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
Dan A
VerifiedJuly 9, 2025 • Stayed at: C104, Loop: CONE
Beautiful campground. Camping in the spring: the temperature was down in the low 40's in the mornings and although the shower houses have heaters, they were never turned on. Also, the grass was so long and the bugs were terrible.
Nancy K
VerifiedJuly 7, 2025 • Stayed at: B58, Loop: BLAZ
we love Prairie Flower campground and the cement pads in the B, C, and D loops. Check in is very easy,, although I wonder how the people in the shack know that he person in the campsite is really the person who paid for the site. Also when we were there last week the fire ring in B58 was not cleaned. Otherwise everything was great. Thank you.
Sylvia S
VerifiedJuly 7, 2025 • Stayed at: C79, Loop: CONE
Awesome campground, sites were a great size, shower house was very clean, and the trail was beautiful.
James R
VerifiedJuly 6, 2025 • Stayed at: A19, Loop: ASTE
Great campground with nice facilities. some of the lake view sites are very pretty at sunset.
Scott R
VerifiedJuly 6, 2025 • Stayed at: D131, Loop: DOGB
Facilities kept up nicely, could use a little updating especially to overhead parking lights but that is the economy we live in today.
This park is almost always full, guessing the COE uses proceeds for other recreational areas as well.
Russell C
VerifiedJuly 6, 2025 • Stayed at: C81, Loop: CONE
We always enjoy the Prairie Flower Recreational Area campground. Bathroom houses, sites and campgrounds are always well maintained. Only drawback is the lack of sufficient shade. The campground lost a large number of mature trees during a derecho several years ago. New trees have been planted, but it will take 10+ years for them to obtain adequate size to provide sufficient shade. I would highly recommend this campground. Weekends can be very busy with families/kids.
Mike L
VerifiedJuly 4, 2025 • Stayed at: D122, Loop: DOGB
Great campground very clean and well maintained
Matthew E
VerifiedJuly 3, 2025 • Stayed at: H180, Loop: HONE
The restrooms were well maintained. Shower stall a bit on the small side. Good water pressure. The campground roads were very well maintained.
Chris H
VerifiedJuly 3, 2025 • Stayed at: B62, Loop: BLAZ
Restrooms are always clean, campsites are all on concrete and access to the lake for swimming or fishing.
Nathan C
VerifiedJuly 2, 2025 • Stayed at: D119, Loop: DOGB
Prairie Flower is a well-cared for campground with concrete parking and fire pits at each site. The sites have 50 amp and 30 amp breakers, as well as 110 volt receptacles. The campers I have dealt with are all friendly and well-behaved, making it a great family destination.
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
