Campgrounds near Colesburg, Iowa offer seasonal camping from spring through fall within the Mississippi River valley. This rural area sits in the Driftless Region, characterized by rolling hills and limestone bluffs that weren't flattened by glaciers. Most RV facilities in the region close between late October and mid-April, with weekend reservations filling quickly during summer months.
What to do
Boating access: Spruce Creek Park provides direct Mississippi River access. "If you want to cool off there is a nice place as you come into the park (another campground) that has a nice bar and great food. If you are into Harleys, it's a 20ish mile drive south across the bridge to Savannah Illinois to 'Poopies' Bar," notes camper Kari K.
Paddling opportunities: Off Shore RV Park offers boat-in access along the Mississippi. "Resort has many options: even camp sites, 4 villas, resort inn rooms... Boat ramp nearby, resort has restaurant, playground, water park," reports camper James M.
Cave exploration: Visit nearby caverns for underground adventures. "If you travel 15ish minutes North you can see the crystal caverns, my kids loved it. If you have not been in a cave, I recommend it," advises a camper at Spruce Creek Park.
Local scenic drives: Tour the surrounding countryside with its distinctive bluffs and farmland views. The area offers rural landscapes with small towns within short driving distance of most campgrounds.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Rustic Barn Campground RV Park maintains exceptionally clean bathrooms. "Shower house was immaculate with large hard stalled showers/changing room," notes Chris S. Another camper adds, "This is a pretty spot and it was a nice campground overall... The bathrooms were immaculate and the showers were nice."
Family activities: Beyonder Getaway at Lazy Acres features numerous recreational options. "Great clean campground with lots to do. Mini golf, basketball, paddleboat on a small pond, horseshoes, and plenty of swings and playscapes for kids," writes Ben P. Another visitor mentions, "They had a little train ride, miniature golf course, catch and release fishing in their pond, splash pad, lots of cool things."
Scenic views: Several campgrounds offer excellent vistas. At Rustic Barn, "There's a huge grassy area for walking the dog and several stations set up with poop bags/garbage. There are several benches set where you can sit and stare for miles and miles," according to Stephanie S.
River recreation: Proximity to water activities ranks high with campers. "They have a beach for swimming. Boats for renting but they were out of order for repairs when we were here. You can rent kayaks, bikes," notes Jeremiah B. at Skip-A-Way Resort.
What you should know
Train noise: Some campgrounds experience railroad disruptions. At Blanding Landing, "Trains are noisy—we slept through them but are also used to living by a train station," reports Mary S. Another camper notes, "Not the worst but not one of the best COE campgrounds... Biggest issue is train tracks with trains running by very often."
Seasonal availability: Most RV parks around Colesburg operate from April through October. Rustic Barn specifically lists its season as "April 13 to October 31."
Site conditions: Leveling can be challenging at some locations. "Many sites are not real level," reports a camper at Blanding Landing. Weather can also impact camping conditions, with some sites prone to flooding during heavy rain.
Reservation practices: Policies vary significantly between campgrounds. Some require appointments for viewing, while others allow drive-through visits. Call ahead to confirm current procedures.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas and water recreation. "This campground has a lot of fun activities from April 15 thru Oct 15. Some weekly activities include canoeing, tubing down the Turkey River, swimming, fishing and paddle boats in the Lake, a splash pad for kids," writes Lourene M. about Skip-A-Way Resort.
Playgrounds and games: Lake Shore RV Resort and other campgrounds provide outdoor play equipment, though note that management styles vary significantly. For a more accommodating experience, Beyonder Getaway offers "a little train ride, miniature golf course, catch and release fishing in their pond, splash pad" according to one reviewer.
Accessibility considerations: Some campgrounds offer adapted facilities. At Beyonder Getaway, "My daughter is in a wheelchair so we requested the accessible site. It's right next to the showers with an adapted pic-nic table and raised fire pit!"
Evening entertainment: Weekend movies and activities occur at select locations. "They also have children's movies every Saturday night during season," notes a camper about the pavilion at Skip-A-Way Resort.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose level sites when possible. "All had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites although they are close together, as would be expected in an RV park," notes Lee D. about Rustic Barn Campground.
Hookup availability: Full hookup sites with 50-amp service are available at several campgrounds. "RV sites with both 30-amp and 50-amp service options" are found at Beyonder Getaway, while Rustic Barn features "big-rig friendly sites with 50-amp electrical hookups, water, and sewer connections on gravel pads."
Leveling challenges: Bring leveling blocks. "We had to use all our blocks to get us as level as possible," notes a camper about site 26 at Rustic Barn. Similar challenges exist at other area campgrounds.
Weather preparedness: Some campgrounds have severe weather protocols. During storms, staff may provide assistance or shelter options if needed, though experiences with management responsiveness vary considerably between locations.
