Acorn Valley
- Right now
- Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
- A night
- $24–$26Across the site types the agency prices
- Sites
- 9185 on recreation.gov
The place
the agency’s own description · what’s there · 3 notices
In the agency’s own words
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. Keep reading
Recreation
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.
Facilities
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.
Natural Features
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.
What the agency tells you
Click here for more information about Saylorville Lake.
Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
Saylorville Lake Campground Rules Camping: Allowed only at designated campsites. Reservations must be made in advance before setting up camping equipment. Campsite Registration: Campsites may only be registered to individuals 18 years or older, who must occupy the site for the full duration. Each campsite accommodates 1 family unit (up to 8 people) and allows either 3 tents OR 1 RV and 2 tents. Check-out time: 12:00 p.m. (noon) Check-in time: 2:00 p.m. Vacating & Registration: Campsites must be vacated or registration renewed by 12:00 p.m. on the due date. Camping is limited to 14 days within any 30-day period. Parking: Reserving campsites by parking vehicles or leaving items is prohibited. All vehicles (including boats/trailers) must be parked at your campsite or in designated areas. No parking on grass, roadsides, or vacant sites. Please ensure your visitors follow parking rules. Vehicle Operation: All vehicles (including mopeds and bicycles) must comply with Federal, State, and local laws. Stay on designated roads and use vehicles only for entering or exiting sites. UTVs, ATVs, and golf carts are not allowed in campgrounds or parks. 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. Trash Disposal: Use designated dumpsters only. Do not leave trash in fire rings, grills, or shower building cans. Remove all personal items and litter before departure. Recycling containers are available. Dumpsters are for trash generated on USACE property only. Grey Water Disposal: Grey water (from dishes, baths, soap, grease, etc.) must be collected and disposed of properly. Do not drain it on campsites or use it to water vegetation. Improper disposal creates odors, health issues, and attracts animals. Pets: Must be confined or leashed (6 feet or shorter) at all times. E-collars are not sufficient. Pets may not be left unattended and are not allowed in bathrooms or shower buildings. Pick up and dispose of waste properly. Firewood: Not available for purchase on-site. You may gather only fallen deadwood. Do not cut or damage trees, vegetation, or natural features. Firewood may be brought from home or purchased from off-site vendors. Pools & Water Games: Pools of any size or slip-n-slides and sprinklers are prohibited. Water tables are allowed. Prohibited Items: Fireworks, explosives, loaded firearms, ammunition, bows, and other projectile devices are not allowed. Smoking: Not allowed inside restrooms or shower buildings. Grills & Picnic Tables: Do not place grills or hot materials on picnic tables—use attached grill guards. Site holders are responsible for any damage or replacements. Yard Games: Games such as water balloons or egg toss are prohibited due to litter. Balloon pieces are non-biodegradable and harmful to pets and wildlife. Pet Leashes & Hammocks: Do not tie leashes, ropes, or chains to trees or shrubs. Hammocks may be used only on trees 6 inches or more in diameter to avoid damage. Alcoholic Beverages: Permitted for those 21 and older at all campgrounds. Hangtags: Registered campers may receive hangtags for access to beach and boat ramp day-use areas. Hangtags must be properly displayed. Golden Age/Access Passports: These and America the Beautiful Senior/Access Passes provide a 50% discount on recreation fees. The cardholder must present the card and ID during registration and be present for the stay. Fraudulent use is prohibited. Washing Equipment: Washing of RVs, trailers, vehicles, or equipment is not allowed at campgrounds or day-use areas. Use local wash facilities instead. Deliveries: Personal package deliveries (Amazon, FedEx, UPS, etc.) should be sent to your home, business, or a local postal facility. Saylorville Lake campgrounds, the Administration Building, and Visitor Center do not accept or hold deliveries. Equipment & Vehicle Storage: Reserving extra campsites solely to store equipment or vehicles is not allowed. Use designated overflow or additional parking during your stay. Water Spigots: Water spigots are for temporary use only to fill freshwater tanks. Do not use continuous hoses, Y-splitters, or attachments. Continuous hookups are only allowed at campsites with water service.
Tents and rigs
- Sites
- 91 · 1 tent-only, 55 walk-in, 2 group
- Hookups
- 29 electric, 1 water
- Longest rig
- 82 ft
- Accessible sites
- 2
- Pets
- Allowed
- Campfires
- Allowed, barring fire bans
- Shade
- Every site
Facilities
- Toilets
- Flush Toilets
- “…open to all visitors. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Nearby…”
- Showers
- Yes, the record doesn’t say what kind
- “Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.”
- Drinking water
- Yes
- “…include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Nearby facilities include…”
- Dump station
- Yes
- Boat ramp
- Yes
- Stay limit
- 14 nights
- recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Around the campground
- On the water
- Lake, River, Creek
- Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
- Night sky · 25th darkest of 32 in IA
- Bortle 5
No reading yet, book on recreation.gov
recreation.gov lists 85 of the 91 campsites the agency files here. The rest aren’t on its booking system, so a reservation won’t get you one.
No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.
