Scott County Park's network of campgrounds welcomes pets at multiple locations, including Pine Grove, Wilderness, and Woodside campgrounds. Each site provides fire rings, picnic tables, and access to showers and toilets while maintaining pet-friendly policies. Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins offers pet-friendly accommodations in cabins, tent sites, and RV spots with full hookups. Interstate RV Park in Davenport permits pets with 50-amp service, showers, and a market for supplies. West Lake Park's campgrounds feature pet-friendly cabins and tent sites with electric hookups, drinking water, and trash facilities. Campers report clean, well-maintained dog areas at Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA, which includes a dedicated dog park where pets can run freely in a fenced area.
Hiking trails throughout Scott County Park provide exercise opportunities for dogs on leashes, with multiple campground loops offering wooded settings ideal for morning and evening dog walks. The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center maintains pet-friendly cabins and tent sites with trails suitable for leashed pets. Campgrounds near the Mississippi River, including Shady Creek and Clark's Ferry, offer fishing access and riverside walking paths where dogs can cool off during summer months. Most campgrounds enforce standard leash policies requiring dogs to be secured at all times outside designated exercise areas. The dog park at Camelot Campground, while not large, provides enough space for dogs to run and is maintained in clean condition according to visitor reports. Campers traveling with pets should note that summer weekends fill quickly, particularly at Scott County Park's multiple pet-friendly campgrounds.
$17 - $36 / night
"One of the 6 campgrounds that you will have to choose from here at Scott County Park, Bald Eagle CG & Cabins is one that is more geared for the RV driving and trailer toting tribes as each site has"
"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."
$27 / night
"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."
"There are 13 non-electric tent sites that are in a grassy area towards the back of the campground with two pit toilets located nearby."
$14 - $26 / night
"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."
"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."
$15 - $23 / night
"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."
$15 - $23 / night
"The campground has a seasonal host offering firewood on site, showers and restrooms, play area, trails, and overflow parking just adjacent for the entrance."
"Unlike either nearby Woodside or Bald Eagle campgrounds, which are more geared for the RV driving and 5th Wheel hauling camping community, Wilderness CG isn’t very level, has decent natural barriers like"
$15 - $23 / night
"Fire rings and picnic tables come standard, and the pet-friendly vibe means your dog will probably make more friends than you do. "
"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"
"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."
"Very nice walk around the lake, dog park was not large, but clean with enough room to run. There were much nicer spots, but we had all we needed for one night."
"My wife, son, and I recently stayed here on our trip back home from Iowa. The campground was clean and quiet."
$70 - $80 / night
"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."
ScoutGravel pad for one night. Didn’t use facilities, pool was closed for the season. Very nice walk around the lake, dog park was not large, but clean with enough room to run. There were much nicer spots, but we had all we needed for one night.
LegendCG offers gravel pads, tables, fire rings, electric, sump station, water, small pond with fishing, paddling, dog park. Close to stores for supplies, dining, fuel.
LegendThis overnight access is a small town in itself. This site offers not only the basic communities and needs of fuel, including EV, charging stations, but auto parts, showers, dentist, Chiropractic, care, gifts, dog park, and is right next to the I 80 trucking museum. Good lighting in the overnight spots which has room for long RVs.
LegendCG lies within Maquoketa and is seasonal. Has pond for fishing, shelter, dog park, playset, disc golf course. Sites are pulling, have electric and fire pits. Camp supplies including wood in nearby stores. Prairie Creek runs along south of CG.
LegendI suggest this site only if you need to get off the road for an overnight stay. Very few amenities, all but a few spots appear to be full-time RV living onsite, has nice playground, gazebo, dog park (small), lake is small but appears well kept, electric/water/septic onsite.
