," shares a camper identified as Happy Camper.
Biking options: Bob Shelter Recreation Area connects to regional trails. At Prairie Flower, "This campground is connected to regional bike trails that will take all the way to Des Moines and suburbs," explains Ron B.
Site surfaces: Different campgrounds offer various pad types. At Cherry Glen Campground, "We had a concrete pad with a picnic table and fire pit with grill grate. Most are back in sites, but once settled we had a gorgeous view of the lake and sunsets," explains Heather S.
Hookups: Water access varies between campgrounds. At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," notes Ron M. However, "There is potable water at dump site," adds another camper.
Dump station planning: Allow extra time when departing busy campgrounds. "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.... that's being generous!" cautions Elizabeth A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Slater, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Slater, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Slater, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 88 dog-friendly camping locations near Slater, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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