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
Scott H
VerifiedJune 12, 2022 • Stayed at: D130, Loop: DOGB
We love camping at Prairie Flower! It's kind of our go to camping spot!!
Terry K
VerifiedJune 11, 2022 • Stayed at: A22, Loop: ASTE
We love Aster Loop, but my main complaints are these: first all sites are crushed rock/gravel. Second, the majority of the campsites are very unlevel - when we were at site A09, I never got our RV level after using all the blocks I brought. I’m hoping the improvements being made after Labor Day include paving and leveling all sites.
Cindy D
VerifiedJune 9, 2022 • Stayed at: C92, Loop: CONE
Prairie Flower Campground is awesome! It's our 2nd time camping there, and we'll be back! What do we like? The cement level pads, the view of Saylorville Lake, the extremely clean restrooms, and separate showers. We love walking down to the beach and cycling the miles of trails. Ankeny is near by and has great restaurant options and Ninja U for the grandchildren. It's our favorite Iowa place to camp!
Carole R
VerifiedJune 8, 2022 • Stayed at: B54, Loop: BLAZ
Very clean, nice facilities, large sites, friendly hosts
Patrick K
VerifiedJune 7, 2022 • Stayed at: B50, Loop: BLAZ
Nice people working at the information booth.
Kris B
VerifiedJune 3, 2022 • Stayed at: D131, Loop: DOGB
Very quite during the week that we stayed. Grounds are very well taken care of. Bathrooms are always clean. We enjoy the trails for walking and biking. Love how they keep them cleared.
Bob D
VerifiedJune 1, 2022 • Stayed at: D126, Loop: DOGB
Check in was fast and friendly! We loved the concrete pads and the room between the campsites. We were in the D ring.
Christopher M
VerifiedJune 1, 2022 • Stayed at: C89, Loop: CONE
Perfect location...close to city(s) but feels as if you are nowhere near one...never in need of anything bc anything is close
william j
VerifiedMay 31, 2022 • Stayed at: C108, Loop: CONE
Great great place
26 miles of bike trails... Extremely clean.
Spread out . Campers arent side by side
David H
VerifiedMay 30, 2022 • Stayed at: D125, Loop: DOGB
We were in Dogwood loop nice concrete pads large sites. Great shower house.
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
