The area around Glen Carbon, Illinois sits at approximately 540 feet above sea level in the American Bottom floodplain. This region experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F, while winters bring occasional snow and temperatures that can drop below freezing. Drainage issues affect several rv sites near Glen Carbon, Illinois after heavy rainfall, particularly in low-lying areas near the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
What to do
Bike the Katy Trail: Access the Katy Trail directly from Beyond the Trail RV Park in nearby Defiance, Missouri. "The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town. Beautiful views across a large farm field (soy beans when we were here) to the hills beyond with incredible sunsets," reports camper Sam C.
Visit historic St. Charles: From St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, take a short drive to experience local history. "Proximity to historic St. Charles and the bike trail" is what one camper noted as the best feature of the park. The campground offers bike rentals for those wanting to explore the area.
Brewery visits: Several campgrounds near Glen Carbon provide access to local breweries. At Beyond the Trail RV Park, "Brewery just on the other side of the campground with good beer and food," according to Matthew H., while the same park offers "a really nice brewery right at the entrance."
Gateway Arch views: When staying at camping facilities near Glen Carbon, Illinois, the Gateway Arch is accessible for day trips. "Easy check in, but the camp host said the shaded spots were too narrow, they were not. Stayed three nights and saw all the sites: The Gateway Arch, Union Station, aquarium, botanical gardens, Anheiser Busch brewery tour," explains Dennis P. from Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park.
What campers like
Secure accommodations: Safety features are important at rv parks near Glen Carbon. "Security is proactive in patrols and are friendly and helpful. No frills but a great view of the arch," notes Greg S. about the Casino Queen RV Park. Another camper mentioned "Easy to book online even the day of. Choose your spot ahead of time and pull in, easy as that!" at Beyond the Trail RV Park.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently highlight cleanliness at many parks in the area. At Kamper Kompanion RV Park, visitors appreciate that it is "Clean. Well maintained. Pleasant staff. We had a long pull through, but there are a limited number of those." The park also features "a cute little fenced in pet area with benches for the pups to stretch."
Urban convenience: Many campgrounds provide proximity to essential services while camping. "This is a centrally located campground in the Metro St. Louis area. It's close to interstates and it's a short drive across the river to Missouri attractions," explains one camper about Cahokia RV Parque, adding "Getting in after a long drive and seeing the on-site BBQ restaurant was a huge positive."
Recreational amenities: Several parks offer on-site recreation options. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, "The park/campground rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes. There is a walking trail around the lake (4+ miles). There is fish in the lake and you are allowed to fish."
What you should know
Weather considerations: The region experiences occasional flooding that affects campgrounds. One reviewer noted about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park: "One of the downsides to this location is that it is prone to flooding. It was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded."
Noise factors: Urban camping locations may have noise from transportation. At Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, "There are trains every 15-30 minutes all day long," while Sundermeier RV Park sits "on path of airport it seems but plane noise does not bother us. It was not too bad."
Space limitations: Many rv sites near Glen Carbon have varying degrees of spaciousness. "Although it wasn't initially appealing to be set in a field, the views around the park were really nice," notes one camper about Beyond the Trail RV Park, while another mentioned at Cahokia RV Parque that "The spaces are tighter, but that was expected being closer to a city."
Seasonal accessibility: Operating schedules vary significantly. At Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, availability runs from "April 1 to September 30," while many other parks operate year-round with different amenities available depending on the season.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Cahokia RV Parque features "an awesome playground for the kids!!" according to one reviewer. The facility provides a dedicated space for children to play while staying at the campground.
Water recreation options: Families can enjoy water activities at several locations. "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. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night," notes a visitor to St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Educational opportunities: The region offers historical and educational attractions. "Stayed two nights passing through to visit Gateway Arch National Park," noted one family, while others mentioned visiting "The Gateway Arch, Union Station, aquarium, botanical gardens" during their stay.
Safety features: Parks with controlled access provide peace of mind for families. "We felt safe in a rough looking area of STL. Big rig friendly. Pay attention to email for check in process and gate code," advises Cody B. about Casino Queen RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Many campgrounds provide complete services for RVers. At Sundermeier RV Park, "This is a easy to access, quite campground. Full hookups, concrete pads. No firepits. Close to a bunch of stuff. Fast wifi," according to Aaron A.
Electrical issues: Some travelers report electrical concerns at certain locations. At Sundermeier RV Park, one visitor noted specific electrical safety warnings about 30A receptacles, while suggesting that the 50A receptacles appeared to be properly wired.
Utility placement: The location of hookups can create challenges. At Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, "Utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper."
Level sites: RVers appreciate properly graded camping spots. "The sites are level and clean," noted one camper, while another reported at Beyond the Trail RV Park that "All the roads and pads are gravel and level. All the campsites are decently sized and looks like all of them will house 25' or bigger campers."
