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
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Prairie Flower Recreation Area.
Rates, Sites & Availability
153 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
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.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
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
Neola F
VerifiedOctober 20, 2025 • Stayed at: D135, Loop: DOGB
Well cared for campgrounds. Shower house immaculate. Spacious sites some concrete (LEVEL) and some hard gravel (mostly level).
Russell C
VerifiedOctober 17, 2025 • Stayed at: B52, Loop: BLAZ
Nice location, nice staff, nice facilities (I.e. shower house, restrooms, dump station). We always enjoy camping at Prairie Flower Campgrounds. This time we ventured off and tried some of the many walking trails that connect all the loops and Neil Smith trail. Nice wide easy and shaded paths. Not your typical hiking trail, but well maintained/mowed path. We would highly recommend Prairie Flower Campgrounds (any loop).
Sharon M
VerifiedOctober 17, 2025 • Stayed at: A02, Loop: ASTE
Perfect location to stay when taking in events in Ames, Ankeny or Polk City.
Randy V
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: C103, Loop: CONE
great bike trails!!
John C
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: A25, Loop: ASTE
The extra large campsites are appreciated. My campsite was clean upon arrival, as usual. I like that the reservation system does not impose a big fee like so many other systems.
Robert E
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: B50, Loop: BLAZ
Camped on site B50, easy to back in. Enough room for my 34’ class A and tow car. Electric only at site.
Gary W
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: C94, Loop: CONE
Very clean, quiet campground. Wooded sites, lake view sites, private, spacious sites and very quiet. We loved this campground. Great hosts!
Shirley A
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: C100, Loop: CONE
Very clean and well maintained. Great hosts.
ronald w
VerifiedOctober 14, 2025 • Stayed at: C81, Loop: CONE
Everything was great. Our only comment is that the site numbers were hard to see and we had to drive around a couple of time to find our site.
Tim M
VerifiedOctober 14, 2025 • Stayed at: D130, Loop: DOGB
Clean and up-to date, bike trail next to our sote was great
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
