Can you reserve a site at Cottonwood Recreation Area?

Yes, Cottonwood Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.

Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Recreation Area.

Cottonwood Recreation Area, Iowa — 9 sites, fees and cancellation alerts

Overview

Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam. The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project 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.

Recreation

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.

The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating.

Facilities

The day-use area offers nine group picnic areas with water and electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, a volleyball court, playground and hiking trails.

Natural Features

Cottonwood covers a large open and flat lowland area bordering the east side of the Des Moines River.

Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.

The facts

9 bookable sites
9 sites for day use only
Up to 250 people per site
Loops: COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA

Site types

9 Group Picnic Area

Amenities

Picnic tables
Grills
Shade
Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, campfires allowed, fire pits.

Book on Recreation.gov

9 campsites at Cottonwood Recreation Area

Check-in 7:00 AM · Check-out 9:00 PM

Site	Loop	Type	Entry	Surface	Water	Max rig	People
001	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	75	🐾
002	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	100	🐾
003	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	100	🐾
004	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	Riverfront	—	250	🐾
005	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	100	🐾
006	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	100	🐾
007	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	100	🐾
008	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	—	—	100	🐾
009	COTTONWOOD RECREATION AREA	Group Picnic Area	—	Paved	Riverfront	—	75	🐾

Getting there

Utilize address 7400 NW 37th Street Ankeny IA 50023 (Not a valid mailing address). From I-35, take Exit 90 in Ankeny and head approxmately 3.5 miles west to NW 84th Ave. Turn Left on 84th Ave and head south apprximately 1.5 miles to Cottonwood Recreation Area on the right.

41.69056, -93.67472 · 41°41'26.0"N 93°40'29.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 86°F in Jul, down to 30°F in Jan.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F	30	34	47	61	72	82	86	84	77	64	48	35
Low °F	12	16	27	38	50	61	65	62	53	41	29	18
Precip in	1.0	1.0	2.0	4.0	5.3	5.4	4.2	4.7	3.6	2.7	1.9	1.4

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 3.1 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

Common questions about Cottonwood Recreation Area

Can you reserve a site at Cottonwood Recreation Area?: Yes, Cottonwood Recreation Area is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Cottonwood Recreation Area have?: 9 sites.
Are pets allowed at Cottonwood Recreation Area?: Yes, pets are allowed at Cottonwood Recreation Area.

Camping near Cottonwood Recreation Area

Bob Shetler Picnic Area 0.5 mi · Campground · we watch it
Bob Shetler Recreation Area 0.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Lake View Recreation Area (Saylorville) 1.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cherry Glen Campground 2.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
Cherry Glen Picnic 2.9 mi · Campground · we watch it
Oak Grove Picnic Area 3.4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area 3.6 mi · Campground · we watch it
Prairie Flower Recreation Area 4 mi · Campground · we watch it
Acorn Valley 4.1 mi · Campground · we watch it
Sandpiper Recreation Area 4.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
Fifield (Ia) 38.3 mi · Campground · we watch it
Whitebreast Point Shelter (Ia) 38.8 mi · Campground · we watch it

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-02-25.

Cottonwood Recreation Area