About Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 153
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Playground
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
On Site Services
- Playground
Water Access
- Beach Access
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Rates, Sites & Availability
153 Sites Available
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Site Details
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153 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 (618)
What Guests Are Saying
Prairie Flower Recreation Area is a well-maintained campground featuring spacious, clean sites with large concrete pads and excellent facilities, including spotless restrooms and friendly staff. Many visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere and proximity to recreational activities in nearby Ames, Ankeny, and Des Moines. Some suggestions for improvement include adding more paved sites and addressing overgrown grass and weeds, but overall, guests express a strong desire to return for future visits.
What Guests Are Saying
Prairie Flower Recreation Area is a well-maintained campground featuring spacious, clean sites with large concrete pads and excellent facilities, including spotless restrooms and friendly staff. Many visitors appreciate the quiet atmosphere and proximity to recreational activities in nearby Ames, Ankeny, and Des Moines. Some suggestions for improvement include adding more paved sites and addressing overgrown grass and weeds, but overall, guests express a strong desire to return for future visits.
Review Summary
Mike M
VerifiedAugust 15, 2025 • Stayed at: A03, Loop: ASTE
Very nice and well kept campground. Loops B, C, D have spacious concrete pads and Loop A is gravel. All have good size yards. Very friendly and close to everything.
Dustin B
VerifiedAugust 15, 2025 • Stayed at: B68, Loop: BLAZ
Garbage was overflowing out of dumpsters the whole week. We started s-f and they didn’t get emptied. Fire pits full of ash (over 10’inches) couldn’t even light a fire. Campsite very nice, bathrooms super clean, and playground are good.
david d
VerifiedAugust 14, 2025 • Stayed at: A08, Loop: ASTE
Nice rv sites. Easy to get in and out and the facilities were well kept 👌
Judy D
VerifiedAugust 14, 2025 • Stayed at: A08, Loop: ASTE
I was there for the Senior Games in Des Moines. We chose to stay at Prairie Flower because of its close proximity to our venue in Ankeny. We enjoyed everything about the campground especially the biking throughout campground. I enjoyed the wild flowers as I walked each day. I wish they had laundry facilities.
Pat C
VerifiedAugust 12, 2025 • Stayed at: H186, Loop: HONE
We appreciate the grass being cut in spite of all the rain.
Thomas E
VerifiedAugust 12, 2025 • Stayed at: A22, Loop: ASTE
The place needed mowed bad & when the did mow it looked like a hay field, rained & our dog kept tracking dead grass in. They haven't tried all summer & weeds as tall as the hydrant & electric box stations. Use to mow a waking path between A & B loop but not any more. More weeds in there priarie areas then native plants/flowers. When we left Tuesday morning dumpsters were over flowing & had been since Saturday.
cindy b
VerifiedAugust 11, 2025 • Stayed at: C79, Loop: CONE
Very well maintained!
Arthur W
VerifiedAugust 8, 2025 • Stayed at: D124, Loop: DOGB
Great location as always.
Shelley M
VerifiedAugust 6, 2025 • Stayed at: D129, Loop: DOGB
Nice oark
Jack R
VerifiedAugust 3, 2025 • Stayed at: C104, Loop: CONE
Loved the concrete camp site
Location Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office, 5600 Nw 78 Th Avenue
Johnston, IA, 50131-1941
United States
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.
Prairie Flower Recreation Area is accessible via Iowa State Highway 415, which is approximately 5 miles to the east. Interstate 80 is about 20 miles to the north.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.7483 / -93.6875
Elevation: 286 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
12PM
General
- Click here for more information
- Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
- 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.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 3, 2026
