Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
Pretty level gravel sites, lots of great hiking and exploring opportunities at this state park.
4 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Several RV-friendly options serve the Elizabeth area with varying amenities. Seven Eagles RV Resort near Savanna provides full hookup sites including water, sewer, electric, and 50-amp service, with a laundry facility on-site. Blanding Landing Recreation Area offers electric hookups and a sanitary dump station with sites available from May through October. Palace Campground in Galena accommodates big rigs with full hookups including 50-amp service on sites open April through November. Rustic Barn Campground in nearby Kieler, Wisconsin features pull-through RV pads with sewer connections and both water and 50-amp electric hookups. "Sites were closer than I would like would be the only negative," noted one Seven Eagles visitor.
Most RV parks in the area maintain gravel or concrete pads, though site leveling can be challenging at some locations. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region—ATT users report decent coverage at Blanding Landing, though signal strength is often described as weak. Dump stations are available at most parks, with Blanding Landing and Spruce Creek offering convenient facilities. Pet owners will find most parks welcoming, though specific restrictions may apply. Fall weekends draw significant visitor traffic to the area due to scenic river views and proximity to Galena's attractions. Winter camping options are limited as most parks close between late October and early April, with Rock Creek Marina being one notable exception offering year-round access.
"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
"Quiet, relaxing small campground with super clean hot showers and flush toilets in shower house. Boat ramp, dock fishing, tall trees all over. Shady sites, water pump faucets, dump station."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $14 - $25 / night
"There's fishing, exploring, a playground, and when you see a paddleboat you have time to drive to town before it hits loch & damn #12. It's a beautiful spot right on the river with views galore."
"Nice shower house and close to bike trail that leads to Bellevue"
"Sites have hard surfaces, fire rings, water, electric. No shade since trees have not been plant s as well f this date. Boat ramp nearby, resort has restaurant, playground, water park."
"CG offers river views, hard lanes, tables, fire rings, RR, playground, food, and is just 2 miles north of river town of Bellevue for supplies."
from $69 - $139 / night
"General: 58 sites with various amenities. Some are long pull-throughs, some are back-in, some have 30 amp with or without a patio, and some have 50-amp electric with or without a patio."
"Beautiful setting nice wide pull throughs. Very friendly and helpful. Good place for overnight or extended stay."
"This campground offers lots of amenities, including: gravel, pads, fire rings, firewood, on site, campground host, playgrounds, water, dump station, both tent and RV sites, as well as cabins."
"CG is spread out along bottomland river forest and includes camping cabins, tent and RV sites, RR/showers, playground, dump and water stations, Eco Tourism store/grill, paddling rentals, Blue Heron Cruises"
from $14 - $18 / night
"Sewer, water, electricity. It rained a lot while we were there no flooding issues at all. Very friendly and very well maintained.
Definitely would stay again, we were there for 3 weeks."
"Mostly a seasonal campground, only has 4 sites that are for weekenders. Very nice folks running the place. The neighbors where also very welcoming."
"This campground has Water and electric hook ups and a dumpsite. It is convenient and enjoyable."
"Water and electric hookup with dump station. Camp hosts were great. Bath house with showers. Clean, but a little outdated. Next to RR tracks. You hear train whistles throughout day and some at night."
from $15 - $22 / night












Pretty level gravel sites, lots of great hiking and exploring opportunities at this state park.
Nice and convenient especially since in mid November most parks are closed. Shower house is closed but there is a spigot to fill tanks. Lots of trains but right in town.
Really enjoyed this park. Beautiful river, bluffs, and hilly country. Only downside to this specific campsite is the road is very close. I also had a blast exploring and fly fishing.
Very nice camp grounds and nice trails and beach
Great little campground in rural setting. The owner was great. We stayed in Oct 25 while doing a fall color/wine tasting/Galena trip. It was a perfect central location for us.
