55 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Kampsville, Illinois sits along the Illinois River with a mix of both developed and primitive camping options within a 30-mile radius. Campgrounds near Kampsville range from full-hookup RV sites and cabin rentals to primitive tent camping, giving campers a broad choice of overnight setups. McCully Heritage Project offers cabins, tent and RV camping with hiking trails and picnic areas. Pere Marquette State Park, located near Grafton along the Illinois River, provides electric hookups, showers, and a range of accommodation types including tent sites, RV spaces with 30/50-amp service, and glamping options. Several smaller campgrounds like Kampsville River Park and Rainey Park provide additional options for overnight stays.
Camping in the region is significantly affected by flooding, particularly in spring and early summer when the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers frequently overflow their banks. "St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded," noted one visitor. Road access to some campgrounds may be restricted during high water events, and campers should check with park officials before planning trips between April and June. Most developed campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with Great River Road Campground open from April to October. Winter camping options are limited, though Pere Marquette State Park remains open year-round with reduced services during cold months.
The confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers creates distinctive camping experiences with abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Campers report sightings of bald eagles, especially during winter months at Pere Marquette State Park. "In winter there are a lot of eagles feeding in the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers which meet at the park," according to one review. Riverside camping sites are the most sought-after, providing direct water access and scenic views. The area features a mix of state parks with full amenities and more rustic options with minimal facilities. Campgrounds near Grafton offer proximity to restaurants, wineries, and the Katy Trail, while more remote locations provide quieter experiences with less light pollution. Most developed campgrounds have shower facilities and electric hookups, though water and sewer connections vary by location.
"Nice hiking trails near. Watch for ticks. Don’t be alarmed if you see cats or the neighbors dogs roaming around the site. They are friendly."
"There’s a house to rent or primitive camping trails have a map but need a little more marking on newer sections. Very well maintained. Neat look out points"
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"Our site, though, was the smallest in the loop, tucked away in the weeds, and the only area to pitch our tent was on a slight slope."
"It’s close to our house and there’s always something new to do each time. The bathrooms are well maintained and the campsites are fairly large and provide lots of shade."
from $15 - $42 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Campgrounds close to Pere Marquette Lodge. Is located just north of Grafton that has many food and drink and antique shops. Campground is on the Illinois River with the Mississippi River nearby."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"you are close to the RR tracks but there aren't that many trains. It is not exactly where The dyrt sends you. "
"No facilities, short drive into town."
"I've been to 370 Lakeside Park many times to walk around the huge lake and to hear concerts in the summer, but I had never camped there. Still haven't. I'll explain."
"All hookups were conveniently located. Shower house and restrooms were clean and well maintained/cleaned every day. Had a lakefront site but didn’t get to fish this time."
from $35 - $60 / night
Check Availability"The box was located next to the playground at the end of the loop of campsites. Overall, a nice place to spend the evening, would definitely stay again."
"So resorted to leave the fee in a mailbox near the official's RV. The campground is right above a lovely, which I rode around on my bicycle in about thirty minutes."
from $5 - $15 / 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
ScoutIt one of just a few free campgrounds in the area but it got a lake im not sure how many camping spots but quit a fee from what I seen no showers but port-a-potties spears out
GuideBig campsites, fire rings, porda pody, boat ramp, and pavement.
TravelerThis campground is very well taken care of. The kids had plenty of things to do to stay busy and entertained outside.
ScoutSecluded state park but a little hard to get to when pulling a 34 foot fifth wheel. Lots of ups and downs on the road. Love the fact that you are absolutely in the hills of Troy MO with nothing else around you. We stayed during the week the end of August and there were hardly anyone else here. Very quiet. No road noise whatsoever. You felt very much in the woods.
ScoutIts fine. Nothing snazzy. Its in more of an industrial area so its kind of loud with the trains going by and whatnot. Mostly an RV site. 9 tent sites (first come first serve on spot) and a handful of cabins.
LegendThis campground was easy to find, as both our GPS and the campground signs led us right to the city park and campground entrance. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m., but we called ahead and were graciously allowed to arrive an hour early. We checked in and proceeded to back-in Site 426 with full hookups. As the last site in the campground, the curve in the road made for an exceptionally easy back-in. The concrete pad easily accommodated our 40-foot toy hauler and F-450, with utilities conveniently located near the center of the site and no issues connecting two sewer hoses. Water pressure was adequate, and the 50-amp electric performed flawlessly. The campground's four loops have mostly younger trees, so satellite reception should not be a problem in most sites. Although we brought our Starlink, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet instead, averaging 217 Mbps download and 21.5 Mbps upload. The campground information sheet mentioned Wi-Fi, but we never saw a network to join and didn't inquire further since our internet worked well. We received three bars on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. The campground has a nice fenced dog park that's large enough to actually throw a ball, plus a paved walking and biking trail that circles the lake. The office also sells ice and firewood, and the dump station is located behind the office. Many sites offer lake views, and the RV sites are generally well spaced. We noticed Loop 100 has all concrete pads, the first two rows of Loop 200 are concrete with the remaining sites primarily gravel except for some end sites, Loop 300 is reserved for primitive camping and tents, and Loop 400 has a mix of concrete and gravel sites. The center rows of the RV loops are pull-throughs. One thing to be aware of is that the campground has begun charging short-term campers for electricity. We weren't informed about it during check-in, although our traveling companions were shown how to monitor their usage online. The information sheet we received only referenced weekly and monthly electric charges. Even with hot weather and occasionally running three air conditioners during our three-day stay, our electric charge was only about $14. We departed without stopping at the office and received a checkout email about an hour after the noon checkout time. The St. Louis area is our home base, and in our opinion, this is the best RV park in the area and the one we most often recommend to our RV friends.
