Bob Shetler Picnic Area
8 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
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.
Outdoors
Camping near Des Moines
Campgrounds and camping areas near Des Moines on federal land, with which ones take reservations on Recreation.gov.
29campgrounds and camping areas
8 mito the closest
11within 30 miles
April–June, August–Octoberbest months
Good to know: Popular campgrounds book up months ahead on Recreation.gov; first-come sites fill early on weekends and holidays.
Closest picks
Cottonwood Recreation Area
8 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam. The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
Bob Shetler Recreation Area
9 mi north · US Army Corps of Engineers
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.
Map of all 29 places
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Within 30 miles (11)
Bob Shetler Picnic Area
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.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Cottonwood Recreation Area
Cottonwood Recreation Area is a day-use facility located in the tailwater area below Saylorville Dam. The 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Bob Shetler Recreation Area
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.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Swimming
- Water sports
Saylorville Lake
The Saylorville Lake Project is 26,000 acres, which stretches for over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Cherry Glen Campground
Cherry Glen Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
Cherry Glen Picnic
Cherry Glen Picnic Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Oak Grove Picnic Area
Oak Grove Picnic Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area
Walnut Ridge Recreation Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Acorn Valley
Acorn Valley Campground is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Ranger programs
- Swimming
Prairie Flower Recreation Area
Prairie Flower Recreation Area is located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Swimming
- Water sports
Sandpiper Recreation Area
Sandpiper Recreation Area is a day-use facility located on the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches over 50 miles up the Des Moines River Valley.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
30 to 75 miles (16)
Elk Rock Campground and Boat Ramp
This recreation area is part of Lake Red Rock
- Boating
- Camping
- Horseback riding
- Water sports
Roberts Creek East Campground
This recreation area is part of Lake Red Rock
- Camping
- Hiking
- Picnicking
Roberts Creek West Campground
This recreation area is part of Lake Red Rock
- Camping
Fifield (Ia)
Fifield is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 miles from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 miles from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Whitebreast Point Shelter (Ia)
Whitebreast Point Shelter is a day use facility located within Whitebreast Campground. The shelter is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Wildlife viewing
Miner'S Retreat Enclosed Shelter (Ia)
Miner's Retreat Enclosed Shelter is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Swimming
- Water Access
- Wildlife viewing
Wallashuck
Wallashuck Campground is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
Whitebreast Camp
Whitebreast Camp is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Wildlife viewing
North Overlook Picnic Shelter (Ia)
North Overlook Picnic Shelter is located adjacent from North Overlook Campground on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
South Overlook (Ia)
South Overlook is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 miles from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 miles from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing
Howell Station
Howell Station Campground sits just below the Red Rock Dam and Lake on the north side of the Des Moines River.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Lake Red Rock
Lake Red Rock is Iowa's largest lake and is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage and 15 minutes from Knoxville, Sprintcar Capital of the World.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
North Overlook Camp
North Overlook Campground is located on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest lake. It is just 10 minutes from Pella, known for its Dutch heritage, and 15 minutes from Knoxville, the Sprint car capital of the world.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Swimming
Bridgeview (Rathbun Lake)
Bridgeview Park is located on beautiful Rathbun Lake, just 13 miles northwest of Centerville, Iowa. Camping, boating, swimming, fishing and picnicking are popular activities at this waterfront recreation area.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Ice Climbing
- Information Site
Prairie Ridge (Rathbun Lake)
Prairie Ridge Park is located 6 miles, SW of the Jct of Iowa Highway 5 and J18 at Moravia. Awesome Sunsets- No Extra Charge! Rathbun's off-the-beaten path park offers unique opportunities for lover's of the outdoors.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Picnicking
Rathbun Lake
Over 700 campsites are available at this 11,000-acre lake in the rolling hills of southern Iowa. Excellent camping, fishing, hunting, boating, state fish hatchery, and Honey Creek Resort, are major attractions.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Nature education
75 miles and farther (2)
Coralville Lake
Coralville Lake is a multiple use project providing primary benefits in flood control and low flow augmentation, and secondary benefits in recreation, fish and wildlife management, forest management and water quality improvement.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Nature education
- Off-highway vehicles
Zorinsky Lake
Zorinsky Lake, NE, located in west Omaha, was named after the late U.S. Senator Edward Zorinsky.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Nature education
- Picnicking
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Des Moines. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
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More outdoors near Des Moines
- Hiking near Des Moines
- Fishing near Des Moines
- Boating and kayaking near Des Moines
- Biking and mountain biking near Des Moines
- Picnic spots near Des Moines
- Wildlife viewing and birding near Des Moines
- Swimming holes and lakes near Des Moines
- Snow play and winter sports near Des Moines
- Parks in Des Moines
- Day trips
- Weather by month
Questions
Where is the closest place for camping near Des Moines?
Bob Shetler Picnic Area (US Army Corps of Engineers), about 8 miles north of Des Moines as the crow flies. Next are Cottonwood Recreation Area (8 mi) and Bob Shetler Recreation Area (9 mi).
When is the best time for camping near Des Moines?
Based on Des Moines’s average highs, April–June, August–October. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Can I reserve a campsite near Des Moines?
21 of the 29 places listed here take reservations on Recreation.gov; others are first come, first served.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including US Army Corps of Engineers. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.