Best Tent Camping near Oquawka, IL

We tent camped here a few weeks ago and it was pretty nice. You self check in and cost is only $10/night for primitive. They don’t have electric or water hookups for tent camping which was ok for us. It was easy to find and quiet. The only downside is the lake was filled with algae. So if you’re wanting to fish or swim, this isn’t the place for you! There’s a gun range, horse farm, playground, bathrooms, and even a place to use a few telescopes to see the stars!

Seasonal cg with RV and tent sites, cabins, clubhouse, pool, pavilion.

This campground has the best tent camping sites we have stayed at. It also has great hiking! We have been 2 times and plan to go again!

Very nice, affordable and peaceful campsite. Stayed one night for tent camping, campsite was clean and accommodating with fire pit, picnic table, lights, Wi-Fi, and power plug. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Perfect camping site.

A little pricy for tent camping. Ten dollars per tent per night and you’re restricted to the primitive area. It’s not bad if you’re just wanting to get away for a little bit but stay close to town. Otherwise if you’re looking for a better get away from it all I’d recommend some place else.

Very well organized, friendly host, green and easy to access off the highway even though we got in after dark. We were able to register our campsite the following morning since we got in late. We’re tent camping and thrilled with the clean hot showers. Just had a bit of road noise.

CG open all year, offers standard sites including electric, water, septic, fire rings, tables. Firewood, ice, recycling, showers/RR, host available. Sites have shade and Tent sites available. Park offers 4 lakes for fishing, paddling, and a seasonal beach for swimming with concessions. Park has hiking trails, world-class disc golf course, playgrounds, picnicking, shelter rentals.

This campground is located in West Lake Park about 5 miles from downtown Davenport. There are two campgrounds – Summit and Park Terrace. Summit campground is water and electric; whereas, Park Terrace is full hook-up. West Lake Park has lots to do and is a great place to come with kids. There are multiple large playgrounds, a disk golf course, large sandy swim beach, a concession stand, four lakes with boat rentals, and plenty of miles of hiking trails.

We stayed at this campground for two nights before it closed for the season and then moved to Park Terrace because it is open year-round. All sites are long pull-thrus capable of fitting any size RV. All sites are paved with gravel patios (except for a few of them that may have been ADA sites). They were all level with mature trees that provided would provide shade during the summer.  The campground is first come, first served but we called ahead to see how full they expected the campground to be and told us it would not be a problem, but we were set to arrive on a Tuesday in late October so this was not really the busy season. Sites are nice long pull thrus but we didn’t see any specific tent sites. Check out is 3 p.m. so don’t plan on arriving early if you are coming on a busy summer weekend. You enter the campground in Gate 1 but have to register at the campground office at Gate 5. 

Our site #105 was a nice long site with water and electric hookups that were spaced well. Fire pits at this campground are well-placed in your patio area just outside your door. We loved all that there was to do at this campground especially the hiking and kayaking. Had we been here during the busy summer season I don’t know if we would have liked it so much but we definitely loved the quiet fall season.

Snively Access Campground is located off of County Road X61 in Wapello, IA. The access road is a steep, well-maintained, gravel drive that takes you directly to Lake Odessa and the campsites. Note: the entrance sign to the campground is a little difficult to see from the road, and the campground does sometimes close due to high water. Gates will be shut with a High Water sign on them if that's the case. It's best to call ahead to Louisa County Conservation if you're planning to camp in the spring/summer when flood season tends to be most prevalent in this area.

There are two separate campgrounds, all are electrical sites, (no dump station) except for one tent-only site which is situated up on a hill by itself with a round about road off to the right as you drive down the main access road. The second campground is to the left, with no bathrooms, and also butts up to a community of seasonal/year round cabins. This means it may be a bit more noisy during the warmer months. We chose the second campground and only one other site was in use. All was quiet by 10:00pm. We did wake up once or twice to the sound of barred owls calling back and forth in the night which only added to the ambiance of tent camping. This area is known as a hub for migratory birds, so if you're a bird person, it's a prime location. We saw red-headed woodpecker, yellow warblers, and a handful of other birds. About 5 minutes north of the campground is Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge which offers an interpretive center, modern restroom facilities, hiking trails and bird watching.

