Camping options near Fulton, Illinois primarily cluster along the Mississippi River bluffs with elevations between 580-650 feet. River bottom campgrounds experience seasonal flooding, particularly in April and May when river levels rise due to snowmelt and spring precipitation. Late summer brings lower humidity levels and more stable weather conditions, making it the preferred season for tent campers exploring the area's riverside facilities.
What to do
Fishing at backwaters: Rock Creek County Marina and Campground offers access to Mississippi River backwaters with productive fishing grounds. "Nice educational center with canoe and kayak rentals, with lots of Mississippi backwater to explore. Showers are open until October 14 this year," notes Jeff and Linda L.
Explore river systems: Blanding Landing provides boat access to the Mississippi River's main channel. "Nice little campground, quiet except for a train from time to time. Nice shower facilities," reports Dexter I., highlighting amenities for river explorers.
Biking on Great River Trail: Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River connects to the Great River Trail network. "From this campground you can go north, as far as Savanna. Going south will take you through Hampton, East Moline, Moline, Rock Island, and you can cross over to Davenport, circle Credit Island, and pick up other paths in Iowa," explains Sebastian G.
Paddling options: Multiple campgrounds offer kayak and canoe rentals for exploring the Mississippi's backchannels. "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, nature center," writes James M. about Rock Creek facilities.
What campers like
Level sites: Many campers praise the concrete pads at RV campgrounds near Fulton. "Paved everywhere, level concrete pads. Corps of Engineers takes really good care of their recreation areas," reports Al K. about Fishermans Corner.
River views: Waterfront sites remain highly sought after throughout the region. "Site #12 with electric hookup was in my opinion the best site. Right on the back of the mighty Mississippi. Very clean friendly stay," writes Donna T. about Shady Creek.
Educational facilities: Rock Creek County Marina and Campground receives high marks for its nature center. "The campgrounds are very nice. They have clean bathrooms, a nicely stocked store, and a couple playgrounds. They also have an Eco Center with turtles, snakes, and an aquarium that our family really enjoyed," notes Chris F.
Affordability: Corps of Engineers campgrounds offer exceptional value for budget-conscious campers. "We have really come to appreciate US Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) campgrounds. They are affordable (especially for seniors) and generally have decent facilities. Fishermans Corner was just an overnight stop for us since we could not get into our desired campground on a holiday weekend but for $10, it was a great value," explains Lee D.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds along the Mississippi have nearby railroad tracks with varying noise levels. "Overall nice campground. Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. The toilets in the back part by the electric campsites are pit toilets. Flush toilets, sink, and showers up by the check in area. Trains are noisy—we slept through them but are also used to living by a train station," reports Mary S. about Blanding Landing.
Cell service: Coverage varies significantly throughout the region. "Our cell phone provider is Sprint and we had zero service. The campground is close to Muscatine if you need to make a run but far enough out to feel like you're really camping," notes Stephanie D. about Shady Creek.
Flooding risk: Campsites near the river can experience seasonal flooding. "Watch river levels for flooding, bugs can be bad since location is bottomland riverine forest," warns James M. about riverfront camping at Geneseo Izaak Walton League Campground.
Reservation policies: Many campgrounds implement strict arrival policies. "We stayed one night as we were traveling west. Very well kept nice and quiet; concrete pad and electric. Only $20! Pretty view of the Mississippi," mentions Bobbi Jo K.
Tips for camping with families
Educational activities: Multiple campgrounds offer nature centers with kid-friendly programming. "This campground has an assortment of primitive and electrical sites. They also have cabins and canoe/kayak rental, a visitor shop with food/drink and a mini museum of the local wildlife. Great place for the family," recommends Ryan about Rock Creek County Marina.
Playground access: Several RV campgrounds near Fulton, Illinois maintain playground facilities. "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. 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 Kari K. about Spruce Creek Park.
Dog policies: Pet rules vary between campgrounds, with some having strict leash enforcement. "I'm not sure what the rules are, but there were a lot of dogs not tied up. Most people kept a close eye on them, but we had a couple wander through and do their business in our site. I also didn't notice anyone cleaning up after their dogs, so walk with caution," warns Chris F.
Tips from RVers
Access challenges: Some campgrounds have tricky entry points for larger rigs. "Our site was pretty flat, although it was a little tricky backing into it. They put the site number posts at the end of the pad near the road and our site had a tree on the other side, so we had to use the grass across the road to maneuver in and out," explains Chris F.
Shared water hookups: Not all sites have dedicated water connections. "Water is shared by 4 sites and was 30 ft away," notes Barbara P. about Shady Creek, highlighting the need for longer hoses.
Site selection strategy: Experienced RVers recommend booking specific sites when possible. "Although Thomson has less RR noise, there is the hunting, with parts of the park closed off, and gunfire going from dawn to dusk...I find the trains the lesser of the evils!" advises Sebastian G. about site selection priorities at Geneseo Campground.
Parking configurations: Many sites require specific positioning. "Sites are shaded, with services, fire pits, wood available, site volunteer. Access along river for fishing. Railroad runs nearby can be loud," explains James M. about optimal parking at Fishermans Corner.
