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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."
"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 $15 - $25 / night
Check Availability"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 $12 - $20 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"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."
"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 Availability"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 Availability"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"
"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."
GuideWe came towards the end of season so we were one of the few people staying there. The spaces are close together but we had no one near us so we didn’t mind. We had a great experience with the host, very friendly. However, it is a bit noisy since the highway is right there and you do constantly hear the trains. Also, there are some questionable people roaming through the campground.
ScoutSeasonal Stay Review Overall Rating:⭐☆☆☆☆ Our experience as seasonal campers at this campground was deeply disappointing due to unprofessional management, inconsistent rule enforcement, premature lease violations, and a toxic atmosphere. Management& Atmosphere The campground owner frequently engaged in inappropriate behaviors, including spreading gossip, making disrespectful comments, and actively bullying campers both in person and on social media platforms. Rather than fostering a welcoming community, the leadership promoted a divisive culture marked by clear favoritism. Inconsistent Rule Enforcement Rules were applied arbitrarily. Certain seasonal campers were permitted to disregard campground policies without consequence, while others were singled out, micromanaged, and targeted for minor or non-existent issues. Unprofessional Conduct Regarding Minors Most concerning was management’s unacceptable conduct toward children. The owner actively made a ten-year-old child feel unwelcome by making inappropriate insinuations regarding his friendship with a nearly thirteen-year-old girl, claiming a platonic friendship between a boy and a girl of those ages was somehow improper. Targeting young children and policing harmless childhood friendships crosses a line that no family should have to deal with while on vacation. Breach of Contract& Property Damage To make matters worse, management prematurely cut off electricity to our campsite prior to the end of our contractual agreement. This lack of power led to a total loss of all refrigerated food items and caused significant interior damage to our camper when the freezer thawed and the ice inside it melted and leaked onto the flooring. Additionally, management unlawfully removed personal property from our campsite before our lease term had expired and failed to return it. Conclusion While a seasonal site should offer a relaxing environment for families, the current ownership creates an uncomfortable, hostile, and unethical environment. Between the emotional hostility and the direct financial loss caused by management's actions, I strongly advise others to avoid this campground.
LegendThe camping cabins are provided with twin size bunks for four people and include air conditioning, heat, and a small refrigerator and microwave oven. A fire ring and picnic table are provided for each cabin. One tent is allowed on site.
SUPPLIES PROVIDED: Broom & dustpan. Refuse must be removed to nearby dumpster
*RENTER WILL NEED TO BRING:*Complete bedding with pillow, sheets, blankets and/or sleeping bags;All camping supplies; All bath linens & toiletries(Shower house located inside the park);Lawn chairs (if desired)
Rent-- $50/night payable by Visa or Mastercard. Sorry, but we are currently unable to accept Discover cards. Any questions please call 563-259-1876. Park offers playground, boat ramp, paddling rentals, store with grill, Eco Tourism Center pontoon rides, and nature center with displays and programs.
LegendThe camping cabins are provided with twin size bunks for four people that include air conditioning, heat, and a small refrigerator and microwave oven. A fire ring and picnic table are provided for each cabin. One tent is allowed on site.
SUPPLIES PROVIDED: Broom & dustpan. Refuse must be removed to nearby dumpster
*RENTER WILL NEED TO BRING:*Complete bedding with pillow, sheets, blankets and/or sleeping bags; All camping supplies; All bath linens & toiletries(Shower house located inside the park);Lawn chairs (if desired)
Rent- $50/night payable by Visa or Mastercard. Sorry, but we are currently unable to accept Discover cards. Any questions please call 563-259-1876. Park offers playground, store and grill, paddle rentals, nature center too.
LegendPark has multiple cabins. Pintail Cabin is an ADA compliant, fully accessible cabin that sleeps up to 6 people. The cabin includes a queen-size adjustable bed that raises and lowers for easy access, twin size bunk bed, a full-size sofa sleeper, table/chairs. Kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, electric cook top, sink. Central Heat/AC. Bathroom has accessible roll-in shower. There is also has a large deck and an accessible picnic table and fire ring outside. Bedding, towels, and kitchen cookware and utensils are not provided. The cabin has an ADA compliant access ramp. Tents are not permitted on this site. There is a playground, boat ramp, paddle rentals, Eco Tourism Center with small store and grill, and a nature center offering programs! The Blue Heron pontoon boat offers tours on the water too!
LegendThis campground offers lots of amenities, including: gravel, pads, fire rings, firewood, on site, campground host, playgrounds, water, dump station, both tent and RV sites, as well as cabins. There’s a store for Supplies, and a grill serving food. The Eco tourism center includes interactive and educational displays and programs. The marina offers slips for rent, boat rentals of canoes and kayaks. The campground can get very buggy, considering seasons in Iowa.
LegendTons to do, trails, the caves, playground, picnic areas The sites are average The caves are amazing Water, power, bathrooms and dumping station
Scout30 campsites. $22/nt cash or check only. Water and electric hookup with dump station. Camp hosts were great. Bath house with showers. Clean, but a little outdated. Next to RR tracks. You hear train whistles throughout day and some at night. I didn’t mind it.
ScoutVery quiet campground. Not a bad spot. Has dump station and a few water spigots to fill up on your way in. Plenty of old trees. Cell service is spotty.
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 31 reviews.
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