U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · IA

Cherry Glen Campground

ReservableOut of season; bookable April 15 through April 15.
Book on recreation.govWe make nothing when you book
Right now
Nobody has saidNo season, no closure, no bookings to read
A night
$24–$26Across the site types the agency prices
Sites
125All of them booked ahead
53 ftLongest rig
930 ftElevation
1,696 ftWater · Saylorville Lake
0.6 miW of Ankeny, IA
0%Tree cover

The place

the agency’s own description · what’s there · 3 notices

In the agency’s own words

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. Keep reading

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.

What the agency tells you

Rule

Click here for more information

Rule

Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.

Rule

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
125
Hookups
125 electric, 2 sewer
Longest rig
53 ft
Paved pads
4 of 125
Accessible sites
6
Pets
Allowed
Campfires
Allowed, barring fire bans
Shade
Every site
Source: Recreation.gov campsite records · Aug 23, 2026

Facilities

Toilets
Flush Toilets
“…with electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station.…”
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. Educational programs, group…”
Dump station
Yes
recreation.gov lists “Dump Station”
Boat ramp
Yes
Playground
Yes
Stay limit
14 nights
recreation.gov facility rule maxStay
Source: Stated in the agency description · Aug 23, 2026
Water, toilets and showers: read from the agency description, shown above · Sep 12, 2026

Around the campground

On the water
Lake, River, Creek
Biking
Boating
Fishing
Hiking
Hunting
Ranger programs
Swimming
Water sports
Wildlife viewing
Night sky · 29th darkest of 32 in IA
Bortle 5
Fall color · reported 3 days ago, 40 km away
Patchy color
Source: Recreation.gov activity records · Aug 23, 2026
Fall color: More Than Just Parks foliage tracker, joined to this campground by distance (40 km) · Oct 13, 2026

No reading yet, book on recreation.gov

Every site here is reservable, and the record lists none held back for anyone who drives up.

No availability snapshot inside the last 36 hours, so this page draws nothing rather than ageing a reading into fiction.

Booking windowFrom April 15Out of season now. Bookable for April 15, 2027 through April 15, 2027. Today at 10 AM ET, availability opens through April 16, 2027.recreation.gov
Max stay14 nightsthe facility record
A night$24–$26plus $8 to reserve, once per bookingthe agency’s rate schedule
A weekend$56–$60DerivedFriday and Saturday, everything includedours, from the lines above
If plans change$10 to cancel$10 to change a reservationrecreation.gov’s schedule
Runs itU.S. Army Corps of EngineersBooked through recreation.govthe agency’s record
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.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
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’ll write once, when the season that starts Thu, Apr 15 2027 is open for booking.

Free forever, no booking kickbacks.
Book on recreation.gov

We make nothing when you book. The link goes straight to the government.

Every line of the receipt · 14

What you actually pay

The sign priceU.S. Army Corps of Engineers
A night, per site$24–$26
Standard Electric-50 amp$24
Standard Electric-50 amp with sewer$26
Group area, a night$26
Rates for the season the campground is in now, Apr 15, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026.
The booking feerecreation.gov
Reservation fee, booked online$8
One fee per reservation, however many nights you book, and it’s non-refundable. $9 if you book by phone, $3 in person.
Pass discounts only apply to the recreation (or use) fee for the facility. Other charges such as electricity or water hookups, reservation or other fees are not eligible for a discount.
What a stay costs
One nightDerived$32–$34
A weekend, Friday and SaturdayDerived$56–$60

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.

If your plans changerecreation.gov
Change fee, moving to dates outside your booking$10
Cancellation fee$10
Cancelling the day before, or the day of$10 + your first night
No-show$20 + your first night

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

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

The sites

125 sites · which ones have room · the site map

The sites, ranked

from 125 mapped sites
58 ftbetween you and the next site, typically
Least room117 34 ft118 34 ft082 36 ft

All 125 sites

125 of 125 sites located
RV / electric125
SleepsTakes aUp to

The price is derived by CAMPANAC, not published per site: the per-night rate this campground publishes for each site’s own site type. 125 of the 125 sites listed carry one, and a site whose type has no published rate sits out of the price rather than being called free.

