Keith P.
Scout
ScoutMississippi Palisades State Park Campground
Great find!
We really enjoy this park. It’s almost empty during the week days. We stay Monday through Thursday and always find a spot. Quiet and peaceful.
Camping near Bellevue, IA
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
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.
Best Campgrounds near Bellevue (108)
1. Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
"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."
2. Bellevue State Park Campground — Dyas Unit
"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!"
from $16 - $36 / night
Check Availability3. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
"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."
from $20 - $28 / night
Check Availability4. Blanding Landing
"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
"It’s a shame because it is a very scenic location and the camp hosts have been superb."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability5. Palace Campground
"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."
6. Spruce Creek Park
"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."
7. Off Shore RV Park
"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."
from $69 - $139 / night
Check Availability8. Vel Terra
"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.""A nice Little campground close to Elizabeth Illinois. The bathrooms are well capped, but the showers require quarters!"
from $25 - $40 / night
Check Availability9. Rustic Barn Campground RV Park
"There’s a cute store and a cute little area with outside games like corn hole and yard checkers. There’s a huge grassy area for walking the dog and several stations set up with poop bags/garbage."
"We don’t typically prefer to stay in RV-style campgrounds, but it was conveniently located with easy access off Route 151 just over the Wisconsin border from Iowa, we were warmly welcomed, and enjoyed"
10. Swiss Valley County 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."
Drive Time
- 27 min from Dubuque, IA
- 1 hr 3 min from Davenport, IA
- 1 hr 29 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1 hr 42 min from Rockford, IL
Recent Camping Photos near Bellevue, IA
141 Photos of 108 Bellevue Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Blanding Landing
Palace Campground
- Olde Massey Campground and RV Parkr
Vel Terra
Mississippi Palisades State Park CampgroundJ
Swiss Valley County Park
Miller Riverview City Park
Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
Coconut Cove RV Resort by Journey
Spring Lake Campground
Canyon Ridge Campground — Apple River Canyon State Park
Rustic Barn Campground RV Park
Recent Reviews near Bellevue, IA
530 Reviews of 108 Bellevue Campgrounds
Maria Mercedes M.
LegendInterstate RV Park
EZ I-80 Stop When the Road Gets Long
Sometimes on a family road trip, you don't need a campground to entertain you ... you just need a comfortable place to pull in, hook up and give everyone a break from the highway. Interstate RV Park sits conveniently just off I-80 on the outskirts of Davenport and that's really where this approximately 100-site campground earns its keep: it's an EZ-in, EZ-out stopping point for travelers crossing Iowa or exploring the Quad Cities. The campground is more practical than picturesque, with a mixture of overnight travelers and longer-term campers, but RV families will appreciate full hookups with 30/50-amp electric service, pull-thru options, restrooms & showers, laundry, a seasonal swimming pool, pavilion, game room and small camp store. One of those simple road-trip moments I always appreciate is finally getting everyone out of the vehicle after hours of driving, watching the kids stretch their legs while we get camp organized and realizing that, for tonight anyway, we don't have anywhere else we need to be. Some campgrounds are the destination, while others simply give your family a place to catch its breath between adventures. From what we saw, I'd choose one of the campground's dedicated overnight sites away from the longer-term residents, and travelers with larger rigs or multiple slides should ask for one of the wider sites because spacing can be tight. We did note uneven gravel, potholes and less than polished conditions in some of the common facilities, so expectations should be kept to a minimum. Overall, we'd recommend Interstate RV Park for RV families needing a convenient 1-night stop because of its outstanding I-80 access, full hookups and proximity to Davenport, but for families seeking privacy, polished facilities and a campground where the kids can spend the weekend exploring, there are stronger choices around the Quad Cities area.
- BBRIAN F.
GuideRustic Barn Campground RV Park
Beautiful Spot
Campground sits on a hill overlooking a number of farms. Absolutely beautiful. Decent sized sites, full hook-ups. Also a dump station. Small store on site. Trees provide shade. Many acres of paths and grass to walk the dog. Very clean bathrooms and showers. Whole place is neat and tidy. Only negative is highway noise. Pull through sites are farther from highway so may be less noisy there.