ScoutGreat campground. Has full hook ups, and pull through sites. Hosts are very responsive to texts if you need anything. They warned me ahead of time that GPS would navigate me under a 10 ft bridge and gave me directions around it!! They have a dog park, bathroom, propane, and trash. Very nice place
LegendThis is an incredibly quaint, somewhat out-of-the-way (in a very good way) location that will treat you to a heavy dose of isolation and privacy wherein you’ll feel completely blessed by the nature you will be surrounded by. This incredibly friendly (pet-friendly as well BTW) operation does an excellent job in how it is set up, offering up a few distinct loops that are ear-marked pretty much exclusively for the wheel-toting camping variety (think RVs, rigs, trailers and 5th wheels) providing 59 pull-thru and 12 back-in slots, while also offering up a discreet space flanked towards the front of the property that is simply perfect for mi tent pitchin’ bredren, which is surrounded by mature Oaks. And, just in case you either forgot your tent or RV, Geneseo Campground has 4 super comfy cabins (each sleeps 4 and come with A/C) or an amazing yurt that sleeps 8 that they’ll gladly rent you.
From an amenities standpoint, there’s an amazing kid’s playground, well-stocked camp store, propane refueling station, kayak & canoe rental, gas grill rental, e-bike, pedal carts & fat tire bike rental, full and partial hook-ups offering 30 / 50 electric amp, water & sewage hook-ups. There’s also a meeting room, WiFi everywhere, enclosed dog park, firewood & ice for sale, arcade games, RV dump station, coin-operated washers & dryers / laundr-O-mat, excellent showers & bathrooms, direct access to the Hennepin Canal and don’t forget the 60 or so miles worth of hiking trails!
This place is spacious, very well organized, incredibly clean all the while within a short 10 minute drive into nearby Geneseo, which quite frankly, is one of the most idyllic small towns you’ll come across anywhere in Illinois that is both convivial and provincial, but also quite emblematic of a typical Norman Rockwell painting. What I loved most about this place is that while it doesn’t offer up EVERYTHING that you might be looking for while camping, you only need to head due south to Izaak Walton Park (further south of this spot) or to Geneseo Prairie Park, both of which offer up amazing hiking trails as well as good launch spots to access the Hennepin Canal via kayak and canoe.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’re reeling, you should expect to catch blue gill, catfish, bass and crappie, and while you can throw your line from the Geneseo Campground property, I would highly recommend you cross the canal to Izaak Walton Park on its east side where there’s a large open canal / lake to cast in; (2) While there’s tons of hiking trails, you don’t want to forget your bikes – there’s 72 miles of biking trails as well as miles and miles of nicely paved empty country roads to pedal on; (3) Maybe you have a kayak or canoe, but in the case you don’t, do yourself a favor and rent one from the good people at Geneseo Campground in which to explore the Hennepin Canal - trust me, you won't be disappointed; and (4) Should you grow weary of eating franks & beans again from your campsite and want to try out some local cuisine, then get yourself over to nearby Geneseo where you can dine out at The Cellar, Sweet Peas Grill & Bar or Geneseo Brewing Company.
Happy Camping!
LegendThis CG is a full service CG for RVs with community buildings, gravel road lanes, pet friendly, and lake access for fishing, paddling and swimming.
GuideThis is one of our favorite parks in the Midwest. We usually make a day trip from Chicagoland, but this time we camped at the park. We are glad we did!
You really can't go wrong with any trail or cave. The kids enjoyed hiking between Lower- and Upper-Dancehall Caves. The trail goes underground and through some water. Window Cave was also a hit. You can climb up about 5-7 feet and out the "window". The kids felt like real spelunkers!
While the park is usually crowded during the day, we find it nearly empty beginning in the late afternoons on the weekdays we visited. It felt like we had the place to ourselves.
The campground is about a five minute walk to the park's main entrances. The campground was very quiet... just the way we like it. There is a family of cats that hang around: they visit from a nearby dairy farm. The kids loved this added attraction. The dog did not.
The bathroom and shower house is clean. There is only one. So it gets pretty busy during "flush hour". Our campsite was right next to the bathroom/ shower and dumpster. We noticed flies and the occasional whiff of trash.
We'll continue visiting this park. And we look forward to camping on site.
Donahue, Iowa camping areas offer diverse terrain near the Wapsipinicon River watershed, with elevation changes ranging from riverside floodplains to forested bluffs. Most campgrounds sit between 600-750 feet above sea level, creating varied camping environments with summer temperatures typically ranging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Winter camping remains available at select locations, though water systems shut down by late October.
