Best Campgrounds near Milan, IL

Milan, Illinois sits at the crossroads of diverse camping landscapes spanning both Illinois and Iowa, with the Mississippi River creating a natural boundary between the states. Within a 30-mile radius, campers find everything from full-service RV parks like Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA to primitive sites along the Hennepin Canal. The region features several Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds including Fishermans Corner, which provides boat access to the Mississippi River. County parks such as Buffalo Shores and West Lake Park offer family-friendly camping with amenities ranging from basic to comprehensive. State recreation areas, forest preserves, and private campgrounds collectively provide tent sites, RV hookups, cabins, and even glamping options within easy driving distance of Milan.

Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping availability in the Milan area. Most campgrounds operate from April through October, though several like Camelot Campground remain open year-round. Spring flooding can affect riverside locations, particularly along the Mississippi and Rock Rivers. As one camper noted at Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area, "When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds." Train noise impacts several campgrounds, with a visitor at Clarks Ferry reporting, "The train comes by about every hour behind the campsite and blows its horn at the two crossings adjacent to the campsite." Cell service varies widely, with some locations reporting no coverage from certain carriers.

Water access represents a major draw for campers in the Milan area, with the Mississippi River, Rock River, and Hennepin Canal offering fishing, boating, and scenic views. At Illiniwek Campground, visitors report "beautiful sunsets on the Mississippi each evening." The Great River Trail connects many riverside campgrounds, creating opportunities for cycling between locations. Mosquitoes can be problematic at canal-side locations, particularly at Hennepin Canal where one camper described it as "a breeding ground for millions of mosquitoes." Primitive camping enthusiasts appreciate the Hennepin Canal Bridge 23 campground, which offers basic facilities in a quiet setting. For RV travelers, proximity to Interstate 80 provides convenient overnight options at several campgrounds designed for easy access.

Best Camping Sites Near Milan, Illinois (108)

    1. Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA

    17 Reviews
    Rock Island, IL
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 787-0665

    "Close to stores, and resturants. A casino close by."

    "I had fun nice little get away from every one nature is everywhere compared to city I love it"

    2. Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River

    23 Reviews
    Bettendorf, IL
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 259-3628

    $14 - $26 / night

    "As with all the campgrounds along the Northern Illinois Great River Trail, it is along side Rt. 84, and railroad tracks."

    "Bugs were not too bad when we were there (October) which was surprising as it was so close to the river and still warm. The after-hours check-in procedure was a little confusing."

    3. Park Terrace Campground - West Lake Park

    11 Reviews
    Davenport, IA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3281

    $27 / night

    "The host is on site plus a park ranger was frequently driving around to check on things. We were there on Labor Day weekend and everyone quieted down in the evening."

    "This campground is located in West Lake Park about 5 miles from downtown Davenport. There are two campgrounds – Summit and Park Terrace. "

    4. Illiniwek Campground

    12 Reviews
    Bettendorf, IL
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 496-2620

    "The campground is also right next to a biking trail. There was public and private bathrooms. The private ones were only accessible to campers that received a key from the park office."

    "There is a section of the campground where you can camp right on the edge of the Mississippi River which is nice, but you must deal with people fishing the entire time."

    5. Buffalo Shores County Park

    10 Reviews
    Rock Island, IA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3281

    $22 - $25 / night

    "Nice beach walk and next to a small town. Came in December to find they close the campground for the season but there’s lots of small lots to park overnight."

    "Short walk to the beach. All sites are 50 and 30 you just show up pick a spot and go to the office. Camp host stays on site. Nice sized playground for kids. Plenty of room around campers."

    6. Shady Creek

    17 Reviews
    Illinois City, IA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 419-0857

    $14 - $26 / night

    "We could see multiple fire works shows if we walked around the campground with the neighbors across the street putting on a pretty great "amateur" show. "

    "Still a two hundred foot walk and I am there.

    Very clean. I was next to a vault toilet did did use it for a quick #1. Clean and did not have any foul smell.

    Level cement pads."

    7. Clarks Ferry

    11 Reviews
    Illinois City, IA
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 419-7594

    $25 - $26 / night

    "Great campsite close to the bathrooms for an affordable price."

    "Just off Highway 22 and runs along Mississippi River and railroad tracks. Shady sites, showers, 50 amp service, fish cleaning station, playground, and small amphitheater for naturalist programs. "

    8. Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins

    18 Reviews
    Long Grove, IA
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3282

    $17 - $36 / night

    "Enjoyed almost 2 weeks at West Lake Park, part of the Scott County, IA park system. Helpful staff, park rangers make daily patrols, nice spots, many with shade trees & decent room."

    "Although theres a small "lake" here, Ive never had great luck catching much. Pool is nice and updated. Park rangers are always frequently present and patrolling."

    9. Summit Campground - West Lake Park

    6 Reviews
    Davenport, IA
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (563) 328-3281

    $17 - $36 / night

    "CG has new septic lines and walking paths! Sites have upgraded lanes, pads."

    "Sites offer: tables, fire rings, hard drive through pads, electric, water, showers/RR, play areas, horse shoes, trails, and 2 cabins adjacent to CG. Overflow/visitor parking."

    10. Riverview Campground - Loud Thunder Forest Preserve

    8 Reviews
    Illinois City, IL
    14 miles
    Website

    "The sites are very close to each other. The sites at Riverview and Silva both seemed smaller."

    "Good campgrounds with trails including equestrian options, and water! Can rent canoes, kayaks, and pontoons! Bait shop, fishing, food options with town just a few miles away."

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Recent Reviews near Milan, IL

499 Reviews of 108 Milan Campgrounds


  • Michael P.
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Fairport State Recreation Area Campground

    Host not friendly very rude woman would not recommend staying here at all

    Would not recommend fairport camping  in muscatine iowa at all the host is rude and non caring personality more like two faced   i would recommend  shady creek  or one of the others on the same hwy if looking for nice and great host

    On the note dnr are great thou

  • Jorge F.
    Sep. 8, 2025

    Cedar River Campground

    Good place to go camping with friends and family.

    “This place became my wife’s and daughters’ favorite this year. It is a place where everyone who visits is very kind and respectful. The managers are always courteous and attentive.”

  • Steve T.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area - Cedar River Campground

    Enjoyable Stay

    The sites are spaced apart well and clean with a beautiful view of the Cedar River. If you camp on the riverside campground be sure to bring a bike or extra vehicle if you camp on the far end because the bathrooms are bit of a walk. And bring a grate with you for your fire ring as some have them and some don’t. All and all it was an enjoyable stay with a fantastic view, even caught a few fish since our campsite was literally on the river edge

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Shady Creek

    Beautiful View

    Site #12 with electric hookup was in my opinion the best site. Right on the back of the mighty Mississippi. Very clean friendly stay

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground

    Great campground

    Beautiful park. The campground has less than 30 sites, most of which have power. The walk in sites are very private but still less than 75 yards from your car. You are in thick forest and will hear lots of animal sounds at night.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr.

    Very nice, quite, cabin surrounded by forest

    Cabin has all amenities for six. Charcoal grill, fire ring with wood supplied, picnic table, covered porch, trail head right next to cabin. After hours offers quite park, dark skies, and trails with wildlife. Wapsipinicon River access just down River Trail.

  • James M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2025

    Bennett Park

    Nice smaller County CG with small lake

    CG has newer RR/shower house. Sites have electric, fire rings, gravel pads. There is a Play area, shelter , host site, dump station. Park has small lake for paddling and fishing.

  • Steven V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 20, 2025

    Geneseo Campground

    Nice campground

    Stayed one night. It is a nice place, easy to find canal for walking. Bathrooms were OK.

  • Jeff and Linda L.
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Hennepin Canal Lock 21 Campground

    Unique Park

    No hook-ups, just grass with a fire pit and table. Water available a couple of places along the canal. No reservations. We only saw two other campers, so lots of spaces. Pit toilets along the canal. Well kept. Small gravel bike trail along most of the canal. Nice place to kayak and canoe. Very nice visitor center open until 3 during the week, no weekends. Only $8 We saw a class A, so they do fit.


Guide to Milan

Camping near Milan, Illinois offers access to the entire Quad Cities region across a 30-mile radius spanning both Illinois and Iowa. Winter temperatures can drop below 10°F while summer months average in the mid-80s with frequent humidity. Local campgrounds maintain varying operating schedules with most sites requiring 24-hour advance reservations during peak summer months.

What to do

Kayaking and boating on multiple waterways: At Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, visitors can rent various watercraft. "They rent kayaks, canoes, Jon boats, even pontoon boats so you can go out on Lake George. They sell fishing tackle and bait at the office, along with powerade, soda, etc," reports Dave N.

Cycling on dedicated trails: The region offers extensive biking opportunities connecting multiple campgrounds. "We spent the morning biking the Great River Bike trail as we enjoyed the perfect weather," shares Scott M. about his stay at Fishermans Corner.

Disc golf courses: Several parks maintain professional-quality courses. At Park Terrace Campground, James M. notes the park offers "world-class disc golf, shelters to rent, play areas, while the beach offers swimming and concessions."

