19 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Palace Campground and Lena KOA provide upscale glamping options near Galena, Illinois, with accommodations ranging from luxury canvas tents to fully furnished glamping cabins. Both locations feature electrical hookups, comfortable bedding, picnic tables, and fire rings for the perfect blend of outdoor experience and modern comfort. "Very spacious, grassy and clean. They host events like mini golf. Swings and playground for kids," notes one visitor about Palace Campground. The sites are strategically positioned to provide both privacy and community, with most glamping accommodations including private decks or patios, access to clean shower facilities, and proximity to dining options. Climate-controlled units are available at these glamping resorts, making them suitable for multi-season stays.
Visitors at these glamping destinations can enjoy a range of recreational activities including hiking, fishing, and water sports along the Mississippi River, which is accessible from several nearby glamping sites. Nelson Dewey State Park Campground, located just across the Mississippi in Wisconsin, offers yurt rentals with stunning river views and access to extensive trail systems. According to a camper, "This is by far my kids' favorite place to go camping and we will continue coming here every year for as long as we can." These glamping resorts provide easy access to Galena's historic downtown, with most locations within a 15-20 minute drive of shopping, dining, and attractions. Reservations are typically required well in advance, especially during peak season from May through October when glamping tents and specialty accommodations fill quickly.
"This campground is tucked into a little area next to a Walmart, Culvers, and Mini golf course. It sits between east Dubuque and Galena. When we stayed they had a dirt bike rally."
"Campground was right next to Walmart, which was convenient, and a short walk down to the high school to get the shuttle into Galena itself."
"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
"When I arrived, the site was clean, and we had a site with an open site on one side making it feel twice as big."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Campground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive"
"This was a great stay other campers around us were very nice and super friendly as well. I think the only thing I would have a complaint about would be the bath house."
"Nice view at the Mississippi River $20 per night with electrical hook up. "
"We stayed right by the bathrooms. Showers have a push button so water pressure and temperature was not very great. The river was a great view and campground was big to walk around."
from $14 - $26 / night
Check Availability"The site itself was sloped away from the road making it feel tucked into the trees. The downside was that the only flat space for the tent was very close to the fire pit."
"Had a hike on site on the bluff. Stunning views and very secluded. Carts available for hauling in your gear. Hiking trails, fire wood for sale on site. Bathrooms very nice, showers like new!"
from $19 - $110 / night
Check Availability"They clean out fire pits after every weekend. Some sites were not the most level. All Roads are newly paved. New/Updated Dump station."
"This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability"The sites on the "inside" of the loop are rather close to one another. 21 has a nice view of the lake, and you can walk back to the fence to look over the bluff 24 is quite private and very large 26,"
"I randomly picked this campground, after trying to book Devil's Lake with no luck. WE LOVED IT! Sites are very private, some in the woods, and some have sun/shade."
from $21 - $39 / night
Check Availability"Pit toilets/shelter/playground near the entrance. Two boat launches.
Variable availability for firewood; the Cenex on the west end of Argyle reliably sells it if there isn't any at the park."
"This is a great place to stay when in the Galena area. It is about 40 minutes away, but is nice to be away from the traffic. The KOA store is well stocked and has some pretty cool souvenirs!"
"This is the second KOA I’ve stayed at and is by far the better one of the two, the staff was super friendly and there was a lot of activities for the kids to do."
"Most of the camp sites are fairly secluded from one another by distance and from surrounding foliage (see pic). The exceptions would be sites 55-64 that loop around the playground."
"Our site was huge, flat and private - no trouble finding flat ground to pitch the tent."
from $20 / night
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TravelerCampground is nice spacious and we’re well divided. The drive from the entrance of Governor Dodge to cox hollow was a good 2-3 miles but was very scenic.
LegendThis 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. There’s a store for Supplies, and a grill serving food. The Eco tourism center includes interactive and educational displays and programs. The marina offers slips for rent, boat rentals of canoes and kayaks. The campground can get very buggy, considering seasons in Iowa.