Each campsite has a graveled drive, picnic bench, fire ring and garbage can with lid. There is a public parking area and dock to put in boats on the lake and fish. All campsites have a lake view, and several are in shaded spots along the timber line. This is a dog-friendly campground and dogs must be leashed at all times. These sites are first-come-first serve and are $12/night. You are required to self-register within 30 minutes of your arrival time. There is a registration kiosk to the right, at the bottom of the main access road.

This was a nice, smaller campground with a water front view that felt secluded and slightly more primitive.

Campground Review:

Surrounded by hardwood forests and native prairie, Langwood Education Center, located in rural Wapello, Iowa is the perfect spot for nature retreats, family gatherings, outdoor education classes, and more.

With rates starting as low as $99 per day/$194 per overnight for up to 100 people, Langwood provides a quiet and serene setting for camping, hiking, canoeing, and reconnecting with nature.

There is plenty of space for individual tents, as well as 5 electrical hookups for RVs for $10 per night per RV. An A-frame bunkhouse is also available. The bunkhouse is a split level with a total of 21 single beds on the first and second level. Campers will need to bring their own bedding. While Langwood is open through the winter months, water is shut off, so campers will need to bring their own water supply. Check in time is after 1:00pm and check out time is 11:00am.

Campfire rings and outdoor picnic tables are available. Langwood’s 92 acres houses a lodge with a full kitchen, and ample seating including tables and chairs. There is a separate, modern restroom within short walking distance of the bunkhouse and lodge.

For an additional fee, campers can use the ropes course located by a large pond on the property. Six canoes are also on site for use. There is no additional fee for the canoes, but a waiver must be signed in order to use them.

For the women's outdoor retreat weekend I attended, I chose to bring my tent and camp out rather than utilize the bunk house. The area for tent camping is quite large with a variety of shade trees, and offers a fair amount of privacy.

With hiking trails throughout the property, the woods offer prime area to see migratory birds such as kingfishers, herons, and a multitude of warblers. At night, great horned and barred owls can be heard calling back and forth.

Langwood provides quiet walks through Iowa prairies and clear, star-gazing nights. This spot is perfect for larger gatherings, offering privacy and a quiet space away from the busyness of everyday life.

Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. This time around I had the opportunity to test out the three-in-one RōM Pack from RōM Outdoors. https://romoutdoors.com/product/rom-pack/

I’m always up for giving a new backpack a try. I was really interested to see how the RoM Pack compared to my other daypacks and backpack. The RoM Pack is unique as it offers a twist on the traditional pack; a three-in-one pack, blanket, rain poncho combo.

I took the RoM pack with me on the recent women’s outdoor retreat at Langwood Education Center. It seemed like the perfect weekend to test out the versatility of this pack. From prairie seed collection, to orienteering, to night hikes, the pack offered something useful throughout the retreat. The pack includes two detachable, smaller saddlebags; great for throwing a water bottle and snacks in for the prairie seed collection hike.

Between sessions, we had the opportunity to wander the grounds and take time to relax. This presented the perfect opportunity to break the pack down and try out the blanket. It was a cool autumn day, and lounging in the sun was a nice reprieve from the busy morning activities.

While it didn’t rain during my stay, I did decide to try on the poncho to see how it fit. It was a little bulky, but would definitely help repel rain. It was easy enough to take off and flip back over to blanket mode.The outer material is meant to resist water, so whether you’re wearing it at as a poncho or using it as a blanket, you’ll stay dry. Another plus is the removable stuff sack located inside the pack. I used it specifically to store my dirty clothes from the first day of the retreat.

