Acorn Valley
Acorn Valley Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including camping, bicycling, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.
More like this: electric hookups in Iowa · reservable in Iowa · big rigs in Iowa · pets allowed in Iowa · group sites in Iowa
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Walk-in | 54 |
| Standard with electric | 29 |
| group walk to | 1 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 72 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
85 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Electric | Back-in | 72 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 002 | Electric | Back-in | 64 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 003 | Electric | Back-in | 43 | Gravel | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 004 | Electric | Back-in | 45 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 005 | Electric | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Electric | Back-in | 64 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Electric | Back-in | 22 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 6 / 4 | Yes | ||
| 008 | Electric | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 50 amp | 6 / 4 | Yes | ||
| 009 | Electric | Back-in | 41 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 010 | Electric | Back-in | 51 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | Electric, water |
| Max vehicle length | 82 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 020, Group/Youth Site, 102 are listed accessible |
The campground offers 29 family sites with electric hookups and 54 primitive walk-to tent sites. The campground also features 2 group tent camping areas; a youth group camping area with special restrictions to organized youth as well as a standard group area open to all visitors. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Nearby facilities include picnic areas with group shelters, boat ramps, a marina and a fishing dock.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-35/80 north of Des Moines, Iowa, take exit 131 toward Johnston/Saylorville Lake. Turn north on Merle Hay Road and continue for 2.8 miles. At the four-way stop, turn left on Northwest Beaver Drive and continue for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Northwest Coryden Drive and follow signs into the campground.
| Nearest town | Johnston, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41.7378° N, 93.7236° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Pingora Outdoors ↗ | 4.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hillcrest RV ↗ | 5.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Acorn Valley Campground Review | Johnston, Iowa
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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Natural features
The mature Bur Oaks at the entrance to Acorn Valley beckon visitors to explore its 26 acres on the fringe of an upland timber stand. Wildlife is abundant throughout the area. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
Recreation
Anglers enjoy the lake for its abundance of walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.
Guidebooks for Iowa
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Acorn Valley?
Sites at Acorn Valley are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Acorn Valley?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Acorn Valley have?
91 sites, including 54 walk-in sites, 29 standard sites with power, 1 group walk to, and 1 group tent area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Acorn Valley?
Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Does Acorn Valley have hookups?
Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Acorn Valley?
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Acorn Valley?
Yes, pets are allowed at Acorn Valley. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Acorn Valley?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Acorn Valley?
Sites 020 and Group/Youth Site, 102 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Acorn Valley?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Acorn Valley?
Anglers enjoy the lake for its abundance of walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Acorn Valley?
Johnston, Iowa.
Source: Getting there