Acorn Valley
Saylorville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: JOHNSTON, IA, IA
Price: From $14 per night
Price range: $14–$84 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (246 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/acorn-valley to be notified when sites open up.
Nearby campgrounds: Walnut Ridge Recreation Area (Johnston, IA), Sandpiper Recreation Area (Johnston, IA), Prairie Flower Recreation Area (JOHNSTON, IA), Oak Grove Picnic Area (Johnston, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Acorn Valley
Cell signal at Acorn Valley (JOHNSTON, IA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Location
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Saylorville Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Saylorville Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Acorn Valley cost per night?+
What season is Acorn Valley open?+
Does Acorn Valley have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Acorn Valley?+
How do I make reservations at Acorn Valley?+
What is the cell service like at Acorn Valley?+
What season is Acorn Valley open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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