Seasonal camping in southeast Iowa features temperate conditions from late spring through early fall, with hot summer days often reaching the upper 80s. Fort Madison sits at approximately 528 feet above sea level along the Mississippi River, forming the border between Iowa and Illinois. Campgrounds remain open primarily from April through October, though some offer year-round options for RV campers.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Big Hollow Recreation Area offers excellent bass, crappie, and bluegill fishing in a no-wake zone lake. One visitor noted, "If you are into fishing, this place has large mouth bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish." The lake includes a boat ramp for easy access.
Hiking trails: Nauvoo State Park Campground provides multiple walking paths including the Locust Trail. According to a camper, "There is a trail that was under two miles called Locust that my wife enjoyed for birding. There is also a loop trail near the campsites."
Kayaking and canoeing: Several lakes in the region welcome paddlers with rental options available. At Big Hollow, "Nearby lake has a beach and a boat ramp for launching boats (whole lake is no wake zone) or kayaks." The Mississippi River also offers paddling options where "you can watch barges pass by."
History exploration: The historic sites in Nauvoo are within walking distance of the state park. As one camper mentioned, "Right across the street from the historic sites, if you're up for it it's just a little further to walk to main street."
What campers like
Affordable rates: Many campsites near Fort Madison offer budget-friendly options. At Geode State Park Campground, campers appreciate that "We stayed labor day weekend. Just pulled in and gave them our $12 a night. No electricity or water in our site. Clean bathrooms. Cheap wood for fires."
Peaceful atmosphere: The quiet setting appeals to many visitors. At Geode State Park, one camper shared, "We changed our minds and decided to stay an extra night because it was so peaceful!" Similarly, Crossroads RV Park visitors noted it was "amazingly quite dispute the road nearby."
Clean facilities: Driftwood Campground & RV Park consistently receives praise for cleanliness. One bicycle tourist mentioned, "The showers and restroom were impressively clean. The hosts could not have made me feel more welcome." Another noted, "Clean facilities, full hookup sites with concrete pads."
Wildlife viewing: The Mississippi River corridor offers excellent bird and wildlife watching opportunities. Ferry Landing provides "isolated camping at river edge where Iowa and Mississippi rivers meet" with opportunities for "paddling, fishing, hiking in bottom land forests."
What you should know
Train noise: While Crossroads RV Park offers convenient access, several campers mention train disruptions. One noted, "The issue is NOISE!! Constant train traffic all night! Horns blaring! The tracks are less than 1/4-mile away. And quite a bit of freeway noise, too!"
Seasonal water access: Ferry Landing - Mississippi River access can be affected by weather conditions. One camper reported, "Tried to camp here, but dirt road going in was submerged in deep mud holes after some heavy rain." Plan accordingly during wet periods.
Limited tent amenities: At Big Hollow Recreation Area, "They don't have electric or water hookups for tent camping" in the primitive areas. Self-check-in is common at many sites, with primitive camping often costing $10-12 per night.
Seasonal lake conditions: Water quality varies throughout the year. One visitor at Big Hollow observed, "The only downside is the lake was filled with algae. So if you're wanting to fish or swim, this isn't the place for you!" Check conditions before planning water activities.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Big Hollow Recreation Area offers family-friendly amenities including "a large playground and shower house." Another visitor confirmed seeing "a large number of mostly cement camper spots, including pull through" with "a large playground."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming beaches when conditions permit. Driftwood Campground features a pool that visitors find helpful during hot weather: "We enjoyed ourselves and cooled off in the hot weather."
Nature activities: Pack insect repellent for bottomland forest areas. At Ferry Landing, visitors recommend you "Look out for insects. Pack in/out, gather drift wood for fire, watch barges pass by."
Astronomy opportunities: Big Hollow includes stargazing facilities. As one camper mentioned, there's "even a place to use a few telescopes to see the stars!" This makes for an educational evening activity with children.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: At Camp Nauvoo, RV campers recommend specific sites based on your needs. One visitor shared, "Stayed in campsite #10 which has no shade. It was a concrete pull-through with more than enough parking for my TT and truck and grass on either side."
Utility placement: RV sites near Fort Madison vary in hookup locations. At Camp Nauvoo, "Utilities were located in different spots. 20A/30A/50A electric in the middle, water near the rear, and sewer near the front."
Internet connectivity: Cell service and WiFi vary significantly between campgrounds. At Camp Nauvoo, "AT&T had 3 bars of LTE and Verizon 1 bar of LTE service. AT&T Speedtest: 56.8 Mbps down, 9.3 Mbps up. Free WiFi available, but I had trouble connecting."
Access challenges: Some rv sites near Fort Madison have tricky approaches. One Camp Nauvoo visitor advised, "If you are southbound on Illinois Hwy 96, the left turn off the highway is very sharp and steep. Might be easier to continue about a mile south and use the scenic turnout to turnaround."
