R
Ruby M.
Guide
GuideIlliniwek Campground
Clean well spaced sites
Great hosts available after hours. River sites are 50ft from the river. 5G but not great. Clean restroom and manicured trails.
Camping near Donahue, IA
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The Mississippi River corridor defines the camping landscape around Donahue, Iowa, with a mix of Corps of Engineers facilities, county parks, and private campgrounds within a 20-mile radius. Scott County Park offers multiple camping areas including Pine Grove, Bald Eagle, and Wilderness campgrounds, featuring cabin rentals alongside traditional tent and RV sites. Most campgrounds in the region provide electric hookups, with water and sewer connections available at developed sites. The camping areas extend from the Wapsipinicon River in the north to the Quad Cities area in the south, with both riverside locations and inland wooded settings represented.
Seasonal considerations shape the camping experience, with most campgrounds operating from April through mid-October. Several campgrounds close entirely during winter months due to flood potential and freezing conditions. "This might be one of our favorite campgrounds in the area. It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway," noted one visitor about Mississippi Palisades State Park. Travelers should be aware that spring flooding can affect campground accessibility, particularly along the Cedar and Iowa Rivers where high water can temporarily close camping areas. Most campgrounds offer online reservations, though some maintain first-come, first-served sites for spontaneous trips.
Campers report high satisfaction with locations offering water proximity, whether alongside the Mississippi River or at inland lakes and reservoirs. Riverside camping allows visitors to watch barges pass by while enjoying fishing and paddling opportunities. The region's family-friendly campgrounds frequently feature playgrounds, hiking trails, and boat launches. According to one review, "Wildcat Den State Park is somewhat of an unknown gem. Surrounded by cornfields, rolling hills and the Mississippi River, this park is tucked neatly away in Southeast Iowa." While developed campgrounds with full hookups dominate the region, primitive tent camping can be found at places like Wapsi River Environmental Education Center. Most campgrounds maintain shower facilities and modern restrooms, though some primitive areas only offer vault toilets. Local wildlife viewing includes bald eagles along the Mississippi River corridor, especially during winter months.
Best Campgrounds near Donahue (133)
1. Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins
"Enjoyed almost 2 weeks at West Lake Park, part of the Scott County, IA park system. Helpful staff, park rangers make daily patrols, nice spots, many with shade trees & decent room."
"Although theres a small "lake" here, Ive never had great luck catching much. Pool is nice and updated. Park rangers are always frequently present and patrolling."
from $17 - $36 / night
Check Availability2. Park Terrace Campground - West Lake Park
"The host is on site plus a park ranger was frequently driving around to check on things. We were there on Labor Day weekend and everyone quieted down in the evening."
"Stayed the night here driving to PA. Very welcoming, you have to enter in gate 5, set up your tent site(towards the back near the woods) then pay $20."
from $27 / night
Check Availability3. Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River
"Site 13 seemed to be one of the best situated. We stayed in Site 12 which had a beautiful, unobstructed view of the river."
"As with all the campgrounds along the Northern Illinois Great River Trail, it is along side Rt. 84, and railroad tracks."
from $14 - $26 / night
Check Availability4. Interstate RV Park
"Easy on off from highway, cute little place but still fit a big rig towing a trailer. DoorDash in area is convenient. 50 ⚡️💩👍💧👍"
"It’s a bit noisy due to the nearness to the interstate."
5. Wilderness Campground, 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"
"The campground has a seasonal host offering firewood on site, showers and restrooms, play area, trails, and overflow parking just adjacent for the entrance."
from $15 - $23 / night
Check Availability6. Sherman Co Park
"There is a boat ramp with access to the river for fishing and paddling."
"Primitive sites include gravel entrance, picnic tables, fire rings only. There is a boat ramp for the Wapsipinicon river with access for fishing, paddling, etc."
7. Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr.
"Charcoal grill, fire ring with wood supplied, picnic table, covered porch, trail head right next to cabin. After hours offers quite park, dark skies, and trails with wildlife."
