Oak Grove Picnic Area

Saylorville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Johnston, IA, IA

Price: From $50 per night

Rating: 5 out of 5 (1 reviews)

Season: May through October

Oak Grove 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.This day-use area offers two group picnic shelters with electric and water hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, a playground, volleyball court and hiking trails.Oak Grove lies among a heavily wooded forest of stately o

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

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/oak-grove-picnic-area to be notified when sites open up.

Oak Grove Picnic Area offers a small, family-friendly beach on Saylorville Lake with spacious grounds that don't get overcrowded. Google reviewers consistently praise the well-maintained facilities, clean restrooms serviced daily, and a life vest station for water safety.

Wildlife alert: Great Horned Owl, Pileated Woodpecker, Fish Crow, American Beaver, and Fox Squirrel have been documented in the area.

Insider tips for Oak Grove Picnic Area: Book early — this is a federal campground with limited availability (2 tent sites only) Life vest station available on-site for water safety Less crowded than nearby beaches like Raccoons River, making it ideal for families seeking a quieter experience

Skip Oak Grove Picnic Area if: You need RV hookups — electric hookups are listed but the campground notes 'no hookups at most sites'. You're planning to camp outside May through October — seasonal operations only. You need more than 2 tent sites available.

Best time to visit Oak Grove Picnic Area: May through October — Facility operates seasonally during these months only, with warm water temperatures and pleasant conditions for swimming and water activities..

Nearby campgrounds: Cherry Glen Picnic (JOHNSTON, IA), Prairie Flower Recreation Area (JOHNSTON, IA), Sandpiper Recreation Area (Johnston, IA), Walnut Ridge Recreation Area (Johnston, IA).