Campgrounds along the Mississippi River near Bellevue, Iowa feature a mix of state park facilities, Corps of Engineers sites, and private RV parks offering views of the river valley. Bellevue State Park provides electric and non-electric sites with modern shower facilities, while Maquoketa Caves State Park offers campsites near its unique cave system about 20 miles southwest. Several riverfront campgrounds like Off Shore RV Park and Pleasant Creek provide direct water access for boating and fishing. The camping landscape ranges from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV pads, with some locations offering cabin rentals and glamping options for those seeking additional comfort.
The camping season in this region generally runs from April through October, with most public campgrounds closing for winter. Bellevue State Park's Dyas Unit operates from April 1 to December 31, while many riverfront camping areas have shorter seasons due to potential flooding along the Mississippi. Water levels can affect campsite availability, particularly in spring when river levels rise. Most established campgrounds require reservations through Iowa's state park system or private operators. "Most sites are RVs and they largely park on the other side of the loops. Mostly older folks. There's not a lot of trails on the campsite side of Bellevue but they were lovely and secluded and nice to get grounded," noted one camper about Bellevue State Park.
Mississippi River views rank among the most valued features according to visitor reviews, with several campers highlighting riverside camping as their primary reason for visiting the area. Maquoketa Caves State Park consistently receives high ratings for its unique landscape despite having more basic amenities. A visitor described it as "extremely amazing at this little unique Park in the middle of farmland Iowa." Proximity to water access points for fishing and boating appears frequently in positive reviews, with the COE Mississippi River Recreation Areas offering good river access. Campgrounds like Off Shore RV Park provide amenities including electric hookups, water, and shower facilities, making them suitable for longer stays. Noise levels vary significantly between campgrounds, with some riverfront sites experiencing occasional train noise while state park locations offer more secluded settings.
"Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."
"It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."
$16 - $36 / night
"We camped at Bellevue last summer (Aug. 2017) & it was not at all crowded. It was a really nice campground with new shower & bathroom facilities."
"There’s not a lot of trails on the campsite side (Dyas unit) of Bellevue but they were lovely and secluded and nice to get grounded. Bathrooms are clean and nice. The soap smells really good!"
$20 - $28 / night
"cave system of Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa."
"This is a great weekend stay, with short trails that show some beautiful and unusual scenery for central Iowa. The natural bridge is incredible, and the sites are well spaced out."
$14 - $25 / night
"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
"This campground is tucked into a little area next to a Walmart, Culvers, and Mini golf course. It sits between east Dubuque and Galena. When we stayed they had a dirt bike rally."
"Campground was right next to Walmart, which was convenient, and a short walk down to the high school to get the shuttle into Galena itself."
"Nice shower house and close to bike trail that leads to Bellevue"
"There's fishing, exploring, a playground, and when you see a paddleboat you have time to drive to town before it hits loch & damn #12. It's a beautiful spot right on the river with views galore."
$69 - $139 / night
"CG offers river views, hard lanes, tables, fire rings, RR, playground, food, and is just 2 miles north of river town of Bellevue for supplies."
"Boat ramp nearby, resort has restaurant, playground, water park."
"Trout stream (Catfish Creek) runs through campground and park and is stocked by Iowa DNR, has Swiss Valley Nature center with trails."
"Fishing seemed popular in catfish creek about 50 feet away from our sight. There is a sign that states firewood is for sale at 6pm but the ranger was about 45 min late bc he tends to two other parks."
$25 - $40 / night
"He also pointed out that there were some walking trails but to be wary of a poisonous plant.
The grounds are impeccably kept. He provides wood for you to burn.""All the land is private so there's not great hiking (a little in the state park about 20 min drive away), IL law allows waterways to be privately owned so you can't kayak the river, etc."
"No electric, is primitive.Close to town for supplies and Bellevue State Park with views of river from bluffs."
TravelerWe stayed at site 116 for 1 night. The site had privacy trees all around and a long driveway. It's a pretty hilly site, so be prepared to level out in a camper. It was a busy weekend and the beach was packed, for the end of May. There is a place to get ice cream too! The bathhouses are newer and everything is clean. Would recommend if you enjoy a busy and beautiful state park.
TravelerQuiet Thursday night stay along the water. We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed the songs of the many species of birds in the area.
GuideWe had a great two day weekend at this park. Small and quiet. Mix of RVs and tents. We stayed on one of the 4 primitive sites but there are several with electric hookups. Bathrooms were decent and have running water for showers(cold) which felt amazing after our 2.5 miles hike. The trails were beautiful and be sure to check out the Ice Cave and Horse Thief Cave!
ScoutThis was a nice campground. Sites are a good size and the public restroom/showers are very clean! Downside is there are trains going by with horns all the time.
