103 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Rock Creek County Marina and Campground welcomes pets throughout its diverse camping areas along Mississippi River backwaters. Tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, cabins, glamping options, and yurts are all pet-friendly, featuring fire rings and picnic tables. Dogs must remain leashed when outside camping units. Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River campground also accommodates pets with level concrete pads, electric hookups, and water stations distributed throughout the grounds. Many campers have noted that despite train tracks running nearby, the noise rarely disrupts sleep and pets quickly adjust to the occasional passing train. Wilderness Campground and Pine Grove Campground in Scott County Park provide additional pet-friendly options with electric sites, sewer hookups, and shower facilities.
The Mississippi River setting provides excellent opportunities for dogs to enjoy shoreline walks and supervised water access. Rock Creek's Eco Tourism Center offers environmental programs while pet owners can utilize nearby trails. The campground is situated in bottomland river forest where bugs can be problematic in warmer months—pet owners should pack insect repellent safe for animals. Some visitors report dogs wandering off-leash at certain campgrounds, so maintaining control of pets is essential. Seasonal flooding can affect low-lying areas, particularly at Rock Creek, requiring campers to check conditions before arrival. Most campgrounds operate from April through October, though some sites may be available year-round with limited services during winter months.
"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 Availability"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."
from $17 - $36 / night
Check Availability"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."
"They put the site number posts at the end of the pad near the road and our site had a tree on the other side, so we had to use the grass across the road to maneuver in and out."
"Sites include fire rings, tables, gravel backing pads, electric with some right near water edge."
from $14 - $18 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"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"
"will be surrounded by."
from $40 - $95 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $15 - $23 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $15 - $23 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"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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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.
Camping options near Princeton, Iowa center around Mississippi River backwaters and county parks with diverse terrain. The region sits within the Upper Mississippi River floodplain at approximately 590 feet elevation, characterized by bottomland forests, wetlands, and prairie uplands. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer months bring high humidity with daytime temperatures typically ranging from 80-90°F.
Trail exploration: Scott County Park offers over 20 miles of multi-use paths. "The park offers miles of trails, fishing at Pride Lake, a historical Pioneer Village within the park at the north, equestrian trails, bicycle trails," notes James M. about Bald Eagle Campground and Cabins.
Paddling: Mississippi backwaters provide calm water routes. "Eco Center with canoe and kayak rentals, with lots of Mississippi backwater to explore," reports Jeff and Linda L. about Rock Creek County Marina and Campground. The backwaters offer protected areas for beginners and fishing access.
Hennepin Canal biking: The canal path offers miles of flat, accessible riding. "From this campground you can go north, as far as Savanna. Going south will take you through Hampton, East Moline, Moline, Rock Island, and you can cross over to Davenport, circle Credit Island, and pick up other paths in Iowa," explains Sebastian G. at Fishermans Corner.
History exploration: Pioneer Village features authentic buildings and demonstrations. "We also stopped at the Pioneer Village to check it out... 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!" recommends M.E.
Riverside camping spots: Sites overlooking the Mississippi River rate highly. "There are a few sites directly on the water (Sites 8, 9, and 10) plus several more that have a view of the water; these are in the loop to the left of the entrance) and they are the best in my opinion," advises Lee D. about Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River.
Modern cabins: Clean, well-equipped options for those without gear. "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," describes James M. at Bald Eagle Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple campers report deer sightings throughout the park system. "Expect to see whitetail deer as they love to make the park home," notes Kimberly W. at Bald Eagle Campground. Bird watching opportunities are abundant along water edges.
Secluded tent sites: Wooded areas offer more privacy than RV sections. "If you are looking for the most centrally located campground to the entire park, as well as the CG that feels the most secluded from any other neighboring overnight accommodation in the park, then Pine Grove CG is a great choice," suggests Stuart K. about Pine Grove Campground, Scott Co Park.
Seasonal flooding: Low-lying campgrounds may be affected during spring and after heavy rains. "Watch river levels for flooding, bugs can be bad since location is bottomland riverine forest," warns James M. about Rock Creek Marina.
Train noise: Railroad tracks run near several campgrounds. "As with all the campgrounds along the Northern Illinois Great River Trail, it is along side Rt. 84, and railroad tracks. That is a part of the Mississippi commerce," explains Sebastian G. at Illiniwek Campground.
Insect preparation: Bottomland areas can have significant insect activity. "Bugs were not too bad when we were there (October) which was surprising as it was so close to the river and still warm," notes Lee D. Cooler months generally have fewer insects.
Site reservations: Availability varies by campground. "Although it was first come first served we had no problem getting a space on the 4th of July weekend," shares Sharna S. about Illiniwek, while most county park campgrounds require advance booking.
Aquatic center access: Scott County Park offers a full swimming facility 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," describes M.E. at Woodside Campground.
Nature center activities: Educational programs provide kid-friendly learning. "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. Great place for the family," recommends Ryan about Rock Creek.
Playground options: Multiple campgrounds feature play equipment. "We played a lot on the playground there and rode our bikes wherever," recalls Seth N. Bicycle-friendly roads throughout most campgrounds allow for safe riding.
Ice cream tradition: The Pioneer Village shop makes a popular stop. "I loved climbing around in the train cars, eating icecream/candy canes, and watching the blacksmith work," shares Seth N. about childhood visits to the area.
Site selection for size: Certain campgrounds better accommodate larger rigs. "This is a really nice campground right on the Mississippi! The campground is quiet with level gravel pads with a picnic table and firepit," reports Elisha L. about Fishermans Corner.
Hookup options: Water access varies across campgrounds. "The sites have electric, water to fill your tanks with dispersed throughout the campground, and a dump station," notes Elisha L. Full-hookup sites are available at select locations.
Pet management: Leash policies are enforced throughout the pet-friendly campgrounds. "Plenty of sites, boat landing, kayak/canoe rentals, naturalist programs, nature center with native animals including large fish aquarium, cabins, park store and kitchen, shower house, pontoon river cruises," lists James M. about Scott County Park- South East Corner Campground, where pets are welcome but must remain controlled.
Shade considerations: Newer campgrounds have less tree coverage. "Not much shade until trees grow. Park offers swim pool, golf, concessions, shelters, hike/bike/horse trails," advises James M. about Woodside Campground. This affects summer temperature management for RVs without air conditioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Princeton, IA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Princeton, IA is Fishermans Corner - Mississippi River with a 4-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Princeton, IA?
TheDyrt.com has all 103 dog-friendly camping locations near Princeton, IA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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