124 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Campgrounds near Muscatine, Iowa cluster along the Mississippi River and surrounding natural areas, providing a mix of developed facilities and more rustic options. Shady Creek and Wildcat Den State Park offer established campgrounds with both tent and RV sites, while Clark's Ferry provides riverside camping with electric hookups and boat access. Most campgrounds in the area feature picnic tables, fire rings, and basic amenities, with several offering full hookups for RVs. The Mississippi River serves as a focal point for many camping experiences, with several sites offering direct river access for fishing and boating.
Access to campgrounds varies seasonally, with most facilities operating from April through October. The Mississippi River's water levels significantly impact camping availability, particularly at riverside locations like Clark's Ferry and Shady Creek. During spring and early summer, flooding can temporarily close campgrounds or limit access to certain areas. Muscatine County Conservation manages several recreation areas including Saulsbury Bridge, which offers both main camping with electrical hookups and primitive tent sites. Reservations are recommended during summer weekends and holidays when campgrounds fill quickly. As one camper noted, "We lucked out and got a last min campsite for 4th of July weekend. Because we didn't plan ahead well we had to take site #31 which was actually only available because it was canceled that morning."
Riverside camping receives consistently positive reviews, with many campers highlighting the peaceful setting and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Corps of Engineers manages several campgrounds along the Mississippi, providing well-maintained facilities with electric hookups and water access. Wildcat Den State Park offers a more secluded camping experience with hiking trails through sandstone cliffs and wooded areas. Several visitors mentioned the historical attractions near camping areas, including the Pine Creek Grist Mill at Wildcat Den. Campers report varying levels of cell service throughout the region, with some areas having limited or no coverage. A reviewer described Shady Creek as "a gem we found in Muscatine Iowa. Level poured pad for RV, electric and nice fire pits. Large sites. Clean restrooms and lots of hot water for shower. Beautiful views of the Mississippi and most of all quiet."
"What a gem we found in Muscatine Iowa. Level poured pad for RV, electric and nice fire pits. Large sites. Clean restrooms and lots of hot water for Shower."
"We could see multiple fire works shows if we walked around the campground with the neighbors across the street putting on a pretty great "amateur" show. "
from $14 - $26 / night
Check Availability"Surrounded by cornfields, rolling hills and the Mississippi River, this park is tucked neatly away in Southeast Iowa. We've been here in all four seasons and each one provides a different landscape."
"Lovely little campside with 19 places, rustical without electricity, dump etc. But got one waterstation and toilets. Every space with picknicktable and fireplace, surrounded by trees."
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability"Just off Highway 22 and runs along Mississippi River and railroad tracks. Shady sites, showers, 50 amp service, fish cleaning station, playground, and small amphitheater for naturalist programs. "
"Great campsite close to the bathrooms for an affordable price."
from $25 - $26 / night
Check Availability"The sites are very close to each other. The sites at Riverview and Silva both seemed smaller."
"Good campgrounds with trails including equestrian options, and water! Can rent canoes, kayaks, and pontoons! Bait shop, fishing, food options with town just a few miles away."
"Great fishing, near Fairport Fish Hatchery, and Wild Cat Den State Park."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"Convenient location a lot of amenities and activities"
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Located in Muscatine County in southeast Iowa, this rec area offers well-maintained campgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, kayaking/canoeing and seasonal hunting. There are three separate campgrounds."
from $15 - $20 / night
Check Availability"There are sites along the river, while others are larger tucked along the woods and not close to each other. Perfect get away. 15-20 minutes to the closest town."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability"Neat, newer cabins nettled along the sand pit lakes. Well maintained park with bike trail running through, fishing, hiking, paddling all within areas of cabins."
"Cabins are newer, ADA accessible, and face lakes for great shore access and shared fire pits."
from $110 - $250 / night
Check Availability"This campground sits alongside the Mississippi River in Buffalo, Iowa. It's morning sunrises are beautiful!"
"Nice beach walk and next to a small town. Came in December to find they close the campground for the season but there’s lots of small lots to park overnight."
from $22 - $25 / night
Check Availability
GuideThe campground is nice and clean, with level campsites. We arrived and there was no power - it took several hours for them to fix. Someone else mentioned that it was the 2nd time to happen in the last few days. The bathrooms are just ok. The views are beautiful!
TravelerBooked online and arrived late. No kiosk but you check in the morning.
We found site fairly easy. Could use more signs for campgrounds but it’s to the left of the day use just can’t see it at night.
Great spot for family by water and close to bathrooms with playground
ScoutLovely 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.
ScoutQuiet place. Camp host was friendly. Bathroom needs a little care but overall great campground. As far as cellular service, I was only getting one bar, however Starlink worked great.
LegendIf sleeping on the ground has begun losing some of its charm, Summit Cabin 2 at West Lake Park offers a pretty compelling alternative. Perched atop a rolling prairie hillside overlooking Railroad Lake, this modern 1.2K sq ft cabin combines the serenity of camping with enough creature comforts that you might briefly forget you're supposed to be 'roughing it'. Managed by the Scott County Conservation Board, the cabin is ADA-accessible, sleeps up to eight and sits within a 620-acre county park encompassing 4 lakes, giving you plenty of nature outside the door without surrendering air conditioning, indoor plumbing or a proper mattress at the end of the day.
