Bob Shetler Recreation Area
Saylorville Lake — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: JOHNSTON, IA, IA
Price: From $22 per night
Price range: $22–$26 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (364 reviews)
Season: May through October
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.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 pik
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/bob-shetler-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Located in the tailwater area below Saylorsville Lake with 67 sites offering excellent boating, fishing, and water sports opportunities. The lake stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley with diverse recreational activities.
Wildlife alert: Great Horned Owl, Barn Swallow, Pileated Woodpecker, Fish Crow, Fox Squirrel, and Eastern Mole present in area
Insider tips for Bob Shetler Recreation Area: Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Electric hookups available on select sites only Excellent walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, and catfish fishing in Saylorsville Lake tailwater
Skip Bob Shetler Recreation Area if: You need water or sewer hookups - only electric available on select sites. You require year-round camping - seasonal operations May through October only. You prefer campgrounds with hookups at most sites.
Best time to visit Bob Shetler Recreation Area: May-October — Official operating season per verified data.
Nearby campgrounds: Bob Shetler Picnic Area (JOHNSTON, IA), Cottonwood Recreation Area (JOHNSTON, IA), Lake View Recreation Area (Saylorville) (Johnston, IA), Cherry Glen Campground (JOHNSTON, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Bob Shetler Recreation Area
Cell signal at Bob Shetler Recreation Area (JOHNSTON, IA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage · Verizon 5G: 100%
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
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.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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Electric hookups available on select sites only
Excellent walleye, wiper, largemouth bass, and catfish fishing in Saylorsville Lake tailwater
Official operating season per verified data
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
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.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Saylorville Lake fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Saylorville Lake before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Bob Shetler Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Bob Shetler Recreation Area open?+
Does Bob Shetler Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?+
What season is Bob Shetler Recreation Area open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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