Sandpiper Overlook 1
Sandpiper Overlook
Sandpiper Super Shelter
Playground

Featured amenities

Parking Parking
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Playground Playground

About Sandpiper Recreation Area

Sandpiper Recreation Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 mi up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Hunting

Hunting

Year-round
Swimming

Swimming

Summer

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 closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Parking Parking
Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Playground Playground
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
Parking and Transport

Parking and Transport

  • Parking
On Site Services

On Site Services

  • Playground
  • Volleyball Court
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Missing information?

Reviews

14 reviews

Summary

AI generated

The Sandpiper Recreation Area features restrooms and a playground, making it a nice venue for gatherings, as highlighted by the positive experience during a son's first birthday party. However, cleanliness was a concern, with reports of debris on the concrete that attracted flies. Overall, it offers a pleasant space with room for improvement in maintenance.

Based on guest feedback

4.5

Overall rating

Based on 14 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 64.3% (9)
4 stars 21.4% (3)
3 stars 14.3% (2)
2 stars 0.0% (0)
1 star 0.0% (0)

Showing 14 reviews

Sort by: Newest First

Tamara C

August 29, 2026

We have been having our businesses annual family picnic at the Sandpiper shelter for over 6 years now and will continue doing so for many years to come. It's a great location for family's! It's not secluded, but does have a tree edge keeping it quiet from traffic noise. Great sized parking lot, shelter, and grass area for our size group. And the playground is perfect for the younger kids. Bathrooms are always clean and just the right location from the shelter and playground. There's a ball diamond and a sand volleyball court. This location works perfect for our group and it's always clean. There's an electrical outlet in the shelter and 2 water spickets, one on either side of the shelter. There are plenty of trash cans around the shelter and the big main trash is located right in the parking lot far enough away from everything that it doesn't bother us, yet close enough that we can easily put our filled trash bags into it throughout the day.

Helpful

Tamara J

June 6, 2026

Nice area with restrooms and playground

Helpful

Allison L

July 28, 2025

We had a great time for my son’s first birthday party!

Helpful

Allison L

July 28, 2025

We had a great time for my son’s first birthday party!

Helpful

Kelly G

July 13, 2025

The only complaint I have was it wasn’t very clean someone could have at least swept and sprayed the concrete off there was watermelon and garbage all over the floor it would have helped keep flies away

Helpful

Kelly G

July 13, 2025

The only complaint I have was it wasn’t very clean someone could have at least swept and sprayed the concrete off there was watermelon and garbage all over the floor it would have helped keep flies away

Helpful

Tami C

August 27, 2022

Perfect location & amenities for our annual picnic

Helpful

Tami C

August 27, 2022

Perfect location & amenities for our annual picnic

Helpful

Frank W

June 18, 2022

This is a very nice site. It has a very large covered area with picnic tables throughout and two fireplaces at one end. There is a ball diamond, volleyball court, a place for horseshoes if you bring your equipment. There is a large patio area with two grills for outside cooking. Next to the site is a very large playground for children. Very highly recommended.

Helpful

Frank W

June 18, 2022

This is a very nice site. It has a very large covered area with picnic tables throughout and two fireplaces at one end. There is a ball diamond, volleyball court, a place for horseshoes if you bring your equipment. There is a large patio area with two grills for outside cooking. Next to the site is a very large playground for children. Very highly recommended.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Sandpiper Recreation Area

Saylorville Lake Administration Office, Johnston, IA 50131 United States

Elevation: 274 ft

Getting There

Physical Address: 7101 NW Polk City Drive Polk City, IA 50226

From I-35, take Exit 92 and go east on First Street approximately 5 mi to HWY 415. Turn right (north) and travel approximately 3 mi to recreation area on the right.

Nearest town

Johnston, IA - 9.7 mi

About 15 min to downtown

Highway access

The Sandpiper Recreation Area is accessible via I-35 at Exit 92, followed by First Street and HWY 415.

Policies & Rules

General

  • Special Event Permits are required for inflatable bounce houses and water features. Special Event Permits may be required for events that may impact nearby shelters, are open to the public, wedding events, company picnics etc. Please contact the Saylorville Lake Administration Office at 515-276-4656 to inquire.
  • Shelters may be reserved up to 4 days in advance. If shelters are not reserved, they are available free of charge on a first come, first served basis.
  • Reservations include parking, baseball field and sand volleyball court (ball not provided); playgrounds and restrooms near shelters are open to the public.
  • Click here for more information .
  • Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
  • The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes you to Saylorville Lake. Our goal is to make your visit a safe and enjoyable experience. A complete list of rules, Title 36 “Rules and Regulations” and other helpful maps and brochures are available from the Visitor Center, Park Rangers, Park Attendants or Hosts. Please contact any member of our staff if you have questions or need assistance. Please help maintain and protect park facilities and natural resources by following these guidelines when picnicking at Saylorville Lake.PICNIC AREA HOURS:Month of April .May through Labor Day .The day after Labor Day through October .Rules:1)      Clean up is the responsibility of the picnic users. Please clean up all spills and dispose of litter. If you have more trash than the garbage cans hold, please use area dumpsters. Leave the area in the condition you would like to find it.2)      The Possession of Fireworks, explosives, firearms, ammunition, bows or other projectile firing devices is prohibited.3)      The operation and parking of vehicles off roadways is prohibited.4)      Only street legal vehicles are allowed.5)      Amplified sound systems are not allowed without a Special Event Permit.6)      Yard games such as water balloons and egg toss are prohibited.7)      Trailer Roasters are allowed only in parking areas. Do not place hot roasters, grills, skillets or grease pan directly on picnic tables.8)      Pets must be confined or on a leash less than 6 feet long. Pets are not allowed in the restrooms. Please pick up and properly dispose of all pet waste.To contact a Park Ranger during normal business hours Monday—Friday, .To contact a Park Ranger after normal business hours, call the Polk County Dispatch at (515) 286-3334THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION

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Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Johnston, IA

Population: 24,384

Nearby city: Ankeny, IA

Approx. 6 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 833 ft

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Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers