Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Mississippi River - Pools 11-22
Wildcat Den State Park Campground offers primitive camping with 19 pet-friendly sites, each with picnic tables and fire rings. Located between cornfields, rolling hills and the Mississippi River in Southeast Iowa, this non-electric campground maintains a strict pets-on-leash policy throughout all trails and camping areas. Shady Creek provides level cement pads with 30/50 amp electrical hookups where dogs can camp alongside their owners with views of the Mississippi. Both campgrounds feature clean restroom facilities, though neither offers pet-specific amenities like dog washing stations or designated pet areas. Buffalo Shores County Park, Fairport State Recreation Area, and Park Terrace Campground at West Lake Park all welcome pets with similar leash requirements. The campground at Wildcat Den becomes especially popular during spring when wildflowers bloom along pet-accessible hiking trails.
Numerous hiking trails at Wildcat Den State Park accommodate leashed dogs with access to Devil's Punch Bowl, Steamboat Rock, and other scenic limestone formations. While the trails offer excellent terrain for dog walking, they lack clear markings which can present navigation challenges for hikers with pets. Morning trains passing near Shady Creek and Fairport campgrounds create noise that may disturb sensitive pets, particularly with 3:30 am horn blasts that campers frequently mention. Summer brings higher temperatures and increased insect activity, requiring pet owners to pack bug spray and ensure adequate shade and water for animals. Nearby towns of Muscatine and Buffalo provide access to pet supplies and veterinary services, though campers should arrive with sufficient food and basic first aid items for their animals as on-site stores are limited.
