James M.
Legend
LegendHorseshoe Pond
Nice smaller CG in City of Maquoketa, Iowa
CG offers gravel pads, tables, fire rings, electric, sump station, water, small pond with fishing, paddling, dog park. Close to stores for supplies, dining, fuel.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Sabula, IA
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South Sabula Lakes County Park accepts pets at its established campsites along the Mississippi River. The park features electric hookups, drinking water, and shower facilities for campers with dogs. Sites are decent sized with fire rings and picnic tables, accommodating both tent and RV camping from April through November. Seasonal flooding can lead to significant insect hatches, particularly in spring months. The campground is positioned near a busy boat launch, which creates regular traffic through the area. Seven Eagles RV Resort & Campground provides another pet-friendly option nearby with full hookup sites including water, electric, and sewer connections for RV campers, plus cabin accommodations for those traveling with pets.
Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground offers extensive pet-friendly camping opportunities across its 241 sites with well-maintained trails suitable for dog walking. The campground features multiple shower houses, flush toilets, and drinking water access points throughout the grounds. Campers should be prepared for ticks and mosquitoes, particularly in valley areas where the terrain can be swampy during certain seasons. The park's hiking trails provide scenic views of the Mississippi River with varied difficulty levels, though some contain steep climbs that may challenge certain dogs. A boat launch area directly across from the campground offers water access. Nearby towns of Savanna and Galena provide access to pet supplies and veterinary services within a 25-minute drive.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Sabula (102)
1. Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
"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."
2. Thomson Causeway
"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 Availability3. Spring Lake Campground
"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 Availability4. Bellevue State Park Campground — Dyas Unit
"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 Availability5. South Sabula Lakes County Park
6. Seven Eagles RV Resort & Campground
"We took several walks and bike rides around it. There is also a pool and a club house on property, however we did not visit them. There is ATT service, but not strong."
7. Morrison-Rockwood State Park
"We saw an article about "Dutch Days" in nearby Fulton on www.OnlyInYourState.com, (first weekend in May) and thought it looked like fun."
"We enjoyed the beautiful lake and cute restaurant/gift shop. We liked the different loops of campsites with pit toilets every where and a nice modern bathroom/shower house also."
from $20 / night
Check Availability9. Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
"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."
"Caves were closed but we had a great time hiking the trails. Very clean campground. Plenty of wood for campfires, just had a donation box. Electric campsites have plenty of shade."
from $20 - $28 / night
Check Availability10. Riverview City Park
"It is right next to the river and the Clinton Riverfront Park and even fast food restaurants are within walking distance. There is also a walking path next to the river."
Drive Time
- 51 min from Dubuque, IA
- 59 min from Davenport, IA
- 1 hr 18 min from Rockford, IL
- 1 hr 49 min from Janesville, WI
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Sabula, IA
84 Photos of 102 Sabula Campgrounds
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Spring Lake Campground
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Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
Jeff G.
Thomson Causeway
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Morrison-Rockwood State Park
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Canyon Ridge Campground — Apple River Canyon State Park
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6B's Campground
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Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground
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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Sabula, IA
633 Reviews of 102 Sabula Campgrounds
- DDick M.
ScoutCamelot Campground Quad Cities USA
Great for an overnight
Gravel 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.
- James M.Legend
Iowa 80 Truckstop
Good overnight parking and I 80 access
This 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.
- James M.Legend
Horseshoe Pond
Small City CG in Maquoketa Iowa
CG 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.
- James M.Legend
Lakeside RV Park and Campground
Travelling overnight stay suggested
I 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.
Skylar M.ScoutGeneseo Campground
Stayed for a night passing through
Great 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
Lee D.LegendRustic Barn Campground RV Park
Very clean and well-maintained
General: 58 sites with various amenities. Some are long pull-throughs, some are back-in, some have 30 amp with or without a patio, and some have 50-amp electric with or without a patio. Tents are NOT allowed. We were greeted immediately upon arrival and asked to sign a waiver and given a welcome packet. The rules are extensive, but most are common sense/courtesy and not at all unreasonable.
Site Quality: All had gravel driveways and looked level. Decent separation between sites although they are close together, as would be expected in an RV park. Our site had a patio and decent-sized picnic table but it was chilly when we were there so we ate inside.
Bathhouse: Very clean as were the showers.
Activities/Amenities: There are many activities offered, including a dog park, basketball, horseshoes, games (cornhole, large checkerboard, and others), a barn with a television, a book library, puzzles, and a pool table. Coffee is available after 9 am. There is also a small chapel available 24/7 and a laundry room. WiFi is also available. There is a camp store with ice, ice cream, some camping supplies, clothing, crafts, and more. We were told several restaurants will deliver to the campground.
We don’t typically prefer to stay in RV-style campgrounds, but it was conveniently located with easy access off Route 151 just over the Wisconsin border from Iowa, we were warmly welcomed, and enjoyed our short stay passing through. Pride of ownership was evident throughout.
Stuart K.LegendGeneseo Campground
Hidden Gem Along Slow-Moving Canal
This 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!
- Agapes D.
