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Timberline Campground welcomes pets throughout its spacious 168 sites, offering both shaded and open areas for dogs to enjoy with their owners. The full-service park features a dedicated dog exercise area with pea gravel surface where pets can play off-leash. All tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and cabin accommodations are pet-friendly, though dogs must remain leashed when not in the designated pet area. Several campgrounds near Urbandale maintain similar pet policies, including Jester County Park, Bob Shelter Recreation Area, and Des Moines West KOA Holiday, all requiring pets to be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet when outside vehicles or tents. Some campers note hearing gunfire from a nearby shooting range which may cause anxiety for noise-sensitive dogs.
Wooded areas at Yellow Banks County Park provide shaded walking paths suitable for dog walks during hot summer months. The campground's location along water access points allows dogs to cool off, though swimming areas may have separate pet regulations. Most campgrounds in the area provide waste stations and require campers to clean up after their pets. Local veterinary services are available in Johnston and West Des Moines, with emergency animal hospitals within 15-20 minutes of most campgrounds. Prairie Flower Recreation Area enforces strict leash policies particularly during peak camping season from May through October. Visitors with multiple dogs should verify individual campground policies, as some limit the number of pets per site while others like Timberline allow multiple pets with proper supervision.
"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"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."
"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"Small dog park which is pea gravel, not grass."
"If you’re traveling through Des Moines, Iowa area; this is the place you will want to camp at!"
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"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"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"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."
"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."
"Wonderful trails, lots of space. Access to DM River, has nice pond, playgrounds, just a beautiful area. "
"camped here in 2021 and I enjoyed it but the first night I was there I ran my vehicle down the second night I was there I took a tour on the campgrounds and got verbally accosted but another camper for walking"
"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
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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.
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!
LegendThis County Park is located right on the edge of Lake Panorama, a great town North West of Des Moines, Iowa. It is surrounded by amenities, so if you forget something you can drive five minutes into town to replace anything you forgot at home.
This is not a place to rough it, but if you have a family and want an outdoors experience close to amenities, this is the place for you. The campground is very clean and it is right next to a river.
Campgrounds near Urbandale, Iowa range from state-managed sites to private facilities with full amenities. The Des Moines River and Saylorville Lake create a network of water-accessible camping locations within a 20-mile radius of Urbandale. Summer temperatures typically reach 86°F with high humidity, while spring camping often requires preparation for rain and occasional flooding on riverfront sites.
Fishing opportunities: Bob Shelter Recreation Area offers prime fishing spots along the Des Moines River. "Love to camp here and watch the spill way," notes Roger O., who frequently fishes below the dam. The spillway area attracts local anglers throughout the camping season.
Hiking trails: Wooded trails at Yellow Banks County Park provide moderate terrain for day hikes. "There's a hiking trail that will take you to Indian burial mounds," explains Derrick W. The park maintains several miles of paths with historical significance and river access points.
Water activities: Watercraft access points at Cherry Glen Campground connect directly to Saylorville Lake. "Lots of trees. Playgrounds. Near lake," describes Janet A. The boat launch remains accessible throughout the camping season, with rental services available at the marina during summer months.
Space between sites: Campers appreciate the layout at Prairie Flower Recreation Area for its well-designed spacing. "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," notes Heather S. The campground features multiple loops with varying levels of privacy.
Clean facilities: "The bathhouses are always clean and updated. Sites do have some space for privacy between them," reports Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Most campgrounds in the area maintain similar cleanliness standards for restrooms, with shower facilities available at select locations.
Accessibility to urban amenities: Walnut Woods State Park offers camping with proximity to urban conveniences. "This is a beautiful State Park on the southwest side of the Des Moines metro. It is hidden from most of suburbia but very close to shopping, movies, restaurants, and the Des Moines night life," explains Matt S. Many campers use this location as a base for exploring both natural areas and city attractions.
Reservation requirements: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "This campground is a hot spot for Des Moines to escape the weekend - with that said, reservations are a must! Most times you need to make them six months out," advises Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Weather impacts: Spring flooding affects campground availability. "We were sent to this campground because our reservation for Bob Shetler campground was cancelled because of flooding," explains Christina H. Low-lying campgrounds along the Des Moines River may close with minimal notice during high water events.
Limited dump stations: "There's one dump station for a campground that is large in size and popularity. Trying to leave on a Sunday is a good 1 hour wait," notes Elizabeth A. about Prairie Flower Recreation Area. RVers should plan accordingly, especially during busy weekends when departure times cause congestion.
Playground access: Acorn Valley features child-friendly facilities near campsites. "Nice and well maintained! 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. Several campgrounds maintain similar setups with playground visibility from select sites.
Wildlife viewing: "We lived our time there. It was quiet and we loved listening to the wildlife at night," describes Nancy C. about Acorn Valley. Children often enjoy watching raccoons, deer, and various bird species from campsites, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Water play options: Cherry Glen Campground provides swimming access for families with children. "Boating and swimming in the lake," notes Patti M. Most lake-adjacent campgrounds maintain designated swimming areas during summer months, though not all have lifeguards on duty.
Site leveling considerations: "Spots kind of level, lots of choices of pull thru or buddy sites," observes Mia L. about Des Moines West KOA Holiday. RV campers should bring leveling blocks, as many dog friendly campgrounds near Urbandale feature slightly uneven terrain.
Hookup variations: "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," explains Roxanna L. about Timberline Campground. Electric service ranges from 30-50 amp depending on the specific campground and site.
Satellite reception: "Sites are not very secluded," mentions Jennifer M. about Walnut Woods State Park. While this limits privacy, it benefits RVers requiring satellite signal for television or internet service. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near Urbandale feature open areas with clear sky views alongside shaded options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Urbandale, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 86 dog-friendly camping locations near Urbandale, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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