Measured shade is NLCD Tree Canopy Cover 2024 (USDA Forest Service / MRLC) read at the site’s own coordinate, 27% canopy or more, and only for the sites the agency gave no Shade value. It never changes the agency’s own shaded count beside it.

CHERRY GLEN001standard electric40 ft50 amp78 ft1,657 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN002standard electric53 ft50 amp98 ft1,727 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN004standard electric50 amp53 ft1,654 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN005standard electric50 amp68 ft1,708 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN006standard electric50 amp53 ft1,610 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN007standard electric50 amp60 ft1,652 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN008standard electric50 amp65 ft1,540 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN009standard electric50 amp60 ft1,597 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN010standard electric50 amp64 ft1,479 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN011standard electric50 amp73 ft1,527 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN012standard electric50 amp49 ft1,416 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN013standard electric50 amp84 ft1,438 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN014standard electric50 amp49 ft1,367 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN015standard electric36 ft50 ampyes58 ft1,330 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN016standard electric50 ampyes58 ft1,385 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN017standard electric50 ampyes75 ft1,452 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN018standard electric50 amp43 ft1,276 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN019standard electric50 amp58 ft1,210 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN020standard electric50 amp58 ft1,159 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN021standard electric50 amp65 ft1,095 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN022standard electric28 ft50 amp114 ft975 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN023standard electric50 amp60 ft1,045 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN024standard electric50 amp69 ft954 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN025standard electric50 amp88 ft1,141 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN026standard electric50 amp60 ft1,081 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN027standard electric50 amp78 ft1,326 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN028standard electric50 amp43 ft1,287 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN029standard electric50 amp61 ft867 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN030standard electric50 amp75 ft763 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN031standard electric50 amp50 ft735 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN032standard electric50 amp74 ft670 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN033standard electric50 amp79 ft707 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN034standard electric50 amp59 ft604 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN035standard electric50 amp59 ft635 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN036standard electric50 amp56 ft572 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN037standard electric50 amp56 ft520 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN038standard electric50 amp57 ft540 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN039standard electric50 amp81 ft444 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN040standard electric50 amp76 ft493 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN041standard electric50 amp74 ft414 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN042standard electric50 amp74 ft460 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN043standard electric50 amp80 ft577 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN044standard electric50 amp62 ft652 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN045standard electric50 amp56 ft711 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN046standard electric50 amp50 ft772 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN047standard electric50 amp72 ft848 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN048standard electric50 amp101 ft741 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN049standard electric50 amp64 ft888 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN050standard electric50 amp64 ft925 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN051standard electric50 amp66 ft933 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN052standard electric50 amp66 ft985 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN053standard electric50 amp48 ft1,047 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN054standard electric50 amp48 ft1,072 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN055standard electric50 amp85 ft1,009 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN056standard electric50 amp62 ft1,121 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN057standard electric50 amp54 ft1,065 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN058standard electric50 amp54 ft1,029 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN059standard electric50 amp61 ft975 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN060standard electric50 amp52 ft870 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN061standard electric50 amp55 ft953 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN062standard electric50 amp52 ft855 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN063standard electric50 amp71 ft845 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN064standard electric50 amp55 ft950 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN065standard electric50 amp48 ft868 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN066standard electric50 ampyes45 ft958 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN067standard electric50 amp48 ft871 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN068standard electric50 amp45 ft946 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN069standard electric50 amp70 ft816 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN070standard electric50 amp88 ft766 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN071standard electric50 amp43 ft832 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN072standard electric50 amp72 ft749 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN073standard electric50 amp43 ft845 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN074standard electric50 amp72 ft774 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN075standard electric50 amp43 ft873 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN076standard electric50 amp84 ft854 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN077standard electric50 amp46 ft918 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN078standard electric50 amp84 ft938 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN079standard electric50 amp40 ft962 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN080standard electric50 amp40 ft980 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN081standard electric50 amp56 ft1,012 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN082standard electric50 amp36 ft1,037 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN083standard electric50 amp52 ft1,150 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN084standard electric50 amp36 ft1,058 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN085standard electric50 amp43 ft1,083 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN086standard electric50 amp45 ft1,178 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN087standard electric50 amp80 ft1,083 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN088standard electric50 amp45 ft1,196 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN089standard electric50 amp83 ft1,118 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN090standard electric50 ampyes54 ft1,227 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN091standard electric50 amp65 ft1,181 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN092standard electric50 amp80 ft1,122 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN093standard electric50 amp67 ft1,220 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN094standard electric50 amp56 ft1,193 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN095standard electric50 amp64 ft1,265 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN096standard electric50 amp56 ft1,219 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN097standard electric50 amp52 ft1,301 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN098standard electric50 amp52 ft1,339 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN099standard electric50 amp57 ft1,374 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN100standard electric50 amp52 ft1,322 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN101standard electric50 amp52 ft1,365 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN102standard electric50 amp70 ft1,402 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN103standard electric50 amp61 ft1,231 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN104standard electric50 amp60 ft1,263 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN105standard electric50 amp74 ft1,180 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN106standard electric50 amp71 ft1,114 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN107standard electric50 amp43 ft1,155 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN108standard electric50 amp71 ft1,076 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN109standard electric50 amp80 ft1,058 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN110standard electric50 amp43 ft1,142 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN111standard electric50 amp52 ft1,074 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN112standard electric50 amp52 ft1,107 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN113standard electric50 amp56 ft1,166 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN114standard electric50 amp65 ft1,156 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN115standard electric50 amp47 ft1,242 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN116standard electric50 amp47 ft1,287 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN117standard electric50 amp34 ft1,229 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN118standard electric50 amp34 ft1,261 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN119standard electric50 amp55 ft1,284 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN120standard electric50 amp94 ft1,379 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN121standard electric42 ft50 amp55 ft1,322 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN122standard electric37 ft50 amp98 ft1,470 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN124standard electric45 ft50 amp73 ft1,474 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN125standard electric50 amp46 ft1,436 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN126standard electric50 amp46 ft1,417 ft$24–$26
CHERRY GLEN127standard electric50 ampyes55 ft1,399 ft$24–$26

