Bob Shetler Recreation Area
Bob Shetler Recreation Area is an Army Corps of Engineers campground in Iowa. Hookups: full hookups.
- Type
- Army Corps of Engineers campground
- Location
- Iowa
- Coordinates
- 41.70167, -93.68528
- Hookups
- Full hookups
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Swimming Site, Water Sports
- Map
- Open in OpenStreetMap
- Phone
- 515-276-0873
Amenities
- Reservable sites
Only amenities a source confirms are listed; an amenity missing here is unknown, not absent.
About Bob Shetler Recreation Area
Overview 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. 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.
Cell coverage
No coverage data for this location yet.
Nearby RV services
- Dump station
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Water fill
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Propane
- None mapped within 50 mi
- Low clearances
- 9 bridges or tunnels at 14 ft or less within 10 mi
Other places to stay nearby
| Name | Type | Distance | Fee | Hookups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Shetler | RV park | under 0.1 mi | — | — |
| Bob Shetler | RV park | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Bob Shetler | RV park | 0.2 mi | — | — |
| Bob Shetler Picnic Area | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 0.4 mi | — | Water |
| Cottonwood Recreation Area | Army Corps of Engineers campground | 0.9 mi | — | No hookups |
| Cherry Glen Campground | Private campground | 2.0 mi | — | — |
Open Bob Shetler Recreation Area in DryRig
Save it offline, check your rig's clearance on the drive in, and see what's nearby on the map.
Sources. Recreation.gov (RIDB). Updated June 2026. Facility facts only; DryRig does not publish ratings or reviews on this page.