If you're looking for glamping near Bernard, look no further. Camping has always been a favorite form of travel for many, but Bernard, IA glamping is a new and unique way to do it. The Dyrt's camping photos, reviews, and tips are an easy way to find the right Iowa glamping spot for you.
$33 / night
Spread along the banks of the Upper Mississippi River, the Grant River Campground, located in the "Catfish Capital of Wisconsin," is a modern campground that offers a plethora of outdoor and recreational activities.
The famous fishing on the Mississippi River draws crowds of anglers each year. The most popular species is the channel catfish, earning the city of Potosi the nickname "Catfish Capital of Wisconsin." Other species include bluegill, walleye, crappie, northern pike and bass. Best to try your luck in the spring before the rice field grows up. There is boat ramp access within the campground, but can be chalenging for larger vessels as water levels drop and aquatic vegetation grows up.
Surrounding the large campsite is a lush river landscape with towering bluffs and beautiful sunsets, creating a nature experience for visitors without losing the comforts of modern camping.
For facility specific information, please call (563) 582-0881.
Potosi Brewing Company Restauraunt & Museum (Potosi, WI - 2 miles) Lock and Dam 11 (Dubuque, IA - 19 miles) National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium (Dubuque, IA - 20 miles) Diamond Jo Casino & The Q Casino (Dubuque, IA - 20 miles) Historic sites, Antiques, Fine Dining (Galena, IL - 28 miles)
$14 - $25 / night
Situated on 50 quiet, wooded acres only 2 miles from historic downtown Galena this campground accommodates all types of tents and campers and offer cabin rentals as well.
We are a seasonal campground open April 15 thru October 15. We have seasonal, monthly, weekly, and overnight rates. We have planned activities as well as many amenities. River frontage, canoe/ tube rental, mini golf, pool and so much more.
$35 - $50 / night
Legend
This CG is one of 6 that you have to choose from here at Scott County Park, wherein Woodside is definitely more geared for the RVs – especially the much larger ones, so if you have a very big rig, this likely is the best CG for you – with each site offering FHUs with electric, water& sewage, fire rings and picnic tables. If you wanted to tent camp here, you could, although I would recommend nearby Incahias or Sac-Fox as better for tent campers. Unlike some of the other campgrounds, Woodside is somewhat bare and desolate inside the actual campground with the land being incredibly flat, but wide open so therefore not providing much privacy or shade whatsoever. Back-in slots are spacious, hard and very level with the grounds being incredibly well-kept and impeccably clean bathroom / shower facilities with great HOT running water.
Albeit with a short hike through the forest, Woodside CG is near Cody Lake and Glynn’s Creek, which offers some decent oaring in your kayak or canoe. Sitting adjacent to Cody Lake is an eponymous community shelter than can be reserved or used on a first-come, first-served basis. There’s also a playground for the kiddos and a restroom facility that is also spartan-clean as well access to Glynn’s Creek Trailhead which is a moderate hike and further afield throughout the rest of the park, there’s no shortage of hiking / biking / horse trails. We found Woodside to be fairly quiet, although lacking in privacy without the benefit of any real brush or trees to blot out our next-door neighbors, but that said, everyone was incredibly friendly with full displays of Midwestern hospitality that this area is known for.
Scott County Park is easy to fall in love with, whether traveling solo or with a family as there is a lot that this park offers up: from fresh water catch & release lakes, combination of topographies, from woodlands, wetlands and prairie grasslands, beautiful 18-hole championship golf course, outdoor exercise areas, club house and concessions, stand-alone cabins for rent, designated dump stations and trash receptacles, numerous picnic areas, massive heated swimming pool complete with a snake-like water slide, volleyball court, ranger stations, seasonal on-site hosts, firewood available for purchase at entry stations, Walnut Grove Pioneer Village and St. Anne’s church at the park’s NW perimeter, 7 community shelters, designated picnic areas, a memorial park, equestrian area and an incredibly well-paved network of roads that allows you to easily access just about every corner of this park. Oh, and the incredibly friendly rangers that constantly patrol and keep this beautiful park in full working order were nothing short of amazing.
