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
Dennis J
VerifiedJuly 15, 2021 • Stayed at: B50, Loop: BLAZ
This is a great campground, large sites, some shade, clean restrooms and showers!
Tom E
VerifiedJuly 15, 2021 • Stayed at: C81, Loop: CONE
Great campground, always clean and spacious!
Bettie D
VerifiedJuly 14, 2021 • Stayed at: B32, Loop: BLAZ
However. We wish internet reception was better.
Jill A
VerifiedJuly 14, 2021 • Stayed at: D126, Loop: DOGB
beautiful area, my favorite area near my house with lots of shade trees and love the new cement pads for my rv. What I'm very very sad about is the COE plans on cutting down all of the beautiful trees and turn the area into a Prairie. I can't believe they want to remove all of the great shade trees to create a savannah Oak area. I watched all of the birds and critters in the woods and it makes me sad to think they will all lose their homes. I think they should create an oak savannah in the corn fields where the farmers already cut down every tree. I can't believe they have marked the American Elms, black walnuts, and Northern Red Oak trees!!! Why does the Corp of Engineer think this is a good idea>
Alex C
VerifiedJuly 14, 2021 • Stayed at: D116, Loop: DOGB
Very disappointed when we set up camp to find dog poop in several places. We had to clean it up before we could enjoy the spot. Fire ring was very dirty with trash in it. Campsite should have been cleaned before we arrived. Probably won’t stay here again.
jim s
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: C81, Loop: CONE
very well kept grounds and restrooms
James D. V
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: B61, Loop: BLAZ
Everything was clean as always. grass was mowed. entering and exiting was great.
Melissa H
VerifiedJuly 13, 2021 • Stayed at: C87, Loop: CONE
Beautiful campground…awesome campsite.
Jolene F
VerifiedJuly 12, 2021 • Stayed at: C90, Loop: CONE
Our stay was very nice. Site was clean when we arrived. Bath house was clean as always.
Derek K
VerifiedJuly 12, 2021 • Stayed at: C74, Loop: CONE
They desperately need to add more dump stations to this park. It shouldn’t be a 2 hour wait to empty. For a campground of this size it seems that there should at least be double the dump capacity.
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
