Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Prairie Flower Recreation Area is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.
More like this: electric hookups in Iowa · full 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
| Standard with electric | 242 |
| group standard area electric | 10 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 85 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
252 sites in 15 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Power | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A01 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 60 | Gravel | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | ||
| A02 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 66 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A03 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 65 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| A04 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 68 | Paved | 30 amp | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| A05 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 64 | Gravel | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | ||
| A06 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 68 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | |
| A07 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 70 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | |
| A08 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 68 | Paved | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | Yes |
| A09 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 66 | Gravel | Partial | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | Yes | |
| A10 | ASTE | Electric | Back-in | 62 | Gravel | 50 amp | 6 / 3 | 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, sewer |
| Max vehicle length | 85 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Site A08 is listed accessible |
Prairie Flower is a large, open campground covering more than 60 acres. It offers 153 family sites and 10 group sites, all with electric hookups. Many of the family sites in the south end offer a pleasant view of the 6000-acre lake. The north end is made up of mostly group sites in a circle-the-wagon design. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. The campground also provides educational programs, group shelters, playgrounds and a swimming beach. Nearby amenities include a visitor center, hiking trail, volleyball courts and a disc golf course. Boat ramps and a fishing dock are also close by.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny/Oralabor Road and go west for 4.8 miles. The road turns into Highway 415, continue and follow signs to the campground.
| Nearest town | Johnston, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41.7483° N, 93.6875° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | under 0.1 mi |
| RV sales & service | Hillcrest RV ↗ | 3.9 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Pingora Outdoors ↗ | 5.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Prairie Flower Campground, Des Moines, Iowa
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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Natural features
Iowa's prairie heritage is celebrated in more than 40 acres of prairie plantings throughout the campground. The wide variety of grass and flowers provides vivid colors from mid-summer to fall. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find 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.
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Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Sites at Prairie Flower Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Prairie Flower Recreation Area have?
252 sites, including 242 standard sites with power and 10 group standard area electric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
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 Prairie Flower Recreation Area have hookups?
Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there showers or a dump station at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Prairie Flower Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Site A08 is 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 Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, 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 Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Prairie Flower Recreation Area?
Johnston, Iowa.
Source: Getting there