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Camping near Urbandale, Iowa encompasses a mix of county parks, recreation areas, and private campgrounds within a 30-minute drive of this Des Moines suburb. The area features several water-oriented camping options around Saylorville Lake, including Prairie Flower Recreation Area, Cherry Glen Campground, and Acorn Valley. Jester County Park in nearby Granger provides year-round camping with tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations. Timberline Campground in Waukee offers 168 sites with full amenities including yurts, while Walnut Woods State Park Campground in West Des Moines provides a more traditional state park camping experience.
Most campgrounds in the Urbandale area operate seasonally, with peak availability from April through October, though several remain open year-round. Reservations are strongly recommended during summer months and holiday weekends. Weather conditions are typical of the Midwest, with hot, humid summers and cold winters that limit winter camping options. Many campgrounds around Saylorville Lake, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, offer electric hookups but limited or no sewer connections at individual sites. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region, with good coverage at most established campgrounds.
The camping options near Urbandale vary in amenities and atmosphere. RV-focused sites like Griffs Valley View RV Park in Altoona provide full hookups and convenient access to urban amenities, while county parks offer more natural settings with varying levels of development. According to reviews, Cherry Glen Campground provides "views of Saylorville Lake, plenty of shade, and clean restrooms," making it popular with families. Timberline Campground receives particularly high marks from visitors, with one camper noting its "outstanding facilities, beautiful and tranquil location." Most campgrounds in the area accommodate both tents and RVs, with several offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfort while maintaining a camping experience.
"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"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"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"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
"The site we were on is sorta blacktop but the sides have crumbled and it has a slight tilt to it so stepping down out of the camper was tricky as your feet tend to slide in the loose rocks."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability"There's a boat camp, a bird watching area, a playground, plany of park space with picnic tables and BBQ pits, hiking and biking trails, and even a lodge that I assume can be rented for events."
"Walnut Woods is conveniently located 25 minutes outside of downtown Des Moines. Sites are paved and mostly level, although we did have to throw a couple of blocks under one side of our TT tires."
from $25 - $40 / 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"Roadside Oasis, a place to rest a weary head, food, showers, etc. Cabins always help get you in and get out early without setting up camp."
"I love the beautiful surroundings here. Definitely worth the visit."
"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"Close proximity to the state fair without being to close. Great stay! Our site had an open field behind it definitely recommend."
"There are two RV sites with shower houses, and about 10 tentsites on a large rectangular area in the back surrounded by trees."
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.
TravelerNice little city park camping area in Adair, Iowa. Basically 3-5 spots in the city park next to a bath house with showers! and a playground. We were the only campers that night (a Saturday). The town's main street is being repaved, so our little city park road was the main detour road, so we had a bit of traffic off and on. We drove about 10 miles down the road to Casey for ice cream and they have a similar city park camping area. It looked a bit nicer and we considered moving but decided to stay in Adair since we'd already paid our $10 (didn't need electric) and were pretty settled. Overall, a nice spot for a quick overnighter.
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
Camping near Urbandale, Iowa offers a mix of county and state park experiences at elevations ranging from 800-840 feet along the Des Moines River valley. Seasonal considerations impact camping options, with high humidity in summer months and temperatures regularly exceeding 85°F between June and August. Most campsites within a 30-minute drive require reservations well in advance for weekend stays during peak season.
Explore the hiking trails: At Yellow Banks County Park, trails lead to historical sites including Native American burial mounds. "There's a hiking trail that will take you to indian burial mounds. There is also fishing and boating," notes Derrick W. The park features a mix of short trails near campgrounds and "a longer pond trail on the southeast area of the park which was deserted when I hiked it," according to May M.
Visit the Jester Park Nature Center: The conservation center at Jester County Park offers educational exhibits about local wildlife. "Nature/Conservancy center there is just next level," writes Jim S. The park also features wildlife viewing opportunities, with one camper noting, "They advertise Elk and Bison which are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be."
Fish multiple waterways: Fishing options include both lake and river environments. At Yellow Banks, a camper shares: "The fishing pond is silted to about 9ft deep, have caught few small bass, bluegill. Never tried the river here, but is known for big cats." Many campgrounds offer shoreline access for anglers without boats.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: Timberline Campground receives high marks for upkeep. "The staff are all extremely friendly and accommodating. Facilities are all very clean and well taken care of," writes Bradley N. The campground offers a swimming pool which campers describe as "a great bonus" during hot summer months.
Access to biking trails: Griffs Valley View RV Park connects to the regional trail system. "Nicely paved 25 mile long Chichaqua Valley Trail runs right between the campground and the campground office," notes Anthony W. Similarly, Prairie Flower provides "nearby bike paths" that connect to the greater Des Moines trail network.
Quiet camping experiences: Despite proximity to urban areas, several campgrounds offer peaceful settings. At Acorn Valley, campers appreciate the tranquility: "We loved our time there. It was quiet and we loved listening to the wildlife at night," shares Nancy C. Most reviewers note weekday stays are significantly quieter than weekends.
Reservation requirements vary: While some parks fill quickly, others offer first-come options. "Yellow Banks can usually get site without reservation, IF you roll in on Wed. By Thurs night, it's full. Few reservables, 90% I'd say are first come," explains Kelly.
Limited water hookups at some parks: At Prairie Flower Recreation Area, campers should prepare for water access limitations. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," reports Ron M. Another camper advises: "No water hook ups, so fill up after you get in the campground before you park."
Dump station congestion: During peak checkout times, facilities can become crowded. One camper notes about Prairie Flower: "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!"
Playground access: Acorn Valley offers strategic site selection near play areas. "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," shares Dana K. The campground's layout allows parents to maintain supervision while relaxing at their sites.
Wildlife awareness: Several campgrounds have active wildlife, including raccoons. "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. about Acorn Valley.
Off-season visits: For families seeking fewer crowds, consider scheduling trips outside peak summer months. Yellow Banks County Park offers year-round camping, with one visitor recommending: "Lots of good fishing spots and great views! Recommend going mid-summer or fall to see everything."
Site leveling considerations: At Bob Shelter Recreation Area & Campground, concrete pads simplify setup. "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," shares Wendy H.
Propane services: Some campgrounds offer on-site propane filling stations. At Griffs Valley View RV Park, "you can check in and fill propane at the campground office that is actually up NE 46th St to the north of the campground," according to Anthony W., eliminating the need to find services elsewhere.
Hose length planning: For sites without direct water connections, one camper advises: "On large loops you will need a lot of hose to reach. I think I needed about 80' some campers will need 100'. There is potable water at dump site."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Urbandale, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Urbandale, IA is Jester County Park with a 4.5-star rating from 31 reviews.
What parks are near Urbandale, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 parks near Urbandale, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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