ScoutBe advised site 14 is on such a steep hill it was honestly scary coming in an out of our camper! If an older couple were staying at this site in a camper I’m not sure if they would even be able to. Our second door entrance cannot be used due to how steep the hill is and we had to add wood to the bottom of our stairs because they didn’t touch the ground. Forgot to add you’re also under a very large black walnut tree that is currently dropping walnuts that are ripe.
LegendIf you're the kind of camper who measures a campground by the number of trees instead of the number of amenities, Wilderness CG continues to be THE hidden campground gem within Scott County Park. Surrounded by mature hardwood forest, generous-sized campsites with decent privacy and miles of interconnected hiking trails, this campground delivers a camping experience that feels far more secluded than you'd expect to find just minutes from the Quad Cities. While my original review from just over a year ago goes into considerable detail about each aspect of the campground and the park itself, I thought I'd follow up that review with a quick summary of what continues to stand out most.
Here's a topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS along with a smattering of new photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Easily the most wooded, private and peaceful campground within Scott County Park, making it an outstanding choice for tent campers, in particular, and anyone seeking a true forest setting; (2) Spacious campsites tucked beneath a dense tree canopy (expert tip: be sure to look up at any potential 'widow makers' before setting up camp) that provides excellent shade, natural privacy and a genuine 'away from it all' atmosphere; (3) Immaculately maintained restroom and shower facilities with dependable hot water that rival many commercial campgrounds; (4) Outstanding access to some of the park's best hiking trails, allowing campers to step directly from their campsite into miles of beautiful woodland; and (5) Scott County Park itself offers an impressive collection of amenities, including: 2 fishing lakes (and 2 smaller ponds), a championship 9-hole golf course, massive family-friendly swimming pool, various scattered playgrounds, an abundance of picnic areas in and outside of excellent shelters and friendly park staff ... all just a short drive from your campsite.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) The heavily wooded terrain means some sites are uneven with exposed roots, making leveling RVs and 5th wheelers more challenging than at neighboring campgrounds; (2) There is no lake or waterfront access directly within Wilderness Campground, so paddlers and anglers will need to drive to other areas of the park; (3) The abundance of trees and leaf cover can make portions of the campground appear a little less manicured, even though it is very well maintained - when we were there in the Autumn, we wished we would have brought our rake!; (4) Only one of the campground's restroom buildings includes shower facilities, so some campers may have a short walk or drive depending on their site; and (5) Larger RVs may find neighboring campgrounds such as Bald Eagle or Woodside better suited to their size and setup.
Happy Camping!
RangerThe campground is very nice but most of the sites are not level. I’m not talking about just put down the leveling blocks, they’re like backing into a ditch. Thankfully I’m staying when it’s not busy but I had to circle the campground three times to find a site I could make work and call reservation.gov to change my reservation. It’s a shame because it is a very scenic location and the camp hosts have been superb.
GuideBest kept secret in the area. Very low rates (5 dollars a night Sunday through Thursday .
GuideQuiet Thursday night stay along the water. We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed the songs of the many species of birds in the area.
ScoutThis was a nice campground. Sites are a good size and the public restroom/showers are very clean! Downside is there are trains going by with horns all the time.
LegendWilderness Campground is seasonal, with good shaded spots, seasonal host with firewood, available, restrooms, and showers. Sites include tables and fire rings. Sites have gravel access, there is a play area as well.
Camping near Galena, Illinois provides access to both wooded hills and riverside settings within the Driftless Area, an unglaciated region with distinct topography. Elevation changes of 200-400 feet between river valleys and bluffs create diverse microclimates for campers. Winter temperatures often drop below 10°F, while summer camping conditions typically reach 80-90°F with moderate humidity.
River fishing: Access points at Blanding Landing offer varied opportunities for anglers. "Nice little campground, quiet except for a train from time to time. Nice shower facilities," notes a visitor at Blanding Landing. The campground's proximity to the Mississippi River allows for multiple fishing spots.
