Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-233432
When Bob Shetler Recreation Area reopens
Bob Shetler Recreation Area's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
8
Openings · last 90 days
140
Weekday pattern
Detected openings by day of week · 90dNo strong weekday pattern is evident in the openings Campsite Sniper has detected: 140 openings spread across the week.
Hour-of-day pattern
First detected by hour · local time · last 90 daysThe largest concentrations of detected openings were first detected during the 05:00 and 16:00 local-time hours. Those hours contained 49 of 140 detected openings (35.0%). Hours show when Campsite Sniper first detected each opening, in Central Time, not when the change was made upstream.
Lead-time profile
Days before stay date · percentilesHalf of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 6 days before the stay date; the middle 50% land 2.8–30.2 days out. Set an alert if you want Campsite Sniper to monitor future openings.
Highest-churn sites
Most openings · 90d| Site | Openings | Share of all openings |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 24 | 17.1% |
| 42 | 14 | 10.0% |
| 07 | 11 | 7.9% |
| 20 | 10 | 7.1% |
| 08 | 9 | 6.4% |
Site 44 had the most detected openings in the last 90 days: 24. One free watch covers every site here.
02 · Availability Outlook · May 1 – May 3, 2027 · of 67 monitored sites
Of the 180 tracked site-nights (May 1 – May 3, 2027): 180 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
0% of tracked site-nights are not currently open for online reservation. 180 of 180 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
May 1 – May 3, 2027Not open online0%
Open site-nights180 / 180
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 180
Weekday openings60
Weekend openings120
Of the open site-nights on mapped sites, 60 fall on weekdays and 120 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
May 2027 – May 2027May holds the most room. 180 of 180 site-nights are still open there.
Holiday windows
Sites open per night · of 60 sites| Window | Night | Sites open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked night.
Best-availability sites
Most open site-nights · tracked window| Site | Open site-nights |
|---|---|
| 02 | 3 |
| 04 | 3 |
| 05 | 3 |
| 06 | 3 |
| 07 | 3 |
The 5 sites with the most open site-nights in the current snapshot. Pair a bookable date with a free alert to cover everything else.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts May 1, 2027. That is about 180 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before May 1, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The site-nights shown on this page describe May 1, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Stays and site detail
180 open site-nights across 60 sites at Bob Shetler Recreation Area, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
Multi-night stays. 60 2-night, 60 3-night openings where a single site is free for every night, per Campsite Sniper's current snapshot — soonest May 1, 2027 at site 02.
RV length. Longest recorded site here is 70 ft. 60 sites take 25 ft, 55 sites take 35 ft, 54 sites take 40 ft.
All 60 sites with current availability
| Site | Max RV | Hookups | Open site-nights | Longest run | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | 50 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 04 | 44 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 05 | 60 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 06 | 50 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 07 | 58 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 08 | 43 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 09 | 64 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 10 | 47 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 12 | 55 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 13 | 38 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 14 | 60 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 15 | 58 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 16 | 43 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 17 | 70 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 18 | 62 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 19 | 52 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 20 | 65 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 27 | 58 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 28 | 58 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 29 | 64 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 30 | 61 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 31 | 51 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 32 | 49 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 33 | 61 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 34 | 59 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 35 | 63 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 36 | 31 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 37 | 41 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 38 | 40 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 39 | 56 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 40 | 62 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 41 | 63 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 42 | 47 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 43 | 59 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 44 | 60 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 45 | 62 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 46 | 64 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 47 | 58 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 48 | 32 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 49 | 43 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 50 | 50 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 51 | 65 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 52 | 62 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 53 | 63 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 54 | 53 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 55 | 52 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 56 | 62 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 57 | 48 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 58 | 60 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 59 | 48 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 60 | 31 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 61 | 40 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 62 | 29 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 63 | 46 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 64 | 55 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 65 | 47 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 66 | 50 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 67 | 50 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 68 | 50 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
| 69 | 32 ft | Yes | 3 | 3 nights | May 1, 2027, May 2, 2027, May 3, 2027 |
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.
67 monitored sitesRVs up to 70 ft60 with hookups30 shadedPets OKFire pitsMax party 6
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.
Saylorville Lake Administration Office, Johnston, IA 50131-1941515-276-0873
BikingBoatingCampingFishingHikingHuntingSwimming SiteWater Sports
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-233432 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-233432 · Bob Shetler Recreation Area · Johnston IA12 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?
Reservations for Bob Shetler Recreation Area are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 180 of 180 tracked site-nights are open (100%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 140 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick a site on the map to see its calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this campground for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?
Campsite Sniper detected 140 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Can I get a multi-night stay at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?
60 three-night openings are showing, counting only runs where the SAME site is free for all three nights. The soonest starts May 1, 2027 at site 02. Confirm and book on Recreation.gov.
Which sites at Bob Shetler Recreation Area fit a 35-foot RV?
55 of the 60 sites that support RV analysis have a recorded maximum of 35 ft or more; the longest recorded is 70 ft.
Which month has the most availability at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?
May 2027, with 180 open site-nights in the current snapshot of 180.
How far ahead of a stay do openings appear at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?
Half of the openings Campsite Sniper detected appeared at least 6 days before the stay date; the middle 50% landed 2.8-30.2 days out. Campsite Sniper can monitor future changes for dates you select.
When is the next open date at Bob Shetler Recreation Area?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Bob Shetler Recreation Area begins May 1, 2027 — about 180 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before May 1, 2027.
Stop refreshing. Let the app watch it.
Filter
Lakefront, hookups, your RV length, weekends only - set it as picky as you want.
Watch
We run paced availability checks for Bob Shetler Recreation Area. One watch covers every matching site.
Get the ping
When a match opens, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.