Historical exploration: The area includes pioneer villages and historical sites. Seth N. reminisces about Scott County Park: "Pioneer village if you've never been was the absolute bees knees as a kid to go to, especially since you can hike to get there! I loved climbing around in the train cars, eating icecream/candy canes, and watching the blacksmith work."

What campers like

Sunset views: Mississippi River campgrounds offer spectacular evening scenery. At Illiniwek Campground, one camper noted, "The sunsets on the Mississippi were beautiful each evening!"

Watching river traffic: Many campers enjoy observing commercial vessels. Jim B. from Clarks Ferry shares, "I like it because you can see the barge traffic on the river. I have camped here on more than several occasions."

Clean facilities: Campers frequently praise the well-maintained restrooms and showers. At Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, one reviewer commented, "The cleanest restrooms and showers I have ever seen. Can't wait to return to the new area for RV's and 5th wheels!"

Diverse wildlife viewing: The proximity to both rivers and forests creates opportunities for animal sightings. A visitor to Bald Eagle Campground mentioned, "Deer everywhere. Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home."

What you should know

Train noise: Railroad tracks run alongside several campgrounds, creating significant noise issues. At Clarks Ferry, Grayson reported, "The one thing to know is the train comes by about every hour behind the campsite and blows its horn at the two crossings adjacent to the campsite. This happened through the night and was extremely loud."

Insect considerations: Bugs can be problematic, especially near water. At Camelot Campground, Jamee N. experienced "swarms and swarms of mosquitos and spiders that the pond brought. Our spray and bug zapper couldn't keep up!"

Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have issues with water taste. A camper at Illiniwek noted, "The water at the sites tastes funky so we opted to buy jugs of water from the store."

Site privacy differences: Campgrounds offer varying levels of seclusion. At Loud Thunder, Art S. observed, "Silva is wooded and has more seclusion than the other camps. River campground has campers right in a line with no shade around them."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds feature designated play areas. At Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA, Dan B. shared, "Fantastic campground. Facilities were well maintained and the staff was great! Traveling with 3 younger kids and they enjoyed all the activities."

Swimming options: Pools and beaches provide summer recreation. Heather S. reported about West Lake Park, "We had a great stay. Lots of things for the kids to do. Full hookups and nice shower houses and bathrooms! My kids loved exploring and fishing."

Educational opportunities: Historical sites offer learning experiences. Seth N. described the Pioneer Village as particularly engaging: "Sometimes they'll have shootouts in the street which was always a blast pun intended! I would say kids older than maybe 10 might think the experience is kind of lame though."

Bike-friendly campgrounds: Several parks have safe areas for children to ride. M.E. noted about Illiniwek, "The campground had firewood for sale and a nice playground for kids. The campground is also right next to a biking trail."

Tips from RVers

Electric vehicle charging: Some county parks now offer modern amenities. James M. noted that one campground features "electric vehicle charge station, wheelchair charging station."

Varied hookup availability: Sites range from primitive to full-service. At Buffalo Shores County Park, Gary A. reported, "Payed $30 for the night there is electric and water has pull thru lots right on the Mississippi river."

Pad construction: Surface types impact leveling requirements. At Clarks Ferry, Al K. appreciated that "Paved everywhere, level concrete pads. Corps of Engineers takes really good care of their recreation areas."

Off-season considerations: Year-round campers should research winter amenities. At Park Terrace Campground, Nancy W. noted, "The campground is open year-round but they shut of the water spigots around the end of October (depending on the weather)."

Frequently Asked Questions

What amenities are available at Milan campground?

Campgrounds near Milan offer varying amenities to suit different camping styles. Riverview City Park provides water and electric hookups, a dump station, and convenient access to walking paths along the river and nearby restaurants. Little Bear Campground features full hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables at each site. The campground is easily accessible from I-80 and offers both tent sites ($22/night) and RV sites ($33/night) with good-sized spots for comfortable camping.

What are the best camping sites near Milan?

The Milan area offers several excellent camping options. Prophetstown State Park Campground is a top choice, situated along the Rock River with spacious sites for tents and RVs, clean shower facilities, and easy access to stores and water activities. Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River is another great option managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, offering beautiful riverside camping with access to the Great River Trail for hiking and biking enthusiasts.

When is the best season for camping in Milan?

Late spring through early fall is ideal for camping in the Milan area. Summer (June-August) offers warm weather perfect for water activities, but can occasionally be humid with mosquitos near water bodies like at Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Campground. For more comfortable temperatures and fewer insects, consider camping at Chief Keokuk Campground in spring (May) or fall (September-October) when the weather is mild and you can enjoy hiking the area's trails with seasonal amenities like canoe and kayak rentals.