Best Camping in and near Mississippi River

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Discover a scenic section of one of America's most iconic rivers.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Mississippi River

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Top-rated campgrounds near Mississippi River

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1860's Botanical Paradise

2 sites · Lodging, Tents2 acres · Bellevue, IA

Happy to announce we’ve won 2nd best property to visit in Iowa! We hope to keep striving and adding more amenities as we go! Thank you to our wonderful guests and hello to future guests! 👋🏽 Built in 1860 by its first caretaker botanist, this homestead was propagated over its many years of life and is busting at the seams with medicinal and edible herbs. We now run a flower farm and vegetable gardens on our homestead. If you’d like to learn about herbs or gardening/ homesteading, we love sharing our knowledge. If you’d just like some farm fresh eggs for breakfast and enjoy your time alone amongst the songbirds, that's just fine too :) The property is built into the stone hillside allowing for breathtaking views but also stairs to get to the campsites. Please wear comfortable shoes (not flip flops 😉). If you have mobility issues property access will be difficult. Please no children under 5. !CLASSES! We run our small school/business: HOMESTEAD and HAMMER from the property and are bringing classes to YOU! Look in the "EXTRAS" for classes you can partake in on your visit OR for more information on what's included on class weekends check out our website below! Classes include, forAging wild edibles, mushroom identification, homesteading skills, soap making, forging metals and many more! Website: www.homesteadandhammer.com *For guest and host safety property managed 24-7 by video and security services*

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Geneseo Campground

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Geneseo, IL

Located just north of the charming city of Geneseo, IL, our little campground has it all! Whether you’re traveling with a tent, van, tow-behind or a big rig, we can accommodate you. Our RV sites have 30 and 50 amp electric connections as well as water and sewer connections on most sites. We have three cozy cabins on property as well as a yurt that can accommodate 5-8 guests. If it’s fun and adventure you’re looking for, we’re situated right on the Hennepin Trail which offers miles of hiking and biking paths as well as fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Your furry friends will enjoy our wonderful enclosed dog park! Our newly renovated camp store has everything you might need including ice, firewood and much more. Our community room is perfect for meetings and gatherings and even has arcade games to keep the kids happy. Our restrooms are modern and very clean. Need to top off your propane tank? We have you covered! In the event you need to stay connected and productive during your stay, the entire campground has access to fast, fiber-powered WiFi. Come see what it’s like to be treated like family at Geneseo Campground! For more camping options - including group reservations - please visit our website at https://roam.camp/geneseo-campground or call 309-442-2662.

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Whispering Pines Events & Lodging

49 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Geneseo, IL

Welcome to Whispering Pines, a family focused campground to help you get away from the daily grind. Surround yourself amongst tall pine trees as you hear the wind whisper tranquility all around you. We are a family owned campground with a heart to serve people and provide a peaceful environment where families and individuals can enjoy making new memories. Whispering Pines is an event and retreat center that offers lodging and camping amenities. We also have a chapel ready to host your ceremony. We have RV hookups, tent sites, cabins, a lodge, and an event center. We can help you create a package to fit your needs and budget.

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#JTRidge Sites/Clothing Optional

