Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-234694
When Bob Shetler Picnic Area reopens
Bob Shetler Picnic Area's openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
1
Only 1 opening in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Apr 15 – May 3, 2027 · of 2 monitored sites
Of the 38 tracked reservation dates (Apr 15 – May 3, 2027): 38 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
0% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 38 of 38 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Apr 15 – May 3, 2027Not open online0%
Open reservation dates38 / 38
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 38
Weekday openings20
Weekend openings18
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 20 fall on weekdays and 18 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Apr 2027 – May 2027April holds the most room. 32 of 32 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 day-use units| Window | Date | Units 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 date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| 1 | 19 |
| 2 | 19 |
The 2 day-use units with the most open reservation dates 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 Apr 15, 2027. That is about 164 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Apr 15, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The reservation dates shown on this page describe Apr 15, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Reservation dates
38 available reservation dates across 2 day-use units at Bob Shetler Picnic Area, from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 2 day-use units with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 19 dates | Apr 15, 2027, Apr 16, 2027, Apr 17, 2027, Apr 18, 2027, Apr 19, 2027, Apr 20, 2027, Apr 21, 2027, Apr 22, 2027, Apr 23, 2027, Apr 24, 2027, Apr 25, 2027, Apr 26, 2027 +7 more |
| 2 | 19 | 19 dates | Apr 15, 2027, Apr 16, 2027, Apr 17, 2027, Apr 18, 2027, Apr 19, 2027, Apr 20, 2027, Apr 21, 2027, Apr 22, 2027, Apr 23, 2027, Apr 24, 2027, Apr 25, 2027, Apr 26, 2027 +7 more |
About Bob Shetler Picnic Area
Overview
Bob Shetler Picnic Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam, and is a popular destination for shoreline fishermen.
The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project stretches over 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 come to Saylorville Lake for its great boating, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing and swimming opportunities. Anglers fish for 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 day-use area offers two large group picnic areas with water and electric hookups. Amenities include flush toilets, a volleyball court, playground and hiking trails.
Natural Features
Large shade trees dot the open grassy land around the picnic area, which offers pleasant views of the Des Moines River.
Wildlife is abundant throughout the project. White-tailed deer, turkeys, pheasants, waterfowl, and other small game animals roam the lands around the lake.
2 monitored unitsDay use2 shadedPets OKMax party 100
Getting there
From I-35, take the Ankeny Exit #90 (Oralabor Road) and go west 4.8 miles; the road turns into HWY 415. Turn left (west) onto NW 37th Street and go 0.3 mile, then turn right onto NW Horseshoe Rd. Turn right and drive across the Saylorville Lake Dam to the campground. From I-80, take Exit #135 (2nd Avenue/Highway 415) exit and go north 3.5 miles. Turn left (west) onto Oralabor Road (Highway 415) and go 2.6 miles. Turn left (west) onto NW 37th Street and go 0.3 mile, then turn right onto NW Horseshoe Rd. Turn right and drive across the Saylorville Lake Dam to the campground.
Saylorville Lake Administration Office, Johnston, IA 50131515-276-4656
BikingCampingFishingHikingWildlife Viewing
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-234694 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-234694 · Bob Shetler Picnic Area · Johnston IA7 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Bob Shetler Picnic Area?
Reservations for Bob Shetler Picnic Area are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 38 of 38 tracked reservation dates are open (100%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 1 site opening here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility 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 16:20 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 Picnic Area?
Campsite Sniper detected 1 site-date opening 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.
Which month has the most availability at Bob Shetler Picnic Area?
April 2027, with 32 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 32.
When is the next open date at Bob Shetler Picnic Area?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Bob Shetler Picnic Area begins Apr 15, 2027 — about 164 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 Apr 15, 2027.
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.