Featured amenities
About Acorn Valley
Number of accommodations: 83
Campground Amenities
-
Showers
-
Playground
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
83 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
83 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (245)
What Guests Are Saying
Acorn Valley Campground is praised for its beautiful, clean, and well-maintained sites, providing a peaceful and quiet atmosphere for campers. Many visitors appreciate the spaciousness of the sites and the friendly, attentive staff. However, some noted minor drawbacks, such as limited access to nearby water and occasional noise from incoming vehicles. Overall, it is regarded as a lovely spot for camping, especially for families.
What Guests Are Saying
Acorn Valley Campground is praised for its beautiful, clean, and well-maintained sites, providing a peaceful and quiet atmosphere for campers. Many visitors appreciate the spaciousness of the sites and the friendly, attentive staff. However, some noted minor drawbacks, such as limited access to nearby water and occasional noise from incoming vehicles. Overall, it is regarded as a lovely spot for camping, especially for families.
Review Summary
Angel W
VerifiedSeptember 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Great weekend with family, we will be back soon!
Roger C
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 025, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Spaces nice and facilities in great shape.
william d
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 046, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Very nice for tent camping.
I like it that cars are confinef to roadways and parking. Very safe and clean.
Benjamin V
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Campground is way too packed. Sites had more guests and visitors than allowed. We had tents set up between our campsite and the adjoining one because they had more than the authorized camping units. Poorly regulated at best. We also had to wake up the campsite next to us to move their boat so that we could leave in the morning. Won’t return unless the grounds are under better management.
Troy H
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 098, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Nice quiet place with saylorville lake just hundreds of feet away.
Alisha H
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2020 • Stayed at: 061, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Good, clean, well kept
Angel W
VerifiedAugust 30, 2020 • Stayed at: 023, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Had a great time camping with family
Susan K
VerifiedAugust 29, 2020 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Stayed one out of two nights thanks to our neighbors. Greater to 2 barking dogs, a radio and no one around. The dogs obviously used our area as their toilet area because it smelled of dog shit. They had garbage everywhere and obviously helped spread around by the raccoons. They look like they have been living there for a while by the state of their site. They spent most the night moving around and being loud for being right next to our camper, not to mention the random barks from the dogs. Then at 5 am if we weren’t awake we were woken by a pickup feet from our camper revving it’s engine like it was getting ready for a race before they left. We slept more during the day then we got all night.
Spots are way to close together for nrighbors like that. We left our home after the derecho so we could get a cool night sleep in the air conditioning before we started to figure out how we were going to get through the next week and this was the only campgrounds with electricity. We decided borrowing a generator and sleeping in our driveway with the loud machine was better then staying next to the smells and sounds of our neighbors.
Met by the host as we were packing up and they asked why we were leaving early. I pointed to the trash covered site and explained the smells and sounds that went with it. Not sure how it’s an alcohol free campground because there was plenty of discarded containers there. She apologized and said she would have the ranger come take care of it. Too bad our many calls didn’t get the the same response before we decided to leave. Then she stated she would refund our second day. That never happened. I don't think I’ll go back. When I do go without a weather disaster happening I go to relax, not to smell others dog shit, look at their shit and be kept awake all night.
Wesley H
VerifiedAugust 27, 2020 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Well ran, fairly large campsites with privacy
Carolyn T
VerifiedAugust 18, 2020 • Stayed at: 002, Loop: ACORN VALLEY
Nice camp ground, camps are a nice distance apart.
Would like booking a camp site made easier...having to do it by phone is a pain... miss the people connecting.
Location Acorn Valley
Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office
Johnston, IA, 50131-1941
United States
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.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.7378 / -93.7236
Elevation: 290 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
Click here for more information about Saylorville Lake. |
| General |
Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area. |
| General |
Saylorville Lake Campground RulesCamping: Allowed only at designated campsites. Reservations must be made in advance before setting up camping equipment.Campsite Registration: Campsites may only be registered to individuals 18 years or older, who must occupy the site for the full duration. Each campsite accommodates 1 family unit (up to 8 people) and allows either 3 tents OR 1 RV and 2 tents.Check-out time: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Check-in time: 2:00 p.m.Vacating & Registration: Campsites must be vacated or registration renewed by 12:00 p.m. on the due date. Camping is limited to 14 days within any 30-day period.Parking: Reserving campsites by parking vehicles or leaving items is prohibited. All vehicles (including boats/trailers) must be parked at your campsite or in designated areas. No parking on grass, roadsides, or vacant sites. Please ensure your visitors follow parking rules.Vehicle Operation: All vehicles (including mopeds and bicycles) must comply with Federal, State, and local laws. Stay on designated roads and use vehicles only for entering or exiting sites. UTVs, ATVs, and golf carts are not allowed in campgrounds or parks.Quiet Hours: From 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Campgrounds are restricted to registered campers during these hours. Visitors must leave by 10:00 p.m. Gates remain open 24/7.Trash Disposal: Use designated dumpsters only. Do not leave trash in fire rings, grills, or shower building cans. Remove all personal items and litter before departure. Recycling containers are available. Dumpsters are for trash generated on USACE property only.Grey Water Disposal: Grey water (from dishes, baths, soap, grease, etc.) must be collected and disposed of properly. Do not drain it on campsites or use it to water vegetation. Improper disposal creates odors, health issues, and attracts animals.Pets: Must be confined or leashed (6 feet or shorter) at all times. E-collars are not sufficient. Pets may not be left unattended and are not allowed in bathrooms or shower buildings. Pick up and dispose of waste properly.Firewood: Not available for purchase on-site. You may gather only fallen deadwood. Do not cut or damage trees, vegetation, or natural features. Firewood may be brought from home or purchased from off-site vendors.Pools & Water Games: Pools of any size or slip-n-slides and sprinklers are prohibited. Water tables are allowed.Prohibited Items: Fireworks, explosives, loaded firearms, ammunition, bows, and other projectile devices are not allowed.Smoking: Not allowed inside restrooms or shower buildings.Grills & Picnic Tables: Do not place grills or hot materials on picnic tables—use attached grill guards. Site holders are responsible for any damage or replacements.Yard Games: Games such as water balloons or egg toss are prohibited due to litter. Balloon pieces are non-biodegradable and harmful to pets and wildlife.Pet Leashes & Hammocks: Do not tie leashes, ropes, or chains to trees or shrubs. Hammocks may be used only on trees 6 inches or more in diameter to avoid damage.Alcoholic Beverages: Permitted for those 21 and older at all campgrounds.Hangtags: Registered campers may receive hangtags for access to beach and boat ramp day-use areas. Hangtags must be properly displayed.Golden Age/Access Passports: These and America the Beautiful Senior/Access Passes provide a 50% discount on recreation fees. The cardholder must present the card and ID during registration and be present for the stay. Fraudulent use is prohibited.Washing Equipment: Washing of RVs, trailers, vehicles, or equipment is not allowed at campgrounds or day-use areas. Use local wash facilities instead.Deliveries: Personal package deliveries (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, etc.) should be sent to your home, business, or a local postal facility. Saylorville Lake campgrounds, the Administration Building, and Visitor Center do not accept or hold deliveries.Equipment & Vehicle Storage: Reserving extra campsites solely to store equipment or vehicles is not allowed. Use designated overflow or additional parking during your stay.Water Spigots: Water spigots are for temporary use only to fill freshwater tanks. Do not use continuous hoses, Y-splitters, or attachments. Continuous hookups are only allowed at campsites with water service. |