Inside, this place is impressively equipped with two bedrooms - one with a queen bed plus twin bunks and a second room with a queen - a queen sleeper sofa, full kitchen with stove/oven, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher, dining table for eight, modern bathroom with shower, Wi-Fi, gas fireplace, heat and air conditioning. Outside you'll find a covered porch overlooking the lake, picnic table, fire ring and gas grill, with parking for 2 vehicles. The kitchen even includes dishes, cookware and utensils, although you'll need to bring your own bedding, pillows, bath towels and toiletries. Pets aren't permitted, which is worth remembering before Fido hops into the truck expecting a weekend at the lake.
The real advantage, though, is everything waiting beyond the front porch. West Lake Park offers four lakes for fishing and recreation, a seasonal swimming beach, boat dock, accessible fishing dock, paddleboat rentals, playgrounds, trails, disc golf and seasonal concessions. For forgotten groceries or something worthy of tossing onto that gas grill, nearby Hy-Vee Grocery Store on West Locust Street is a convenient Davenport resupply option; you're also close enough to the Quad Cities that civilization never feels particularly far away.
Insider's tips? Here's a handful: (1) Bring a couple of lawn chairs because that covered porch overlooking Railroad Lake begs for morning coffee and an evening sundowner, but it's in the shade - if you want to grab some proper dawn or dusk light, you'll need to bring your own seat; (2) pack all bedding and bath linens, because those aren't provided; (3) bring fishing rods and take advantage of the park's four lakes, or make a day of the swimming beach and paddling opportunities during warmer months; (4) Firewood is available for purchase inside the park, saving you from hauling your own; (5) Remember that only two vehicles may park at the cabin, although overflow parking is nearby (like literally 20 yards from the VIP parking you'll find here at the cabin); and (5) Don't arrive expecting to pitch an extra tent beside the cabin as tents and campers aren't permitted within the cabin area.
Happy Camping!
TravelerI rolled in on a Tuesday with no reservation and got a fantastic site. It was easy to reserve online after I picked one out. The site is really clean and there is easy access to the water in just a short walk. The shower house and facilities are nice and it is cheaper than most state parks I stopped at on this trip. I would stay here again!
TravelerStayed one night as passing thru, has lots of pull thru sites, FHU, and 30/50 amp. Great bathrooms, some shaded sites. Kinda crazy, pulled into gate 5 to check if had available site, was told, had to go into gate 1, pick an open site, and then go back to gate 5 to pay!!! Thankful the ranger, who we followed into campground, set up, and were able to pay ranger, thus did not need to disconnect our tow car! Can book in advance online which would be easier, but we were winging the one night stay.
GuideNice level concrete pads with electric. Water scattered around the sites. Clean bathhouse. Pavilion on the water with fire ring.
ScoutThe campground was very nice and clean. Rangers made several loops around so we felt safe. Saw plenty of wildlife. Campsites were big but not level. We thought they only had outhouses until we discovered a modern bathhouse at the other end of the campground. Showers were big but very shall rustic. We only stayed one night as we were passing through but definitely could be an option in the future for other stays.
The Mississippi River valley shapes the terrain around Muscatine, Iowa, creating a diverse landscape of riverside bottomlands, forested bluffs, and prairie remnants. Campgrounds in the area sit at elevations ranging from 530-680 feet above sea level, with the river itself impacting seasonal camping access. Train noise affects multiple campsites, particularly those closest to the Mississippi where rail lines follow the river corridor.
Hiking through forested bluffs: Wildcat Den State Park offers extensive trail systems through unique sandstone formations. "Excellent hiking to Devils Punch bowl and more. Excellent spring wildflowers, historical grist mill and schoolhouse," notes James M. from Wildcat Den State Park Campground.
Paddle the local waterways: Cedar River Campground provides direct river access for kayaking. A visitor explained: "Neat park with lots of paddling, fishing, hiking, beach. Cabins are newer, ADA accessible, and face lakes for great shore access and shared fire pits," according to James M. at Deep Lakes Park Cabins.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple access points allow anglers to target Mississippi River species. "Great fishing, near Fairport Fish Hatchery, and Wild Cat Den State Park," mentions James M. about Fairport State Recreation Area.
Boat rentals: Some parks offer equipment for water exploration. "We decided to rent a small pontoon. This pontoon was very rickety and we did not end up staying out as long as we had planned. The boat rentals are all on a first come first serve basis so it's the luck of the draw," shares Stephanie D. from Cedar River Campground.
Concrete RV pads: Many campers appreciate level, stable parking at Shady Creek. Barbara P. notes: "Really enjoyed our stay, sites are large and staggered so you aren't staring at your neighbors and can enjoy the views...Never seen a park where every pad was level like this one."
Watching river traffic: The Mississippi River provides entertainment with passing barges. "The campground sits between the Mississippi River with barge traffic and busy rail road tracks. I know the horns blow all night and day long but I choose to ignore it," reports Elida L. from Clarks Ferry.
