Pere Marquette State Park Campground
Absolutley love it!
Great hikes! Very strenous in some locations, but well worth the effort for the views! Overall well kept and have have an incredible lodge! Just down the road from Grafton IL
55 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Pere Marquette State Park Campground offers spacious sites for campers with dogs, with several reviewers noting the ample room between campsites. All sites include electric hookups and picnic tables with designated fire rings where pets can lounge beside their owners. The campground maintains standard leash policies for all dogs, with waste disposal stations available throughout the grounds. RV campers appreciate the pet-friendly atmosphere with both 30-amp and 50-amp sites available, while tent campers find the Class C sites suitable for camping with canine companions. The nearby St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park also welcomes pets at their tent, RV, cabin and glamping accommodations. Most sites stay fairly level, though some campers report specific spots like site 74 having uneven terrain that can affect comfort when setting up with pets.
Dog-friendly hiking trails throughout Pere Marquette State Park provide excellent exercise opportunities for pets and their owners, with several offering scenic overlooks of the Illinois River. The trail system features varying difficulty levels from easy to strenuous, allowing campers to choose appropriate routes based on their dog's capabilities. After hiking, the campground's open layout beneath mature trees creates comfortable spaces for dogs to rest while still maintaining proximity to nature. The nearby town of Grafton offers additional pet-friendly activities, with several wineries and restaurants that allow leashed dogs on patios. The riverside location provides cooling opportunities for heat-sensitive breeds during summer months. Campers should note that water hookups are shared between sites, requiring extra hose length to reach all locations when filling dog water bowls or cleaning pet gear.
"Very strenous in some locations, but well worth the effort for the views! Overall well kept and have have an incredible lodge! Just down the road from Grafton IL"
"Great little campground just outside of Grafton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. The campground is located in an open grove of old trees. There were owls when we were there."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"This park is very well kept, the natural lake is completely surrounded by a paved trail to bike, run, or walk on! They have a fenced in dog park and level sites!"
"Large grassy camp sites, dog park and clean restrooms/shower house. Lake is very pretty and great staff."
from $35 - $60 / night
Check Availability"We were able to park next to our 5th wheel with enough room to not feel crowded while using the picnic bench. Also the site was level. We stayed for a week to enjoy St. Louis, St."
"To hot and tired to walk around but there is aa park and access to a walking trail that looks nice. It is on path of airport it seems but plane noise does not bother us. It was not to bad."
from $56 - $61 / night
Check Availability"They have really awesome trails to ride. I would recommend to anyone wanting a place to play on their toys. It’s 20 a day to ride. 35 for water and electric."
from $35 / night
Check Availability"Lakeside is down the road to fill up. No shade and smaller sights great access to the rivers. Site 17 accommodate a 38ft fifth wheel will just hang over the back a little to fit."
from $25 / night
Check Availability"Doesn't allow pets for tent sites"
"Pet runs clean and in good shape. Good air signal for tv."
"A portable toilet is available to keep the area sanitary for urgent needs; the flush toilets, laundry, and fitness center at the main entrance are also available for a longer walk or short drive."
"Good location close to O'Fallon and Hwy 70. Kind of close to the busy main road running through town. Some long term rigs are there, but look kept up."
from $40 / night
Check Availability"70 per night, plus $20 pet fee and $5 reservation fee. Stayed two nights passing through to visit Gateway Arch National Park. Casino is pretty old looking on the outside."
"I haves stayed at Casino Queen RV Park several times..It’s always very clean and I always feel very safe..it’s easy clean in and clean out…you have to have a code to get into the gate..pets are allowed"
from $65 / night
Check Availability"Pet-friendly, full hookups, space for our larger rig and parking around for extra vehicle. Laundry and propane on site. Spaces were a little close together, but minutes from downtown St."
"Lots of dogs tied up, but with owners nearby. Some still “bolt” at you when you walk by. Could be less littered. Our site had lots of litter when we pulled in."












Great hikes! Very strenous in some locations, but well worth the effort for the views! Overall well kept and have have an incredible lodge! Just down the road from Grafton IL
This park is very well kept, the natural lake is completely surrounded by a paved trail to bike, run, or walk on! They have a fenced in dog park and level sites!
Large grassy camp sites, dog park and clean restrooms/shower house. Lake is very pretty and great staff.
This campground is fairly close to downtown and very close to lots of shopping. A great place to stay to stock up on supplies before heading west. We stayed 2 nights to have a day to visit the Gateway Arch. The pool and playground seemed nice even though we didn’t use them. Nice dog park for smaller dogs. Several cabins are available along with RV sites. The tent sites are next to a river under large trees. Plenty of spaces for big rigs. Our site was no very level but nothing our auto-leveling couldn’t handle.
Nice, clean campground, level pull-through sites - ours had a paver-patio and grill, a lot of shade throughout, dog park, and a creek to explore. This was our 2nd time here. Close to Saint Louis, Six Flags, and hiking.
Easy off I-370, campground is new and large. It is on a lake with bike trails, kayak rental, and kids splash pad. Staff were helpful. I received about 5 pieces of paper when checking in. You need a code to get into the dog park. Shopping nearby. Used this as a base to visit historic St Charles.
This is a KOA, so you know what to expect. Pull through, level sites, lots of shade, dog park, pool, and a creek are all here. Have been here before, will be back!