Watch for a cancellation
Full? Watch it.
One email when a night opens, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We read recreation.gov once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time a site in your window is free for the nights you asked for.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
Tell me when the season opens
Watch for the season to open
One email when the season goes on sale, plus More Than Just Parks dispatches. Unsubscribe any time.
We check once an hour, at 40 minutes past, and write the first time the agency has that season on sale.
Scanners that check every few minutes exist, and most of them charge. This one is free, it reads the same calendar, and it won’t always be first.
We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.
Every line of the receipt · 14
What you actually pay
Derived by CAMPANAC: the agency’s published rates for this season, $24–$26 a night, plus one $8 recreation.gov reservation fee for the booking. A weekend here means Friday and Saturday night, booked once. Optional charges (an extra vehicle, a second tent, a dump-station fee) are listed separately and aren’t in this total.
Who keeps the booking fee
The agency’s own policy text says the reservation fee and the cancellation processing fee are “retained by the reservation service contractor”, and that a campground concessionaire will decline to refund them because “they did not receive these fees”. Recreation.gov is run under contract by Booz Allen Hamilton. What share of your booking fee the contractor keeps isn’t published in any federal dataset we can read, so we print no number for it. Our reporting on the contract →
How we know this receipt · 5
rules read Sep 9, 2026 · rates Sep 10, 2026 · How we know all this
The sites
91 sites · which ones have room · the site map
The sites, ranked
from 84 mapped sitesAll 91 sites
Toilet distances are OpenStreetMap’s, measured for 90 of the 91 sites listed. A site with no reading is unknown, never far.
The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 84 of the 91 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.
| ACORN VALLEY | 001 | standard electric | 55 ft | 50 amp | 113 ft | 143 ft | 346 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 002 | standard electric | 50 amp | 95 ft | 111 ft | 242 ft | $24–$26 | ||
| ACORN VALLEY | 003 | standard electric | 54 ft | 50 amp | 105 ft | 77 ft | 170 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 004 | standard electric | 45 ft | 50 amp | 70 ft | 174 ft | 118 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 005 | standard electric | 32 ft | 50 amp | 92 ft | 95 ft | 196 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 006 | standard electric | 82 ft | 50 amp | 70 ft | 220 ft | 167 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 007 | standard electric | 22 ft | 50 amp | 41 ft | 180 ft | 261 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 008 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 37 ft | 218 ft | 290 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 009 | standard electric | 41 ft | 50 amp | 37 ft | 252 ft | 319 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 010 | standard electric | 51 ft | 50 amp | 80 ft | 321 ft | 328 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 011 | standard electric | 57 ft | 50 amp | 52 ft | 311 ft | 233 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 012 | standard electric | 67 ft | 50 amp | 82 ft | 399 ft | 343 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 013 | standard electric | 36 ft | 50 amp | 66 ft | 465 ft | 362 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 014 | standard electric | 55 ft | 50 amp | 66 ft | 451 ft | 313 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 015 | standard electric | 30 ft | 50 amp | 52 ft | 339 ft | 213 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 016 | standard electric | 39 ft | 50 amp | 77 ft | 423 ft | 249 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 017 | standard electric | 41 ft | 50 amp | 75 ft | 307 ft | 140 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 018 | standard electric | 19 ft | 50 amp | 63 ft | 394 ft | 188 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 019 | standard electric | 55 ft | 50 amp | 63 ft | 405 ft | 172 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 020 | standard electric | 53 ft | 50 amp | yes | 77 ft | 336 ft | 99 ft | $24–$26 |
| ACORN VALLEY | 021 | standard electric | 53 ft | 50 amp | 122 ft | 458 ft | 217 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 022 | standard electric | 59 ft | 50 amp | 73 ft | 361 ft | 155 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 023 | standard electric | 20 ft | 50 amp | 77 ft | 427 ft | 232 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 024 | standard electric | 66 ft | 50 amp | 73 ft | 306 ft | 147 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 025 | standard electric | 51 ft | 50 amp | 77 ft | 364 ft | 232 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 026 | standard electric | 37 ft | 50 amp | 68 ft | 255 ft | 187 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 027 | standard electric | 56 ft | 50 amp | 77 ft | 312 ft | 262 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 028 | standard electric | 70 ft | 50 amp | 68 ft | 202 ft | 233 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 029 | standard electric | 35 ft | 50 amp | 86 ft | 253 ft | 310 ft | $24–$26 | |
