Acorn Valley Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including camping, bicycling, boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.
The campground offers 29 family sites with electric hookups and 54 primitive walk-to tent sites. The campground also features 2 group tent camping areas; a youth group camping area with special restrictions to organized youth as well as a standard group area open to all visitors. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Nearby facilities include picnic areas with group shelters, boat ramps, a marina and a fishing dock.
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.
Group/Youth Site 102 is listed as a group and youth camping site. If you are an organized youth group, please contact the Acorn Valley Fee Booth at (515) 276-0429 or Saylorville Lake Administration Office at (515) 276-4656. Youth groups may request the youth site rate of $35/night after registering on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Youth Group Definition: All groups reserving this campsite must be composed of persons 17 years of age and under which is sponsored by and accompanied by adult representatives of a formal organization, including but not limited to Boy and Girl Scouts of America, religious organizations, YMCA and YWCA, 4-H, and non-profit organizations. Proof of membership may be requested at registration. Chaperoned Organized Youth Group DOES NOT include families of individual members of a formal organization. Additional sites are available for larger groups if needed. If there are additional questions to an acceptable Youth Group Organization please contact the Saylorville Lake Administration office at (515) 276-4656. Sites 99-101 adjacent to the group site are also available if requested for groups up to 42 people. Saylorville Lake must be contacted for the additional sites.
Click here for more information about Saylorville Lake.
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.
The mature Bur Oaks at the entrance to Acorn Valley beckon visitors to explore its 26 acres on the fringe of an upland timber stand. Wildlife is abundant throughout the area. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
Anglers enjoy the lake for its abundance of 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.
SAYLORVILLE LAKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE 5600 NW 78TH AVENUE JOHNSTON IA 50131-1941
For campground inquiries, please call: 515-276-0429
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
From I-35/80 north of Des Moines, Iowa, take exit 131 toward Johnston/Saylorville Lake. Turn north on Merle Hay Road and continue for 2.8 miles. At the four-way stop, turn left on Northwest Beaver Drive and continue for 3.7 miles. Turn right onto Northwest Coryden Drive and follow signs into the campground.