Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
Cherry Glen Campground
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 125
- Hookups
- 125 electric, 3 with water
- Season
- April 15 to October 14
- Max RV length
- 93 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 938 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 5
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Saylorville Lake
- Nearest town
- JOHNSTON
- Address
- SAYLORVILLE LAKE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE, JOHNSTON, IA, 50131
- Phone
- 515-964-8792
- Activities
- Camping, Educational Programs, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Marina, Mountain Biking, Swimming, Water Skiing, Wildlife Viewing
125 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 9° | -24° | 54° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 36° | 17° | -22° | 67° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 51° | 30° | 7° | 74° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 63° | 40° | 22° | 81° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 72° | 54° | 38° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 84° | 64° | 49° | 98° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 68° | 56° | 96° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 82° | 66° | 56° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 61° | 47° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 66° | 45° | 26° | 83° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 49° | 33° | 5° | 72° | 6 of 10 |
| December | 38° | 24° | -13° | 71° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Prairie Flower Recreation Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 1 mi · 252 sites
- Bob Shetler Recreation Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 2 mi · 67 sites
- Acorn Valley · Army Corps of Engineers · 2 mi · 91 sites
- Jester Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 8 mi · 15 sites
- Walnut Woods State Park · Iowa State Parks · 13 mi · 22 sites
All public campgrounds in Iowa · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.