Campground review:
Once googling local campsites at the last minute for a weekend getaway with both dogs, we came route 66 campground. They have a dog park, rv hookup sites, electric tent sites and primitive sites. We stayed at a primitive tent site with both dogs. Site t13, which unfortunately was one of the very few camp spots with zero trees so we're unable to use our hammock. (Most of the other sites had great trees for hammock setups). Other amenities on the campground included a heated pool, bike rentals, basketball courts, a country store for firewood, supplies, and gift shop. Needless to say this was not a "roughing" it type campground. For the dogs though, we were right across from the creek to take them down to play. Also, kids were catching crawdads! Great campsite that is pet friendly and very family friendly!
Product review:
Ledlenser mh10
This headlamp first of all comes with a 7 year warrantly(must register the product)! On top of that all these features: a rechargeable battery with a USB port. Rapid focus system with 2 tough button on headlamp to adjust lighting. The strap is very easy to adjust and fit to comfort, lightweight despise the battery pack attached to the headlamp. The lighting is phenomenal! You also get a green and red additional glass lense that you can screw into the front of your lense for any activity and not disturb others with a bright white light. Me, howsoever, I was able to on this camping trip, use the headlamp to continue to play a game of cornhole... and winter, might I add.. thanks to my headlamp for optimal vision;). Included are some pictures of how bright and fitting the headlamp is. I was highly impressed! Never once did it slip... which I have struggled with in many headlamps that it seems the lamp is too heavy and slowly makes its way down your forehead. The Ledlenser stays in place and is very comfortable! Also, doesn't leave that weird band line on your head... at least I didn't experience it like I have on others. Very impressed overall!
There is lots to do at this park. There is a pool, bike rentals, dog park, movie night, basketball court, and more. You can bring your RV, travel trailer, tent camp, or stay in a cabin. Most of the sites are in the shade and are fairly level. The bathrooms were clean and well maintained. They have Ele/water and Ele/water/sewer sites. It is close to train tracks, but I only heard the train once at night. It’s close to Six Flags, shopping, and restaurants. They even have a cute caboose cabin you can stay in.
Pere Marquette State Park Campground provides campsites situated approximately 700 feet from the Illinois River, rather than directly on the water. The campground sits on partially hilly terrain with 88 total sites, divided between 30-amp and 50-amp electric hookups for RVs, plus 15 non-electric Class C sites for tent campers. Located along the Great River Road, campers have access to multiple hiking trails with varying difficulty levels.
Explore historic Grafton: Take a short 10-minute drive from Pere Marquette State Park Campground to visit restaurants and attractions. "Pere Marquette Campground is a little gym, just past Grafton, Missouri. It is located in the Great River Road, and within 10 minutes to restaurants and bars," notes Jennifer B.
Bird watching opportunities: Winter visitors can observe eagles feeding at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. "In winter there are a lot of eagles feeding in the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers which meet at the park. The Lewis & Clark expedition started nearby," explains Joel R.
Hiking with scenic views: The trail system offers multiple difficulty options ranging from easy walks to challenging climbs. "We did a 7 mile loop that led us to an amazing overlook. Excited to go back!" writes Andrew S. about Cuivre River State Park Campground, which features similar terrain about 40 minutes from Grafton.
Historic buildings: Pere Marquette features notable architecture from the 1930s. "Lots of historical buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's," mentions Annie C. The area also includes a lodge with restaurant facilities.
Sunday dining options: The lodge restaurant at Pere Marquette State Park Campground serves special meals on weekends. "The lodge has one of the best fried chicken dinners around on Sunday," recommends Joel R., offering campers a break from campsite cooking.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple reviewers mention the presence of local wildlife in the camping areas. "The campground is located in an open grove of old trees. There were owls when we were there," shares Joel R., while another camper at Cuivre River noted seeing "bunnies hopping around and when we first arrived to our site a deer was grazing nearby."
Site elevation and drainage: Some camping areas at Pere Marquette have uneven terrain. "Most of the sites were fairly level, but I didn't see any pull through sites," notes Joel R. For tent campers at Cuivre River State Park, Maria E. advises, "Staking the tent wasn't difficult at all. Our site was fairly spacious and not super close to others which we liked."
Transportation noise: Most campgrounds in the region experience some transportation noise. "You are on the final approach for the airport, so it could be a lil noisy for some," Brian A. mentions about nearby Sundermeier RV Park.
Seasonal challenges: Flooding can affect campgrounds in the Grafton area during high water periods. Regarding St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, one reviewer noted, "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."
Recreational activities for kids: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Grafton offer family-specific amenities. "The park has an archery range. They rent out peddle boats, bikes and peddle cars/buggies as well. We rented a peddle buggy. Those are a lot harder to get moving than they look. Awesome workout for the whole family!" reports Barbie B. about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Interactive educational options: The lodge at Pere Marquette offers unique recreational opportunities. "The lodge has a restaurant and giant chess board!" Leah H. mentions, providing entertainment options during inclement weather.
Wildlife encounters: Camping near Grafton offers opportunities for children to observe animals. "Kids had a blast riding bikes. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night," Joseph F. notes about a visit to St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Seasonal upgrades: The campgrounds continually improve their facilities. "The campground is doing some upgrades as of October 2017 and probably will be adding more 50 amp, water and sewer to some sites. There is also intel that says they are adding more sites plus more tent camping sites," Michael M. shared about Pere Marquette State Park Campground.
Hookup considerations: Campgrounds vary in their utility setups, requiring different equipment. At certain locations, "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," warns Josh F. about Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park.
Site selection strategy: Some RV sites offer better camping experiences than others. "The nicest spots are the ones by the lake, with only one neighbor and a better view of the lake," advises Suzie S., adding that at pet-friendly locations like St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, "The grounds are clean and pleasant, if a bit sparse with little shade."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Grafton, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Grafton, IL is Pere Marquette State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 25 reviews.
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