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
Sarah N
VerifiedOctober 16, 2022 • Stayed at: 59, Loop: BSHM
Camp sites were spaced out well. Water and dump station seemed like they were in the wrong spot. The way the dump station is tilted was hard to actually empty the tanks.
Eugene M
VerifiedOctober 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: BSHM
Very quiet and peaceful. May want to spray electrical boxes, ours had wasps in it.
Eugene M
VerifiedOctober 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 39, Loop: BSHM
Very quiet and peaceful. May want to spray electrical boxes, ours had wasps in it.
Lois T
VerifiedOctober 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 55, Loop: BSHM
Grounds were kept up. Bathroom always clean.
Lois T
VerifiedOctober 1, 2022 • Stayed at: 55, Loop: BSHM
Grounds were kept up. Bathroom always clean.
Beth D
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: BSHE
Great little place to camp outside of Des Moines Iowa. If you like fishing it’s perfect. We were right on the water coming out of the dam there was lots of fishermen they’re pretty fun to watch. Very nice level concrete site with water and electric. Would come back again.
Beth D
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: BSHE
Great little place to camp outside of Des Moines Iowa. If you like fishing it’s perfect. We were right on the water coming out of the dam there was lots of fishermen they’re pretty fun to watch. Very nice level concrete site with water and electric. Would come back again.
Philip P
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: BSHE
We were on site 16 near the water. Since you are somewhat outside of the campground in sites 1 thru 17 or 18 you really only have easy access to the put toilets in the day use parking lot. In order to take a shower or have nicer clean toilets you need to walk quite far to get to the campground bath house.
Philip P
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 16, Loop: BSHE
We were on site 16 near the water. Since you are somewhat outside of the campground in sites 1 thru 17 or 18 you really only have easy access to the put toilets in the day use parking lot. In order to take a shower or have nicer clean toilets you need to walk quite far to get to the campground bath house.
Gail Y
VerifiedSeptember 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 60, Loop: BSHM
It was nice and peaceful. The camping spot are a good size.
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
