About Cottonwood Recreation Area
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Reviews (51)
What Guests Are Saying
The Cottonwood Recreation Area offers fantastic facilities, including clean shelters, ample tables, and nearby playgrounds and volleyball courts, making it ideal for family events. Guests appreciated the shade and space for activities, with many planning to return. However, some faced challenges due to restroom outages during events, which could be improved.
What Guests Are Saying
The Cottonwood Recreation Area offers fantastic facilities, including clean shelters, ample tables, and nearby playgrounds and volleyball courts, making it ideal for family events. Guests appreciated the shade and space for activities, with many planning to return. However, some faced challenges due to restroom outages during events, which could be improved.
Review Summary
Richard B
May 9, 2026
Rented in the past, tables were clean, shelters were clean, fire places cleaned out. This time, tables all covered in Cobb website, fireplace not emptied, no meet and greet like in the past. Restrooms were so so. May want to re-evaluate this year's contractors.
Jenea V
October 13, 2025
The shelter was fantastic for our event! It was nice and shady. The playground, and volleyball court were close by which was nice. Everyone had a great time!
Jenea V
October 13, 2025
The shelter was fantastic for our event! It was nice and shady. The playground, and volleyball court were close by which was nice. Everyone had a great time!
Sheryl W
September 23, 2025
The facility itself is fabulous! The challenge we ran into was that we held an event from 7am - 3pm and the restrooms were out of order the entire day. It created challenges with people having to leave the event, find a restroom, come back...rinse and repeat. It was very fortunate that a plumber was not able to be secured to fix the problem during the duration of our 8-hour event.
Sheryl W
September 23, 2025
The facility itself is fabulous! The challenge we ran into was that we held an event from 7am - 3pm and the restrooms were out of order the entire day. It created challenges with people having to leave the event, find a restroom, come back...rinse and repeat. It was very fortunate that a plumber was not able to be secured to fix the problem during the duration of our 8-hour event.
Beth J
September 6, 2025
Shelter #6 in Cottonwood Park was the perfect place for our family picnic! There were plenty of tables for everyone, a large shade tree for lawn chairs and games, lots of room to run, a playground, nearby clean restrooms and a gorgeous prairie for photographers. We will be back!
Beth J
September 6, 2025
Shelter #6 in Cottonwood Park was the perfect place for our family picnic! There were plenty of tables for everyone, a large shade tree for lawn chairs and games, lots of room to run, a playground, nearby clean restrooms and a gorgeous prairie for photographers. We will be back!
Steven G
July 12, 2025
We had a great time. The shelter was clean and ready to go when we arrived. The kids enjoyed the playground while the adults had a chance to catch up. Very nice.
Steven G
July 12, 2025
We had a great time. The shelter was clean and ready to go when we arrived. The kids enjoyed the playground while the adults had a chance to catch up. Very nice.
Dena R
June 21, 2025
clean area, extra waste bags appreciated for clean up. Email reminders were nice to help in planning event.
Location Cottonwood Recreation Area
Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office
Johnston, IA, 50131
United States
Utilize address 7400 NW 37th Street Ankeny IA 50023 (Not a valid mailing address).
From I-35, take Exit 90 in Ankeny and head approxmately 3.5 miles west to NW 84th Ave. Turn Left on 84th Ave and head south apprximately 1.5 miles to Cottonwood Recreation Area on the right.
The Cottonwood Recreation Area is accessible from I-35 via Exit 90 in Ankeny, approximately 3.5 miles east of the campground. From there, NW 84th Ave provides direct access south to the campground.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.6906 / -93.6747
Elevation: 246 feet
Policies & Rules
General
- Special Event Permits are required for inflatable bounce houses and water features. Special Event Permits may be required for events that may impact nearby shelters, are open to the public, wedding events, company picnics etc. Please contact the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656 to inquire.
- Shelters may be reserved up to 4 days in advance. If shelters are not reserved, they are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis
- Playgrounds and restrooms near shelters are open to the public. Reservations apply only to picnic shelters not other amenities.
- Click here for more information
- Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes you to Saylorville Lake. Our goal is to make your visit a safe and enjoyable experience. A complete list of rules, Title 36 “Rules and Regulations” and other helpful maps and brochures are available from the Visitor Center, Park Rangers, Park Attendants or Hosts. Please contact any member of our staff if you have questions or need assistance. Please help maintain and protect park facilities and natural resources by following these guidelines when picnicking at Saylorville Lake. PICNIC AREA HOURS: Month of April . May through Labor Day . The day after Labor Day through October . Rules: 1) Clean up is the responsibility of the picnic users. Please clean up all spills and dispose of litter. If you have more trash than the garbage cans hold, please use area dumpsters. Leave the area in the condition you would like to find it. 2) The Possession of Fireworks, explosives, firearms, ammunition, bows or other projectile firing devices is prohibited. 3) The operation and parking of vehicles off roadways is prohibited. 4) Only street legal vehicles are allowed. 5) Amplified sound systems are not allowed without a Special Event Permit. 6) Yard games such as water balloons and egg toss are prohibited. 7) Trailer Roasters are allowed only in parking areas. Do not place hot roasters, grills, skillets or grease pan directly on picnic tables. 8) Pets must be confined or on a leash less than 6 feet long. Pets are not allowed in the restrooms. Please pick up and properly dispose of all pet waste. To contact a Park Ranger during normal business hours Monday—Friday, To contact a Park Ranger after normal business hours, call the Polk County Dispatch at .
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 3, 2026