| ACORN VALLEY | 035 | walk to | 147 ft | 352 ft | 828 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 036 | walk to | 76 ft | 214 ft | 895 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 037 | walk to | 76 ft | 217 ft | 825 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 038 | walk to | 91 ft | 256 ft | 746 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 039 | walk to | 94 ft | 303 ft | 659 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 040 | walk to | 97 ft | 399 ft | 685 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 041 | walk to | 89 ft | 308 ft | 613 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 042 | walk to | 77 ft | 235 ft | 567 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 043 | walk to | 75 ft | 178 ft | 545 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 044 | walk to | 75 ft | 126 ft | 531 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 045 | walk to | 78 ft | 86 ft | 520 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 046 | walk to | 96 ft | 101 ft | 551 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 047 | walk to | 79 ft | 133 ft | 532 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 048 | walk to | 79 ft | 148 ft | 479 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 049 | walk to | 107 ft | 255 ft | 380 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 050 | walk to | 80 ft | 334 ft | 412 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 051 | walk to | 80 ft | 410 ft | 369 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 052 | walk to | 87 ft | 501 ft | 335 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 053 | walk to | 83 ft | 584 ft | 335 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 054 | walk to | 83 ft | 667 ft | 322 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 055 | walk to | 84 ft | 736 ft | 288 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 056 | walk to | 103 ft | 748 ft | 402 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 057 | walk to | 85 ft | 816 ft | 290 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 058 | walk to | 85 ft | 891 ft | 302 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 059 | walk to | 65 ft | 908 ftSaylorville Lake | 296 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 060 | walk to | 61 ft | 936 ft | 258 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 061 | walk to | 61 ft | 920 ftSaylorville Lake | 289 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 075 | walk to | 81 ft | 955 ft | 368 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 076 | walk to | 81 ft | 874 ft | 362 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 077 | walk to | 82 ft | 799 ft | 339 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 078 | walk to | 85 ft | 727 ft | 324 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 079 | walk to | 94 ft | 659 ft | 322 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 080 | walk to | 57 ft | 804 ft | 216 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 081 | walk to | 51 ft | 859 ft | 260 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 082 | walk to | 31 ft | 861 ftSaylorville Lake | 300 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 083 | walk to | 31 ft | 846 ftSaylorville Lake | 285 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 084 | walk to | 66 ft | 470 ftSaylorville Lake | 757 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 085 | walk to | 66 ft | 405 ftSaylorville Lake | 791 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 086 | walk to | 53 ft | 388 ftSaylorville Lake | 850 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 087 | walk to | 53 ft | 336 ftSaylorville Lake | 873 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 088 | walk to | 61 ft | 328 ftSaylorville Lake | 929 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 089 | walk to | 62 ft | 270 ftSaylorville Lake | 973 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 090 | walk to | 65 ft | 208 ftSaylorville Lake | 985 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 091 | walk to | 54 ft | 181 ftSaylorville Lake | 958 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 092 | walk to | 53 ft | 180 ftSaylorville Lake | 929 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 093 | walk to | 48 ft | 213 ftSaylorville Lake | 880 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 094 | walk to | 44 ft | 261 ftSaylorville Lake | 843 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 095 | walk to | 44 ft | 297 ftSaylorville Lake | 799 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 096 | walk to | 54 ft | 349 ftSaylorville Lake | 746 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 097 | walk to | 77 ft | 364 ftSaylorville Lake | 778 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 098 | walk to | 150 ft | 486 ftSaylorville Lake | 596 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 099 | walk to | 55 ft | 742 ftSaylorville Lake | 319 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 100 | walk to | 55 ft | 785 ftSaylorville Lake | 264 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 101 | walk to | 85 ft | 723 ftSaylorville Lake | 287 ft | $14 | |||
| ACORN VALLEY | 103 | type not stated | 623 ftSaylorville Lake | 317 ft | |||||
| ACORN VALLEY | 104 | type not stated | 598 ftSaylorville Lake | 389 ft | |||||
| ACORN VALLEY | 105 | type not stated | 552 ftSaylorville Lake | 377 ft | |||||
| ACORN VALLEY | 106 | type not stated | 509 ftSaylorville Lake | 478 ft | |||||
| ACORN VALLEY | 107 | type not stated | 495 ftSaylorville Lake | 438 ft | |||||
| ACORN VALLEY | 108 | type not stated | 414 ftSaylorville Lake | 572 ft | |||||
| ACORN VALLEY | Group 030 | group walk to | $70 | ||||||
| ACORN VALLEY | Group/Youth Site, 102 | group tent only area nonelectric | 20 amp | yes | 103 ft | 659 ftSaylorville Lake | 324 ft |
25 of 91 listed
Getting there
the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Where it is
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area0.6 mi
Sandpiper Recreation Area1.3 mi
Prairie Flower Recreation Area2.0 mi
Cherry Glen Picnic2.3 mi
Lake View Recreation Area (Saylorville)2.3 mi
Cherry Glen Campground2.3 miFrom 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.
The weather
the next four days · the thirty-year normal
Next four days, and the thirty-year normal
Forecast
NWS forecast for Johnston, IA
Typical weather
Typical October night 43°F, day 63°F.
Coldest month of the year: typical January night 13°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.
Daily high and lowDays with 0.10 in or more
A normal is the 1991-2020 average for the month, not a forecast: about half of all Julys are colder than the July line. The seven-day forecast above answers the other question.
The land, and who answers for it
who answers for it
Who answers for this land
Acorn Valley is in Iowa’s 3rd congressional district. Its representative, Zach Nunn (R), votes on the laws that decide what happens to this land. Public-lands grade so far: F. See every public-lands vote →