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
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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
Norman P
VerifiedOctober 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 02, Loop: BSHW
It is a nice quiet campsite with great attendants. The beach area and paths were well kept.
Marguerite N
VerifiedOctober 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 05, Loop: BSHW
Was very impressed with the whole camp ground. Definitely will be back!!
Norman P
VerifiedOctober 4, 2021 • Stayed at: 02, Loop: BSHW
It is a nice quiet campsite with great attendants. The beach area and paths were well kept.
Gary H
VerifiedOctober 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: BSHM
We stayed at Bob Shetler Campgrounds for a week, it is very clean and kept up. The sites are nice and big with amp room from each other. The shower houses are cleaned twice a day. We like to bike ride and you can ride right from the campgrounds to the trails, either to Big Creek recreational area or to the entire bicycle trail system in the Des Moines area. With in walking distance of the spill way and the Des Moines river for fishing or Kayaking. Very close drive to Des Moines and all it's activities.
Gary H
VerifiedOctober 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 35, Loop: BSHM
We stayed at Bob Shetler Campgrounds for a week, it is very clean and kept up. The sites are nice and big with amp room from each other. The shower houses are cleaned twice a day. We like to bike ride and you can ride right from the campgrounds to the trails, either to Big Creek recreational area or to the entire bicycle trail system in the Des Moines area. With in walking distance of the spill way and the Des Moines river for fishing or Kayaking. Very close drive to Des Moines and all it's activities.
Rick G
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: BSHE
We had a wonderful stay at the park. We stayed in space 17 in the park. It was easy to get into our space with our 45' motorhome. We had electric only and everything worked great, Sprint and Verizon were both able to pull a signal for internet.
Rick G
VerifiedSeptember 30, 2021 • Stayed at: 17, Loop: BSHE
We had a wonderful stay at the park. We stayed in space 17 in the park. It was easy to get into our space with our 45' motorhome. We had electric only and everything worked great, Sprint and Verizon were both able to pull a signal for internet.
Diane B
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 04, Loop: BSHW
This was our worst experience camping. The campers next to us partied on into the night until at least midnight. They were quite drunk when they returned from wherever in the evening. We had planned to stay another night but left the following morning and went home.
Lois T
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 55, Loop: BSHM
Rest rooms were kept very clean. There is plenty of space at each site and good space in between sites. The sites are easy to get into. Dumping station and water source are very handy.
George P
VerifiedSeptember 28, 2021 • Stayed at: 27, Loop: BSHM
Really nice campground, pleasant helpful staff. Clean and good sized sites.
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