Hiking through driftless terrain: Trails wind through unique landscapes unshaped by glaciers. The Nelson Dewey State Park Campground features "hiking trails, fire wood for sale on site. Bathrooms very nice, showers like new! Lots of picnic sites along the bluff." The park's trail system showcases the region's distinctive geology with varying difficulty levels.
Wildlife viewing: Early morning and dusk provide prime observation times. "Lots to do here with the ability to play mini golf on a very nice course, walk through the trees and property, and get ice-cream from culvers," reports a camper at Palace Campground. Morning walks often reveal deer and various bird species throughout the camping areas.
Level sites with proper drainage: Several campgrounds feature well-maintained pads. "Campground is convenient to Galena and Dubuque. We stayed in site 73, which they call a double. If the campground is full, it would be pretty tight," explains a visitor to Palace Campground. Many sites throughout the region have been upgraded with proper drainage to handle rainfall.
Year-round accessibility: Some campgrounds maintain winter operations. At Swiss Valley County Park, "Campground is well maintained, restrooms, showers, recycling station, fire wood available, campground host onsite, resident park ranger, standard RV sites, some electric tent sites otherwise primitive with fire rings and tables." The year-round operation makes this location valuable during off-peak seasons.
Clean facilities: Modern shower houses receive consistent praise. "Good sized wooded sites with trees providing reasonable privacy. Flat area for tents but not all 'driveways' are level," notes a camper at Cox Hollow Campground. Facilities remain well-maintained even during busy summer weekends when sites fill to capacity.
Train noise affects multiple riverside campgrounds: Frequency varies by location. "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 a camper at Blanding Landing. Earplugs are recommended for light sleepers at riverside locations.
Reservation requirements vary seasonally: Book 3-6 months ahead for summer weekends. "Sites were tight and the lack of fire rings was disappointing," mentions a visitor to Palace Campground. Last-minute availability is limited from May through September, particularly at sites with electrical hookups.
Water conditions fluctuate throughout the season: Check before planning water activities. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, "We have only been to this campground one time because we wanted to try something new. We had a lot of fun there playing in the water on the beach however my son who was five at the time got a really bad bacterial rash from the water." Algae issues can affect swimming conditions, particularly during late summer.
Walking distance amenities: Choose campgrounds with playgrounds and restrooms nearby. "This is a great place to stay when in the Galena area. It is about 40 minutes away, but is nice to be away from the traffic. The KOA store is well stocked and has some pretty cool souvenirs!" notes a visitor to Lena KOA. Many family-friendly sites cluster bathroom facilities and play areas within 300 feet of campsites.
Yurt camping options: Nelson Dewey State Park offers alternative accommodations. "Great place for a short trip. I'll begin by saying this is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at," explains a visitor about yurt camping near Galena, Illinois. The walk-to sites with yurt options require advance planning as they book 6-8 months ahead for summer dates.
Wildlife awareness: Raccoons are active at several campgrounds. "Perfect for a family get away - showers, flush toilets, lots of hiking (but trails aren't very challenging), swimming area and boat launch, playground," reports a camper at Cox Hollow Campground, adding "Beware of raccoons at this campground they are BOLD!" Secure food storage containers are essential at most campgrounds in the region.
Site leveling challenges: Request specific site information when booking. "We stayed in site 18 in early August. The site itself was sloped away from the road making it feel tucked into the trees," explains a camper at Nelson Dewey State Park Campground. Many RV sites throughout the area require leveling blocks due to terrain variations.
Dump station congestion: Plan departure timing accordingly. "The line to clean out the tanks was long and blocks the way in and out. The roads need repair, many potholes," notes a visitor to Lake Le-Aqua-Na. Peak checkout times (10am-noon) often create 30+ minute waits at dump stations during summer weekends.
Electric service variations: Check amperage before booking. "Nice campground. Cement pads and blacktop roads. Clean shower houses. Train tracks border the campground and train horns are loud. Has sites with views of the Mississippi," reports an RVer visiting Grant River Recreation Area. Most sites offer 30-amp service, while 50-amp connections remain limited across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Galena, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Galena, IL is Palace Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Galena, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Galena, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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