Des Moines, Iowa › Wedding Venues › Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge
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About Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge
Couples planning a Des Moines wedding will find Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge among the West Des Moines area's wedding venues. Beyond wedding venues, the business also offers wedding rentals — a range that can simplify vendor coordination. Verified reviews from real couples appear below as they are earned — rankings on Lazo are never sold.
Hotels near Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge
The closest places for out-of-town guests to stay around West Des Moines, nearest first. Ask the venue which ones offer a room block.
- Sleep Inn & Suites
- Baymont
- Quality Inn
- Drury Inn & Suites West Des Moines
- Element West Des Moines
- Westown Parkway Residences
Hotel data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances are straight-line from the venue.
Verified reviews
No reviews yet. Only couples who book Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge through Lazo can leave one, and it’s the only thing that moves a Lazo Score.
Frequently asked questions
Planning a wedding venue in Des Moines
How much do wedding venues cost in Des Moines?
Venue pricing in Des Moines spans widely — from around $3,000 for simpler spaces to $15,000+ for full-service estates and resorts. The real number to compare is total cost: ask what's included (tables, chairs, linens, staffing) and what's required (mandated caterers, minimums, service fees).
What questions should we ask on a venue tour?
Ask about rain plans, vendor restrictions, overtime fees, when vendors can load in, what the service charge covers, and exactly when you get the space. Get the full fee schedule in writing before signing.
How does Lazo rank wedding venues in Des Moines?
Rankings come from the Lazo Score — verified reviews weighted for recency — and are never sold. Vendors without verified reviews yet start at the community baseline of 65 and earn their score as verified reviews arrive.
Des Moines weddings, month by month
Days typically top out between 65° and 85° in May, June, August, September. The driest months are January, February, December.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31° | 14° | 11% | 4:26 PM | 5:09 PM |
| Feb | 36° | 18° | 14% | 5:09 PM | 5:48 PM |
| Mar | 49° | 30° | 16% | 6:44 PM | 7:21 PM |
| Apr | 62° | 41° | 25% | 7:17 PM | 7:55 PM |
| May | 72° | 52° | 27% | 7:47 PM | 8:27 PM |
| Jun | 82° | 62° | 25% | 8:08 PM | 8:50 PM |
| Jul | 86° | 66° | 20% | 8:06 PM | 8:47 PM |
| Aug | 84° | 64° | 21% | 7:35 PM | 8:13 PM |
| Sep | 77° | 55° | 17% | 6:47 PM | 7:23 PM |
| Oct | 63° | 43° | 15% | 5:55 PM | 6:33 PM |
| Nov | 48° | 30° | 14% | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM |
| Dec | 36° | 20° | 11% | 4:00 PM | 4:45 PM |
Average highs, lows and the share of days with 0.1″ of rain or more, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals at Des Moines International Airport (3.9 mi from Des Moines). Golden hour begins when the sun is 6° above the horizon; both times are for the 15th of each month in Des Moines.
Getting to Des Moines
| Airport | Distance | Est. drive |
|---|---|---|
| DSM Des Moines International Airport | 4 mi | 5 min |
| FOD Fort Dodge Regional Airport | 73 mi | 1 hr 50 min |
| ALO Waterloo Regional Airport | 92 mi | 2 hr 20 min |
| City | Distance | Est. drive |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 179 mi | 3 hr 40 min |
| Minneapolis | 235 mi | 4 hr 50 min |
| St. Louis | 273 mi | 5 hr 40 min |
| Milwaukee | 309 mi | 6 hr 20 min |
Straight-line distance from central Des Moines; drive times are estimates, not routes. Airports with scheduled passenger service, from OurAirports.
Details
- Based in
- 2500 Grand Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA
- Where
- West Des Moines · 6 miles west of central Des Moines
- Listed under
- Wedding Venues · Wedding Rentals
- In Des Moines
- One of 110 wedding venues we list · 6 within 3 miles
- Phone
- (515) 222-3424
- Website
- Visit site
Around West Des Moines
- Wedding Venues nearby
- 6 within 3 mi, 38 within 10
- Guest hotels
- 44 within 5 mi
- Communities served
- Clive, Urbandale, Windsor Heights, Norwalk
Distances are straight-line from Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge; counts come from the businesses and venues Lazo lists around Des Moines.
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