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Campgrounds near Preston, Iowa cluster along the Mississippi River, offering a mixture of state park and county-operated facilities. Bellevue State Park Campground provides 46 sites with electric hookups and modern facilities, situated approximately 15 miles east of Preston. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground, located about 10 miles southwest of Preston, offers both tent and RV camping with electric hookups and showers available from April through December. The region includes several mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate tents, RVs, and in some locations, cabin rentals.
Camping access in this region depends heavily on seasonal considerations, with many facilities operating from April through October or early November. South Sabula Lakes County Park remains open from April 1 to November 1, while Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground operates year-round but with reduced services in winter. According to one visitor, "Campgrounds are ample, and plenty to choose from," though another noted that "Bathrooms and showers are clean but there are no hooks in the bathrooms to hang towels or toiletries." Water levels and insect activity can significantly impact camping experiences, particularly at riverside locations like Sabula Lakes County Park where spring flooding has been reported to trigger substantial insect hatches.
Developed campgrounds throughout the area typically provide electrical hookups, shower facilities, and sanitary dump stations. Mississippi Palisades State Park features 241 Class A and B sites with electrical hookups available at 110 locations. Campers consistently mention the scenic hiking opportunities along the Mississippi River bluffs as a highlight of the region. One reviewer described the Bellevue State Park as having "beautiful overlooks of the Mississippi River from paved walking trails." Visitors frequently note the varied terrain, with several campgrounds positioned on bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River while others provide direct river access for boating and fishing. The proximity to towns like Bellevue, Maquoketa, and Sabula allows campers to access supplies and restaurants easily while maintaining a connection to nature.
"Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."
"It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."
"cave system of Maquoketa Caves State Park, Iowa."
"This is a great weekend stay, with short trails that show some beautiful and unusual scenery for central Iowa. The natural bridge is incredible, and the sites are well spaced out."
from $20 - $28 / night
Check Availability"This is a beautiful spot on the outskirts of a small town. The train museum is open for a few hours on weekends. Other towns are nearby with more things to do."
"This is a really pretty area fairly close to home so it is a good option."
from $14 - $26 / night
Check Availability"CG site atop river bluff with pads, fire rings, tables, RR, recycling, trails, shelters nearby. Sites are close to each other but plenty to do."
"The site our friends had next to us was uninhabitable due to mud and sloping but the rangers let them switch sites no problem."
from $16 - $36 / night
Check Availability"It's like a step back in time in the best way possible."
"The bike trail is within steps of your site. Hookups for electric and water available. Well maintained portapotties at various points throughout the grounds."
from $25 - $35 / night
Check Availability"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
from $14 - $25 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"Usually a pretty quiet area although its next to a train track so expect a train or two to wake you up. Tucked away next to the Mississippi. There is a boat ramp and parking."
from $14 / night
TravelerWe stayed in the back of the park, hoping there would not be many people around. There was some kind of hippie gathering, the spent the weekend doing drugs and blasting music. The cell service is non existent, you can get a bar at the front of the park. A LOT of mosquitoes.
GuideThis is a beautiful location. The caves were gorgeous, there were fireflies and lots of wildlife. The sites are close together, but far enough apart to have privacy and space to walk around. The trails can be super slick and muddy in the rain, so wear proper gear if you're hiking!
ScoutWe had a BLAST!! 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. It's not free, but there are restrooms and water near the tents and a shower near the office. Great hiking trails, we went on 2 hikes last night. 10/10 highly recommend! Watched Netflix so the Internet is great!!!
TravelerQuiet Thursday night stay along the water. We saw so much wildlife and really enjoyed the songs of the many species of birds in the area.
LegendThere’s something instantly comforting about Colona Scott Family Park, tucked right along the Hennepin Canal where the trees lean in close and the boys could finally stretch their legs without a single car in sight. This medium-sized, family-run campground has a gentle, lived-in charm with wide grassy sites, EZ pull-ins and a friendly check-in that feels more like stopping by a neighbor’s porch than traditional ‘campground operations.’ The amenities are simple but thoughtfully kept with clean restrooms, hot showers, picnic tables, fire rings and plenty of soft ground for kids to toss a football or chase fireflies before bed. One of my favorite moments was taking the boys down to the pond in the golden light, watching them skip rocks while my husband and I listened to the water slip by (ironically listening to 'sitting on the dock of the bay!'), which felt wonderfully unhurried. For families, this is a sweet overnight pick thanks to the calm setting, caring staff and the pond's built-in nature opportunities for biking, strolling and birdwatching. For the best campsite recommendation, choose Site 11, which is closest to the pond path with an open grassy backdrop that gives the kids room to roam while still keeping everything peaceful and EZ.
ScoutOverall had a great experience. The brick and mortar restroom is far better than the campsite bathroom. Most campsites are close together but enough forest in between to feel private. Quiet hours are enforced.
GuideWe had a great two day weekend at this park. Small and quiet. Mix of RVs and tents. We stayed on one of the 4 primitive sites but there are several with electric hookups. Bathrooms were decent and have running water for showers(cold) which felt amazing after our 2.5 miles hike. The trails were beautiful and be sure to check out the Ice Cave and Horse Thief Cave!
ScoutThis was a nice campground. Sites are a good size and the public restroom/showers are very clean! Downside is there are trains going by with horns all the time.