Affordable primitive camping: Budget options exist for tent campers. "Great moderate trails, boat/paddling/fishing access, showers, firewood available in main park, sites are a bit close, bait rentals nearby main marina in park with ice, bait, consessions, etc," explains James M. about Loud Thunder Forest Preserve.
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds focus on nature education. "Surrounded by hardwood forests and native prairie, Langwood Education Center, located in rural Wapello, Iowa is the perfect spot for nature retreats, family gatherings, outdoor education classes, and more," notes Jessica H. from Langwood Education Center.
Train noise disrupts sleep: Multiple campgrounds sit near active rail lines. David D. reports about Shady Creek: "Only negative was that there is a train track real close and a lot of crosses, So you will hear alot of close train horns and they go deep into the night/morning."
Seasonal flooding affects access: River levels impact campground availability. "We had hoped to camp at a primitive site, but learned the trail leading into the campground was under water, which also meant the river campground was closed as well," shares Jessica H. about Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area.
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies significantly between camping spots near Muscatine, Iowa. "Our cell phone provider is Sprint and we had zero service. The campground is close to Muscatine if you need to make a run but far enough out to feel like you're really camping," notes Stephanie D.
Reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds require advance booking while others allow walk-ins. "Small campground and very affordable. Absolutely NO privacy between sites as it's basically a grassy field of sites surrounded by an outer loop of more grass. Saving grace was that on a random Thursday in June I was the only camper," reports Sarah B. about Wildcat Den State Park.
Playgrounds for kids: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "They have mini-golf, a nice pool and a creative rugged play area for the kids," Jackie J. reports about Cedar River Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Children enjoy spotting local animals. "With hiking trails throughout the property, the woods offer prime area to see migratory birds such as kingfishers, herons, and a multitude of warblers. At night, great horned and barred owls can be heard calling back and forth," shares Jessica H.
Swimming options: Some parks provide water recreation. "This campground is probably the smallest of the four in the area, plus the spaces don't feel crammed together, so you do get a more relaxed feel. All sites are paved. There are two playgrounds - one message for smaller kids and one mostly for bigger," explains Lisa H. about Clarks Ferry.
Historical attractions: Educational sites interest school-age children. "Park offers historical sites, Pine Creek running through, wooded/limestone cliff trails, shelters, and campsites. Main CG has primitive sites with tables, fire rings, reserved sites, restroom, CG Trailhead," notes James M.
Shared water hookups: At some campgrounds, utilities have unusual arrangements. Gary P. mentions about Shady Creek: "Electric was 30/50 at each site and water was dispersed through out the park, but often too far for a hose to reach."
Tight camping spots: Some campgrounds have limited space between sites. "Sites are really close if you're a tent camper but it is good as far as RV parks are concerned," notes Steve T. about Cedar River Campground.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full service hookups. "CG sits along Highway 22 and railroad, with 2 boat ramps for river access. CG host, restrooms, dump station, playground. Sites have electric, water, fire rings, tables, drive in pads," James M. explains about Fairport State Recreation Area.
Level sites critical: River valley terrain creates uneven ground at some campgrounds. "There are sites along the river, while others are larger tucked along the woods and not close to each other. Perfect get away. 15-20 minutes to the closest town," reports Wendy R. about Saulsbury Bridge Rec Area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there RV campgrounds with full hookups in Muscatine?
For RV camping near Muscatine, Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area offers well-maintained sites nestled between rolling farmland, native prairie, and the Cedar River. While not all sites have full hookups, electric sites are available. Another option for RVs is Fairport State Recreation Area Campground, which is big-rig friendly and provides drive-in access. If you're willing to travel a bit further, several Corps of Engineers campgrounds in the region offer electric hookups with convenient dump stations nearby. Many RVers also use the convenient dump station and water fill at West Overlook Campground when passing through the area.
What tent camping options are available around Muscatine?
Tent campers visiting Muscatine have several appealing options. West Overlook Campground, managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, offers peaceful sites near a lake with amenities including a boat ramp, playground, and hiking trails. It's particularly popular with families. Sugar Bottom Campground provides a beautiful setting north of Iowa City in the Lake Coralville area with abundant wildlife and various site options ideal for tent camping. For those seeking a more rustic experience, the Cedar River Campground area within Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area offers walk-in tent sites with proximity to hiking trails, fishing, and kayaking/canoeing opportunities. Most of these campgrounds require reservations during peak season.
What are the best campgrounds near Muscatine, Iowa?
Shady Creek is a top choice near Muscatine, located along the Mississippi River with beautiful views of the water. This US Army Corps of Engineers campground offers level concrete pads, electric hookups, clean restrooms with hot showers, and well-maintained fire pits. Another excellent option is Clarks Ferry, which features shady sites, 50-amp service, a fish cleaning station, playground, and an amphitheater for naturalist programs. Both campgrounds are just off Highway 22 and provide convenient access to nearby attractions like Wildcat Den State Park and Fairport State Recreation Area.
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