OutReserve

Prairie Flower Recreation Area

PRAIRIE FLOWER RECREATION AREA 1
PRAIRIE FLOWER RECREATION AREA 3
PRAIRIE FLOWER RECREATION AREA Playground

Featured amenities

Playground

About Prairie Flower Recreation Area

Prairie Flower Recreation Area is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.

Number of accommodations: 153

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 1 to Oct 24

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Playground
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Playground
Water Access

Water Access

  • Beach Access
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

153 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 A01, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A02, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A03, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A05, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A06, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A07, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A08, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Water & Electric
Price not available
🚐 A09, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A10, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A11, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A12, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A13, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A14, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A15, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A16, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A17, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A18, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A19, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A20, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A21, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A22, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A23, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A24, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A25, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A26, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A27, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A28, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A29, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A30, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 A31, Loop: ASTE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B32, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B38, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B39, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B40, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B41, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B42, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B43, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B44, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B45, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B46, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B47, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B48, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B49, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B50, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B51, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B52, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B53, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B54, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B55, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B56, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B57, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B58, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B59, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B60, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B61, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B62, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B63, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B64, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B65, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B66, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B67, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B68, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 B69, Loop: BLAZ
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C100, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C101, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C102, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C103, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C104, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C105, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C106, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C107, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C108, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C109, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C110, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C111, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C112, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C70, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C71, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C72, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C73, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C74, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C75, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C76, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C77, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C78, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C79, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C80, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C81, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C82, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C83, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C84, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C85, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C86, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C87, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C88, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C89, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C90, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C91, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C92, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C93, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C94, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C95, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C96, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C97, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C98, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 C99, Loop: CONE
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D113, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D114 & D115, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D116, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D117, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D118, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D119, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D120, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D121, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D122, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D123, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D124, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D125, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D126, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D127, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D128, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D129, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D130, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D131, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D132, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D133, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D135, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D137, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 D138, Loop: DOGB
50 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 E149, Loop: ELDE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 F153, Loop: FLEA
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H173, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H174, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H175, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H176, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H177, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H178, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H179, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H180, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H181, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H182, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H183, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H184, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H185, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H186, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H187, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H188, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H189, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 H190, Loop: HONE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 J205, Loop: JUNE
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 K213, Loop: KNAP
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 M231, Loop: MAYW
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available
🚐 O251, Loop: OX-E
30 Amp · Electric Only
Price not available

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.

Review Summary

4.6
618 reviews
5
73.8%
456
4
17.0%
105
3
5.7%
35
2
1.8%
11
1
1.8%
11

Bev S

Verified

August 28, 2021 Stayed at: B58, Loop: BLAZ

5

Very nice, level and spacious sites.

Cindy N

Verified

August 26, 2021 Stayed at: A18, Loop: ASTE

5

Beautiful, spacious, clean, and quiet!!!

Ray B

Verified

August 26, 2021 Stayed at: H186, Loop: HONE

5

We camped six nights in early August and thoroughly enjoyed this recreation area. We've camped a number of times at Cherry Glen and this was our first time at Prairie Flower. We loved the access to the Neal Smith Trail and the trails within the campground itself. Friendly volunteers and a well managed Corps campground.

BRUCE P

Verified

August 25, 2021 Stayed at: E149, Loop: ELDE

5

Love the room we had in 4 place camping circle

Sean R

Verified

August 24, 2021 Stayed at: A31, Loop: ASTE

4

No issues.

Mike M

Verified

August 24, 2021 Stayed at: A16, Loop: ASTE

5

The quieter, less crowded USACE campground at Saylorville Lake. Close to Des Moines and even closer to the excellent Neal Smith bike trail (you can access it from the end of one loop). We love it.

Eileen U

Verified

August 23, 2021 Stayed at: C90, Loop: CONE

5

We stay at Prairie Flower every year we come to the Iowa State fair. Very nice campground with very clean restrooms and showers. Looking forward to the next time!!

Troy J

Verified

August 23, 2021 Stayed at: C112, Loop: CONE

5

Nice quiet campground, spacious spots. Check in was easy. Walking and biking trails tied into campground.

Stacy D

Verified

August 22, 2021 Stayed at: C93, Loop: CONE

5

Great level sites, nice atmosphere and sunset lake views

jim m

Verified

August 20, 2021 Stayed at: D119, Loop: DOGB

4

The employees were very helpful and friendly! We didn't realize that the Iowa State fair was going on while we were there. She told us where we could get advanced gate tickets.

Location Prairie Flower Recreation Area

Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office, 5600 Nw 78 Th Avenue
Johnston, IA, 50131-1941
United States

Highway access

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

Nearby destinations


Last updated: June 13, 2026

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Managed by US Army Corps of Engineers