Camping around Waterloo, Illinois offers sites within a 30-mile radius of St. Louis, situated in the Mississippi River floodplain at about 500 feet elevation. The region experiences humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters, making spring and fall ideal for camping. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity levels, so campers should plan accordingly.
What to do
Bike the Katy Trail: Beyond the Trail RV Park provides direct access to the Katy Trail for cyclists exploring the region. "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," notes one camper at Beyond the Trail RV Park.
Visit historic downtown areas: St. Charles offers a charming historic district within walking distance of camping options. "We liked everything about the campground itself, but for some it might be considered too noisy. It is near a highway, there a railroad bridge right next to it, and it is under the airport flight path," mentions a visitor at Sundermeier RV Park.
Water recreation options: Lakeside camping provides fishing and boating opportunities at certain rv sites near Waterloo, Illinois. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, "The park/campground rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes. There is a walking trail around the lake (4+ miles). There is fish in the lake and you are allowed to fish."
What campers like
Brewery and winery access: Many campgrounds offer proximity to local breweries and wineries. "Great location to go to all the wineries and restaurants nearby. Brewery just on the other side of the campground with good beer and food," explains a camper at Beyond the Trail RV Park.
Security features: Gated access provides peace of mind at several campgrounds. At Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, "The park is not staffed, you get a gate code in your email to access the park. Spots are concrete and gravel, very urban camping. Security rolled through frequently."
Urban convenience with outdoor access: The combination of city proximity and outdoor recreation appeals to many visitors. "This is a nice RV park with full hook ups and a clean shower house. All the roads and pads are gravel and level. The Katy trail is right next to the campground for waking or biking," shares a reviewer about camping options near Waterloo.
What you should know
Train noise considerations: Many rv camping sites near Waterloo, Illinois experience railroad noise. "There are trains every 15-30 minutes all day long. Casino has a metro stop that takes you into St Louis over the river," reports a camper at Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park.
Seasonal closures and limitations: Some campgrounds operate seasonally or have limited services during certain periods. "We chose Cahokia RV Park because of its close proximity to St. Louis Missouri. We stayed in a gravel site with a concrete pad, fire pit, picnic table and full-hook ups. The spaces are tighter, but that was expected being closer to a city," explains a visitor at Cahokia RV Parque.
Flooding potential: Low-lying areas may experience periodic flooding issues. "We camped there over Halloween, 2020. Brand new. Needs to improve quite a bit! But it's a great location! Will try again," notes a camper at Beyond the Trail RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground availability: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "There is a pool, bike rentals, dog park, movie night, basketball court, and more. You can bring your RV, travel trailer, tent camp, or stay in a cabin," shares a visitor at St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with fishing ponds and recreation facilities. "A nice private catch and release pond, an old little mini golf setup, a small (but adequate) swimming pool kept the kids busy," reports a camper at Pin Oak RV Park.
Proximity to attractions: Some camping sites offer easy access to major attractions. "Close to the arch, that's why we chose this place to stay overnight. Lots of noise from the interstate and there's a train that goes by a couple times in the middle of the night, but the view of the arch and downtown St Louis and access to both is fantastic," explains a reviewer at Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup positioning: Pay attention to utility placement when selecting rv sites around Waterloo, Illinois. "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," notes an RVer at Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park.
Site spacing considerations: Many urban RV parks feature closer spacing than rural options. "For this to be such a small RV park (smallest we've stayed at so far) the sites are very spacious! The wi-fi was surprisingly good enough that my wife and I could both work off of it and even stream shows on the Roku the whole week," shares a visitor at Covered Bridge RV Park & Storage.
Reservation timing: Book well in advance for premium spots, especially during peak seasons. "The spaces are roomy enough, given that you're situated less than 15 miles from downtown St. Louis. The picnic tables and fire rings are nice additions and the lots appear to be level (ours was.) We didn't have any trouble backing our 38 ft travel trailer in either," mentions a camper at Cahokia RV Parque.