11 sites · Tents15 acres · Oxford Junction, IA

Are you looking for the opportunity to be free and connect with nature naturally? A place to reconnect with your soul or reconnect with your significant other(s). Do you need to escape life for even just a little bit? A place to safely be your true self or selves. Our spaces are all about privacy and relaxing in nature peacefully. Perfect for first time clothing optional experiences. Maybe you just prefer a quiet natural low key space to relax. Are you a regular camper who is tired of the busy big campgrounds? Need a overnight camping spot that is more nature and less people? Looking for a place to relax in the sun naturally and just take some time for yourself or time with the special people in your life? Along with offering overnight camping sites, we offer day passes for those who just want some chill time within the day. A day pass gives you access to the property, relaxing chairs for that perfect moment in the sun and the woods to wander as you connect with nature. Perfect for a lunch break or just a step away from life for a few hours. Sneak away and take some moments to recharge yourself naturally. Day passes can be a bit tricky to book, reach out if you need help with the site. We hope you will find that this is a place for everything listed above and so much more. A space to enjoy some downtime, quiet at peace with nature, and a place for restorative just-for-me time. Perfect for yoga in the woods or a natural spot to meditate. Not a commercial campground, just a piece of personal property that we are looking to share with others who enjoy time in nature. We enjoy our natural privacy and welcome you to experience the same. We are stewards of the property and are charged with taking care of all that Mother Nature has given us. If you need space to think, read a book, or just be you, this could be the right fit. Very private and peaceful, perfect for those looking for some alone time or time with family/friends. Forget the news, forget work, forget city life, and just take in the moments; while listening to the birds sing, (Pull out your Merlin app) to see who's singing! Your hosts are here if you need us, but we leave you to enjoy this beautiful place at your own pace. We give you privacy to enjoy your stay fully. We have 15 acres of woods with a natural rock bluff, so many different spaces which allow you to fully bond with nature. Trails to wander and wildlife to see. Clothing is optional through out all of the property; overnight camping and sunbathing/day pass spots are available. Located on the Wapsipinicon River. Camp sites are very private and tucked away from life's stresses. Relax in the woods. Watch the cows and calves moo in the nearby pasture. Walk nature trails with native wildlife and flora. Great photo opportunities abound. Cast a line to catch dinner. Escape to nature is the key to this property; find yourself tucked away from city sounds and light pollution. Come out to see the sunset/sunrise, check out the stars, read a good book, lay out in your favorite hammock, find yourself, and be at peace. Great place for a nice camping fire; treat yourself to some smores. Peaceful sounds at night of the river flowing as you drift off to sleep in your tent. Perfect little spot for peaceful relaxation and just taking some time. Walk the trails in your natural skin, shoot photos of all the different plants, listen to the birds and animals scurry, enjoy the sunshine, and feel the warmth on all of your body. Put in your canoe or kayak at Olin for a 3-4 hour float to our camping area. There are lots of state parks within a short drive; visit the only Presidential library in Iowa; and tour some amazing caves in nearby parks. Enjoy the Great Jones County Fair only 30 mins away.. So much to do, and then come back to a space without crowds and just chill. Welcoming to all, we love to meet new people and let them share in the joy of bonding with nature freely. **Property Owner is certified in Massage, offering sessions at the property.

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SparrowSpell

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Rio, IL

Small farm property with lots of space. Within 20 mins of local fishing, hiking and biking. Pool available during the summer, shower house on the property and 30-amp hook up. Fires allowed depending on weather conditions, pets allowed. No sewer or water disposal available. We have multiple spots available, only 1 30-amp plug site for an RV.

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Avalon Unity Garden

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · Tampico, IL

This garden is intended to help people connect to Mother Earth. There is room for yoga or meditation with the plants. You can sleep in a tent, or your vehicle. It has a walkable spiral, an 18’ Mother Earth sculpture, an earth lodge for ceremonies and a hexagon swing area. It’s located in a very small farm community. We are about a mile from the Hennepin canal where you can walk, fish or canoe.

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(22)

Miss Effie's Country Flowers

2 sites · Tents2 acres · Donahue, IA

Ms. Effie’s Flower Farm is a gated you pick flower farm located in beautiful rural countryside. Peace and tranquillity is what you will find when you are surrounded by amazing flowers and rolling farm fields. The cornzebo is a unique gathering spot with romantic lighting and comfortable seating. It’s a great place to watch the sun come up! The fire pit is also available for use.

