Best RV Parks & Resorts near Thomson, IL

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.

We have never camped in colder weather or during a statewide lockdown for Corona Virus so I am taking that into account. I was glad they were open to begin with, but the website did not mention that the premium patio site with full hook up would not have water service while we were there. We also paid for an end site that would not face other campers and we ended up being downgraded to a 30amp site that was sandwiched between other campers. Bathroom facilities where fantastic and a reason for potential return. I have only seen a couple other campgrounds over ten years of camping that compared. They must have recently done a remodel. Private shower rooms that were perfectly cleaned. The campground itself needs some repairs done to the gravel roads as there were several paths that had very deep ruts that needed to be leveled out. Maybe something they will be addressing in the spring. It was hard to really gauge the park as pools were closed, and so were the registration office and store. Is be willing to give this location another try under different circumstances.

This is a really nice campground right on the Mississippi! The campground is quiet with level gravel pads with a picnic table and firepit. The sites have electric, water to fill your tanks with dispersed throughout the campground, and a dump station. The sites are well spaced and the campground itself is feels more like a park that happens to have RV parking. There was a playground, showers, pit toilets, and even a small amphitheater next to the river. And the views are incredible!!! There are a few non-electric tent only sites as well. We were disappointed that we could stay one night due to our schedule. We will definitely stay again!

RV parking was almost full when we got there and spaces felt narrow.

This RV Park lies at the South end of Calamus, Iowa and is divided by the city street (1st & Grove). Basic pull in sites include water, electric, tables, gravel throughout, with a central dump station. No fire rings though firewood available lable with donation. I saw a large wood grill and smoker onsite. Lies next to farm fields to the south, and RV storage is available. Near city park and a few miles from Wapsipinicon River for fishing and paddling.

We stayed here twice over the last several years. It is close to some family friends (whom I like to visit but not stay with! lol) and has a lot to offer. We have stayed in the primitive campsites but there are other accommodations available including full hook up RV sites. Sites cannot be reserved so you need to hope for a walk-in availability. One of the coolest things about this park is that you can see how the river carved into the limestone and shale and created cliffs and canyon. I really get into that type of seeing the power of nature over time kind of stuff. Typical midwestern wild life is abundant. Raccoons, deer, rabbits, squirrels, chimpmunks and a lot of birds will be seen my most who visit I assume. We saw a single hawk the first time but were told there are many (which was confirmed our second visit) and a lot of different birds but we are really slow with learning to identify them. The primitive campsites are what you would expect. There were more rocks on the tent pad than usual but nothing that can't be cleared with a few sweeps of your boot.

This campground has gorgeous scenery, since it is literally ON the banks of the Mississippi River. The campground is primarily concrete sites for RVs and there is a smaller grassy area set aside for tents only.

Pros: fishing, beautiful location, clean vault toilets and shower house, firewood on site for $5 a bunch, and sites aren't too crowded together. Lots of wildlife to enjoy- turtles, birds, muskrat, and fish.

Cons: Since it is right on the river and there is also lots of marsh, the bug situation was a bit much, especially when there was no breeze. Bring a screened canopy if you want to enjoy the outdoors without swatting bugs all the time. There is a single trail but the bugs made it unbearable. We hightailed it thru the supposed 40 mins trail in 30 just to escape them. The other con is that there are so few tent sites. If you are a tent camper, there are a handful of sites set aside between 2 big loops of RV spots (see red circle on map). The spots were hard to find on the map and we had to carry all out gear from the parking spot to our site so not ideal.

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. There are numerous walking trails & is minutes away from the heart of downtown. Overall, a great RV parking experience & would return back again!

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.

Pine Grove campground has primitive tent sites open this time of year, the other portion, including RV spots are closed for the season. The tent sites are well shaded, gravel, parking area, tables, firings included. There is firewood at the campground, and cabins for rent at the end of the Lane. The park itself offers many trails, pride Lake for paddling and fishing. The campground itself offers, restrooms, showers, dump station, and a seasonal host.

As you find yourself heading east on I88 gunning it towards the Windy City or heading in the other direction fleeing it, should you find yourself looking for a nice slice of campground heaven to call yours for the night or even a week, then I highly recommend you give Crystal Lake RV Park your consideration. To begin with, in a matter of mere minutes after you get off I88 (either exit 41 or 44) head north towards the hamlet of Rock Falls, where you’ll find yourself dusting off those weary ‘road warrior’ digs and setting up camp in no time if Crystal Lake RV Park is your destination. And especially if you are coming with kids, you and your brood will be in for one nice little surprise as the family-friendly amenities and community you’ll discover here are excellent.

One quick note, so as not to waste anyone’s time here – in case you missed it in the headline, there is no tent camping at this property, which was a major bummer to learn. In speaking with the owner though, the campground has had lots of trouble with mi tent-pitchin' bredren on account of littering, irritating other fellow campers and apparently partying into all hours of the night in what is meant to be a kid / family-friendly campground. They did mention though that they are working on a creating a separate area that would be made available at some point in the future, so call ahead if you want to make sure.