TravelerMy family and I had the opportunity to go to Yogi bears jealous Jellystone national Park and we had so much fun. We went during their Christmas in July program. We stayed for five nights 6 days and barely paid a thing camping in a tent. Mini golf water wars snowball fights rentals of golf carts that are cheap cabins on site Santa came to visit games to play and borrow at each campsite arts and crafts laser tag and so much more. Prices were fair for food and snacks. They have cabins available to rent. I hope to bring my friend and her family this year because it's going to be so much fun! Hope to see you there someday!
Camping sites near Preston, Iowa cluster around backwaters and bluffs of the Mississippi River across both Iowa and Illinois. The region sits approximately 20 miles inland from the Mississippi River at elevations ranging from 585 to 830 feet above sea level. During spring and early summer, seasonal insect hatches can be significant, particularly following high water events when river levels recede.
Explore cave systems: Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground offers unique spelunking opportunities with 13 distinct caves. "This Iowa SP campground is simply AMAZING and if you are a bat spelunker, you are going to be absolutely excited by this place. For the rest of us outdoor enthusiasts who are simply looking for a great campground, then you've also struck the campground lottery," notes one visitor who recommends checking cave access dates carefully around bat hibernation periods.
Paddling on Spring Lake: Spring Lake Campground provides direct water access for kayaks and paddleboards. "Sunsets and stargazing, fishing and kayaking, biking and relaxing! The quiet nature of this campground allow campers to enjoy the protected wildlife of the refuge (bird watchers- bring you cameras), access to Spring Lake fishing," writes one camper who appreciates the vintage feel of this sanctuary.
Hiking river bluffs: The region offers varied terrain with trails ranging from easy to challenging. At Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground, "Trail system is divided into North and South. North trails are scenic, with a casual non-technical difficulty to them. South trail system is challenging, especially because of the varied terrain it traverses," explains one visitor who enjoyed the distinct trail systems.
Secluded tent sites: Some campgrounds offer more private options for tent campers seeking solitude. At Maquoketa Caves State Park, "If you're looking for a primitive tent camping experience, then you're going to want to book sites #12 and #13, which set a bit further back for the cul-de-sac end of the lane offering up more privacy and less noise from the rest of the camping commune."
Off-peak camping advantages: Several campgrounds are less crowded during weekdays or shoulder seasons. "We stayed on the weekend and it was not full, but that could be because there are close to 250 sites. When booking it was hard to pick to be honest as there are so many choices. Some sites are massive...as in .25 an acre that you drive over the grass to get too your site bc it is situated away from the road," reports one visitor to Mississippi Palisades State Park.
Historic attractions: Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins offers access to unique historical features. "We also stopped at the Pioneer Village to check it out. They do expect you to leave a $2 donation per adult and $1 donation per child, but this is based on the honor system. It was very cool to see how things were done back then! We would definitely recommend stopping by, and definitely stop in the ice-cream shop and get a cone!"
Train noise impacts: Several riverside campgrounds experience regular train traffic. At Blanding Landing, "Not the worst but not one of the best COE campgrounds. No nice gravel or concrete pads anywhere. Many sites are not real level. Biggest issue is train tracks with trains running by very often. Maybe an hour or 90 minutes with none then there would be three in a very short period."
Seasonal insect activity: Mississippi River floods create significant insect hatches. "There had been flooding just prior to us camping there and the insect hatch was amazing. Then the cottonwood trees exploded their 'snow storm'. Made it hard to eat outside," notes a camper from South Sabula Lakes County Park, highlighting how weather conditions impact camping comfort.
Site selection importance: Sites vary significantly within each campground. "You probably don't want sites 1 or 2, they are directly across from the dump site. The plus is they are directly across from the playground, picnic area and trail access," advises a visitor to Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area, showing how location within a campground affects experience.
Playground proximity: Choose sites near play areas for convenience with children. At Bald Eagle Campground, "if you have kids and want to be planted near the playground, you might want to target sites #26-#28, where the spacious kids playground sets right behind these sites."
Swimming options: Some campgrounds feature swimming facilities for summer visits. "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," notes a visitor to Bald Eagle Campground.
Cave exploration with kids: Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground offers varying cave difficulties suitable for different ages. "There are caves for everyone, whether you're claustrophobic and don't want to be in tight spaces or you're willing you army crawl for 1/4 mile. The rangers in the campground can be strict and will mandate that you have only one 'camping unit' per site, aka tent, even though the website says sites can hold up to six people."
Site leveling challenges: RVers should check site conditions before booking. At Thomson Causeway, "The sites are all level concrete and just about every one have a great view of the Mississippi. Quiet at night. The only improvement I would like to see is water hookups, but there are plenty of spigots scattered around the park."
Electrical options: Thomson Causeway provides good power options for RVs. "Very well set up campgrounds with plenty of electrical, non-electric sites. Very few primitive sites, if that's what you're looking for," explains a camper who found the amenities suitable for powered equipment.
Dump station accessibility: Several campgrounds offer sanitary facilities with varying quality. "The dump station is useless for black tank clean out connections. The water hose threads had been purposely removed," notes a visitor to South Sabula Lakes County Park, highlighting the importance of checking these facilities for longer RV stays near Preston.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Preston, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Preston, IA is Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 29 reviews.
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