L
Lauren K.
Legend
LegendMaquoketa Caves State Park Campground
Grea clean campground
Tons to do, trails, the caves, playground, picnic areas The sites are average The caves are amazing Water, power, bathrooms and dumping station
Camping near Princeton, IA
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Princeton, Iowa sits along the Mississippi River corridor with camping options spanning both Iowa and Illinois shorelines. The area features several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive, including Fishermans Corner on the Illinois side and Rock Creek County Marina and Campground in Iowa. Scott County Park, located northwest of Princeton, offers multiple campground areas including Wilderness, Pine Grove, Sac-Fox, and Woodside, each providing different levels of amenities and privacy. Campsites range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV locations, with many facilities offering river access for boating and fishing. Several campgrounds provide cabin rentals and glamping options for those seeking alternatives to traditional camping.
Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping experiences in this area, with most campgrounds operating from April through October. Spring flooding along the Mississippi and its tributaries occasionally affects riverfront campsites, as one camper noted: "The one downfall to this park is the possibility for flooding. When the Cedar River is high, it pushes Chicken Creek out of its banks which can mean potential closure of campgrounds." Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions. Many campgrounds require reservations during peak summer weekends, though some maintain first-come, first-served sites. Cell service is generally reliable throughout the region except in some river valley locations.
Riverside camping receives consistently positive reviews, particularly for fishing access and scenic views. According to one visitor at Fishermans Corner: "Some sites are directly on the 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." Train noise affects some campgrounds near railroad tracks, with one camper at Riverview City Park noting: "The one negative is noise from trains. One seems to go by every few hours." Wildlife viewing opportunities include bald eagles along the Mississippi during winter months, while summer brings monarch butterflies and various bird species to restored prairie areas. Campers frequently mention the quality of sunsets over the water as a highlight of their stays in the region.
Best Campgrounds near Princeton (115)
1. 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 Availability2. 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 Availability3. Illiniwek Campground
"The campground is also right next to a biking trail. There was public and private bathrooms. The private ones were only accessible to campers that received a key from the park office."
"There is a section of the campground where you can camp right on the edge of the Mississippi River which is nice, but you must deal with people fishing the entire time."
4. Rock Creek County Marina and Campground
"Sites include fire rings, tables, gravel backing pads, electric with some right near water edge."
"Turn at quarry off Great River Road/Highway 67."
from $14 - $18 / night
Check Availability5. Geneseo Campground
"The tent sites are nicely tucked away from the RVs, with a row of bushes to separate you from your neighbor. Nice shade."
"will be surrounded by."
from $40 - $95 / night
Check Availability6. 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 Availability7. 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 Availability8. 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 Availability9. Woodside Campground, Scott County Park Iowa
"If you wanted to tent camp here, you could, although I would recommend nearby Incahias or Sac-Fox as better for tent campers."
"CG is well maintained, Rangers are seen regularly, has standard RV sites, nice shower/restrooms, wood available, near trails, short drive to Pride Lake for paddling and fishing, golf course with clubhouse"
from $17 - $36 / night
Check Availability10. Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground
"Site is located in the very SE corner of the park with: charcoal grill, fire ring, outhouse, picnic table, recycle station adjacent, tie-up, hard surface for RV. No water onsite. Trails available."
"Tucked away in the southeast corner of Scott County Park – yes, the same park that already has more campgrounds than a camping catalog – lurks a little-known equestrian primitive campground."
from $15 / night
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Drive Time
- 26 min from Davenport, IA
- 1 hr 10 min from Dubuque, IA
- 1 hr 11 min from Iowa City, IA
- 1 hr 23 min from Cedar Rapids, IA
Recent Camping Photos near Princeton, IA
100 Photos of 115 Princeton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Rock Creek County Marina and Campground
Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River
Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins
Sunset Lakes Resort
Lundeens Landing
Gary McDermott RV Park
Geneseo Campground
Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area — Mississippi River Pools 11 22
Camelot Campground Quad Cities USA
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Recent Reviews near Princeton, IA
605 Reviews of 115 Princeton Campgrounds
- DDiane B.
ScoutGary McDermott RV Park
Reasonable price and convenient
30 campsites. $22/nt cash or check only. Water and electric hookup with dump station. Camp hosts were great. Bath house with showers. Clean, but a little outdated. Next to RR tracks. You hear train whistles throughout day and some at night. I didn’t mind it.