To begin with, like me, you will likely be a bit confused on how to find this place, so while you can easily see the campground’s sign from Highway 30 next to a big ‘ol pond, also known as Crystal Lake (which is not just the namesake of the property you are destined to soon enjoy, but the major draw to this roadside outdoor haven) don’t turn down left on that first lane you see, otherwise you will be driving into a rather not-so-nice weekly hotel that apparently goes by a very similar name. Instead, take your second left, which is Emmons Ave, where you will head north and take the second left on 17th street, which will eventually dead-end at your intended campground destination.

Now that you’ve actually arrived at the campground, you’ll see a rather large office building that looks more like a makeshift oversized farm machine shed, but have no worries, the massive Crystal Lake RV Park sign that is in front of this building isn’t lying to you. This is in fact the main office where you’ll check in. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by the owner as well as distracted by the many amenities that exist here such as video games, an adult arcade featuring casino gambling kiosks, 40x40 meeting room, laundry room and recreational room featuring individual his / her bathrooms, with shower stalls inside and around the corner in a separate access point. Scattered throughout are 6 family-style bathrooms that are brand-spanking new. Oh, and they’ll sell you booze at this campground office too – in fact, the office feels more like one-part bar than it did a CG office.

While we’re on the subject of amenities, this place sure does pack a lot into a small place, including: 350-foot sandy beachhead right on Crystal Lake, which this campground has exclusive access to and that also features a fairly decent snack bar featuring hot dogs, nachos, pizza, ice cream and candy / chips as well as a lakefront picnic pavilion. There’s shallow and deep-water toys such as 4 water slides, water mat, rolling log and aqua duel with another slide on it. Additional diversions also include a grade-A go-kart racetrack – yeah, I couldn’t believe it either! a campground with an actual go-kart racetrack! – that sits right alongside the lake itself. There’s a rope swing along with a water trampoline that also features another slide and log as well as an aqua tower with its own slide and cliff. Did I mention that there’s an aqua golf course on the lake too?! And if fishing is your thing, you can do that right here on Crystal Lake, but you’ll have to head towards the southern end of the lake where it’s deeper, you know, so you don’t accidentally hook one of the kids playing in the water, right?!

The campground itself is pretty basic and easily organized with a single wide oval loop, much like a football field, but dissected in the middle with a single 1-way lane offering up other RV slots. In all, there’s some 35 pull-thru and 37 back-in sites offered up on a daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rentals complete with all of the typical hook-ups you would expect: water, sewage and 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric as well as cement patios, large gravel diagonal slots with picnic table and fire ring. WiFi is included as complimentary. Slots are all a minimum of 50’ wide and 65’-90’ long, which is incredibly spacious by anyone’s standards.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) If you come with either canoe or kayak entowe, then you’ve hit oaring heaven with both the thinly placid Hennepin Canal – that borders the property and has a nearby boat launch just south of the property back on 1st avenue – or the raging Rock River to choose from, either of which will provide hours of fresh water exploration and angling; Oh, and if you don’t have your own kayak or canoe, fret not, this campground will rent you one for $10 / hour or there’s a handful of nearby operators you can rent from; (2) In the event that you can’t find a particular attraction or activity you might be looking for at Crystal Lake RV Park, which I would honestly find very difficult to do, then just due west of the property is Centennial Park offering up playground areas, baseball diamonds, paddle boat rentals, shelters with picnic tables, tennis courts and much more; (3) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the remains of what is in your onboard mini-fridge or you just want to try out some local fare, then across the street you’ll have a few fast food joints to choose from like Culver’s and Burger King, but there’s a few other spots I would recommend first like nearby Rock Falls Candlelight, which is simply fantastic and a bit upscale for this area or the very modest A’s Kitchen; (4) Don’t discount the fishing option here at Crystal Lake, which is stocked with both large- and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and lake trout, but don’t forget to bring your fishing license(although I don’t know how they would enforce a non-licensed angler as this lake is private); (5) Feel free to bring your cooler to the beach as the property doesn’t mind people who are camping on the property to dial-up their BYOB and BYOF desires; and (6) IMHO, the best slots (#14-19 and #69-72) are those on the perimeter and back-up against the tree-line, offering up a bit more shade and privacy.

Happy Camping!

Prophetstown is a park that has a great deal of history about the Battle of Tippecanoe which happened on November 7th, 1811.  It was a conflict between a coalition of 14 tribes and 1,200 troops.  The indians lost and moved on to Wildcat Creek.  The park has replicas of both the indian village and the white settlement of white settlements. There are excellent bike paths and wonderful explanation of the geology of the park.  The campsites are electricity and full hookup.

The campground offers to camp areas: one better suited for RVs, and the other area is better suited for primitive tent, camping. Sites have picnic tables and fire rings, our recites include electric. There is a campground host, shower house, shelter and playground area there too. The tent sites are prone to flooding occasionally from the gun river. There is a boat ramp with access to the river for fishing and paddling.

Nice CG with full hookups, tables, fire rings, hard pads. Sits right along railroad. Showers, RR, recycling, host site at site #1. Marina, downtown Clinton nearby.