Apple River Canyon State Park and surrounding campgrounds offer diverse camping options within 20 miles of Galena, Illinois. The hilly Driftless Area terrain creates scenic river valleys with limestone bluffs rising 200+ feet above waterways. Camping season typically runs April through November with summer temperatures reaching 85°F during day and cooling to 60°F overnight.
What to do
Hiking trails with canyon views: Apple River Canyon features multiple short trails with moderate terrain changes. "Hiking is ok, several trails, not challenging, not easy after 2 days of rain. Fishing supposed to be excellent. Nice and quiet, easy 2.5 hour getaway from Chicago," notes Cristina S. from Apple River Canyon.
Cave exploration: Maquoketa Caves State Park has 13 distinct bat caves accessible on 6 miles of hiking trails. "The trails have sign posts and the map in a VERY general way gives you some idea as to where you are at BUT there are trails criss crossing everywhere so make sure you have your map tracker on," advises Shelly S. from Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground.
Mississippi River fishing: Multiple campgrounds provide river access for fishing. "Fishing seemed popular in catfish creek about 50 feet away from our sight. There is a sign that states firewood is for sale at 6pm but the ranger was about 45 min late bc he tends to two other parks," reports Michael S. about Swiss Valley County Park.
River views: Plan stops at observation points overlooking the Mississippi. "Beautiful setting, very quaint with the Rustic chapel and the view for miles. The sites are all clean and most all are level," shares Stephanie S. about rural locations near Galena.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Dog friendly campgrounds near Galena maintain well-kept bathrooms and common areas. "Very clean as were the showers. All had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites although they are close together, as would be expected in an RV park," reports Lee D. about Rustic Barn Campground RV Park.
Quiet settings: Most campgrounds offer peaceful environments away from city noise. "This is a very basic park, no lake, no added attractions just trails, picnicking and a small, quiet and well shaded, electric sites. I like the spacing, privacy and shade," notes Shelly S. about her experience camping with pets near Maquoketa.
Riverside campsites: Several pet-accommodating campgrounds offer sites along water. "We had such a lovely stay here! We will be back! It's a beautiful setting, very quaint with the Rustic chapel and the view for miles," shared Stephanie S. about landscapes surrounding campsites.
Dark sky viewing: Several campgrounds limit light pollution. "This site is a dark skies site, so if it's not overcast or full moon there is some good stargazing. AT&T cell service is mostly nonexistent in camp, but kicks in as you head out, so plan your research ahead of time," mentions John W. from Apple River Canyon.
What you should know
Site spacing varies: Dog-friendly campsites range from private to close quarters. "The sites are VERY close together but we were next to very nice people, if you like space you won't like this," shares Lauren P. from Palace Campground.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "We have ATT and had decent cell service here," notes Mary S. about Blanding Landing, though coverage varies by carrier and specific location.
Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railroad disturbance. "Not the worst but not one of the best COE campgrounds. No nice gravel or concrete pads anywhere. Many sites are not real level. Biggest issue is train tracks with trains running by very often," warns Tony D. about Blanding Landing.
Seasonal operation: Most campgrounds close between November and April. "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," notes Paul B. about site selection during peak times.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Many campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "Swings and playground for kids. Would stay there again," shares Ivana B. about Palace Campground's amenities for children.
Secluded sites for privacy: Look for wooded sites when camping with pets and children. "We absolutely love the quaintness of Apple River. The sites are secluded and provide privacy. Great spot for quiet tent camping. Not a big commercialized campground. Dog friendly too, at no extra charge," recommends Marissa F. from Apple River Canyon.
Access to town amenities: Some campgrounds provide convenient proximity to supplies. "Stayed here on a wet and snowy weekend for the Boy Scouts Grant Pilgrimage. 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," notes Siobhan R. about location advantages.
Water activities: Campgrounds with river access provide entertainment options. "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," explains Kari K. from Spruce Creek Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling concerns: Check site details before booking. "If the campground is full, it would be pretty tight. No negatives I encountered here to mention," shares Paul B. about Palace Campground's double sites for larger rigs.
Electric hookup variety: Electric options vary by campground. "CG site atop river bluff with pads, fire rings, tables, RR, recycling, trails, shelters nearby. Sites are close to each other but plenty to do," reports James M. about Bellevue State Park Campground.
Dump station access: Most sites offer dump stations but limited full hookups. "Campground with electric only. Our site did not have shade so it got pretty warm. Bathrooms were a decent walk from us but a great cheap stay as we were passing through," notes Julie G. about facility access.
Back-in navigation: Many sites require back-in parking skills. "I wish we would have booked a back in site, because they were wonderfully shaded and appeared easy to back into. (Our last 2 campground back ins were nightmarishly narrow with close trees)," advises Carl F. about site selection strategies.
