Where to camp near Grimes.

Can you camp in Grimes?

Only at a private club. Cutty's Des Moines Camping Club (its website now says Cutty's Camping Resort), 2500 SE 37th St, Grimes, is a private, gated, member-owned resort with 500-plus sites on 80-plus acres. Amenities include two outdoor pools, an indoor pool, a splash pad, a fishing lake with kayaking, disc golf, mini golf, and pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts. It is members and guests only, not a public campground you can just book for a night. Members can bring guests, and cabins and seasonal trailers are available for rent. Activities run May through October. Cutty's advertises a free two-night stay with a tour for people thinking about joining (restrictions apply). Call 515-986-3929.

Where can I camp at a public campground near Grimes?

Start with Jester Park, run by Polk County Conservation at 12130 NW 128th St, Granger. It covers 1,661 acres on the west shore of Saylorville Lake, with six numbered campgrounds plus a youth campground, four modern reservable cabins, boat ramps, fishing ponds, a natural playscape, a golf course, hiking trails, and the county's bison and elk herds.

• Booking: mycountyparks.com, up to one year ahead, for stays April 1 to November 30. Most sites require a reservation; a few are first-come, and if you grab one, set up on the site before you register.
• Off-season: county campgrounds close December 1 to March 31, except walk-in tent camping, which is allowed year-round.
• Firewood: out-of-state firewood is prohibited. The park sells firewood.
• Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, sunrise to sunset in winter.

Polk County also runs campgrounds at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, Yellow Banks Park, and Thomas Mitchell Park. The county office is at 515-323-5300.

Can I camp at Saylorville Lake?

Yes. Saylorville Lake's federal campgrounds book through Recreation.gov, which lists 11 campgrounds and day-use areas. Listed nightly prices: Acorn Valley $14 to $84, Bob Shetler Recreation Area $22 to $26, Cherry Glen $24 to $26, and Prairie Flower $20. The lake office is 515-276-4656.

Which state park near Grimes has camping?

Not Big Creek. Big Creek State Park near Polk City is the area's big lake-and-beach park, but its Iowa DNR page lists a beach, boat ramps, trails, and shelters and no campground. For state park camping, head to Ledges State Park, 1515 P Ave, Madrid (515-432-1852), known for sandstone ledges about 100 feet above the Des Moines River. It has electric, full hookup, non-electric walk-in, and hike-in sites, plus showers and a dump station. Reservations run March through November; the campground is closed December through February.

New for 2026: every Iowa state park campsite must be reserved. The old first-come walk-in sites are gone, and so are cash and paper registration. Book at iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com or 877-427-2757. Same-day bookings work, and you can change a reservation until 10 p.m. on your arrival day.

Is there a private campground near Grimes?

Timberline Campground, 31635 Ashworth Rd, Waukee, is a private campground the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association lists about 3 miles south of the trail. We could not confirm current rates or season dates, so call ahead.

Which campground should I book?

• First family campout: Jester Park, for the bison, the playscape, and cabins if tents are not your thing.
• Boat or lake weekend: a Saylorville Lake campground.
• Hiking and scenery: Ledges State Park.
• You know a member: Cutty's, for the pools and weekend entertainment.

Common questions

Is there camping in Grimes, Iowa?

Grimes has Cutty's Des Moines Camping Club (2500 SE 37th St), but it is a private, gated resort for members and their guests. For public camping, Jester Park near Granger and the Saylorville Lake campgrounds are the nearby options.

Where can I find public camping near Grimes?

Polk County's Jester Park, 12130 NW 128th St in Granger, has electric sites for $25 a night and non-electric sites for $20, bookable at mycountyparks.com. The Saylorville Lake campgrounds book through Recreation.gov.

Does Big Creek State Park have camping?

Big Creek State Park's Iowa DNR page lists a beach, boat ramps, trails, and shelters but no campground. For state park camping near Grimes, Ledges State Park near Madrid takes reservations March through November.

Do I need a reservation to camp at an Iowa state park?

Yes. Starting in 2026, every Iowa state park campsite must be reserved, online at iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com or by phone at 877-427-2757. Same-day reservations are allowed.