Stuart K.LegendWilderness Campground, Scott County Park
The Most Peaceful Campground in Scott County Park
If you're the kind of camper who measures a campground by the number of trees instead of the number of amenities, Wilderness CG continues to be THE hidden campground gem within Scott County Park. Surrounded by mature hardwood forest, generous-sized campsites with decent privacy and miles of interconnected hiking trails, this campground delivers a camping experience that feels far more secluded than you'd expect to find just minutes from the Quad Cities. While my original review from just over a year ago goes into considerable detail about each aspect of the campground and the park itself, I thought I'd follow up that review with a quick summary of what continues to stand out most.
Here's a topline of HIGHLIGHTS and LOWLIGHTS along with a smattering of new photos.
HIGHLIGHTS: (1) Easily the most wooded, private and peaceful campground within Scott County Park, making it an outstanding choice for tent campers, in particular, and anyone seeking a true forest setting; (2) Spacious campsites tucked beneath a dense tree canopy (expert tip: be sure to look up at any potential 'widow makers' before setting up camp) that provides excellent shade, natural privacy and a genuine 'away from it all' atmosphere; (3) Immaculately maintained restroom and shower facilities with dependable hot water that rival many commercial campgrounds; (4) Outstanding access to some of the park's best hiking trails, allowing campers to step directly from their campsite into miles of beautiful woodland; and (5) Scott County Park itself offers an impressive collection of amenities, including: 2 fishing lakes (and 2 smaller ponds), a championship 9-hole golf course, massive family-friendly swimming pool, various scattered playgrounds, an abundance of picnic areas in and outside of excellent shelters and friendly park staff ... all just a short drive from your campsite.
LOWLIGHTS: (1) The heavily wooded terrain means some sites are uneven with exposed roots, making leveling RVs and 5th wheelers more challenging than at neighboring campgrounds; (2) There is no lake or waterfront access directly within Wilderness Campground, so paddlers and anglers will need to drive to other areas of the park; (3) The abundance of trees and leaf cover can make portions of the campground appear a little less manicured, even though it is very well maintained - when we were there in the Autumn, we wished we would have brought our rake!; (4) Only one of the campground's restroom buildings includes shower facilities, so some campers may have a short walk or drive depending on their site; and (5) Larger RVs may find neighboring campgrounds such as Bald Eagle or Woodside better suited to their size and setup.
Happy Camping!
- DDavid A.Scout
Riverview Ridge
A few concerns for tent camping
Arrived late at night and struggled to find correct site as there were no numbers posted. Also no external lighting or picnic table. Bathrooms were clean and office help was accommodating when reservation was made.
- ssteve B.Scout
Creek Valley Campground
Fine grounds, my spot taken
I reserved online same day; didn’t show up until dusk/dark - @8:30pm on a Tuesday evening. My assigned pull through site was occupied and office closed. So I looked, found an open site and pulled in. Just overnight and I least @8:15am next morning so did not see any employee.
- DDavid G.Scout
Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River
River Side
Lovely spot right on Mississippi. Pleasant hosts and grounds are well maintained. Lots of mature trees with great shade. Had a major storm early this AM. 60 mph winds and lots of branches down but no trees fell. Within 30 min of storm passing host were driving through the camp and came to check on us and make sure we wer okay. Incrediblely prompt and kind response.
Andy M.LegendMiller Riverview City Park
Dubuque Iowa
Nice spot right on the mighty Mississippi.
- Keith P.Scout
Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
Great park for camping
We had the place virtually to ourselves. Camped Monday through Wednesday. Great bike riding throughout the park. There are a lot of hiking trails to choose from. Our site wasn’t very shaded but it had a great view of the sky for our Skylink. There are great shaded sites throughout the park.
Guide to Bellevue
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.
What to Do
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.
What Campers Like
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."
What You Should Know
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.
Tips for Camping with Families
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."
Tips from RVers
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?
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 31 reviews.
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