About Bob Shetler Recreation Area
Number of accommodations: 60
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
River Access
RV Utilities and Hookups
- Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
Water Access
- River Access
Pets and Policies
- Pet friendly
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Rates, Sites & Availability
60 Sites Available
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Site Details
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60 Sites Available
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews (717)
What Guests Are Saying
Bob Shetler Recreation Area offers a well-maintained and spacious campground with clean facilities, friendly staff, and convenient amenities like water and sewer hookups. Many visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and biking. While some experienced noise disturbances from nearby road activities and motorcycles, the overall experience is generally positive, with many campers expressing their desire to return.
What Guests Are Saying
Bob Shetler Recreation Area offers a well-maintained and spacious campground with clean facilities, friendly staff, and convenient amenities like water and sewer hookups. Many visitors appreciate the peaceful atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, and biking. While some experienced noise disturbances from nearby road activities and motorcycles, the overall experience is generally positive, with many campers expressing their desire to return.
Review Summary
Shar H
VerifiedOctober 22, 2023 • Stayed at: 58, Loop: BSHM
This is a beautiful campsite at the base of the dam. We were wishing to bike the Des Moines area trails and after riding a short distance, we were able to connect to the trails leading to Des Moines. Due to the fact it was a rainy day on one of our visits, the distance to Ankeny was a plus. Everyone at the campground were friendly and helpful. Showers and bathrooms. were clean. We will choose this place to stay again.
Sandra W
VerifiedOctober 15, 2023 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
Great camp hosts! Too bad our Gov closed So many campgrounds this year - construction didn’t need to take all summer! Low bid is not always the best
Rob L
October 15, 2023
They need to crack down on the kids and immature adults with their loud mufflers racing back and forth past the campground. It can be a nice evening and then have to listen to the constant noise pollution from the idiots and their wanna be race cars constantly going back and forth.
Sandra W
VerifiedOctober 15, 2023 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
Great camp hosts! Too bad our Gov closed So many campgrounds this year - construction didn’t need to take all summer! Low bid is not always the best
Rob L
October 15, 2023
They need to crack down on the kids and immature adults with their loud mufflers racing back and forth past the campground. It can be a nice evening and then have to listen to the constant noise pollution from the idiots and their wanna be race cars constantly going back and forth.
Paul H
VerifiedOctober 11, 2023 • Stayed at: 54, Loop: BSHM
Nice area close to town to get supplies. Plenty to do and quiet
Paul H
VerifiedOctober 11, 2023 • Stayed at: 54, Loop: BSHM
Nice area close to town to get supplies. Plenty to do and quiet
Dennis S
October 7, 2023
Dump station is not level
Dennis S
October 7, 2023
Dump station is not level
Steve M
VerifiedOctober 5, 2023 • Stayed at: 57, Loop: BSHM
Camping at Bob Shetler was generally a very good experience. Sites are spacious. We hope to come back again. Shower building did not appear to have been cleaned every day, but was clean enough.
Location Bob Shetler Recreation Area
Address:
Saylorville Lake Administration Office
Johnston, IA, 50131-1941
United States
From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny/Oralabor Road and go west for 4.8 miles. The road turns into Highway 415. Turn left onto 37th Street, then turn right onto Horseshoe Road. Turn right and drive across the Saylorville Lake Dam to the campground.
The campground is accessible from I-35 via exit 90, approximately 4.8 miles to the west on Highway 415.
Latitude & Longitude: 41.7017 / -93.6853
Elevation: 247 feet
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
12PM
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
General
- Click here for more information
- Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
Safety & rules
- Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and only registered campers are allowed during this time.
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: June 3, 2026
