Pere Marquette State Park Campground welcomes dogs on all 88 electric campsites with spacious lots providing ample room between neighboring campers. Numerous pet owners appreciate the park's well-maintained hiking trails where leashed dogs can join their families for outdoor exploration. The campground maintains standard pet policies requiring dogs to be leashed at all times, cleaned up after, and never left unattended. Sites are set back from the Mississippi River with grassy, sometimes sandy ground and mature trees providing shade. McCully Heritage Project also accommodates pets at its primitive campsites for just $10 per night, with free firewood available for campers. Most campsites feature picnic tables and fire rings where pets can relax alongside their owners during evening campfires.
The hiking trails surrounding Pere Marquette State Park offer excellent terrain for dog walking with scenic overlooks of the Illinois River. Dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet while on trails to protect wildlife and other campers. Grafton's nearby shops and wineries provide additional recreation options when taking breaks from camping. During summer months, early morning or evening walks are recommended to prevent pet paw burns on hot surfaces. Kampsville's McCully Heritage Project provides additional pet-friendly hiking options with well-maintained but occasionally unmarked trails where dogs can explore the natural surroundings. The campground's proximity to water allows dogs to cool off during hot weather, though they should be closely supervised near shorelines. Many campers with pets bring extra towels and portable water bowls for trail hydration.
"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
"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
"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
"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
"The trail map is very basic and not totally accurate. The trails are poorly marked but with basic knowledge of your compass points you can figure them out."
"There is a nice walking trail path that goes around the exterior of the lake. The lake has boat access and some good fishing spots. There is also a restaurant and store on the lake."
"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
"It’s quietly tucked in along the Mississippi River (except for a train that runs nearby). Nice level concrete pads with electric hookup! Water (not potable) and dump available."
"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
"Doesn't allow pets for tent sites"
"Pet runs clean and in good shape. Good air signal for tv."
"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
"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
TravelerCamp Host is very friendly and brought firewood to our site. Bath/shower house was clean. We were in the equestrian campground due to our 73 foot overall length. It was a great stay for visiting family. There are a lot of outdoor activities at the lake area, but no pool.
ScoutMy favorite spot in all of St. Louis! The lady who is the owner and the front desk attendant are wonderful and I have never had a problem here with anything! Free WiFi, laundry, and a public shower and bathroom if needed! There’s also cool walking/biking trails and a park with a children’s playground as well! The gas station is also walking distance for any small necessities
ScoutMy favorite RV spot in St. Charles. It’s pretty quiet minus the cool boats and train but other than that it’s peaceful…also love the price!
TravelerThe campsite is nice plenty of spaces spaced out nicely, but there’s absolutely no signage. took us forever to decide where we could park and what to do. tiny little sign on the Rangers house. Led us to a website and then charged us $50. Not what we were expecting. Plan ahead on this one.
GuideThis is a nice, clean, little campground.Free of charge dispersed.No hookups , car pads , fire pits right on the mississippi river , just beautiful , really , really impressed
ScoutNice and easy. Good spacing between sites
ScoutThis is one of the worst state parks I’ve ever visited. The sites are small no water or electricity. Takes 15 minutes from civilization to get there.
TravelerTrails in the area re nice but facilities for this many sites are limited. Sites are close to each other.
TravelerCame to Riverside landing on a Tuesday-Thursday for car camping and there was only a few other RVs and one other tent camper. Reserved a spot right on the river, very scenic and quiet. Right by some train tracks so trains do run by, but that was the only loud noise! No restrooms here so bring your own amenities if you aren’t in an RV
Pere Marquette State Park Campground offers 88 electric sites set back from the Mississippi River with a mix of grassy and sandy terrain. Located about 40 miles from Kane, Illinois, campsites are available for $20 per night for Class A electric sites, while tent-only sites cost $8 nightly. The campground serves as a convenient base for exploring the Great River Road region with multiple hiking trails leading to river overlooks and access to the nearby bike trail system.
Eagle watching: Winter months at Pere Marquette State Park Campground: From December through February, the park becomes a prime spot for eagle watching when the birds feed in 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," notes Joel R.