TravelerMy family and I had the opportunity to go to Yogi bears jealous Jellystone national Park and we had so much fun. We went during their Christmas in July program. We stayed for five nights 6 days and barely paid a thing camping in a tent. Mini golf water wars snowball fights rentals of golf carts that are cheap cabins on site Santa came to visit games to play and borrow at each campsite arts and crafts laser tag and so much more. Prices were fair for food and snacks. They have cabins available to rent. I hope to bring my friend and her family this year because it's going to be so much fun! Hope to see you there someday!
LegendThis cabin sleeps six people, is modern and includes full service kitchen, bathroom with ADA accessible shower, picnic table, fire ring and grill, freed firewood! Trails along the Wapsipinicon River, prairie, and woodlands. Nature Center has love animals, exhibits, and offers programs . River landing offers river access for paddling. Observatory offers night programs by local university.
TravelerOff the beaten path, beautiful area but when we got there the road to the campground was closed, so we ended up parking for the night in the horse staging area instead.
LegendRV park is all gravel, electric, water on site, Tables, communal, fire pit, situated next to a cornfield, there are shade trees.
LegendThis campsite has a hard parking lot surface, picnic table, charcoal, grill, firing, and a pit toilet, horse tie up. Trail access starts here, recycling station is adjacent, and Scott County Park Road is just to the south.
Camping options near Bellevue, Iowa range from riverfront sites to forested campgrounds with varying levels of amenities. Located in Jackson County along the Mississippi River, Bellevue sits at approximately 600 feet above sea level in a landscape characterized by steep limestone bluffs and wooded ravines. Weather conditions can change quickly due to the river valley geography, with frequent morning fog during summer months and potential for flash flooding in spring.
Cave exploration: Visit Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, located about 20 miles southwest of Bellevue. "This is a very basic park, no lake, no added attractions just trails, picnicking and a small, quiet and well shaded, electric sites," notes one visitor. The park features 13 distinct bat caves to explore, so "bring headlamps/flashlights and prepare to have wet shoes."
Riverside fishing: The COE Mississippi River Recreation Areas Pleasant Creek provides excellent river access. "CG has gravel road, seasonal host, restrooms, fire rings, boat ramp and good river access for fishing, boating, paddling," reports one camper. Sites are primitive without electric hookups.
Trail hiking: Nearby Swiss Valley offers hiking options with varying difficulty levels. One camper describes it as having "great walking trails, creek, and small river for fishing." The area features limestone formations similar to those found along the Mississippi River bluffs.
River views: Many campers appreciate the Mississippi River vistas. "You probably don't want sites 1 or 2, they are directly across from the dump site. The plus is they are directly across from the playground, picnic area and trail access," advises one visitor about Blanding Landing, which provides river access but also has nearby train tracks.
Privacy between sites: Bellevue State Park Campground receives praise for its site layout. "Quiet and beautiful campground. Campsites are walk in and sit back from other sites. Very nice facilities," notes one camper. Another mentions, "Sites are nice and spaced a decent bit apart."
Free firewood: Some campgrounds offer complimentary firewood. At Vel Terra, one visitor reports they "provide wood for you to burn" and have "both RV and Tent sites. Fire pits and picnic tables are at each site." The grounds are described as "impeccably kept."
Site conditions vary widely: Not all sites are level or suitable for different camping types. "The site we had was fairly steep as far as tent sites go. The site our friends had next to us was uninhabitable due to mud and sloping but the rangers let them switch sites no problem," shares one camper about Bellevue State Park.
Train noise: Several riverside campgrounds have nearby railroad tracks. At Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground, "trains run all night" according to one review. Another camper notes, "Loud people singing, playing music and snapping limbs till almost 4am, trains run all night."
Seasonal restrictions: Cave access at Maquoketa Caves may be limited during bat hibernation. "If you are interested in staying here, I would STRONGLY encourage you to mind your dates taking note of when bat hibernation ends and begins," warns a visitor.
Playground access: For families with children, some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Palace Campground, "they host events like mini golf. Swings and playground for kids." This campground is conveniently located between East Dubuque and Galena.
Bug protection: Insect repellent is essential, especially in late spring. "I think if we were here when it is less buggy, we would have enjoyed it much more but at the end of May, we saw a guy wearing a head net he said he wouldn't sell to us for a $100 (and we probably would have paid it!)," shares a Bellevue State Park visitor.
Site selection strategy: Choose sites based on proximity to facilities. At Maquoketa Caves, "if you have kids and want to be planted near the playground, you might want to target sites #26-#28, where the spacious kids playground sets right behind these sites."
RV site preferences: Many RV sites are clustered together for access to hookups. One visitor to Off Shore RV Park notes, "Sites have hard surfaces, fire rings, water, electric. No shade since trees have not been planted as of this date."
Dump station locations: Plan ahead for where to empty tanks. At Swiss Valley, one RVer mentions they had "a 50amp water site and the dump station was nearby. This county park is very nice and sits in a very quiet valley."
Site length considerations: Check site dimensions before booking. At Maquoketa Caves, "all sites designated for RV's are back-in and range in driveway length between 31 and 68 feet." Sites at Blanding Landing "are not real level" according to one reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Bellevue, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bellevue, IA is Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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