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Vintage Spring Lake Campground

6 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Savanna, IL

Spring Lake Campground was est. in 1943. The lake is fed by the Mississippi River and there is access to the lake and directly to the river for kayaking/boating and fishing, which is a popular reason people come to the campground. Another popular draw is that the Great River Bike Trail runs right through! It’s a beautiful ride from the campground to nearby Savanna, IL. There is so much to do in the surrounding area: hiking and climbing at Palisades State Park, restaurants, bars and shopping in Savanna, museums and more. But enjoying a peaceful time at the campground, having a bonfire, watching the sunset on the lake and seeing the stars at night is really what it’s about. True old school camping-enjoying the wildlife sanctuary. Get outside and relax. *We ask that our campers please arrive before dark to find their site and set up to avoid disrupting other campers. It gets really dark! We do not have street lights so people can see the stars. Learn more about this land: A Vintage campground est. 1943. Known for kayaking and fishing, this is a true campground. Instead of pavement, we have grass and trees but our best "amenity" is the peaceful outdoors! The Great River Bike Trail runs right through our campground. Rent a canoe or kayak (through October 1st) Historical Savanna, IL is close by. Enjoy Illinois!

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Froggy Bottom Hideaway

4 sites · Lodging1 acre · Princeton, IA

Learn more about this land: This property sits next to the 2200 acre Princeton Refuge and Wildlife Management System. It's approximately 1/2 mile away from the back-waters of the Mississippi River and just down river from the Wapsipinicon River and the Eco Center at Rock River Campground near Camanche, IA. Bring your water toys, there is plenty of on-site parking for trailers. You'll have easy access to Steamboat Island, and the shores of Princeton Beach. Six miles of walking trails next to the Mississippi backwaters is relaxing and full of wildlife and fauna in the warm months, and serene and peaceful in the cooler months. Beauty abounds! Things to do: Hiking - Mostly flat, lightly manicured trails. Biking - There are gravel roads and lightly manicured trails. Fishing - Full access to the nearby Mississippi River Boating- Public boat ramp is 1/2 mile away and has nearby parking Hunting - Public hunting areas are nearby. Guns are not allowed inside the cabin. Shooting - Public shooting range is nearby. Guns are not allowed inside the cabin. Eco Center at Rock River Campground - https://www.mycountyparks.com/county/clinton/content/Mississippi-River-Eco-Tourism-Center.aspx Kayak Rentals - Eco Center at Rock Creek Campground, and Princeton Outdoor Adventures Princeton Wildlife Management Area is considered an Iowa State Park and features year round activities.

The best camping near Mississippi River guide

Overview

About

Explore the mighty Mississippi River from Potosi, Wisconsin, to Saverton, Missouri. See national forests, cliffs, hills, ancient burial mounds, railroad trestles, and plenty of wildlife. This river park spans 314 miles from north to south.

Start in the north at Potosi Recreational Area. See up to 270 species of birds here, including egrets, herons, ducks, swans, and pelicans. Keep an eye out for eagles in the winter. Take in the history of Potosi with wineries, music festivals, and the historic Potosi Brewing Company.

The Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge has wetlands, islands, and marshes used by migratory birds. In addition to fantastic fishing, you can partake in the unique hobby of dragonfly watching.

Stop by Mississippi Palisades State Park in Illinois for a real treat. Take plenty of pictures of the majestic views. Dramatic cliffs make it all happen, and the large boulders on the site are unique.

Sixteen campgrounds have a range of facilities.

Notable campgrounds

Potosi Recreation Area: A serene camping spot with river access, perfect for anglers and nature lovers.
Thomson Causeway: Offers a picturesque setting with modern amenities, ideal for family camping trips.
Fisherman's Corner: Known for its peaceful environment and proximity to water activities, it's a camper's delight.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book early, especially for peak season, to ensure your spot along the river.
Check for cancellations regularly as plans change and spots may open up.
Consider weekdays or shoulder seasons for better availability and a quieter stay.
Explore nearby camping options to increase your chances of finding the perfect site.

When to go

The best time to visit the Mississippi River is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the natural beauty is at its peak. Summer offers full access to all activities but can be hot and crowded. Winters are less ideal due to cold temperatures and limited services.

Know before you go

Check the latest river conditions and weather forecasts for safety.
Some areas may experience seasonal closures; verify open facilities before your trip.
Accessibility varies by location; inquire ahead for specific needs.
Pack out all trash and respect wildlife to preserve the natural beauty.
Visitor centers, like the one at Locks and Dam 15, provide valuable information and resources.