Camping options near Hanover, Illinois range from riverside sites along the Mississippi to upland wooded campgrounds with varying levels of privacy. The region sits within the Driftless Area, characterized by deeply carved river valleys and forested bluffs that escaped glaciation during the last ice age. Seasonal considerations include high humidity in summer months and occasional flooding along river sites during spring.
What to do
Trout fishing access: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area maintains a dedicated fishing pond for younger anglers. "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," notes one visitor to Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area.
Hiking through driftless terrain: Nelson Dewey State Park offers varying trail difficulties with Mississippi River views. According to a camper, "Hiking trails, fire wood for sale on site. Bathrooms very nice, showers like new! Lots of picnic sites along the bluff." The trails accommodate both beginner and moderate hikers with some sections featuring wildflower viewing.
River observation: Blanding Landing provides river access with dedicated fishing spaces. "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," reports a visitor to Blanding Landing, who adds "Sites by the river don't have much shade. Sites by the tracks are the most 'wooded' but also right near the trains."
What campers like
Clean bathroom facilities: White Pines Forest State Park maintains exceptional restroom cleanliness. A recent visitor to White Pines Forest State Park Campground emphasized this point: "I'll begin by saying this is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at. The facilities were well kept including the vault toilet houses." Another camper noted the "lovely trees, lots of shade, the hiking trails are nice, well marked, and they even have an accessible trail for those with disabilities!"
Organized activities: Lena KOA offers programmed entertainment for families. "This campground is absolutely wonderful. Spots are spaced apart nicely. Many activities for kids and adults. Also, a pool, showers and if you just want a weekend getaway they have cabins as well," states a visitor to Lena KOA.
Level sites with concrete pads: Morrison-Rockwood State Park provides well-maintained camping areas. "We just got home from our first visit @ morrison rockwood park and it was fun. We had site 57 which is in a loop which goes around a playground. It was great for the kids who could go play and the sites in this loop provide plenty of space and privacy," mentions a camper at Morrison-Rockwood State Park.
What you should know
Train noise proximity: Several campgrounds sit near active rail lines with frequent traffic. "Quiet, relaxing small campground with super clean hot showers and flush toilets in shower house. Boat ramp, dock fishing, tall trees all over. Shady sites, water pump faucets, dump station. Our first night here the many trains were loud and woke us up, but if you can laugh instead of being annoyed, it is fine," notes a visitor to Blanding Landing.
Limited service access: Remote location means supplies require planning. "Groceries and ice are 13 miles away on hilly pavement roads," mentions a camper at Blanding Landing. At Nelson Dewey State Park, a camper warns, "Arrive before dark!! The wheelbarrows provided are a lifesaver, the trail to the site is manageable until the last 50 feet, which is steep and rocky."
Seasonal water conditions: Lake quality varies throughout the season. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na, a camper reported, "The lake has had algae issues for quite some time, so there was no swimming or boating. There is a kid's fishing pond, but we didn't see anyone catch a thing, so not sure if it's actually stocked or not."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Select sites near play areas for easier supervision. "We stayed in site 57 which is in a loop which goes around a playground. It was great for the kids who could go play," notes a camper at Morrison-Rockwood State Park. Another visitor adds that the site was "Very big campsites, sites where more like a rainbow then flat but more then enough space to back up."
Water safety awareness: Test swimming areas before full immersion at glamping in Hanover, Illinois and nearby sites. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, one visitor warned, "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."
Activity planning: Swiss Valley County Park offers nature programming options. "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. Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails," reports a visitor to Swiss Valley County Park.
Tips from RVers
Site gradient considerations: White Pines Forest State Park has uneven terrain. "Many of the campsites are sloped and some are sloped A LOT. This isn't obvious from the booking page," warns a camper. Another noted, "We camped with the pop-up and were able to get our pop up in a spot but there are no pads."
Access road conditions: Grant River Recreation Area maintains paved access. According to a visitor to Grant River Recreation Area, "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."
Hookup availability: Luxury glamping options near Hanover, Illinois include full-service sites. "This is one of the best RV parks we have stayed in awhile. Meticulously maintain with good size, level sites. We had a 50amp water site and the dump station was nearby," shares a Swiss Valley County Park visitor.
