Camping near Ankeny: which Saylorville campground to book, and when the cabins make more sense.

Where can you camp near Ankeny?

Saylorville Lake, just west of town. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs the campgrounds and you book on Recreation.gov. Drive times below are from Uptown Ankeny, checked on a routing map, so allow for traffic.

Prices are per night from Recreation.gov and Polk County as read in November 2026, and the top of Prairie Flower's and Acorn Valley's range is for group sites (up to $336 and $84).

Which Saylorville Lake campground is best?

Cherry Glen if you want close. Recreation.gov calls it the oldest and most popular campground on the lake, on a compact 13-acre wooded ridge near Polk City, with a boat ramp, showers and a dump station. Call 515-964-8792.

Prairie Flower if you have kids. It covers more than 60 open acres with a swimming beach, playgrounds and prairie plantings, and many sites at the south end have a lake view. All sites have electric. Call 515-984-6925.

Acorn Valley if you want a tent. It is on the far side of the lake, with 29 electric sites, 54 primitive walk-to sites and two group tent areas. A marina and boat ramps are nearby. Call 515-276-0429.

Bob Shetler if you are fishing. It sits below the dam, with river views and most sites a short walk from the shore. Recreation.gov lists it as reservable; call 515-276-0873 to confirm the season before you plan around it.

What are the rules at Saylorville campgrounds?

Reservations must be made before you set up, and these are the ones that matter:

• Check-in is 2 p.m. and check-out is noon.
• Each site holds one family unit of up to 8 people, with 3 tents or 1 RV and 2 tents.
• The registered camper must be 18 or older and stay for the whole trip.
• Stay limit is 14 days in any 30-day period.
• Parking stays on your site or in marked areas. No grass, roadsides or empty sites.

We could not find 2027 season dates for the Corps sites. If you are planning an early spring or late fall trip, look at the calendar on the campground's Recreation.gov page first. The paved Neal Smith Trail links the east side campgrounds, so bring bikes.

Are there cabins to rent near Ankeny?

Yes. Jester Park in Granger, on the west shore of Saylorville, has four modern Polk County cabins that sleep 6 or 8. The county describes a fire pit, lawn games, a large deck, a gas fireplace, a full kitchen with dishes and a canoe or kayak with each rental, which makes a good first camping trip for people who don't love tents. See the county's cabin page for the rental contract, current rates and booking. Thomas Mitchell Park east of Des Moines has one more cabin, for 6.

Campsites are booked at mycountyparks.com. Jester's 1,661 acres also have a nature center, bison and elk herds, golf and a natural playscape. Campgrounds there close December 1 to March 31, except walk-in tent camping, which is allowed year-round. Shower houses run mid-April to mid-October, and online reservations cover April 1 to November 30. Most sites need advance reservations; some are first-come. Polk County also runs campgrounds at Yellow Banks and Thomas Mitchell parks.

Common questions

Where can you camp near Ankeny, Iowa?

The closest camping is around Saylorville Lake just west of Ankeny: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds Cherry Glen, Prairie Flower, Acorn Valley and Bob Shetler, all listed on Recreation.gov. For cabins, Jester Park on the west shore has four modern cabins plus county campsites at $20 to $25.

Can you camp at Big Creek State Park?

We found no campground there. The Iowa DNR's park description covers the beach, boat rentals, shelters and trails and promotes it as a day trip. For overnight camping nearby, use the Saylorville Lake campgrounds or Jester Park.

Are there cabins to rent near Ankeny?

Yes. Jester Park in Granger has four modern Polk County cabins that sleep 6 or 8, and Thomas Mitchell Park east of Des Moines has one. See the Polk County cabin page for rates and booking.

How far is camping from Ankeny?

Cherry Glen is about 5 miles from Uptown Ankeny, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by road. Prairie Flower is about 15 minutes, Bob Shetler about 20, and Acorn Valley and Jester Park about 25 to 30 minutes.

How much does camping cost at Saylorville Lake?

Recreation.gov lists Cherry Glen at $24 to $26 a night and Bob Shetler at $22 to $26. Prairie Flower starts at $20 and Acorn Valley starts at $14, with higher prices for group sites.

Can you camp near Ankeny in the winter?

Polk County campgrounds, including Jester Park, close December 1 to March 31 except for walk-in tent camping, which is allowed year-round. Check Recreation.gov calendars for Corps campgrounds at Saylorville.