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
Linda M
VerifiedJune 24, 2020 • Stayed at: 20, Loop: BSHE
We stayed right along the spillway of Saylorville lake with our two dogs. It is a beautiful location, clean and well maintained. This park is one of our favorite places to come.
Jim P
VerifiedJune 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
Very nice and quiet camping area. Perfect weather on are weekend😃 Lots of traffic and people along the spillway walking behind camping area, but all seemed well minded. We enjoyed a nice weekend.** HOWEVER THERE WERE AREAS WITH POISEN IVY IN AND AROUND 14 & 15 on BSE. Kind of surprised me that they don’t treat the camp area for that.
Jim P
VerifiedJune 20, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
Very nice and quiet camping area. Perfect weather on are weekend😃 Lots of traffic and people along the spillway walking behind camping area, but all seemed well minded. We enjoyed a nice weekend.** HOWEVER THERE WERE AREAS WITH POISEN IVY IN AND AROUND 14 & 15 on BSE. Kind of surprised me that they don’t treat the camp area for that.
David H
VerifiedJune 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
We always camp below the dam (the 50 amp sites) and have done so for a number of years. Sites are well spaced and clean. Love the cement pads! I just wish there was some way to convince campers to keep their dogs on a leash at their campsite. We travel with a doberman and she is always on a leash at all times and we always pick up after her. Just wish the other campers would do the same with their canines.
David H
VerifiedJune 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
We always camp below the dam (the 50 amp sites) and have done so for a number of years. Sites are well spaced and clean. Love the cement pads! I just wish there was some way to convince campers to keep their dogs on a leash at their campsite. We travel with a doberman and she is always on a leash at all times and we always pick up after her. Just wish the other campers would do the same with their canines.
Kim M
VerifiedJune 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 53, Loop: BSHM
We had a great time at Bob's Shelter Campgrounds! The sites were so nice and clean. Our girls had so much fun playing on the playground with all their new friends!
Kim M
VerifiedJune 14, 2020 • Stayed at: 53, Loop: BSHM
We had a great time at Bob's Shelter Campgrounds! The sites were so nice and clean. Our girls had so much fun playing on the playground with all their new friends!
Craig O
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: BSHM
Great location with bike path connection to Des Moines.
Craig O
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 42, Loop: BSHM
Great location with bike path connection to Des Moines.
Cheryl W
VerifiedJanuary 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 15, Loop: BSHE
Have stayed in this campground several times and always enjoy our time here. Good access to bike trails. Usually quiet, family friendly.Bathrooms could use some updating.
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