Fishing opportunities: Pride Lake at Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins provides catch-and-release fishing. "Deer everywhere. Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home," notes Kimberly W., highlighting the wildlife viewing opportunities while fishing.
Historical exploration: Visit the Pioneer Village in Scott County Park for a glimpse into frontier life. "I loved climbing around in the train cars, eating icecream/candy canes, and watching the blacksmith work. Sometimes they'll have shootouts in the street which was always a blast pun intended!" explains Seth N. about the unique attraction.
Water activities: Four lakes at Park Terrace Campground - West Lake Park offer paddling options. "Park has many amenities: 4 recently retired fishing and paddling lakes with seasonal swimming beach and concessions, disc golf, new hiking trails, shelters, playgrounds," reports James M.
Night sky observation: The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center provides dark sky viewing. "No city light that so night sky shines with stars. Trails wind through forests and prairie areas. Outdoor/environmental programs offered," explains one visitor about the astronomy opportunities.
Modern cabin options: Wapsi River Environmental Ed. Ctr. features fully-equipped cabins. "Cabin sleeps 6, has all amenities including firewood at no cost! Education center onsite with live animals, trails, open year round, Wapsipinicon River below bluff offers paddling, fishing," says James M.
Mississippi River access: Waterfront sites provide fishing and boat access. "Some sites are right on the river w/ views - worth it to try to get those. Very clean, little playground for kids, nice spacing between sites," shares Sarah C. about Fisherman's Corner campground.
Clean facilities: Campers consistently note bathroom cleanliness. "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," writes Chris D. about Sherman Co Park.
Disc golf course: West Lake Park features a professional-quality course. "Park has hiking trails, world-class disc golf course, trails. Good prices, well maintained," notes a reviewer about the recreational offerings beyond standard camping.
Winter closures: Several Scott County campgrounds close seasonally. "Closed for winter-RV sites are closed for season. This CG offers both primitive tent and RV sites," explains a reviewer about Pine Grove Campground's partial winter availability.
Train noise: Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River sits near railroad tracks. "There's a train but it was infrequent so it did not disrupt our sleep, in fact, all four of us accidentally slept VERY late!" notes Sarah C., suggesting the noise isn't problematic for most.
Site selection strategy: Woodside Campground offers less privacy but better access. "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," explains Stuart K.
Water system timing: County parks typically shut off water connections around October. "The campground is open year-round but they shut of the water spigots around the end of October (depending on the weather)," explains Nancy W. about seasonal considerations.
Wildlife viewing: Scott County Park offers consistent deer sightings. "Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home," mentions Kimberly W., making this an excellent activity for children.
Swimming options: The pool at Scott County Park provides family-friendly water features. "It looks really nice from the road, it has 2 water slides and a small child area fashioned similar to a splash park," notes a camper about the pool facilities.
Educational opportunities: Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA offers outdoor learning. "We spent the morning biking the Great River Bike trail as we enjoyed the perfect weather," reports Scott M., highlighting the family-friendly recreational trails.
Multiple playground options: Several campgrounds feature well-maintained play areas. "My kids loved exploring and fishing. We had a great stay. Lots of things for the kids to do," says Heather S. about West Lake Park's family amenities.
Site selection: Wilderness Campground, Scott County Park offers specific advantages for certain RV types. "This is definitely one of my favorites as a tent pitchin' outdoors enthusiast. Unlike either nearby Woodside or Bald Eagle campgrounds, which are more geared for the RV driving and 5th Wheel hauling camping community," explains Stuart K.
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Donahue: Multiple locations accommodate pets with dedicated amenities. "We stay in site 13 and it was right on the water and had electric hookups," notes Scott M. about pet-friendly sites at Fisherman's Corner.
Late checkout benefit: West Lake Park allows extended Sunday stays. "Check out is 3 pm which gives you a longer weekend stay," explains Nancy W., noting this policy helps maximize weekend camping trips.
Full hookup availability: Interstate RV Park provides complete connections. "Campground has gravel lanes, roads pads, appears to have annual residence, campground office, pool is clean. Sites include tables, water, electric," reports James M. about the hookup options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Donahue, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Donahue, IA is Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins with a 4.5-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Donahue, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 113 dog-friendly camping locations near Donahue, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
