Cherry Glen Campground
Saylorville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: JOHNSTON, IA, IA
Price: From $24 per night
Price range: $24–$26 per night
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (573 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.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.
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/cherry-glen-campground to be notified when sites open up.
Cherry Glen Campground sits on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, offering excellent boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports opportunities. The campground provides a variety of recreational activities including hiking and wildlife viewing in a scenic Des Moines River Valley setting.
Wildlife alert: Expect to see Fox Squirrels, American Beavers, Great Horned Owls, Pileated Woodpeckers, and Fish Crows in the area.
Insider tips for Cherry Glen Campground: Book early as this is a popular federal campground. Most sites lack water/sewer hookups; only select sites have electric hookups. Directions: From I-35 exit 90, take Ankeny Industrial Parkway to Highway 160 west for 4.8 miles, then Highway 415 for 4 miles to the campground.
Skip Cherry Glen Campground if: You need full hookups—only electric available on select sites.. You're traveling outside the May-October season when the campground is closed..
Best time to visit Cherry Glen Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally from May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Cherry Glen Picnic (JOHNSTON, IA), Oak Grove Picnic Area (Johnston, IA), Prairie Flower Recreation Area (JOHNSTON, IA), Lake View Recreation Area (Saylorville) (Johnston, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Cherry Glen Campground
Cell signal at Cherry Glen Campground (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 · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
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.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.
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.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a popular federal campground.
Most sites lack water/sewer hookups; only select sites have electric hookups.
Directions: From I-35 exit 90, take Ankeny Industrial Parkway to Highway 160 west for 4.8 miles, then Highway 415 for 4 miles to the campground.
Campground operates seasonally from May through October only.
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.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
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.
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 Cherry Glen Campground cost per night?+
What season is Cherry Glen Campground open?+
Does Cherry Glen Campground have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cherry Glen Campground?+
How do I make reservations at Cherry Glen Campground?+
What is the cell service like at Cherry Glen Campground?+
What season is Cherry Glen Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
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