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
liz g
VerifiedSeptember 14, 2025 • Stayed at: A13, Loop: ASTE
Very nice clean camping area. Spaces are large and don’t feel like you are on top of your neighbors
Judy T
VerifiedSeptember 13, 2025 • Stayed at: D133, Loop: DOGB
Restrooms were spotless and lawn was mowed this time. Had a great time.
Cheryl M
VerifiedSeptember 12, 2025 • Stayed at: C107, Loop: CONE
Saylorville is an amazing camping experience. Always clean and well maintained.
James C
VerifiedSeptember 10, 2025 • Stayed at: B43, Loop: BLAZ
It was a nice site. Very level
Scott R
VerifiedSeptember 7, 2025 • Stayed at: C82, Loop: CONE
With the amount of money this USACOE makes on the saylorville impoundment I
would hope there are plans on the horizon to update a few things.
Love the campground, the spacing, the well maintained roads as well as the ranger staff, however, restrooms and visitor parking areas need updated. Many many lights are non functional in these areas and give the campground an all around dated look.
Have many many other suggestions, please reach out if you would like more input.
Many opportunities for community involvement are being wasted.
Will continue to use these facilities but will still feel like more can be done.
Cheryl M
VerifiedSeptember 4, 2025 • Stayed at: D126, Loop: DOGB
Awesome experience at Prarie Flower. Park rangers were amazing.
Russel H
VerifiedSeptember 1, 2025 • Stayed at: B62, Loop: BLAZ
Very nice campground. Very clean. Nice concrete pads
Dale O
VerifiedAugust 28, 2025 • Stayed at: A24, Loop: ASTE
Was without power for 10 to 11 hours, but our fridge automatically switched over to gas so we didn't lose any food. This is a nice campground and we have always been treated well here. The power outage was unavoidable.
DIANE K
VerifiedAugust 25, 2025 • Stayed at: C106, Loop: CONE
Our spot got cancelled by campground. I had to physically go in & ask for a refund.
Tom M
VerifiedAugust 25, 2025 • Stayed at: C109, Loop: CONE
Everything was great except we lost power the last 2 days, but we go reimbursed. So that was an incident that couldn't be helped.
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