"AC/heat, covered porch, firewood, picnic table, Charcoal grill, trails. Park is also site of nature center with live animals, an observatory, access to Wapsipinicon River."
from $70 - $80 / night
Check Availability8. Pine Grove Campground, Scott Co Park
"Pine Grove Campground is situated in Scott County Park."
"Another upside to Pine Grove is that it has a single hiking trail heading west that will connect you with a wider network of hiking & biking trails."
from $15 - $23 / night
Check Availability9. Sac-Fox Campground, Scott Co Park
"I met include restrooms and showers, campground host with firewood, available, trash, bins, playground area, trails nearby, I shelter to rent, a golf course across from the entrance, And the park has a"
"CG offers primitive site amenities: tables, fire rings, some hammock structures, spacious sites, shelter to rent, seasonal host with fire wood and golf course like cated at entrance."
from $15 - $23 / night
Check Availability10. Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA
"My wife, son, and I recently stayed here on our trip back home from Iowa. The campground was clean and quiet."
"Close to stores, and resturants. A casino close by."
Drive Time
- 18 min from Davenport, IA
- 59 min from Iowa City, IA
- 1 hr 4 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
- 1 hr 5 min from Dubuque, IA
Recent Camping Photos near Donahue, IA
143 Photos of 133 Donahue Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins
Sherman Co Park
Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River
Clarks Ferry
Rock Creek County Marina and Campground
Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA
Wildcat Den State Park Campground
Riverview Campground - Loud Thunder Forest Preserve
Shady CreekJ
Lundeens Landing
Sunset Lakes Resort
Eden Valley Refuge
Recent Reviews near Donahue, IA
716 Reviews of 133 Donahue Campgrounds
- James M.
LegendSherman Co Park
Nice, small county campground along Wapsipinicon River
This campground has both primitive, spacious shaded sites, as well as RV sites towards the north. Primitive sites include Tables and Fire rings only, no hard pads to pull up onto. It has a boat ramp for the Wapsi river, offering paddling and fishing. The primitive side does flood so watch a river levels. The RV side has a seasonal host, restroom and showers, playground, and a shelter for rent. Sites have tables, fire rings, and electric, with a dump station nearby.
Keith P.
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.
- JJohn L.Guide
Geneseo Campground
Small, Quiet and Clean
It’s small, quiet and clean. Booked on-line easily. Planned just for 2 days traveling cross country. Got a pull thru site, didn’t know the direction to pull in as their map didn’t show any arrows. Site is gravel, dirt and grass. Quite level and no blocks needed. Hook ups are situated properly for easy connection. Noted about 10 long term sites in use. Did not use any campground shower or toilet facilities. Follow directions given by campsite to avoid low railroad bridge. Followed their blue camping signs coming from i80 just fine. Geneseo is a nice small farm town with good supplies, gas , laundry. I would stay again if needed.
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.
Andy M.LegendSugar Bottom Campground
Nice clean campground. With a great view.
Nice clean single room bathroom/showers. Big enough grounds to find a great spot.
Joe B.ScoutChief Keokuk Campground — Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area
The pine trees are uniquely laid out
Probably the nicest campground ive stayed at
- MMikayla E.
TravelerLundeens Landing
Beautiful location
We stopped here for one night on our trip and it was a nice and small campsite. It is right on the river and very pretty.
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!
Guide to Donahue
Scott County Park dominates the camping landscape near Donahue, Iowa, with multiple campgrounds offering distinct experiences within its 1,280 acres. The park sits on rolling wooded terrain approximately 300 feet above sea level, creating varied camping environments from open meadows to dense forest. Most campgrounds in the area close seasonally between October and April, though Park Terrace Campground remains open year-round for winter camping enthusiasts.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: West Lake Park features four recently rehabilitated fishing lakes stocked with various species including trout in 2023. "Park has many amenities: 4 recently retired fishing and paddling lakes with seasonal swimming beach and concessions, disc golf, new hiking trails, shelters, playgrounds," notes one camper about Park Terrace Campground.
