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
Richard K
VerifiedOctober 22, 2021 • Stayed at: B52, Loop: BLAZ
Very enjoyable
Richard B
VerifiedOctober 22, 2021 • Stayed at: A11, Loop: ASTE
Clean, Peaceful
Bruce M
VerifiedOctober 22, 2021 • Stayed at: B43, Loop: BLAZ
Park is always clean and well kept
Tracey G
VerifiedOctober 21, 2021 • Stayed at: C90, Loop: CONE
The park was clean and quiet. Most of the pads are cement. Places to park boats and jet ski's, not far from boat ramps. The park has lots of playgrounds for the kids. Bycycle paths go right through the park.
Mikel R
VerifiedOctober 21, 2021 • Stayed at: D132, Loop: DOGB
Wonderful experience with very well maintained facilities. Walking/biking path was also a great experience.
Phyllis J L
VerifiedOctober 21, 2021 • Stayed at: D124, Loop: DOGB
We love Prairie Flower and have our own pick for the best camp site. We try to get it every time, so that we are close to the Neal Smith Trail for biking. This visit we tried the hiking trail, but found it relatively short and uneventful. We usually go in the fall, so have only visited the beaches, not tried swimming. A great bike trip is to go up to Big Creek park, north of Saylorville, on the bike trail. There they have an excellent marina, with all sorts of watercraft, a big playground, a swimming beach and food truck. Since there is no camping in Big Creek, the campsites at Saylorville are the best choice to get the benefit of both parks.
Penny V
VerifiedOctober 20, 2021 • Stayed at: A05, Loop: ASTE
Huge camping facility with four different areas. Right along the Neil Smith bike trail. Only 8 miles from the town of Ankeny. Definitely will be back.
Scott H
VerifiedOctober 19, 2021 • Stayed at: D124, Loop: DOGB
We love Prairie flower campground! We tried some others this year but we always seem to go back to reserving at Prairie Flower!
Linda O
VerifiedOctober 18, 2021 • Stayed at: A27, Loop: ASTE
We stayed in site A26 in mid October. This site is nice and private, long enough for our 24 foot trailer and truck with plenty of extra space. Restrooms are kept very nice.
The sites are gravel and this one required over 5 inches on one side to level the camper, so make sure you have enough blocking.
BE AWARE: This site is surrounded by poison ivy. It is growing up the trees and is literally surrounding the campsite. The mowing is kept at a good 6 feet, but in the site, should be more like 10, simply to keep kids and animals safe from the poison ivy!!
Kerry K
VerifiedOctober 17, 2021 • Stayed at: C112, Loop: CONE
We LOVE Prairie Flower, it's quiet and clean. But at the same time, you have to be Johnny On The Spot to make your reservation since Everyone Else loves it too!!! LOL~!!!
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