Set deep in the farmland west of Oregon, Hansen’s Hideaway blends working-ranch authenticity with simple, countryside camping across more than 100 acres of pasture, red barns and wide-open Midwestern sky. Founded in 1962 and reached by a winding bend off S Harmony Road, this quiet hideout welcomes guests beneath an old-fashion tall wooden ranch gate right out of the Wild West and into a spread of RV loops, tent spaces and shade-scattered meadows where horses graze freely. Sites range from the busier cluster near the main office, which is also where you'll be to the swimming pond, game room, arcade, pavilions and clean restrooms to two quieter, more spread-out loops farther in the property that offers privacy and stillness for those seeking a true escape. Amenities include water and electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, a dump station, playground and a small market inside the office. While remote, the campground offers easy access to great hiking at George B. Fell Nature Preserve and Lowden-Miller Forest with excellent kayaking on the Rock River at nearby Castle Rock State Park. Expect big skies, big peace and that unmistakable 'far from everything' feeling.
UPSIDES: (1) Authentic working ranch setting with roaming horses and wide prairie views; (2) Exceptional peace & quiet thanks to the secluded location; (3) Shaded and spacious RV sites plus open tenting areas; (4) Fun family amenities including a swimming pond, arcade, game room and playground; (5) Clean, well-maintained restrooms and showers; (6) Friendly, welcoming staff; (7) Close to great hiking and kayaking destinations; and (8) If you'd like to get the scoop on what's happening at this CG, swing by the main office for a cup of joe and hang out around the wood-burning stove to chat it up with the owners, fellow campers and working ranchhands.
DOWNSIDES: (1) Very remote with no nearby services, so campers should arrive fully stocked as it's a decent haul back to civilization; (2) No sewer hookups and limited on-site provisions; (3) The RV area near the office can feel crowded during peak weekends;(4) Amenities show their age in places; and (5) Cell signal varies significantly by carrier.
Happy Camping!
Clean, quiet and nice facilities but the placement of the fire rings borders on the absurd. These are obviously RV sites so there's already little expectation of privacy but they're good size and leave ample space behind your camper. The site we were on was tree-lined in the back. Perfect for a fire ring, right? Nah. Instead they're out front 5 ft from the road. I've never seen anything like it. 🥴
We came towards the end of season so we were one of the few people staying there. The spaces are close together but we had no one near us so we didn’t mind. We had a great experience with the host, very friendly. However, it is a bit noisy since the highway is right there and you do constantly hear the trains. Also, there are some questionable people roaming through the campground.
Seasonal Stay Review Overall Rating:⭐☆☆☆☆ Our experience as seasonal campers at this campground was deeply disappointing due to unprofessional management, inconsistent rule enforcement, premature lease violations, and a toxic atmosphere. Management& Atmosphere The campground owner frequently engaged in inappropriate behaviors, including spreading gossip, making disrespectful comments, and actively bullying campers both in person and on social media platforms. Rather than fostering a welcoming community, the leadership promoted a divisive culture marked by clear favoritism. Inconsistent Rule Enforcement Rules were applied arbitrarily. Certain seasonal campers were permitted to disregard campground policies without consequence, while others were singled out, micromanaged, and targeted for minor or non-existent issues. Unprofessional Conduct Regarding Minors Most concerning was management’s unacceptable conduct toward children. The owner actively made a ten-year-old child feel unwelcome by making inappropriate insinuations regarding his friendship with a nearly thirteen-year-old girl, claiming a platonic friendship between a boy and a girl of those ages was somehow improper. Targeting young children and policing harmless childhood friendships crosses a line that no family should have to deal with while on vacation. Breach of Contract& Property Damage To make matters worse, management prematurely cut off electricity to our campsite prior to the end of our contractual agreement. This lack of power led to a total loss of all refrigerated food items and caused significant interior damage to our camper when the freezer thawed and the ice inside it melted and leaked onto the flooring. Additionally, management unlawfully removed personal property from our campsite before our lease term had expired and failed to return it. Conclusion While a seasonal site should offer a relaxing environment for families, the current ownership creates an uncomfortable, hostile, and unethical environment. Between the emotional hostility and the direct financial loss caused by management's actions, I strongly advise others to avoid this campground.
Dispersed camping options surrounding Elizabeth, Illinois sit in the driftless area characterized by rolling hills and limestone bluffs that escaped glaciation during the last ice age. The Mississippi River borders camping areas to the west, creating backwater habitats ideal for wildlife viewing. Fall temperatures typically range from 35-65°F with frequent morning fog near water.