The pack itself is made of a durable, water resistant material, and includes two mesh side pockets good for stowing water bottles, and bug spray. While the pack is slightly heavier than my other daypacks, 4.6 lbs, I would consider using it for shorter day hikes, but will get the most use out of it to store and carry clothes and gear on camping and fishing trips. I’m also a shorter individual, so the pack was a little big on me. I was able to adjust the straps enough to get a fairly secure fit.

The RoM Pack also comes with a small booklet with step by step directions on how to put the pack back together after breaking it down. The booklet also includes information on identifying poison ivy, oak, and sumac as well as different ways to build a campfire; a nice addition to the pack itself.

Campground Review:

This is a very nice county park with and we really enjoyed camping here. We came to the area to visit the John Deere factory and other Davenport/Moline attractions (and found there is lots to do in the area). We did not have a reservation and showed up on a Saturday but figured since it was a cold rainy weekend in late October we wouldn’t have a problem finding a site. You pull in, pick out a site and then pay later when the office is open. Some campsites have gravel driveways while others are paved but all have a paved patio and will accommodate any length RV. The paved sites are more popular so there was less choice but we found a spot. It seemed most of the sites were occupied by local weekend campers who left on Sunday (check out is 3 pm which gives you a longer weekend stay). All sites are 50 amp full hook-up and have picnic tables and fire pits with grill grates. There are 13 non-electric tent sites that are in a grassy area towards the back of the campground with two pit toilets located nearby. The campground is nicely treed but not too much that it is hard getting RV’s in and out of sites. The campground is open year-round but they shut of the water spigots around the end of October (depending on the weather). There is a 14-day maximum stay which prevents seasonal or permanent people from taking up residence. Our Verizon phone only got 3G and a couple two bars. The over-the-air antenna picked up about two dozen and three major networks.

The campground sits in a 620-acre park which has lots of things to do including a 24-hole disk golf course, playgrounds, four lakes for fishing or boating (which you can rent and only electric motors allowed in the lakes), a swim beach, picnic pavilions, concessions, hiking trails, boat ramp, and volleyball. This park was great for walking our dog as there are many miles of trails along the lakes and in the woods which were not heavily used (but we were there in late October and not the busy summer season).

The payment process was a little confusing. Instead of having an envelope to put your money in, you are supposed to come to the office when they open. The sign on the door indicated they would be back at 3 pm. but nobody was there at that time. About 4 o’clock a ranger knocked on our door and told us to come pay. They are a little vague about the office hours because the next day we went back around 3:00 and nobody was there. Overall, we really liked this park and would definitely stay here again if we were in the area.

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Product Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test outdoor products and gear and during this trip I tested a variety of foods from Mountain House. They offer a wide variety of foods from deserts, entrees, breakfast, and sides and a variety of flavors. I liked that they have the nutritional information online so you can see what you are getting before purchasing. Many of their items come in different sizes so you can have a packet that feeds two or three or just a single serving. They also have reviews so you can see what other people liked. I choose an assortment of flavors including apple crisp, ice cream sandwich, beef stew, and beef mac and cheese. The instructions on the packet are clear and easy to follow.

The Breakfast Skillet appealed to me because it has all the breakfast components I like – eggs, sausage, peppers, and hash browns. This meal was power packed full of 12 grams of protein but had a whopping 21 grams of fat so I wouldn’t be eating this every morning. I thought this might be a little mushy but there really was a good texture contrast and you could taste the individual components. Preparing it was pretty simple - just add ¾ cup of water, stir and let it heat for 8 minutes (stirring once during that time) and you have a piping hot delicious breakfast.

I am a fan of ice cream sandwiches and was skeptical as to how this item was going to taste. But, it really did have the flavor of a frozen ice cream sandwich but won’t melt on you on a hot day. Best of all, you just open the pouch and start eating. It is a nice way to take a desert with you on camping trip that doesn’t take up too much space.

