Established Camping
Cherry Glen Campground
Closed For the Season
This campground is closed for the season from September 11, 2023 through September 2, 2024.
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Closed For the Season
This campground is closed for the season from September 11, 2023 through September 2, 2024.
Warning 2 Alerts are In Effect
There are 2 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Attention Campers! Beginning 2024, the Saylorville Lake Project's new Check-out time will be 12 pm. The new Check-in time will be 2 pm.
Attention Campers! Beginning 2024, the Saylorville Lake Project's new Check-out time will be 12 pm. The new Check-in time will be 2 pm.
About
US Army Corps of Engineers
Saylorville Lake
Overview
Cherry Glen Campground 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.
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.
Facilities
This large campground offers 125 family sites, all with electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Educational programs, group shelters, playgrounds, and a boat ramp all provide additional recreation opportunities for guests. Nearby amenities include a visitor center, hiking trail and a disc golf course.
Natural Features
Cherry Glen, the oldest and most popular campground on the lake, is nestled on a compact 13-acre wooded ridge. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
Location
Cherry Glen Campground is located in Iowa
Directions
From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny Industrial Parkway. Continue onto Highway 160 west for 4.8 miles. The road turns into Highway 415. Continue for another 4 miles and follow signs into the campground.
Address
SAYLORVILLE LAKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
5600 NW 78TH AVENUE
Johnston, IA 50131
Coordinates
41.7313889 N
93.68 W
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Stay Connected
- WiFiUnknown
- VerizonFair
- AT&TAvailable
- T-MobileUnknown
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- WiFi
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
GuideSpacious sites
This campground is big and clean. It’s pretty peaceful & quiet. I have been here before. I did forget site 13 has a tree that seems to drop things on my roof and internet isn’t very strong. 1-2 bars on Verizon
ScoutMuch better.
They cut down some trees and brush now you can see the lake. Bath houses are clean play grounds are nice. Good basic camping.
ScoutClean quiet lots of wildlife
Love this it's close to the city yet feel so far away
ScoutBetter than most in Central Iowa
Above average overall for central Iowa. Views of Saylorville Lake. Plenty of shade. Clean restrooms. It’s a large park and some sites are close together, but generally spacious. Good cell service.
GuideRelaxing in the beauty that is Iowa
Went in without a reservation. No problem. Pleasantly surprised to find out it's an Army Corps of Engineers park; meaning if you have a annual National Parks pass, you get a discount. Didn't know that. We paid $11 for a tent site. Lots of RV sites around. The whole area around Saylorville Lake has camping. Lush green plots of land everywhere. I forget how pretty it is in the Midwest when I'm gone for so long. Quiet, relaxing place. Friendly staff. We took a long walk through the campground and others nearby. Boating and swimming in the lake.
GuideJuly 2018: Peaceful
Nice campground with 30/50 amp electric, no water or service but bathrooms are clean and many. The staff are very friendly and willing to offer info. The local trail is paved and bike/walker/stroller friendly but due to recent flooding at the lake, it was also cut short until clean up could resume. Lots of treea and small wIldlIfe, would stay there again.
ScoutCozy and plenty of shade! Next to Boat Launch!
It’s hard to get a reservation!
ScoutNice. Lots of trees
Lots of trees. Playgrounds. Near lake.
ScoutLots of trees
Lots of trees so plenty of shade. Nice playground areas .
Travelerpoor place to stay
the sites are great. the noise level is unbearable. dogs bark all night and day. no water or sewer electrical only
LegendCherry Glen is clean with plenty of sites
Cherry Glen is very clean and well managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. It is one of the main campgrounds that service Saylorville Lake. I highly suggest visiting during the week because on the weekends the local boaters invade.
I would suggest looking for camp sites on the back side of the western loops because they have views of the lake. I would look at sites 111-116 and 72-78. These last six are also very close to a shower house.
The shower houses and bathrooms are clean and well maintained. This is a great place to consider camping if you are spending anytime at Saylorville Lake.
- (13) View All
ScoutGreat experience.
We stopped for a quick overnight while heading up north and were very happy with things. -Friendly staff -Clean bathroom & shower facilities -Campsites weren't overcrowded -Many activities located nearby
LegendSo clean
This site was really clean and it seems that its not used much. There is only 5 campsites that are grouped pretty close together each with a table and fire ring. There is only one restroom with warm showers. For firewood there is no hassle of buying it. It is scattered all over the floor. There is more firewood here than any other campsite I've been to. There is electric hookups here and is perfect for R.Vs. The neighbors were really nice and a RV camper invited me to his campfire.
- (9) View All