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
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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
Craig K
VerifiedNovember 8, 2025 • Stayed at: C101, Loop: CONE
Well kept, host and hostess very friendly to talk and informative.
Scott R
VerifiedNovember 5, 2025 • Stayed at: B63, Loop: BLAZ
Prairie flower is alway such a quiet relaxing camp area.
Pads are nicely spaced to give everyone a little privacy while having all the amenities needed for an enjoyable experience.
Campground is always very quiet overnights and most campers are quite friendly and respectful.
Easy access to walking/biking trails and several beaches adorn the shore of the impoundment.
TERRIE T
VerifiedNovember 4, 2025 • Stayed at: A08, Loop: ASTE
Beautiful, clean campground
Laura and Rodney P
VerifiedOctober 31, 2025 • Stayed at: H179, Loop: HONE
Overall a very nice park. We stayed in site H179 which was nice. It had quite a bit of highway noise since this loop backs up to the main road.
Joe N
VerifiedOctober 31, 2025 • Stayed at: B52, Loop: BLAZ
We love using the paved bike trail running right through the campground. You can go N or S for over 15 miles. We kayaked along the shore of the lake, and found some nice hiking trails through woods and meadows. The sites are large, flat, partially shaded, and spaced apart. Nice, clean shower houses, and fire pits. The only negatives are: no pull thrus or full hook up sites.
Larry A
VerifiedOctober 29, 2025 • Stayed at: B45, Loop: BLAZ
Large cement pads, spotless/clean bathrooms and great volunteers!!
Diana J
VerifiedOctober 29, 2025 • Stayed at: C75, Loop: CONE
Costodians and staff did an outstanding job, would be 5+ stars if the shower water was a little warmer.
Suzanna T
VerifiedOctober 28, 2025 • Stayed at: A14, Loop: ASTE
Prairie flower is a beautiful campground. My husband and I enjoyed the quietness and how clean and nice the bathrooms were. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody.
Jill H
VerifiedOctober 27, 2025 • Stayed at: B65, Loop: BLAZ
Very nice campground. Well maintained. Very quiet at night. I would highly recommend.
Ron M
VerifiedOctober 27, 2025 • Stayed at: C78, Loop: CONE
Great campground...usually very quiet with nice lake views from some sites. No water or sewer but excellent dump stations.
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
