Kampsville, Illinois sits along the Illinois River with a mix of both developed and primitive camping options within a 30-mile radius. McCully Heritage Project offers cabins, tent and RV camping with hiking trails and picnic areas. Pere Marquette State Park, located near Grafton along the Illinois River, provides electric hookups, showers, and a range of accommodation types including tent sites, RV spaces with 30/50-amp service, and glamping options. Several smaller campgrounds like Kampsville River Park and Rainey Park provide additional options for overnight stays.
Camping in the region is significantly affected by flooding, particularly in spring and early summer when the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers frequently overflow their banks. "St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded," noted one visitor. Road access to some campgrounds may be restricted during high water events, and campers should check with park officials before planning trips between April and June. Most developed campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with Great River Road Campground open from April to October. Winter camping options are limited, though Pere Marquette State Park remains open year-round with reduced services during cold months.
The confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers creates distinctive camping experiences with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Campers report sightings of bald eagles, especially during winter months at Pere Marquette State Park. "In winter there are a lot of eagles feeding in the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers which meet at the park," according to one review. Riverside camping sites are the most sought-after, providing direct water access and scenic views. The area features a mix of state parks with full amenities and more rustic options with minimal facilities. Campgrounds near Grafton offer proximity to restaurants, wineries, and the Katy Trail, while more remote locations provide quieter experiences with less light pollution. Most developed campgrounds have shower facilities and electric hookups, though water and sewer connections vary by location.
$20 - $100 / night
"Nice hiking trails near. Watch for ticks. Don’t be alarmed if you see cats or the neighbors dogs roaming around the site. They are friendly."
"There’s a house to rent or primitive camping trails have a map but need a little more marking on newer sections. Very well maintained. Neat look out points"
$15 - $42 / night
"Our site, though, was the smallest in the loop, tucked away in the weeds, and the only area to pitch our tent was on a slight slope."
"It’s close to our house and there’s always something new to do each time. The bathrooms are well maintained and the campsites are fairly large and provide lots of shade."
$10 - $20 / night
"Great little campground just outside of Grafton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. The campground is located in an open grove of old trees. There were owls when we were there."
"Campgrounds close to Pere Marquette Lodge. Is located just north of Grafton that has many food and drink and antique shops. Campground is on the Illinois River with the Mississippi River nearby."
"you are close to the RR tracks but there aren't that many trains. It is not exactly where The dyrt sends you. "
"No facilities, short drive into town."
$35 - $60 / night
"I've been to 370 Lakeside Park many times to walk around the huge lake and to hear concerts in the summer, but I had never camped there. Still haven't. I'll explain."
"All hookups were conveniently located. Shower house and restrooms were clean and well maintained/cleaned every day. Had a lakefront site but didn’t get to fish this time."
$5 - $15 / night
"The box was located next to the playground at the end of the loop of campsites. Overall, a nice place to spend the evening, would definitely stay again."
"So resorted to leave the fee in a mailbox near the official's RV. The campground is right above a lovely, which I rode around on my bicycle in about thirty minutes."
$35 / night
"They have really awesome trails to ride. I would recommend to anyone wanting a place to play on their toys. It’s 20 a day to ride. 35 for water and electric."
ScoutStaff is very friendly and great at their jobs. Bathroom was clean and nice. Gets a little crowded but it's still fairly small so not too crowded. Can't speak much for RV camping, but tent/car camping was better than some other state park sites.
LegendI love this campground for its wooded and more rugged feel. It is beautiful in early spring when the dogwood trees are in bloom. It has a nice lake for kayaks and paddle boards. Campaigns are great with nice amenities.
LegendWe have stayed at this campground so many times and love it. Cell service is excellent enabling me to work from my rv. It is close to anything you would need, but secluded enough and surrounded by huge trees and hiking trails. I have also rented a pavillion for a party.
ScoutThis campground is nice for March, when it's a little cool. But there is no shade, so mid-summer would be hot! Level sites, full hookups, pretty nice.
GuideAs the pictures on the Dyrt show, it’s a large area of white gravel. It’s clean, has very wide spaces for rv’s which are very level and has water and electricity. The Dyrt definitely doesn’t have the location correct, it’s about 4-5 miles north of 70 and your drive through some narrow winding roads to get here. Overall quiet though I heard some loud truck at night.
TravelerI've stayed here a couple times and generally like the park. I appreciate owners investing in urban RV parks and I don't expect much for amenities in these kinds of settings. The staff were pleasant on a pre-arrival phone call and at check-in—but once there was an issue, the office staff member became very argumentative and rude, consistent with other online reviews.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY WARNING DO NOT use the 30A receptacles here unless you have a surge protector with an Electrical Management System (EMS) that explicitly confirms correct wiring before connecting your RV. My equipment detected a Line/Neutral Reversal on some 30A receptacles; the 50A receptacles appeared to be wired correctly.