Julie W.ScoutMaquoketa Caves State Park Campground
Amazingly quiet campground
Very quiet campground. Not a bad spot. Has dump station and a few water spigots to fill up on your way in. Plenty of old trees. Cell service is spotty.
- James M.Legend
Interstate RV Park
I-80 stop over, needs improvements
This campground has a good location, considering it’s proximity less than a half mile north of interstate 80. There is also food, fuel, and a Farm And Fleet nearby. Upon entering the campground, gravel roads need dressed, potholes, both small and very large neat filling. Appears to have year-round residence, and sites have tables, firings, electric, water. On a positive note, The Pool looks clean this season, the store is open and offers basic necessities, and firewood is available.
- RRuby M.
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.
- James M.Legend
Sherman 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.
TravelerMississippi 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.
Guide to Princeton
Princeton area campgrounds offer direct access to the Mississippi River with most sites located within 10-25 minutes of town. The region experiences seasonal temperature fluctuations with summer highs reaching 90°F while spring camping can be affected by river levels. Several campgrounds remain open year-round for visitors seeking off-season solitude.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Scott County Park features an extensive trail network with connections from Wilderness Campground. Trails accommodate multiple activities as noted by one visitor: "The park offers miles of trails, a historical Pioneer Village within the park at the north, equestrian trails, bicycle trails."
Paddling opportunities: The Mississippi backwaters provide calm water exploration from Rock Creek Marina and Campground with equipment available on-site. "This campground has an assortment of primitive and electrical sites. They also have cabins and canoe/kayak rental, a visitor shop with food/drink and a mini museum of the local wildlife," explains one camper.
Historical exploration: Visit the Walnut Grove Pioneer Village for a step back in time. "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!" shares a visitor who hiked to the village from Pine Grove campground.
What campers like
River views: Waterfront sites at Illiniwek Campground offer direct Mississippi access. One camper notes: "Some sites are right on the river with views - worth it to try to get those. Our spot was last min and just a short walk from river - still beautiful."
Affordable rates: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the value at Fishermans Corner. "Stayed one night as we were traveling west. Very well kept nice and quiet; concrete pad and electric. Only $20! Pretty view of the Mississippi," reports one reviewer.
Wildlife viewing: Seasonal deer sightings are common throughout the area campgrounds. "Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home," mentions a camper at Bald Eagle Campground, while other campers report seeing numerous bird species along the water.
What you should know
Flooding potential: River sites can be affected by seasonal water levels. "The campgrounds are on backwaters of the Mississippi so there are boat ramps, docks, and areas to fish," explains a Rock Creek Marina visitor, but notes facilities may close during high water.
Train noise: Railroad tracks near Geneseo Campground and other riverside locations create periodic noise. "One negative is noise from trains," mentions a reviewer, though many campers report the sound doesn't significantly disrupt sleep.
Bugs can be problematic: Proximity to water means insect management is necessary. "This campground has gnats that are a real pest, but at the camp office they sell a gnat replant that works great. If you go pick some up while you are signing in," advises a Scott County Park visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Educational centers: Visit the nature facilities at Rock Creek. "They have an Eco Center with turtles, snakes, and an aquarium that our family really enjoyed. The grounds are on backwaters of the Mississippi so there are boat ramps, docks, and areas to fish," explains a family camper.
Multiple activity options: Scott County Park offers diverse recreational facilities. "Scott County Park has been the standard from which I judge all other campgrounds... We played a lot on the playground there and rode our bikes wherever," shares a visitor who frequently camped there as a child.
Swimming options: The heated pool at Scott County Park provides water fun even on cooler days. "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."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Choose Camelot Campground pull-through sites for larger rigs. "Sites are small however pull through sites are 2x as big, but they cost a little more," advises an RVer, noting the additional space is worth the premium.
Levelness varies by campground: Scott County Park's Woodside Campground offers the best level sites for RVs. "RVs including big rigs basics like electric, water, sewer, fire rings, hard pads. Not much shade though trees are planted," explains a reviewer noting the newer solar-assisted facilities.
Seasonal water limitations: Some campgrounds shut off water during colder months. "The website did not mention that the premium patio site with full hook up would not have water service while we were there," warns a camper who visited during early spring, suggesting campers call ahead to confirm available utilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Princeton, IA?
Which is the most popular campground near Princeton, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Princeton, IA is Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River with a 4-star rating from 26 reviews.
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