Natalie C
VerifiedJune 19, 2022 Stayed at: 14, Loop: BSHE
Great
Helpful
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
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.
792 reviews
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
Based on 792 reviews
Showing 792 reviews
June 19, 2022 Stayed at: 14, Loop: BSHE
Great
Helpful
June 18, 2022 Stayed at: 07, Loop: BSHW
Love camping at Bob's Shelter! It's a relaxing environment but busy with visitors driving through or people fishing. Love to hear the Dam flow..
Helpful
June 18, 2022 Stayed at: 07, Loop: BSHW
Love camping at Bob's Shelter! It's a relaxing environment but busy with visitors driving through or people fishing. Love to hear the Dam flow..
Helpful
June 7, 2022 Stayed at: 53, Loop: BSHM
Always a great place to stay and very convenient. Camp hosts were kind, friendly and helpful. Spaces are wide and long and spaced nicely apart. However,the infrastructure could use some upgrading to 50 amp service. The trees have had a tough last couple of years and there could be the addition of a couple hundred trees easily. But this continues to be an easy place to reserve and stay.
Helpful
June 7, 2022 Stayed at: 12, Loop: BSHE
Great place and location. We were at site 12 right on the river below the spillway. Everything was great except the bathroom access for wheelchairs. The facilities closest to the campsite doesn’t provide a big enough stall for wheelchairs and the facilities across the river have a doorway entry that’s too high for a wheelchair to go in or out of safely. Other than that issue, everything was clean, fun and the picnic tables were in great condition. The concrete pads make for easy leveling too. If they could do something about the bathrooms, this would be a 10 out of 10 spot for us. Close to everything too. If you forgot anything, stores are within a few miles. Can even order food from several close by restaurants. We spent 9 nights and wish we’d had made it for a couple more days.
Helpful
June 7, 2022 Stayed at: 53, Loop: BSHM
Always a great place to stay and very convenient. Camp hosts were kind, friendly and helpful. Spaces are wide and long and spaced nicely apart. However,the infrastructure could use some upgrading to 50 amp service. The trees have had a tough last couple of years and there could be the addition of a couple hundred trees easily. But this continues to be an easy place to reserve and stay.
Helpful
June 7, 2022 Stayed at: 12, Loop: BSHE
Great place and location. We were at site 12 right on the river below the spillway. Everything was great except the bathroom access for wheelchairs. The facilities closest to the campsite doesn’t provide a big enough stall for wheelchairs and the facilities across the river have a doorway entry that’s too high for a wheelchair to go in or out of safely. Other than that issue, everything was clean, fun and the picnic tables were in great condition. The concrete pads make for easy leveling too. If they could do something about the bathrooms, this would be a 10 out of 10 spot for us. Close to everything too. If you forgot anything, stores are within a few miles. Can even order food from several close by restaurants. We spent 9 nights and wish we’d had made it for a couple more days.
Helpful
June 6, 2022 Stayed at: 27, Loop: BSHM
Peaceful campground, wonderful people at the check in desk!
Helpful
June 6, 2022 Stayed at: 27, Loop: BSHM
Peaceful campground, wonderful people at the check in desk!
Helpful
June 3, 2022 Stayed at: 36, Loop: BSHM
Good location with a disc golf course close by. Check in was easy and the rangers were helpful. It can get pretty noisy late night on top of the dam with cars/bikes. Glad I had my noise cancelling headphones. Lots of activities close by.
Helpful
Saylorville Lake Administration Office, Johnston, IA 50131-1941 United States
Elevation: 247 ft
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.
The campground is accessible from I-35 via exit 90, approximately 4.8 miles to the west on Highway 415.
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
12PM
Last updated: October 23, 2026