Cherry Glen Picnic
Saylorville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: JOHNSTON, IA, IA
Price: From $50 per night
Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (16 reviews)
Season: May through October
Cherry Glen Picnic Area is a day-use facility 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 boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.Visitors come to Saylorville Lake for its great boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers fish for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike.
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, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/cherry-glen-picnic to be notified when sites open up.
Cherry Glen Picnic Area sits on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project with excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports. The facility offers 6 tent sites with fire rings, picnic tables, flush toilets, and select electric hookups.
Wildlife alert: Research-grade wildlife observations include Great Horned Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Fish Crow, American Beaver, and Fox Squirrel.
Insider tips for Cherry Glen Picnic: Book early—this is a federal campground with limited 6-site capacity Only select sites have electric hookups; most sites have no hookups Saylorville Lake spans 50+ miles up the Des Moines River Valley with diverse recreation including fishing for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and northern species
Skip Cherry Glen Picnic if: You need water or sewer hookups—none available at most sites. You plan to camp outside May-October—facility is seasonal only. You require last-minute booking—early reservation is essential.
Best time to visit Cherry Glen Picnic: May-October — Campground operates seasonally from May through October only..
Nearby campgrounds: Cherry Glen Campground (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 Picnic
Cell signal at Cherry Glen Picnic (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 Picnic Area is a day-use facility 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 boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.Visitors come to Saylorville Lake for its great boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers fish for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike.
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
this is a federal campground with limited 6-site capacity
Only select sites have electric hookups; most sites have no hookups
Saylorville Lake spans 50+ miles up the Des Moines River Valley with diverse recreation including fishing for walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and northern species
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 →
Utilize address 4586 NW 94th Avenue Polk City IA 50223 (Not a valid mailing address). From I-35, take Exit 92 in Ankeny and turn right on East 1st Street. Travel approximately 5 miles west to NW 94th Ave. Continue across HWY 415 approximately .5 miles to Cherry Glen Picnic Area on your right.
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 Picnic cost per night?+
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Does Cherry Glen Picnic have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Cherry Glen Picnic?+
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●Data sources on this page
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