109 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds around West Des Moines provide a range of accommodations for outdoor enthusiasts in central Iowa. Walnut Woods State Park Campground, located within city limits, offers tent and RV camping options in a wooded setting along the Raccoon River. Just northwest in Waukee, Timberline Campground features 168 sites with amenities for tent campers, RVs, and cabin rentals. The area includes several mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate diverse camping styles, with Jester County Park offering year-round access to cabins and traditional campsites about 20 miles north of the city.
Seasonal considerations affect campground availability throughout the region, with many facilities operating from April through October. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, especially during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Timberline Campground operates from April 1 to November 1, while several state park facilities remain open year-round. "Camping doesn't get much better than this in Iowa," noted one visitor about nearby Lake Red Rock campgrounds, which offer shaded sites and direct lake access. Water and electric hookups are standard at most developed sites, though sewer connections are less common. Weather conditions remain relatively mild during camping season, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and occasional thunderstorms requiring weather awareness.
The camping experience near West Des Moines ranges from basic amenities to more developed facilities. Several visitors mentioned clean facilities as a highlight of their stays. At Jester County Park, campers appreciate the nature center and wildlife viewing opportunities alongside traditional camping experiences. According to one camper, "This site was great, it has a reserve site to its right and a first-come, first-served site to the left. Super quiet and relaxing." Campgrounds within state parks typically offer more natural settings with hiking trails, while private campgrounds feature additional amenities like pools and planned activities. Raccoon River access provides fishing and paddling opportunities at several locations, with Walnut Woods and Yellow Banks County Park offering river access points popular with anglers and water enthusiasts.
"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"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"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 at the West Des Moines KOA for the Nationals Softball Tournament for my daughter in July. There were 6 families that stayed there with us."
"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."
"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"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"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."
"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
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 West Des Moines provides access to a network of lakes, rivers, and parks within a 30-mile radius of the city. The Des Moines River and Saylorville Lake form the backbone of the region's water recreation system, with elevations ranging from 750 to 900 feet above sea level. Summer humidity levels typically reach 65-80% during camping season, creating conditions where proper site selection for airflow becomes important.
Fishing at multiple locations: Prairie Flower Recreation Area offers both lake and pond fishing opportunities with cement pads for accessibility. "This is a very large campground with lots of sites and large group camping areas. The bathrooms and shower house are nice and clean," notes one visitor about the Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Trail access for biking: Several campgrounds connect to regional trail systems. "The trail can take you to the marina, where there is a burger shack style restaurant," mentions a camper about Prairie Flower's proximity to the trail network.
Wildlife viewing: Jester County Park offers bison and elk viewing areas, though one camper notes they "are smart enough to stay far away from humans, as it should be." The park also features a nature center that one visitor describes as "just next level."
Water recreation: Cherry Glen Campground provides direct lake access with a boat launch nearby. "Love this it's close to the city yet feel so far away," writes one camper about the wildlife and water access at this location.
Clean facilities: Consistently mentioned across campgrounds is the cleanliness of bathhouses. At Acorn Valley, "facilities were immaculate, playground and pond were awesome for keeping kids entertained," according to a recent camper.
River exploration: Yellow Banks County Park offers unique riverbed exploration areas. "We have camped here a couple times... Our boys love exploring here," notes one visitor about the small trails leading to the riverbed.
Modern amenities: Timberline Campground receives praise for its well-maintained facilities. "Great place to camp! Outstanding facilities, beautiful and tranquil location, friendly and helpful staff, and a place you will always remember as a sweet spot," writes one enthusiastic visitor.
Spacious sites: Prairie Flower campsites receive positive feedback for their size. "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 a visitor.
Reservation requirements: Many campgrounds fill completely during peak season, especially weekends. "We were told @ the gate we had to pay since it was a different campground & would be reimbursed for our reservation," explains one camper at Prairie Flower, indicating the complexity when campgrounds reach capacity.
Environmental conditions: Yellow Banks County Park receives praise for its natural setting but comes with challenges. "Pond is silted to about 9ft deep, have caught few small bass, bluegill. Never tried the river here, but is known for big cats," notes one fisherman.
Wildlife encounters: Multiple campgrounds report active wildlife, especially after dark. At Acorn Valley, "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."
Weekend traffic: Bob Shelter Recreation Area sees significant weekend traffic. "The Des Moines area has a fairly large camping population - because of this, reservations are usually necessary," warns one visitor.
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for convenience. At Jester County Park, "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 one parent.
Educational opportunities: Walnut Woods State Park Campground offers natural learning experiences. "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," describes one visitor.
Water activities: Floating on the Raccoon River provides family entertainment. "We just did a day trip here with families who have a bunch of kids. Great park for kids and they loved floating down the river," shares a visitor to Walnut Woods.
Seasonal planning: Visit during non-peak times for a quieter experience. "After Labor Day" is mentioned as when some campgrounds close or significantly reduce crowds.
Hookup logistics: Electric-only sites require planning. "No water or sewer but bathrooms are clean and many. The local trail is paved and bike/walker/stroller friendly," notes one RVer at Cherry Glen Campground.
Site selection: For RVs, concrete pads provide advantages. "Spacious campsites with cement pads... The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is no water or sewer onsite," mentions an RVer at Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Dump station timing: Plan for potential wait times when departing popular 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," warns a camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near West Des Moines, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near West Des Moines, IA is Walnut Woods State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 14 reviews.
What parks are near West Des Moines, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 parks near West Des Moines, IA that allow camping, notably Saylorville Lake and Lake Red Rock.
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