Kayaking and boating: Available at Lincoln Lake: Cuivre River State Park's Lincoln Lake provides excellent kayaking opportunities less than an hour from Kane. "Campground is quiet and has big campsites. The campground is close to Lincoln Lake for kayaking," confirms Cody S. The lake offers calm waters suitable for beginners and experienced paddlers alike.
Visit historic St. Charles: Easy day trip from camping areas: The historic riverfront district features shops, restaurants, and historical sites within 45 minutes of several campgrounds. "Grafton's nearby shops and wineries provide additional recreation options when taking breaks from camping. The scenic drive to the park by the Mississippi and Illinois rivers is worth the trip alone," according to Jennifer B.
Spacious campsites: Room to spread out at Cuivre River State Park Campground: Sites are well-distributed throughout multiple loops with good separation between neighbors. "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! Our site was fairly spacious and not super close to others which we liked," shares Maria E.
Free firewood: Available at McCully Heritage Project: For budget-conscious campers, this perk makes extended stays more economical. "Super inexpensive for the space that you get. Free firewood. We have only stayed at the largest site as it has good fishing and a place for us to launch our paddleboards and kayaks," explains Eric.
Off-leash pet areas: Limited but available at select locations: While most campgrounds require dogs to remain on leash, several provide designated exercise areas. "Each site has a picnic table and fire ring with a grate over it. The park has a nice walking trail path that goes around the exterior of the lake," notes GoWhereYouAreDraw N. about Beaver Dam State Park.
Train noise: Common at several campgrounds near Kane: Multiple campgrounds experience noise from nearby train tracks, particularly at night. "I went to this campsite because they were pictures of sites right by the water. This is not true. You are a couple hundred yards at best to the Waters edge. The only reason I'm giving it four stars is because it was $20 a night," Richard V. explains about Pere Marquette.
Flooding concerns: Some sites close seasonally: Areas near the Mississippi River may experience closures during high water. "The campground was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded. But the City of St Peters did a great job getting this place back to usable with new sod, a new bathhouse, and some general sprucing up," reports Annie C. about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Limited shade at newer facilities: Some recently developed campgrounds lack mature trees. "Sites are a bit close together and not many trees but I've been to worse. The not many trees is due to it still being a fairly new campground," shares Barbie B., highlighting the trade-off between newer facilities and natural shade.
Playground access: Available at most dog-friendly campgrounds: McCully Heritage Project provides playground equipment alongside hiking trails and fishing spots. "I just love the bridge across the pond. We had a picnic and the kids got to play on the playground equipment," mentions Leo S.
Water activities for cooling off: Several campgrounds offer swimming or water access during summer months. "This park has a lake to swim in and you can kayak as well! Their trails are well marked and a pretty walk. This State Park is one of our favorites to visit," shares Tracie S.
Multi-day itinerary options: Plan for alternating outdoor activities and air-conditioned attractions. "We camped here for a trip to the city for St Louis cardinals game and zoo. My kids loved the jumping pillow at the park," notes Sarah S. about the KOA in Granite City, combining camping with city attractions.
Electrical hookup variations: Check amperage before booking: Beaver Dam State Park Campground offers both 30-amp and 50-amp service, but availability varies by site. "All sites have electric, however the water spigots are scattered about. The restroom and shower house is very clean," GoWhereYouAreDraw N. points out, emphasizing the need to check utility locations.
Space considerations for larger rigs: Many campgrounds advertise as big-rig friendly but have specific limitations. "Nice level concrete pads with a picnic table. 30 pound water pressure. It does have 30 amp service even though this app shows it doesn't," Jack G. notes about Sundermeier RV Park, highlighting the importance of verifying hookup information.
Extended stay options: Available at select locations: Some campgrounds offer discounted weekly or monthly rates with added benefits. "One couple I talked to was camping long term and they got a free membership to the St Peter's RecPlex recreation center with their long term spot," Annie C. shares about 370 Lakeside Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Kane, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Kane, IL is Pere Marquette State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 26 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Kane, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 49 dog-friendly camping locations near Kane, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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