GuideYellowstone Lake State Park Campground
Wonderful hiking!-May 2018
This is a popular place in the area, the human beaches are full and the small pet beach area was well used by my husband, myself and our two dogs; Odinn & Frigga over Memorial Day. The hiking is amazing , particularly the Oakgrove trail, plenty to see with beautiful views. There is boating, canoeing, etc. Bring the strongest mosquito repellent you can get, Wisconsin in summer can be rough. We tried our Black Diamond poles and Thule day bags and we got to try cooling vests for the dogs from Ruffwear. It was so much fun. Note that there are sites to camp, cabins nearby and plenty of Hipcamp sites near. Strongly recommend Riverview Bottoms, which sits in a 500 acre property and is 10 min away.
Guide to Sabula
Camping in the Sabula area offers riverside sites and access to the Mississippi River backwaters. Located in eastern Iowa along the Mississippi, Sabula sits at an elevation of 586 feet in Jackson County. The area experiences humid continental climate with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F and winter dropping to 15-30°F. Spring camping often coincides with seasonal flooding and insect hatches.
What to do
Explore bat caves: Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground offers a unique caving experience with 13 distinct caves across 370 acres. "Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful," writes Bryan S. The park features 6 miles of hiking trails with varied difficulty levels.
Bike along river trails: Thomson Causeway provides access to scenic biking paths along the Mississippi. "There is a great bike trail to enjoy and the Mississippi Pallisades state park is close by for some excellent views of the river from up on the bluffs," notes Libby W. The paved trails connect multiple recreation areas.
Wildlife viewing: Spring Lake Campground sits adjacent to a National Wildlife Refuge. "Sunsets and stargazing, fishing and kayaking, biking and relaxing! This campground is the perfect sanctuary for your family and friends to get away, enjoy quiet time and be outdoors," says Danika P. Bird watching opportunities are abundant in spring and fall migration seasons.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground features spacious campsites among tall trees. "Super Scenic and Massive Campground... 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," explains Scott M.
Clean facilities: Morrison-Rockwood State Park maintains exceptionally clean amenities. "The (and I cannot emphasize this enough) CLEANEST campground bathrooms I've ever seen! I'm not squeamish and have been camping for years so my expectations for campground bathroom cleanliness is well calibrated but these bathrooms (even the vault toilets!) were amazingly clean," raves Stacie H.
River access: Many campers appreciate the direct water access at Thomson Causeway. "This is a tidy COE Park right on the Mississippi River. Electric only. Very nice new dump station with a lot of spaces. The sites are spacious but a little tight to back in," reports Jeff G. The waterfront location allows for fishing and water activities directly from the campground.
What you should know
Seasonal insect issues: River proximity brings significant insect challenges. At Thomson Causeway, "Since it is right on the river and there is also lots of marsh, the bug situation was a bit much, especially when there was no breeze. Bring a screened canopy if you want to enjoy the outdoors without swatting bugs all the time," advises Stacie H.
Railroad noise: Several campgrounds sit near active train lines. At Riverview City Park, "The one negative is noise from trains. One seems to go by every few hours," mentions Terry A T. Ear plugs may be needed for light sleepers.
Boat traffic: Busy boat launches create regular traffic through waterfront campgrounds. "There is a nonstop parade of trucks and boats at the attached boat launch. At first it's entertaining, but by the second day, the jacked up diesel pickups with ridiculous exhaust launching and retrieving boats gets old," notes Jeff G. about South Sabula Lakes County Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: For families with young children, Morrison-Rockwood State Park offers playgrounds near certain sites. "We had site 57 which is in a loop which goes around a playground. It was great for the kids who could go play and the sites in this loop provide plenty of space and privacy," shares Ben W.
Cave exploration with kids: When planning visits to Maquoketa Caves, bring proper equipment. "This park is beautiful and perfect for an adventurous hike. The caves make this a unique place to visit but the hiking is rigorous. It proved to be tons of fun for me, my son and his friends," reports Charles M. Headlamps and appropriate footwear are essential for safe cave exploration.
Pet-friendly considerations: For pet friendly camping near Sabula, Iowa, consider site selection carefully. At Bellevue State Park Campground, "Sites are nice and spaced a decent bit apart. Site 15 has a nice shade tree," notes Lee D. Most campgrounds in the area welcome pets but may have specific trail restrictions.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: RVers should note that many campgrounds have uneven sites. "The pad was uneven but we got our pup leveled out. We couldn't hike as much due to some hunting still going on but we made due," explains Pam O. about Morrison-Rockwood State Park. Bringing extra leveling blocks is recommended.
Electric hookups: Thomson Causeway provides electric-only sites with a central water supply. "Very nice new dump station with a lot of spaces. The sites are spacious but a little tight to back in," notes Jeff G. Water is available at spigots throughout the park rather than at individual sites.
Dump station access: Full hookup options are limited in the area. "There are a handful of sites set aside between 2 big loops of RV spots. The spots were hard to find on the map and we had to carry all out gear from the parking spot to our site so not ideal," explains Stacie H. about Thomson Causeway's tent area. For RVers requiring full hookups, Seven Eagles RV Resort & Campground offers water, electric, and sewer connections for extended stays.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sabula, IA is Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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