GuideFull hook up. Lovely lake. Great paved path. Sites are level. Landscaping is amazing. My only issue is no shade trees. Where else are you getting full hook up with all of these activities for this price?
GuideThe location to St. Louis is great, and the utility hookups for RV were convenient, but there was ZERO privacy at the sites and hiking trail were extremely limited. Great coverage for Verizon and Starlink.
LegendAppears to be popular with the locals. Staff are super friendly and campground easily navigatable. It is right on the Salt River so lots of people had their kayaks. We were there for just one night stopover, site 4, which is super cheap because hookups are far. They weren’t kidding about that, you will need an extension for everything. Cons: right of the hwy so there is that noise if it bothers you. AC will easily drown it out. Pros: nice layout, on the river, great staff
Camping sites near Kampsville, Illinois range from primitive riverside locations to small city parks with basic amenities. The region sits at approximately 450 feet above sea level in a flood-prone area where the Illinois River carves through the landscape. Local camping areas experience hot, humid summers with temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional below-freezing nights.
Hiking trails: McCully Heritage Project offers well-maintained nature paths with lookout points. "There's a house to rent or primitive camping trails have a map but need a little more marking on newer sections. Very well maintained. Neat look out points," notes one visitor to McCully Heritage Project.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple camping areas provide access to both rivers and lakes for anglers. "We have only stayed at the largest site as it has good fishing and a place for us to launch our paddleboards and kayaks," reports a camper at McCully Heritage Project.
Wildlife viewing: The region supports diverse bird populations beyond eagles. At Cuivre River State Park Campground, "Campground is beautiful and very woodsy. We saw bunnies hopping around and when we first arrived to our site a deer was grazing nearby, such a bonus!"
Direct water access: Riverside camping remains popular despite occasional flooding risks. At Silo Access Area - O'Neil Creek, "This site is a great place to watch that amazing river pass by. You sit and watch the barges and various things float by. Really great."
Affordability: Several campgrounds offer budget-friendly options under $20 per night. At McCully Heritage Project, "Ten dollars a night helps maintain land and natural area, all donation, very family oriented."
Secluded spots: Some campgrounds provide more isolated sites for those seeking privacy. "We have only stayed at the largest site... We easily fit a dozen people over the 4th of July. Nice hiking trails near," according to a McCully Heritage Project visitor.
Train noise: Riverside camping often means proximity to active rail lines. At Silo Access Area, "You are close to active train tracks, so bring your earplugs."
Seasonal availability: Many smaller campgrounds have limited operating seasons or reduced amenities. "The best spots are at the opposite ends of the flat circle where there are large gravel areas ideal for parking RV's," notes a visitor to Silo Access Area.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: From locked facilities to primitive conditions, preparation is essential. At Pittsfield City Lake, "Bathrooms/Showers are decent. Maintained nicely. Can be quite loud when full."
Playground access: Several parks offer play areas for children. "I just love the bridge across the pond. We had a picnic and the kids got to play on the playground equipment," says a visitor to McCully Heritage Project.
Water recreation: Lakes provide safer alternatives to river swimming. "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," notes a camper at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Wildlife encounters: Smaller animals often interest children more than distant birds. "Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night," mentions a St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park visitor.
Limited big-rig access: Many smaller campgrounds can't accommodate larger vehicles. At Pere Marquette State Park Campground, "We have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow and stayed in site 33 for just 1 night... The electric and water hookups on some sites, at least ours, was at the back and on the wrong side."
Satellite connectivity: Reception varies widely across the region. "We had a clear view of the southern and northern sky, so we were able to get DISH coverage on all three western satellites at our site and Starlink had speed up to 12 MB/s," reports an RVer at Pittsfield City Lake.
Electric service quality: Power reliability and outlet types differ between campgrounds. At Pittsfield City Lake, campers paid "$15 for full service spot. Cash only payment."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Kampsville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Kampsville, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 55 campgrounds and RV parks near Kampsville, IL and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Kampsville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kampsville, IL is McCully Heritage Project with a 4.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kampsville, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Kampsville, IL.
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