Camping near Alton, Illinois offers RV enthusiasts convenient access to the Mississippi River valley. The region sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, creating a unique geological area with limestone bluffs and bottomland forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall provide milder conditions better suited for outdoor exploration.
What to do
Explore the Katy Trail: Access this popular trail system from Beyond the Trail RV Park in Defiance. "The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town. Beautiful views across a large farm field (soy beans when we were here) to the hills beyond with incredible sunsets," reports one camper.
Water activities at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park: Located 30 minutes from Alton, this park offers paddleboat and kayak rentals on its man-made lake. "We love going here and watching the sunsets. This is a great place to kayak and camp if you don't want to drive that fare and live in the city," notes a visitor.
Visit historic downtown areas: Many RV sites near Alton provide easy access to historic districts. At Sundermeier RV Park, "You can literally be parked right at the Katy Trail. Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles. Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River."
What campers like
Security features: Many campers appreciate the safety measures at Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park. "Security is proactive in patrols and are friendly and helpful. No frills but a great view of the arch. Centrally located and across the bridge from downtown."
Concrete pads and level sites: RV sites in the Alton area frequently offer well-maintained concrete pads. "Nice level concrete pad with a picnic table. Right off highway 370. 30 pound water pressure," notes one camper at Sundermeier RV Park.
Clean facilities: Cahokia RV Parque maintains high standards for cleanliness. "We had a great experience in the 4 nights we spent here. The grounds, pool, laundry, and bathrooms were all in excellent repair and clean. The park was quiet, but very family friendly."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds experience noise from transportation corridors. "It is near a highway, there is a railroad bridge right next to it, and it is under the airport flight path," notes a camper about one location, though they added that "The planes and trains stopped after about 10-11pm."
Seasonal flooding: Some campgrounds in the Mississippi River valley experience flooding issues. At Covered Bridge RV Park, one visitor noted, "While we were there they had a record rainfall amount and the park apparently already has flooding issues so it was flooding pretty bad."
Reservation requirements: Many RV sites near Alton require advance booking, especially during peak seasons. "You need a code to get in the gate, so you must register in advance," explains one camper, while another notes, "No staff on site, book via camplife and they send you a gate code."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers family-friendly amenities. "This park is beautiful. Located about 25 minutes from St Louis. They have paddle boats and bikes and group bikes for rental. Kids had a blast riding bikes. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night."
Check for pet restrictions: Policies vary between campgrounds. One camper noted about Casino Queen RV Park: "First time paying a pet fee for a overnight stay," while another location was described as "Pet-friendly, full hookups, space for our larger rig and parking around for extra vehicle."
Consider sites with food options: Some campgrounds offer on-site dining. At Beyond the Trail RV Park, "Want a cold beer or hot coffee, it's right next door at the local brew pub and coffee house. Want to hear live music? You've got two biker bars with pretty good burgers and barbecue to pick from."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: Pay attention to utility placement when selecting sites. "Utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper."
Pull-through availability: At Kamper Kompanion RV Park, "We had a long pull through, but there are a limited number of those," indicating the need to reserve early for these premium spots.
Weather preparation: For RVers staying near Alton, having proper weather contingency plans is important. One camper noted, "There was some rough springtime weather expected one day. A park ranger went around to every site and notified every camper of where the shelters were (the restrooms/showers) and gave out a flyer about the specific weather forecast!"