Hiking forest trails: Scott County Park offers extensive trail networks connecting its six campgrounds. "The individual camping sites are incredibly spacious, fairly uneven land with all spaces offering substantial shade, thick backdrop behind each spot and tons of foliage... Lastly, one of the things that make Wilderness differentiated here in Scott County Park is that a ton of the best hiking trails converge at this CG," explains a visitor at Wilderness Campground.
River paddling experiences: The Wapsipinicon River provides paddling opportunities near Sherman Park. "This quant little campground is my favorite. There's plenty of room between sites in the electric section and there's even more room along the river in the primitive section, which is my personal favorite... Our favorite past time while we're there is to go tubing on the Wapsi River," shares a camper from Sherman Park.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: White-tailed deer are commonly spotted throughout Scott County Park. "Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home," comments one visitor at Bald Eagle Campground. The diverse habitats support various wildlife species.
Clean facilities: Many campers highlight the well-maintained bathrooms and shower houses. At Sherman Park, a reviewer notes: "The bathroom/shower house is the nicest & cleanest I've seen. The camp host's are very friendly. There's also a nice newer playground for the kids and a few trail to explore."
Historical attractions: The Pioneer Village at Scott County Park offers a glimpse into the past. "We did one of the hiking trails. It was a nice trail just big enough for one person (or person on a bike) to walk through so you have to walk in a single file line. We also stopped at the Pioneer Village to check it out... It was very cool to see how things were done back then!" shares a visitor at Bald Eagle Campground.
What you should know
Winter closures: Most campgrounds near Donahue close seasonally. "RV sites are closed for season. This CG offers both primitive tent and RV sites. Seasonal host site offers firewood, there is a play ground, shelter, RR/showers, trails, dump station and two cabins available for rent," explains a camper at Pine Grove Campground.
Railroad noise: Campgrounds along the Mississippi River may experience train noise. At Fisherman's Corner, a visitor mentioned: "Great overnight site. Paved everywhere, level concrete pads. Corps of Engineers takes really good care of their recreation areas. Plenty of eateries nearby. Well-shaded and manicured sites." However, another noted: "Railroad runs nearby can be loud."
Site privacy varies: Some campgrounds offer more secluded sites than others. "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," reports a camper at Woodside Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming and waterslides: The swimming pool at Scott County Park offers summer recreation. "The pool was open while we were there but we did not partake. It was really hot out so the pool was packed! It looks really nice from the road, it has 2 water slides and a small child area fashioned similar to a splash park," shares a visitor at Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins.
Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds for children. "We stayed in the Pine Grove Campground, Lot #15 from Sunday, July 25, 2021 - Wednesday, August 4, 2021. This campground is electric hookup only... Everyone was very friendly and there were a ton of kids that were playing and riding around on their bikes. It was fun to watch everyone having a good time!"
Cabin options: For families wanting comfort without tents, several parks offer cabins. "Cabin sits at end of campground lane with covered porch, parking for 3 cars, ADA accessible. Cabin has 2 sleeping rooms, sleeping loft, and sofa. Capacity is 10, with all kitchen amenities. Has fire pit, wood available in campground, tables, and gas grill with rental."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA offers complete services for RVs. "This was a great one night stay. We were in site #5 FHU. Easy and friendly check in. Nice lake in park. It was still off season so pool etc was not open. Easy on/off interstate."
Level sites: Many campgrounds provide level pads for RVs. "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," notes a camper at Woodside Campground.
Overnight options: For travelers passing through, Interstate RV Park offers convenience. "Less than 1 mile north of I-80. Campground has a variety is sites surrounding a central camp office/store bathrooms, laundry and pool. Blain's Farm & Fleet across from entrance. A mix of hardtop and gravel lanes throughout park."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Donahue, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Donahue, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Donahue, IA is Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.
What parks are near Donahue, IA?
What parks are near Donahue, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 4 parks near Donahue, IA that allow camping, notably Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 and Coralville Lake.
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