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
Report Incorrect Information
Help us improve by reporting any incorrect amenity information for Bob Shetler Recreation Area.
Rates, Sites & Availability
60 Sites Available
No sites found matching your criteria.
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.
Site Details
Select a site to view details
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
Janice H
VerifiedJune 30, 2022 • Stayed at: 33, Loop: BSHM
Beautiful area. Loved the green grass
Kenneth T
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 64, Loop: BSHM
the place was clean & quite we will be back
Kenneth T
VerifiedJune 28, 2022 • Stayed at: 64, Loop: BSHM
the place was clean & quite we will be back
alexis b
VerifiedJune 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 54, Loop: BSHM
Wish we could stay longer including weekends! Been paying the same spot all weekdays and somehow it’s reserved weekends? Also the Recreation.gov app is horrendous trash.
alexis b
VerifiedJune 27, 2022 • Stayed at: 54, Loop: BSHM
Wish we could stay longer including weekends! Been paying the same spot all weekdays and somehow it’s reserved weekends? Also the Recreation.gov app is horrendous trash.
Ross H
VerifiedJune 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: BSHE
This is a beautiful and interesting area. Really enjoyed watching all the anglers. We were visiting friends from Ankeny so we spent some time in town but I would have enjoyed just sitting and watching the river. We'll definitely camp here again (and again).
Tammy M
June 26, 2022
The area we camped in had a small number of sites and this made for a nice quiet stay. A couple of improvements would be helpful, an arrow to show drivers what direction to go around the site, a sign where the fresh water is located and more obvious site numbers. It took us longer to set up and had to ask or be told where to go. We also had to leave and return because we were going the wrong way initially.
Ross H
VerifiedJune 26, 2022 • Stayed at: 19, Loop: BSHE
This is a beautiful and interesting area. Really enjoyed watching all the anglers. We were visiting friends from Ankeny so we spent some time in town but I would have enjoyed just sitting and watching the river. We'll definitely camp here again (and again).
Tammy M
June 26, 2022
The area we camped in had a small number of sites and this made for a nice quiet stay. A couple of improvements would be helpful, an arrow to show drivers what direction to go around the site, a sign where the fresh water is located and more obvious site numbers. It took us longer to set up and had to ask or be told where to go. We also had to leave and return because we were going the wrong way initially.
Robert J
VerifiedJune 25, 2022 • Stayed at: 65, Loop: BSHM
We only stopped for the night so didn’t have time to get to the water. The campground is in a small valley so doesn’t get much of a breeze. There wasn’t much shade with only 1 small tree on the site. Across from us were a group of families with small kids who ran around screaming and yelling until 10:30. The bathrooms were not that clean and smelled of dirty diapers.
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