River activities: access via Rock Creek County Marina and Campground with kayak/canoe rentals available. "They have an Eco Center with turtles, snakes, and an aquarium that our family really enjoyed. The grounds are on backwaters of the Mississippi so there are boat ramps, docks, and areas to fish," notes one camper.
Wildlife viewing: early morning hours offer the best chances. "Watch river levels for flooding, bugs can be bad since location is bottomland riverine forest," advises a Rock Creek visitor. The Mississippi backwaters provide habitats for migratory birds, turtles, and fish.
Historical tours: within 20 minutes of Blanding Landing. "Galena and Dubuque are not far. Overall not a lot of hiking or activities in the immediate area though. Good option for an overnight," writes Mary S. The Grant Home and Dowling House in Galena offer historical perspectives.
Clean facilities: particularly noteworthy at Rustic Barn Campground RV Park. "Shower house was immaculate with large hard stalled showers/changing room," states one reviewer. Another mentions it has "some of the cleanest bath/shower houses you'll find anywhere."
Kid-friendly amenities: available year-round at certain parks. "There's fishing, exploring, a playground, and when you see a paddleboat you have time to drive to town before it hits loch & damn #12," shares a Spruce Creek camper. Another adds, "If you like boating or fishing this is probably a good fit."
Community atmosphere: varies by location but often welcoming. At Blanding Landing, one solo female traveler reported: "The other campers were friendly, and the one site neighbor we had even came to visit and meet my dogs and gave them organic dog treats. The icing on the cake was the woman who monitored the sites, Anne. She was so kind and welcoming."
Train noise: significant at waterfront locations like Blanding Landing. "Biggest issue is train tracks with trains running by very often. Maybe an hour or 90 minutes with none then there would be three in a very short period," reports one camper. Another notes, "Our first night here the many trains were loud and woke us up, but if you can laugh instead of being annoyed, it is fine."
Limited reservation options: some parks first-come basis including Off Shore RV Park. The resort "offers river views, hard lanes, tables, fire rings, RR, playground, food, and is just 2 miles north of river town of Bellevue for supplies," according to a reviewer.
Seasonal limitations: most facilities close October-April with limited winter options. "Winter camping options are limited as most parks close between late October and early April," with exceptions like Rock Creek Marina offering year-round access.
Variable site spacing: proximity to neighbors differs significantly. "Sites were closer than I would like would be the only negative," notes a Seven Eagles Resort visitor, while other campgrounds offer more seclusion.
Backup activities for rainy days: The area experiences occasional storms. "If you need ANY assistance or guidance from the host, good luck. I was met with attitude and zero empathy on where, how or what to do when our camp site was ankle deep in water," cautions a visitor to Spruce Creek Park.
Educational opportunities: Numerous nature centers provide programming. "Great educational center with canoe and kayak rentals, with lots of Mississippi backwater to explore," notes a Rock Creek Marina visitor.
Safety considerations: River proximity requires vigilance with children. "I took my children here for years when they were little. As a single mom of 5 it was very manageable. I could see them throughout the entire park," shares a camper about Spruce Creek.
Site leveling challenges: Come prepared with leveling blocks. A Palace Campground visitor explains: "If you get along the outsides you have a lot more privacy and better chance they will be level. If you aren't worried about sharing a conversation with your neighbor then you can pick anything."
Connectivity issues: Cell reception varies widely across rv campgrounds near Elizabeth, Illinois. One camper notes, "There is ATT service, but not strong. There is also WiFi, but also not strong" at Seven Eagles Resort.
Seasonal RV storage: Some facilities offer extended storage options. "Lies next to farm fields to the south, and RV storage is available," reports a Porth RV Park visitor, making the area convenient for repeat visitors.
Hookup availability: Services differ substantially between RV parks. Rustic Barn Campground features "58 sites with various amenities. Some are long pull-throughs, some are back-in, some have 30 amp with or without a patio, and some have 50-amp electric with or without a patio," details a recent visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Elizabeth, IL is Blanding Landing with a 4.0-star rating from 7 reviews.
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