Bob Shetler Recreation Area

Saylorville Lake Administration Office, Johnston, Iowa, United States
Check Availability
Main Dam Outlet
BOB SHETLER RECREATION AREA 1
Bob Shetler Archery Range
Bob Shetler Entrance

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
River Access River Access
View all amenities

About Bob Shetler Recreation Area

Bob Shetler Recreation Area is located in the tailwater area below the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 mi up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.

Available sites

60 total sites
RV Sites 60 sites Check Availability

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
River Access River Access
RV Utilities and Hookups

RV Utilities and Hookups

  • Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
Water Access

Water Access

  • River Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

60 Sites Available

Site
Price
🚐 02, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 04, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 05, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 06, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 07, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 08, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 09, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 10, Loop: BSHW RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐 12, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐 13, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 14, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 15, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 16, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 17, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 18, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 19, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 20, Loop: BSHE RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐 27, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 28, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 29, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 30, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Paved
🚐 31, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 32, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 33, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 34, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 35, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 36, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 37, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 38, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 39, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 40, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 41, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 42, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 43, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 44, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 45, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 46, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 47, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 48, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 49, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 50, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 51, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 52, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 53, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 54, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 55, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 56, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 57, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 58, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 59, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 60, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 61, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 62, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 63, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 64, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 65, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 66, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 67, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 68, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐 69, Loop: BSHM RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel

Reviews

792 reviews

Summary

AI generated

Bob Shetler Recreation Area is praised for its clean facilities, friendly staff, and spacious campsites, making it a great choice for campers seeking a peaceful retreat. The campground offers easy access to outdoor activities like biking and fishing, and the location near the dam adds to its charm. However, some visitors noted noise from nearby traffic and the need for updates in certain facilities, particularly the shower house.

Based on guest feedback

4.2

Overall rating

Based on 792 reviews

Write a review
5 stars 51.9% (411)
4 stars 27.5% (218)
3 stars 10.9% (86)
2 stars 6.7% (53)
1 star 3.0% (24)

Showing 792 reviews

Verified Only
Sort by: Newest First
Newest First Oldest First

Brock M

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 59, Loop: BSHM

Hosts are great. Very helpful and friendly. Site was level for the most part and area was kept up nicely.

Helpful

Brad P

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 17, Loop: BSHE

We have always loved bob shetler but very disappointed in the lack of upgrades that were made during their one year plus shut down.
1.Lack of communication about check in. We called the phone # and recording said no need yo check in but hours later individual in golf cart stopped and made a comment that "we snuck in" on them. Made us wonder what we missed
2.some individual campers using the water hook ups....pretty sure that was not the intent of the new facets
3.same old worn out playground equipment
4. Camping at the bottom of the dam used to be relaxing. Now it's a constant wave of foot traffic. I do realize that comes with the territory. We just won't book those spots
5. Dump station. Same old station. One dump for all of the reservable spots is poor planning. We were really hoping this problem would be solved during the revamp.
6. Dump station. The clean out hose....oh my. That hose is so old and cracked. Someone has tried to fix it with duct tape but it is horrible. It sprays everywhere. It would be better to not have one at all so campers realized they needed their own

In the end we really thought we missed Bob, but I think we will continue at acorn in lieu of Bob

Helpful

Carl S

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 28, Loop: BSHM

We had a great time.

Helpful

Brock M

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 59, Loop: BSHM

Hosts are great. Very helpful and friendly. Site was level for the most part and area was kept up nicely.

Helpful

Brad P

Verified

June 24, 2025 Stayed at: 17, Loop: BSHE

We have always loved bob shetler but very disappointed in the lack of upgrades that were made during their one year plus shut down.
1.Lack of communication about check in. We called the phone # and recording said no need yo check in but hours later individual in golf cart stopped and made a comment that "we snuck in" on them. Made us wonder what we missed
2.some individual campers using the water hook ups....pretty sure that was not the intent of the new facets
3.same old worn out playground equipment
4. Camping at the bottom of the dam used to be relaxing. Now it's a constant wave of foot traffic. I do realize that comes with the territory. We just won't book those spots
5. Dump station. Same old station. One dump for all of the reservable spots is poor planning. We were really hoping this problem would be solved during the revamp.
6. Dump station. The clean out hose....oh my. That hose is so old and cracked. Someone has tried to fix it with duct tape but it is horrible. It sprays everywhere. It would be better to not have one at all so campers realized they needed their own

In the end we really thought we missed Bob, but I think we will continue at acorn in lieu of Bob

Helpful

Linda F

Verified

June 22, 2025 Stayed at: 56, Loop: BSHM

We enjoyed our stay at Bob Shetler. Overall a nice campground. Without full hook ups they could try harder to keep the bathroom clean and reduce the mosquito/bug population within them.

Helpful

Linda F

Verified

June 22, 2025 Stayed at: 56, Loop: BSHM

We enjoyed our stay at Bob Shetler. Overall a nice campground. Without full hook ups they could try harder to keep the bathroom clean and reduce the mosquito/bug population within them.

Helpful

Suzanne S

Verified

June 21, 2025 Stayed at: 08, Loop: BSHW

Very nice quiet spot. Wish they would have had 50 amp with our hookups but we knew they did not.

Helpful

Suzanne S

Verified

June 21, 2025 Stayed at: 08, Loop: BSHW

Very nice quiet spot. Wish they would have had 50 amp with our hookups but we knew they did not.

Helpful

Dana P

June 18, 2025

Had site 3. Very nice level gravel site with full hookups. Quiet Overnight. Not too far off highway.

Helpful

Location & Directions for Bob Shetler Recreation Area

Saylorville Lake Administration Office, Johnston, IA 50131-1941 United States

Elevation: 247 ft

Getting There

From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny/Oralabor Road and go west for 4.8 mi. 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.

Nearest town

Johnston, IA - 3.8 mi

About 8 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible from I-35 via exit 90, approximately 4.8 miles to the west on Highway 415.

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.

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Bob Shetler Picnic Area
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Bob Shetler Picnic Area

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Cherry Glen Campground is situated on the expansive Saylorville Lake Project, covering 26,000 acres along the Des Moines River Valley. It offers diverse recreational activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, and hunting.

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Nearby destinations

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Johnston

2 mi away

City
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Ankeny

5 mi away

Ankeny, Iowa makes a handy base for camping trips, with campgrounds and RV parks near town and easy access to the are...

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Grimes

6 mi away

City

Last updated: October 23, 2026

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Explore Johnston, IA

Population: 24,384

Nearby city: Ankeny, IA

Approx. 5 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 833 ft

Learn more about Johnston

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