25 of 125 listed

Getting there

the map and the coordinate · the agency’s directions · the phone number
Coordinate41.73139, -93.68000
The phone515-964-8792
The agency’s pageOfficial page ↗

Where it is

Getting there

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.

The weather

the next four days · the thirty-year normal

Next four days, and the thirty-year normal

Forecast

Today52°Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy45% rain
Tonight33°Mostly Clear then Areas Of Frost
Saturday59°Widespread Frost then Sunny
Saturday Night41°Clear

NWS forecast for Ankeny, IA

Typical weather

Typical October night 41°F, day 64°F.

Coldest month of the year: typical January night 12°F, below freezing. Bring a bag rated colder than that, and expect ice in the water bottle.

90°32°0°

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.

Measured at: ANKENY, IA (USC00130241), 2 miles away and 45 ft higher

The land, and who answers for it

who answers for it

Who answers for this land

Zach Nunn, official portrait

Cherry Glen Campground 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 →

Seen something wrong here? Tell us.

How we know

every fact on this page, and where it came from
Right now: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes no season and no closure for this campground, and it takes no bookings we can read. That’s a gap in the record and not a locked gate: the number below is the only way to be sure.
Fall color: More Than Just Parks foliage tracker, joined to this campground by distance (40 km) · Oct 13, 2026
Cell signal: the Army Corps’s own campground description, read as text by CAMPANAC. None of this is a measurement. It’s what the land manager published about the place, and phones, carriers and weather all disagree with each other; treat it as a warning, not a promise.