General Campground Information

Winter Camping Information

We are excited announce that we are NOW OPEN ALL YEAR!

If you plan to stay with us during the winter months please keep in mind that Iowa weather can be unpredictable. Please be prepared for ice and snow, and extremely cold temperatures when camping. Check the weather conditions before your trip. Be prepared by having an insulated/heat-taped water hose and insulated under-belly of your RV.

Please read the following information regarding winter camping at the Des Moines West KOA to make sure you have a great stay:
-We offer 30, Full Hook-up 50/30amp RV sites and 4 One-Room Camping Cabins during the winter months.
-There are directions on the front door of the office to help you find your welcome packet and site map.
-Our main office building will be closed from November 1st - March 31st. If you need anything during your stay please text 515-750-2181.
-Our laundry room and bathhouse will be OPEN 24 hours a day.
-You can make your reservations online or by calling 1-800-562-2181.
Here is a link to some winter camping tips and tricks: https://koa.com/blog/winter-rv-camping-guide-tips-for-cold-weather-rving/

Cancellation Policy 2025

Cancellation Policy:
If you need to cancel your reservation, please call the campground before the deadlines below to receive a refund of your deposit, less a $20 administrative cancellation fee. Text and email notifications of cancellations will not be accepted.
Cancellation Deadlines:
• RV & Tent Sites: You must give 7 days cancellation notice. Call the KOA you made your reservation with by 4 p.m., seven days before your scheduled arrival.
• Lodging & Accommodations: You must give 14 days cancellation notice. Call the KOA you made your reservation with by 4 p.m., fourteen days before your scheduled arrival. 
Cancellation Details:
• Reservations made after these deadlines require nonrefundable deposits.
• Cancellations made after the deadlines will result in forfeiture of the full deposit.
• No refunds are given due to the discomforts of nature, including no-shows and early checkouts.
No refunds are given on or after the arrival date.
• Refunds will be processed using the original credit/debit card, with no exceptions.
• The cancellation policy may be amended during a Regional/National travel disruption.
• Holidays and special events may have unique deposit and/or cancellation requirements. Please check with your selected KOA for details.

Check-In & Check-Out Times

Check-In for RV & Tent Sites = 1:00pm
Check-In for Cabins = 3:00pm

Check-Out Time = 11:00am

Hunts Brothers Pizza and Wings

Enjoy fresh toppings of your choice on either thin crust or hand tossed crust delivered right to your site. If pizza isn't your thing, we have bone-in wings and boneless wings, as well.

Trash

Please bag and tie garbage and place in the front of your site. Our team is happy to come by throughout the day during office hours for pickup. Do not leave trash out overnight. Alternatively, you may use the metal trashcans around the campground or the dumpsters located at the Southwest Exit.

Laundry Room

The Laundry room is located right next to the Registration Office.

Firewood Policy

We value the trees we have on our property, so our preference would be that you use our pre-dried and bundled firewood when you arrive on-site.

Cabins

Due to Health Department regulations, cooking is prohibited inside the 1-Room Camping Cabins. Instead, please use the outdoor grills and picnic tables provided for food preparation and dining. Alternatively, the RAC (Recreation Activity Center) is open during the camping season, offering a space to prepare meals and access the microwave.

Pool Hours

May 1, 2025 - September 15, 2025 9:00am - Dusk

Quiet Hours

Our quiet hours are from 10pm - 7am. We encourage everyone to be respectful of their neighbors. Obviously sitting around the campfire late into the night is one of the best memories from camping, so enjoy yourselves...quietly after 10pm.

Pets

Our campground welcomes pets with no breed restrictions, but they must not be aggressive and kept on a 6-foot leash at all times. Pets are not allowed to be left unattended outside or in hot RVs/tents, as this can be dangerous for the animal. They are also prohibited from the pool area to ensure the safety and comfort of all guests. Please be considerate of other campers and do not allow your pet to disturb them. Des Moines (and the surrounding cities) are EXTREMELY dog friendly, so you can usually take them with you on your adventures around the area. Most of our accommodations permit pets, but they are not allowed in the Glamping Tents or RV Rental Units. For your furry friends, we have a large, fenced-in dog park with shaded areas where they can play. We look forward to meeting your pets during your stay!

Visitor Policy 2025

In an effort to prevent overcrowding in the facility, we have made the following updates to our visitor policy. If you are planning on visiting someone staying at the campground, please stop by the office and register your vehicle and each additional person visiting. The maximum amount of people allowed on our RV, Deluxe Cabin, or Tent sites is 6 people. The maximum amount of people allowed in our 1-Room Camping Cabins and Glamping Tents is 4 people. This maximum amount of people includes both the people who have reserved the site and the people coming to visit. Any additional people that want to visit will have to reserve their own campsite in order to be on the property. Our visitor hours go until 10 pm on the day of the visit. Each RV and tent site will only allow up to 2 vehicles. Each Cabin, RV Rental Unit, and Glamping Tent Site will allow only 1 vehicle per site. Any additional cars will not be allowed to park on the campground and will have to find somewhere else in the area to park. Every vehicle will be asked to check in at the office to register their vehicle and people and receive a car tag for their visit. Please plan ahead if you are expecting visitors and call us if you have any questions. 
Visitor Fees are $10.00 per vehicle up to 4 people, regardless of age. We are unable to accommodate use of the facilities on weekends from May through September, unless you are visiting another guest on the property.

Meet Your Hosts

Overnight Big Rigs Love Us! Families & Weekenders Enjoy Us! Camping in Des Moines, Iowa has never been so good!

Recreational Adventures Co., the largest franchisee of KOA Campgrounds, is committed to providing our guests a fun and quality outdoor experience through superb customer service and family-fun amenities.  RAC understands that our guests expect and deserve more than time away from home.  By promoting and protecting our collective history, cultural heritage and rich natural environment, RAC creates recreational adventures.