Dispersed camping opportunities within an hour of West Burlington, Iowa provide access to the Mississippi River watershed and several lakes in the region. Much of the camping is available between April and November with high water levels common in spring. The southeastern Iowa terrain includes forest, prairie and riverfront campsites with elevation changes near river bluffs.
What to do
Fishing the Mississippi River: At Ferry Landing - Mississippi River, visitors can fish where the Iowa and Mississippi rivers meet. "Great isolated camping at river edge where Iowa and Mississippi rivers meet! Paddling, fishing, hiking in bottom land forests," notes James M., who suggests watching for barges passing by.
Paddling local waterways: Geode State Park Campground offers kayaking and boating opportunities on the park lake. "We ventured south to Geode State Park near Burlington, IA. The hike was very soggy and I even found a treasure. It was an old can of salve," reports Jeannie B. The park has a boat ramp where many watercraft launch during summer months.
Stargazing at night: Big Hollow Recreation Area provides designated areas for stargazing with telescope mounts. "There's a gun range, horse farm, playground, bathrooms, and even a place to use a few telescopes to see the stars!" according to Lisa M., who tent camped there recently.
Hiking forest trails: Several campgrounds feature wooded trails for hiking. The path system around Big Hollow lake "is in pretty good shape and makes for some great mountain biking," according to Douglas P. Trails range from easy lakeside loops to more challenging terrain through bottomland forests.
What campers like
Concrete camping pads: Big Hollow Recreation Area offers cement pads that improve campsite stability in wet conditions. "This site has a large number of mostly cement camper spots, including pull through. There is a large playground and shower house. Primitive camping for single or group spots," says Travis R., who rated the campground highly.
River views: Camping along the Mississippi offers unique scenery. "Site #12 with electric hookup was in my opinion the best site. Right on the back of the mighty Mississippi. Very clean friendly stay," notes Donna T. about Shady Creek.
Privacy options: Some campgrounds offer secluded sites away from neighbors. "If you want more privacy and easy access to the lake for kayaking I'd go for 14, 15, and 16. I'm in 32 and it is private and very pretty," recommends Sarah J. about Big Hollow Recreation Area.
Well-maintained facilities: Clean bathrooms and shower buildings are available at most established campgrounds. The Galesburg East KOA features "the nicest bath house I've seen at a camp ground, hands down," according to Ryan L.
What you should know
Train noise concerns: Railroad tracks near some campgrounds create noise issues. At Crossroads RV Park - Iowa, John C. warns, "The issue is NOISE!! Constant train traffic all night! Horns blaring! The tracks are less than 1/4-mile away." Similarly, David D. notes about Shady Creek: "Only negative was that there is a train track real close and a lot of crosses, So you will hear alot of close train horns and they go deep into the night/morning."
Seasonal flooding: Low-lying areas experience flooding that affects access. "Tried to camp here, but dirt road going in was submerged in deep mud holes after some heavy rain," reports Fred S. about Ferry Landing.
Cell service variations: Coverage differs significantly between carriers and locations. "Our cell phone provider is Sprint and we had zero service," notes Stephanie D. about Shady Creek, while David D. mentions, "Strong Verizon access" at the same location.
Self-registration process: Many county and state parks require self-registration. "You self check in and cost is only $10/night for primitive," explains Lisa M. about Big Hollow Recreation Area.
Tips for camping with families
Playground facilities: Family-friendly campgrounds often include play areas. Travis R. mentions Big Hollow Recreation Area has "a large playground and shower house" making it suitable for children.
Fishing opportunities for kids: Sturgeon Bay Park and Campground offers easy fishing access. "Great place to camp especially if you have a boat or like to fish the Mississippi river. 2 blocks from a restaurant/tavern," notes Coty G.
Swimming options: Some lakes have designated swimming areas, though water quality varies. "The lake itself has been drained for about 3 years now and shows no signs of being filled again. Though they say it will be," Douglas P. reported about Geode State Park.
Weekend activity planning: Local communities host seasonal events. Coty G. mentions, "City of New Boston has several different community events throughout the year as well," making Sturgeon Bay Campground a good base for exploring nearby towns.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing limitations: RV campgrounds near West Burlington, Iowa often have tight spacing between sites. At Updog RV & Camping, Kevin B. notes spacing constraints: "Barely enough room in front of camper to park pickup at an angle."
Full hookup availability: While electric service is common, full hookups vary between parks. Crossroads RV Park in Mount Pleasant offers "full hookups- electric, water and sewer," according to Melissa A., though she adds, "I wouldn't stay longer than an overnight. The sites were close together."
Pull-through access: Many campgrounds provide pull-through sites for easier RV parking. Travis R. describes Big Hollow Recreation Area: "This site has a large number of mostly cement camper spots, including pull through."
Shade considerations: Tree cover affects both comfort and utilities. Teresa M. describes Updog RV & Camping as a "Small, family campground with lots of shade and small pond!" though others note the dense tree cover can impact satellite and cell reception.
