Bob Shetler Recreation Area

Photo · USACE Staff

Not publishedStatus

ReservableAccess

67Sites

62 ftMax rig

The place

Bob Shetler Recreation Area is located in the tailwater area below the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley. The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting. Recreation Visitors enjoy Saylorville Lake for its excellent boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers will find walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie and northern pike. Keep reading

The paved Neal Smith Trail winds 24 miles from Des Moines to Big Creek State Park and connects the campgrounds on the east side of the lake. It is designated as a National Recreation Trail and is used for biking, hiking, jogging, walking and in-line skating. Facilities The campground offers 67 camping sites, all with electric hookups. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. Nearby amenities include a visitor center, hiking trail, volleyball courts and a disc golf course. Boat ramps and an accessible fishing dock are also close by. Natural Features Large shade trees dot the open grassy areas of the campground, which offers excellent views of the Des Moines River. Most campsites are within easy walking distance of the shore. Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, waterfowl and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

The sites · 67

Loop	Site	Type	Max rig	Electric	ADA
BSHE	12	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	13	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	14	standard electric	60 ft	50
BSHE	15	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	16	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	17	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	18	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	19	standard electric	—	50
BSHE	20	standard electric	—	50
BSHM	22	standard electric	45 ft	30
BSHM	23	standard electric	55 ft	30
BSHM	24	standard electric	45 ft	30
BSHM	25	standard electric	45 ft	30
BSHM	26	standard electric	35 ft	30
BSHM	27	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	28	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	29	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	30	standard electric	50 ft	30	yes
BSHM	31	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	32	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	33	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	34	standard electric	50 ft	30
BSHM	35	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	36	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	37	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	38	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	39	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	40	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	41	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	42	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	43	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	44	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	45	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	46	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	47	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	48	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	49	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	50	standard electric	50 ft	30
BSHM	51	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	52	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	53	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	54	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	55	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	56	standard electric	62 ft	30
BSHM	57	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	58	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	59	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	60	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	61	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	62	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	63	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	64	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	65	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	66	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	67	standard electric	—	30
BSHM	68	standard electric	50 ft	30
BSHM	69	standard electric	—	30
BSHW	02	standard electric	—	30
BSHW	03	standard electric	—	30
BSHW	04	standard electric	—	30

SHOWING 60 OF 67 SITES

SRC · Recreation.gov RIDB full extract · 2026-08-23

Booking

183 daysBooking window before arrival

Recreation.gov default: most campsites can be booked six months prior to arrival date. Most campgrounds go on sale at 7am PT / 8am MT / 10am ET, but not always; check the facility Seasons and Fees tab. Some locations also offer shorter supplemental booking windows.

Book on recreation.gov

SRC · Rules verified against recreation.gov · 2026-08-24

Your representative

This campground sits in IA-03. This member’s public-lands record →

SRC · U.S. Census TIGER · MTJP Scorecard