Happy Camping!
Guide
Nice educational center with canoe and kayak rentals, with lots of Mississippi backwater to explore. Showers are open until October 14 this year.
Guide
I’ll begin by saying this is by far the cleanest campground I have stayed at. The facilities were well kept including the vault toilet houses. We stayed in a walk to site and the views were incredible. Our tent pad was quite rocky so I would recommend sleeping pads or you will be very uncomfortable. Our site was also extremely dusty which wasn’t a problem at all just be prepared to be a little dirty. The campground was quiet except for the occasional train that rolled through those are quite loud due to how close they are to the campground. I would definitely come back to Nelson Dewey and stay again. There was not a ton to do in the area so a short weekend stay was perfect. A highlight is that the park provided cart to use to haul all your stuff to the walk to sites. There is 1 designated parking spot per walk to site as well. The walk to sites are small and only accommodated our one (6 person) tent which was not a problem for us as we knew this ahead of time.
Guide
The park is on the beautiful might Mississippi river. It’s 2 miles from Potosi, WI with a large brewery with good food as well. Army Corps so half price with America The Beautiful senior discount card. If you like trains you will see many, close and going fast.
Scout
Nice trails around. Camp was clean. Cool creek and bridge. Priced appropriately at $23 a night.
TravelerI was hitchhiking thru, was dropped off by a ride that said he was buying a $14 tent site for me, come to find out he never did, I just was honest with sandy and the gentleman worker and offered the only 8$ I had, no sir, they said please stay for free and just enjoy. WONDERFUL PPL THAT CARE ABOUT OTHERS!! THANKS YALL
Scout
Camped there for years. Never again. Last 2 years under current owners\ management, I would not spend another dime there. They are nothing but drama. Behind office towards owners home looks like a salvage yard. They have removed families who have camped there for years. Only ones left are scared, no place to move to, or suck up to them for special privileges. Last two years were horrible. Will only return if sold to again new owners who care about campers vs money.
ScoutSo many things to do for adults and kids!! Family fun, The owners are so helpful too.
ScoutAlways working to keep the Campground an inviting fun place to come and enjoy some family time make some memories.
ScoutConvenient location a lot of amenities and activities
Legend
Seasonal cg has good shade in forested areas with fire rings, tables, durable roads. Seasonal host with firewood, rr/showers
Scout
Bailey's Ford has everything you need for a night or a week. It's clean and beautiful. Trout stream, trails, river access, showers and a playground. I recommend!
Legend
Camp offers site for all tastes: primitive and modern cabins and lodges, tents for small or large groups and couples. Hard roads, fire pits, tables, water, showers, supplies. Surrounded by nature with forest, prairie, and lake.Trails, and even guided activities.
LegendCG offers: RR/showers, seasonal host, firewood, play area. Sites have tables, fire rings, hard pads. Little shade until trees grow. Park offers swim pool, golf, concessions, shelters, hike/bike/horse trails.
Scout
We love this place , very quiet
Traveler
The tent area is on a small mound, not a very level area. But was able to make it work. $18 a night for tents
GuideVery nice hosts. Army camping. Nice view at the Mississippi River $20 per night with electrical hook up. 
Scout
Nice, smaller campground! No designated spots, so great for groups to circle up and camp together (we camp here every year for our family reunion). Newer playground that my kids love, sand so that’s an extra play optional. Small creek runs through the park (on the edge of the campground) and a fun place for kids to explore and play in.
GuideNice campground. Cement pads and blacktop roads. Clean shower houses. Train tracks border the campground and train horns are loud. Has sites with views of the Mississippi.
Ranger
Campground is convenient to Galena and Dubuque. We stayed in site 73, which they call a double. If the campground is full, it would be pretty tight. No negatives I encountered here to mention.
LegendCG is spread out along bottomland river forest and includes camping cabins, tent and RV sites, RR/showers, playground, dump and water stations, Eco Tourism store/grill, paddling rentals, Blue Heron Cruises, nature center. Sites include fire rings, tables, gravel backing pads, electric with some right near water edge.