When I reported this life-safety hazard, the staffer’s response was, “Don’t use your surge protector—they’re not compatible with our system.” As a licensed Electrical Engineer with 30+ years of experience, I can state that this is 100% nonsense. The surge protector was correctly doing its job by flagging a major wiring fault. Do not follow the staff's advice when they tell you not to use your surge protector to "make it work." That is irresponsible advice that is literally endangering your safety.
The staff also insisted that they don't have a problem because previous 30A users without surge protectors had “no problems.” This is plausible because a Line/Neutral reversal doesn’t usually affect RV operation but the statement shows their complete lack of understanding of the actual problem.
A Line/Neutral reversal energizes the neutral side of the RV's electrical system. This means the RV chassis, appliance housings, and internal neutrals, which should be near ground potential, all become live, creating a serious shock or electrocution hazard if someone touches those RV components while grounded.
The sites are basic with level concrete pads in good condition and other utilities (water/sewer) were fine. Excellent location near the historic St. Charles district. WiFi is unusable—bring your own Internet source. Restrooms and showers are dated and not in great condition. There was also no hand soap at the bathroom sinks all weekend.
This park should be a 7/10 rating, but the electrical hazard drops it to a 5/10. The staff bring the rating down further to a 3/10.
GuideVery nice park. This is a big busy campground they have plenty of staff to handle the rush. Level concrete sites with FHU will definitely stay here again
GuideThis campground is located near the Mark Twain caves. There is also a winery located at the entrance to the campground. There is a store on site, and tourist attractions can pick you up at the store. It is a quick 10 minutes ride into town. Sites are level gravel. There is a playground, dog wash station, and 2 large pavilions to rent.
GuidePere Marquette Campground is a little gym, just past Grafton, Missouri. It is located in the Great River Road, and within 10 minutes to restaurants and bars. There is a Lodge located next door which also serves a wonderful breakfast.
Camping sites near Kampsville, Illinois range from primitive riverside locations to small city parks with basic amenities. The region sits at approximately 450 feet above sea level in a flood-prone area where the Illinois River carves through the landscape. Local camping areas experience hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional below-freezing nights.
Hiking trails: McCully Heritage Project offers well-maintained nature paths with lookout points. "There's a house to rent or primitive camping trails have a map but need a little more marking on newer sections. Very well maintained. Neat look out points," notes one visitor to McCully Heritage Project.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple camping areas provide access to both rivers and lakes for anglers. "We have only stayed at the largest site as it has good fishing and a place for us to launch our paddleboards and kayaks," reports a camper at McCully Heritage Project.
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse bird populations beyond eagles. At Cuivre River State Park Campground, "Campground is beautiful and very woodsy. We saw bunnies hopping around and when we first arrived to our site a deer was grazing nearby, such a bonus!"
Direct water access: Riverside camping remains popular despite occasional flooding risks. At Silo Access Area - O'Neil Creek, "This site is a great place to watch that amazing river pass by. You sit and watch the barges and various things float by. Really great."
Affordability: Several campgrounds offer budget-friendly options under $20 per night. At McCully Heritage Project, "Ten dollars a night helps maintain land and natural area, all donation, very family oriented."
Secluded spots: Some campgrounds provide more isolated sites for those seeking privacy. "We have only stayed at the largest site... We easily fit a dozen people over the 4th of July. Nice hiking trails near," according to a McCully Heritage Project visitor.
Train noise: Riverside camping often means proximity to active rail lines. At Silo Access Area, "You are close to active train tracks, so bring your earplugs."
Seasonal availability: Many smaller campgrounds have limited operating seasons or reduced amenities. "The best spots are at the opposite ends of the flat circle where there are large gravel areas ideal for parking RV's," notes a visitor to Silo Access Area.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: From locked facilities to primitive conditions, preparation is essential. At Pittsfield City Lake, "Bathrooms/Showers are decent. Maintained nicely. Can be quite loud when full."
Playground access: Several parks offer play areas for children. "I just love the bridge across the pond. We had a picnic and the kids got to play on the playground equipment," says a visitor to McCully Heritage Project.
Water recreation: Lakes provide safer alternatives to river swimming. "This park is beautiful. Located about 25 minutes from St Louis. They have paddle boats and bikes and group bikes for rental. Located right next to a lake with a lot of RV and tent camping spots. Kids had a blast riding bikes," notes a camper at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Wildlife encounters: Smaller animals often interest children more than distant birds. "Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night," mentions a St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park visitor.
Limited big-rig access: Many smaller campgrounds can't accommodate larger vehicles. At Pere Marquette State Park Campground, "We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 33 for just 1 night... The electric and water hookups on some sites, at least ours, was at the back and on the wrong side."
Satellite connectivity: Reception varies widely across the region. "We had a clear view of the southern and northern sky, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink had speed up to 12 MB/s," reports an RVer at Pittsfield City Lake.
Electric service quality: Power reliability and outlet types differ between campgrounds. At Pittsfield City Lake, campers paid "$15 for full service spot. Cash only payment."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kampsville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kampsville, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 54 campgrounds and RV parks near Kampsville, IL and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Kampsville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kampsville, IL is McCully Heritage Project with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kampsville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Kampsville, IL.
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