The chili mac with beef was one of the highest rated meals on their website so I thought I should give it a try. It was really tasty, hearty, and filling. A small portion of the noodles didn’t seem to rehydrate all the way through and were a little chewy. Next time I would stir the contents twice while it was heating up. All in all, it was very good and I would definitely order this again. I could see adding salsa to give it a little zip.

While Mountain House offers a pretty good selection of items, I wish they had some hearty soups options. Overall, I would order from this company again and found the food tasty and convenient. The food tasted as you would expect from the product description and the online ordering process was easy.

Wildcat is a very nice campground operated by the City of Hamilton, Illinois. Campground has only 17 RV slots of various sizes. We had room to put our 32 foot fifth wheel and room to park our truck alongside. Ours was one of a couple of sites large enough to handle our size.

Their website says the nightly fee is $15 for tents and $25 fir RV. When we arrived we were informed that it had gone up to $20 fir tent and $30 for RV.

Service excludes electricity of 30 and 50 amp. Water is also available at each site. A dump station is on site.

Also on site is a very nice public pool and interesting Disc Golf course.

Very quite and peaceful surroundings. Just a half mile off of the Mississippi River.

We will definitely return here when we get back to the area.

Campsite is directly next to the river. Most sites have power but there are a few tent sits as well (those are right on the river). We'll maintained vault toilets. Site has a shared spicket.

Nice campground, we have camped there on several occasions. Tent, pop up, and travel trailer. Shower house is a little bit of a walk but not terrible. Bout a 3 block walk to several bars/restaurant a caseys gas station. Everyone was friendly. Would recommend.

We visited in October so the campground was not very crowded. The park itself is gorgeous, especially in the fall. Lovely fall foliage. The hiking trails are challenging for 2 middle aged folks- lots of climbing up, then down, at some pretty steep inclines. And the trails don't loop around on themselves so you come out a mile or more from where you started and just have to hoof it along the road to get back.

There is a boat ramp and fishing available, if that's your thing. There's no differentiation between RV camp spots and tent spots so if you are tent campers, like we are, you might end up next to a HUGE RV in the spot next door.

CG offers standard electric/water sites with dump station, tenting, cg host onsite, showers/restrooms, soda, playground, 2 luxury cabins, kayak/paddle boats/concessions at beach during in season, god fishing, world class disc golf course.

CG has full hookup sites, tables, fire rings, wood available, gravel pads, seasonal onsite host, recycling, showers, playground, tent areas, and 4 lakes for fishing (stocked, including trout in 2023), paddling, swim beach with paddle boats/kayak/concessions), world-class disc golf course, trails. Good prices, well maintained.

This campground is OK. Good for families. There are over a hundred sites, some fhu,some just electric, some primitive. It's very clean and well mantained, other than the restrooms. I've been here for 3 days and have yet to see someone clean them! But at $24 for basic site with electric it is what it is. It's pretty much right next to town, but you'd never know it once you're in the campground.

Space for tents all the way up to big rigs. Campground is on the lake. Free entry to the water park if you are camping!

We were hoping that this would be a great find but it turned out to be not our camping preference. The lake is beautiful. Bring your own boat or you can rent one at the camp store. There are a series of fishing docks too. 

The campground itself was a crowd of big RVs. The road kept splitting and opening up more areas of RVs. Golf carts are a popular means of transportation. We found a few grassy spots for tents that looked nice. This turned out to be too much stimulation for our dog so we moved on to another campground.

We stopped here for a night on both ends of our trip to Southern Illinois. The campground was recently turned into a KOA. The new owners made significant improvements, including a brand new shower house, new playground equipment, mini golf, pool, and laundry. The grounds are lovely and well-maintained and the location is super quiet and peaceful. There was a pretty little pond and a dog run. Plenty of pull-through sites and FHU options, as well as cabin rentals. The hosts were delightful and really accommodating. Will definitely return!