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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 $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."
"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"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"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"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"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!
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 30 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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