Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Saylorville Lake
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.
Prairie Flower is a large, open campground covering more than 60 acres. It offers 153 family sites and 10 group sites, all with electric hookups. Many of the family sites in the south end offer a pleasant view of the 6000-acre lake. The north end is made up of mostly group sites in a circle-the-wagon design.
Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. The campground also provides educational programs, group shelters, playgrounds and a swimming beach.
Nearby amenities include a visitor center, hiking trail, volleyball courts and a disc golf course. Boat ramps and a fishing dock are also close by.
Need to Know
- Click here for more information
Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. Remove plants, seeds, animals, and mud from boots, gear, pets, and vehicles. Clean your gear before entering and leaving the recreation site. Stay on designated roads and trails, and follow local guidelines for firewood. CLEAN, DRAIN, DRY boats and any other recreational equipment that contacts water. Dispose of unwanted bait, worms, fish parts, or other organisms into the trash and not into the environment. For more information visit https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/rec.
Natural Features
Iowa's prairie heritage is celebrated in more than 40 acres of prairie plantings throughout the campground. The wide variety of grass and flowers provides vivid colors from mid-summer to fall.
Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
Recreation
Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike.
The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.
Contact Information
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SAYLORVILLE LAKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 5600 NW 78TH AVENUE JOHNSTON IA 50131-1941
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 515-984-6925
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
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.
Available Campsites
- Site D113, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site C80, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site L219, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site J206, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A02, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C94, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B43, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site B48, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site O258, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site D139, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site K215, Loop KNAP, Type Standard Electric
- Site A09, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D118, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site C78, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site O255, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site C97, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site G168, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site I193, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site B39, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site A04, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site O252, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site C99, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H178, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C108, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site N243, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site C70, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B37, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site D135, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site H182, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site F156, Loop FLEA, Type Standard Electric
- Site B62, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site I201, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site G169, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site C86, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D127, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site N242, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site B47, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site N240, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site C73, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B32, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site L223, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site C101, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site E149, Loop ELDE, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site D125, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site N244, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site J205, Loop JUNE, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site C110, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site I197, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site I202, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site C71, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C100, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B50, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site G164, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site B59, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site J211, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C89, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C102, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H179, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site J209, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C106, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C85, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site G161, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site D136, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site D134, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site A16, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A15, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B34, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site C96, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site O251, Loop OX-E, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site C98, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H180, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H177, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site G159, Loop GOLD, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site J212, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site I194, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site A06, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site M234, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site F153, Loop FLEA, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site I204, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site D138, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site B69, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site A22, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site L218, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site N249, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site B41, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site C84, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site L230, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site L217, Loop LEAD, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site E151, Loop ELDE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C81, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B33, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site B57, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site O257, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site G162, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site A14, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B68, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site A28, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site E152, Loop ELDE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C82, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H189, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D132, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site N241, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site B67, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site C83, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B35, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site B63, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site I198, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site L220, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site L222, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site M232, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site A25, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B45, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site G172, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site B61, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site C88, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B65, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site C75, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D128, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site C105, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site M238, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site H190, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site K216, Loop KNAP, Type Standard Electric
- Site H188, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site J210, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B40, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site M231, Loop MAYW, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site J208, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C107, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A20, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site G171, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site D140, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site I203, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site A27, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site M233, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site L221, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site A24, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site L227, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site H185, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site N247, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site M237, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site D123, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site C77, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C91, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C79, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site N246, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site D122, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site I191, Loop IRON, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site A21, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A23, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site N250, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site G160, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site C74, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A26, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site G167, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site B49, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site H173, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D121, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site B53, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site A01, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H176, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B42, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site A30, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site H175, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site G165, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site M235, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site A19, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site K214, Loop KNAP, Type Standard Electric
- Site G166, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site O259, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site A07, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B60, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site B58, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site E150, Loop ELDE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D116, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site C90, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site F158, Loop FLEA, Type Standard Electric
- Site A08, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site O254, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site I196, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site A11, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site O260, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site A05, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A18, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C72, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B38, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site A03, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site I200, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site H187, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D117, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site D124, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site A17, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site A13, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C87, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site I195, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site L228, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site D126, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site I199, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site N248, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site C103, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D137, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site C95, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site M236, Loop MAYW, Type Standard Electric
- Site C92, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site L229, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site A12, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C111, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B56, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site D130, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site B46, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site D141, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site O256, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site L225, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site F155, Loop FLEA, Type Standard Electric
- Site B52, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site H184, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D133, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site A10, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site N239, Loop NIPP, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site N245, Loop NIPP, Type Standard Electric
- Site B36, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site B51, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site H174, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C76, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site K213, Loop KNAP, Type Group Standard Area Electric
- Site A31, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site I192, Loop IRON, Type Standard Electric
- Site D120, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site F154, Loop FLEA, Type Standard Electric
- Site A29, Loop ASTE, Type Standard Electric
- Site O253, Loop OX-E, Type Standard Electric
- Site D131, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site D129, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site G170, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site D119, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site G163, Loop GOLD, Type Standard Electric
- Site B64, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site C93, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C109, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B44, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site B54, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site L226, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site H183, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site J207, Loop JUNE, Type Standard Electric
- Site D114 & D115, Loop DOGB, Type Standard Electric
- Site F157, Loop FLEA, Type Standard Electric
- Site L224, Loop LEAD, Type Standard Electric
- Site H181, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C112, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site C104, Loop CONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B66, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
- Site H186, Loop HONE, Type Standard Electric
- Site B55, Loop BLAZ, Type Standard Electric
Photo Gallery
