River, stream, or creek camping near Cape Girardeau with fishing

See how the Mississippi River shaped the landscapes and culture of this Missouri city.

98% (620 reviews)
98% (620 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Cape Girardeau

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Under $50

6 top river, stream, or creek campgrounds near Cape Girardeau with fishing

97%
(33)

Camp Ondessonk

9 sites · Tents983 acres · Ozark, IL
Operating since 1959, Camp Ondessonk is a non-profit youth camp on 983 acres of beautiful wooded property adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest. Guests have access to several miles of paved road for walking and cycling, 15 miles of on-site hiking and biking trails, and access to a huge network of public Shawnee National Forest trails including the River-to-River Trail. Our property is home to the tallest free-falling waterfall in Illinois, Cedar Falls, as well as rock bottom creeks, canyons, prairies, forests, and hills. Detailed trail maps of our property and the surrounding area are available. Guests are welcome to stroll the grounds, observe our horses grazing in the pastures, enjoy views of our lakes and forests, or relax by the campfire. Stop by the Camp Store at the Trading Post to purchase Ondessonk apparel, souvenirs, or essential items. To schedule a guided hike, boating, archery, or horseback riding program, or test yourself on our high challenge course or climbing wall, contact Ondessonk staff for program availability and more information. The Camp Kitchen can prepare certain meals for you; contact us for meal availability and more information. 
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
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Trash
from 
$7
 / night
92%
(12)

Red Gate Farm, LLC

2 sites · Lodging, Tents50 acres · Creal Springs, IL
Welcome to Red Gate Farm, LLC, a farm with a vision! We previously ran a very successful Hipcamp site at our previous property, but completely relocated and are starting fresh! We purchased 50 acres of GORGEOUS timbered property, with rolling forested hills, several creeks, trees towering over 100 feet tall, and abundant wildlife. It's absolutely perfect for Hipcamp! Building a new farm (and Hipcamp program) from scratch takes time--years even, but we decided now is as a good a time as any to share our beautiful timber with Hipcampers looking for some peace and privacy. While the site itself will be groomed and set up as listed, the surrounding grass won't be perfectly green yet, there will still be a lot of dead-wood and natural debris around the sites, and trails are a bit rough and uneven. If you can overlook the "rustic" aspects though, and enjoy the beauty of the peace and quiet of just enjoying nature, as it has sat unmanaged for roughly 50 years around the sites, then you are likely to love every moment! If you desire more adventure than just hanging around and enjoying nature, be sure to check out the additional experiences we offer here on the farm, as well as the entire surrounding area. Southern IL is made up of the Shawnee National Forest and multiple state parks and recreational areas. You can find a wide variety of activities to keep you busy! Even the local towns have much to offer, whether you enjoy fine dining, casual restaurants, antique shopping, or a nice theater production.
Pets
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from 
$25
 / night
97%
(15)

Saco Valley Farm, LLC

4 sites · Tents28 acres · Cherokee Pass, MO
Camp, Swim, BBQ, wade the creek, enjoy the campfire! Primitive Camping. Very Private. Water is cool and clear. Open to the stars. A great place to commune with nature, or enjoy some peace and quiet! 12 mile creek runs directly through our property. Shallow and deep all throughout. Great for wading, swimming, floating, kayaking. Great small mouth fishing! We are approximately one mile by water from the St. Francois River. We have kayaked down the creek to the river for many years. The farm is very rural. We are 16 miles to the closest gas station, and 25 miles to town. There is no internet. Cell phone service is spotty at best. Currently a working farm, we have 2 high tunnels on the property behind the house, and our original market garden. Across the creek we are finishing up our 5 acre agroforestry planting. 3 acres of elderberries and 2 acres of blackberries. 28 acres, 3 on one side, and 25 on the other. The farm is located approximately 2 hours south of St. Louis. Fredericktown is 30 mins away. Food, Drinks, Golf, and Lalo's Mexican Restaurant! There are a ton of local antique shops, and outdoor activities. Local places of interest: Amidon Arcadia Valley Black River Bonne Terre Mine Elephant Rocks Johnson Shut Ins Mill Stream Gardens One Nation Paintball Park Sam A. Baker State Park Saco Valley Farmstand Sherpher Mountain Bike Park Silvermines Taum Sauk Mountain
Pets
Potable water
Campfires
from 
$25
 / night
Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

River, stream, or creek camping near Cape Girardeau with fishing guide

Overview

As the Mississippi River makes a slow roll from St. Louis to the Missouri Bootheel, it crosses through the historic town of Cape Girardeau. Once a trading post on the frontier, Cape, as locals call it, offers a relaxed travel experience. Take a stroll through Old Town Cape to find restaurants and shops in historic buildings, some covered with colorful murals, or ponder the grandness of the Mississippi at Riverfront Park. Campers will find private RV parks in Cape and the nearby town of Jackson. Full hookups, free wifi, and other amenities are available. Public campgrounds offer sites for both tents and RVs, with scenic views and varied hookups.

Where to go

Trail of Tears State Park

Trail of Tears State Park commemorates the solemn history of the forced relocation of the Cherokee tribe in the mid-1800s. The visitor center shares details of this piece of the park’s story, as well as the unique geology and geography. Prominent lookouts offer prime views of the Mississippi River. Hike trails through the woodlands and along the waters. Fish, boat, or paddle in “The Big Muddy” or the clearer waters of Lake Boutin. Or, camp alongside the lake or river. Basic, electric, and full hookup sites are available, some with water views.

Shawnee National Forest

West of Cape Girardeau, Shawnee National Forest offers outdoor recreation and camping in Illinois’s only national forest, which offers a 250,000-acre natural playground with woodlands, prairies, waterways, and waterfalls to explore. Nine campgrounds are found across Southern Illinois. Pine Hills Campground is the closest to Cape and has primitive sites for both tents and RVs.

Giant City State Park

Deep in Shawnee National Forest, Giant City State Park is just under an hour northeast of Cape Girardeau. Named for the massive sandstone bluffs that rise like skyscrapers over the woodlands, this state park is a recreational haven, offering hiking trails, horseback riding, archery, rock climbing, and more. The Giant City Campground has tent and RV sites nestled in the trees, offering partial hookups. Other accommodations include an onsite lodge and cabins, including rustic, historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.

When to go

As the spring weather warms, the great outdoors begin to beckon, with peeping leaves and wildflowers, making this a pleasant time for camping in Cape Girardeau. The temperatures reach their peaks, sometimes in the 90s or above, in summer, as humidity seeps into the region. Fall is a scenic time to visit, with colorful leaves and pleasant temperatures. Missouri winters are generally cold, with bursts of freezing temps and snow and ice, meaning campers should be weather aware.

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