TravelerThere are 4 walk-in campsites that overlook the Mississippi River (A, B, C, & D). We stayed at campsite D, which had the most incredible view! The trails were enchanting and abundant in life. It flash stormed around sunset, which is not uncommon for summer in the Midwest. The sunset seemed to last for hours as the light danced in the storm clouds. It was one of those, “wow I am grateful to be alive” experiences. Couldn’t have asked for a better bedtime show than a powerful and beautiful display of nature, it was such an unexpected delight. As the storm dissipated, the pitter-patter of the raindrops was the perfect audio to fall asleep to. Despite the humidity, we managed to get a fire going pre-storm and cooked some nice grub. There is a shed with firewood on the way into the campsite, you can pick some up for a small fee. Be prepared for humidity and bugs, it’s right by the river so it’s kind of inevitable during the summer. Insect repelling incense and spray kept us comfortable. There’s a train track right next to the river, which you may hear toot it’s horn occasionally, but it didn’t really bother us. The lovely small town of Cassville is close by may you need any creature comforts. Overall, an amazing place to camp and I can’t wait to go back!
LegendClosed for winter-CG offers plenty of secluded sites with seasonal host, firewood, playground, RR/showers, trails. Park offers pool, golf with concessions, Pride Lake for fishing/paddling, historical Pioneer Village.
LegendClosed for winter-Newer CG offers RVs including big rigs basics like electric, water, sewer, fire rings, hard pads. Not much shade though trees are planted. Park offers Pride Lake for paddling and fishing, trails for hike/bike/horse, pool with concessions, golf course, historical Pioneer Village , an trails with wildlife!
GuideWe stayed in walk-in site C, which the furthest site from the parking lot. Arrive before dark!! The wheelbarrows provided are a lifesaver, the trail to the site is manageable until the last 50 feet, which is steep and rocky.
It is a smaller site and mostly slanted so we had to use our backpacking tent (90"x70") on the small patch that's sort of level, as our car camping tent (10'x14') was entirely too huge.
The views are stunning. There was a pair of bald eagles in a nest down by the river - bring binoculars!
HUGE caveat - this site sits on a ridge above a county highway and freight train tracks. There are also train tracks on the other side of the river. When trains are blowing their horns miles away, the sound carries. When they go past the site, it's incredibly loud! I was amazed at the racket - we live in Chicago on a busy street, a block from the L and the Metra tracks.
Bring ear plugs, trains rolled through until just after midnight and started up around 5am (that I noticed anyway).
While Site C is incredibly difficult to reserve (best dates I could find were a Mon-Wed in October which I booked in APRIL), it's worth the views and the privacy.
Site D is the first of the four walk-ins, huge, level, has a wide view, and a bend in it's trail so isn't exposed. A great choice if C is booked.
Site A is next, least amount of privacy, medium sized, looked level. Sites B was occupied our entire time there so wasn't able to check it out, but it's a bit more private.
Pit toilet by the walk-in sites was as nice as pit toilet gets, it even has a urinal. Water is conveniently located near the parking.
Shower house with flush toilets was really nice, 2-3 shower stalls and 4 toilets. No pay, just have to push the button over and over since the water only stays on for 10 seconds.
The electric and non-electric sites are well spaced and on the larger side. A nice campground overall.
For supplies and firewood, I recommend the Okey Market. It's convenient and has everything you need, huge beer cave too. If you want some local flavor, stop into the Silver Spigot Saloon, cheap beer, tasty fries, and they have a dog-friendly patio.
LegendThis park is well maintained with full service and primitive sites. Trails, nature center, shelters, restrooms/showers, and lake access for beach, paddling, fishing, etc. Prairie plantings mixed in the wooded areas.
TravelerThe tent site that we were at was very specious for my dog to run freely with his long leash. A lot of shade and space for everyone. We stayed right by the bathrooms. Showers have a push button so water pressure and temperature was not very great. The river was a great view and campground was big to walk around. Plenty of people coming through but a quiet neighborhood. Other than the train passing right by us, we enjoyed our time there.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Bernard, IA is Swiss Valley County Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
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