RV camping options near Portage Des Sioux provide access to the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, an area with elevations ranging from 400-450 feet above sea level. The region experiences humid continental climate with hot summers and moderate winters, allowing for year-round camping at several locations. Local campgrounds typically see summer high temperatures averaging 85-90°F with frequent humidity levels above 70%.
What to do
Bike the Katy Trail: Access the popular Katy Trail directly from Beyond the Trail RV Park in Defiance, which sits adjacent to the trail. "Right on Katy Trail. Very close to wineries and local bars. Clean restrooms and shower house," notes David E. Bring your own bikes or rent e-bikes in town.
Kayak at lakeside parks: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers kayak and canoe rentals for use on their man-made lake. "The park/campground rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes. There is a walking trail around the lake (4+ miles)," according to a camper named Mats.
Explore historic St. Charles: From Sundermeier RV Park, you can easily access the historic riverfront district. "Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles. Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River. Great shops, great restaurants," writes Cheryl K.
Winery tours: Multiple wineries surround the area, particularly near Defiance. "It is located in a sleepy little winery town. It is just a few minutes from the main part of town with multiple beautiful wineries within a few miles," reports Jamie C. about Beyond the Trail RV Park.
What campers like
Convenient brewery access: Campers frequently mention the adjacent brewery at Beyond the Trail. "Just on the other side of the trail is a great brewery with a fantastic patio and rooftop deck. We walked there a few times to enjoy pizza," writes Jamie C.
Gateway Arch views: Casino Queen RV Park offers unique views of the St. Louis skyline. "Even though this RV park is in a city, we felt safe. And its view of the Gateway Arch can't be beat," notes Dennis P., who visited attractions including "The Gateway Arch, Union Station, aquarium, botanical gardens, Anheiser Busch brewery tour."
Well-maintained facilities: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park receives praise for its upkeep and staff. "Very well ran, clean, secure, friendly, professional campground. Full service, pull through site. Excellent park, lots of amenities," says Tom B.
Fishing opportunities: Several parks offer fishing access. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, "You can see all kinds of wildlife in and around the lake- deer, bald eagles, pelicans, ducks, snakes... There is fish in the lake and you are allowed to fish," according to Annie C.
What you should know
Seasonal flooding risks: The St. Peters facility occasionally experiences closures. "One of the downsides to this location is that it is prone to flooding. It was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded," explains Annie C.
Train and airport noise: Cahokia RV Parque sits in an urban environment with associated sounds. "It is what it is. But it was safe, clean and professionally ran... Yes, it is an urban campground in a sort of run down area," notes Tom B., who still rated it 5 stars.
Limited shade trees: Most parks in the region have minimal tree coverage. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, "The grounds are clean and pleasant, if a bit sparse with little shade. This will change over the subsequent years, however, as there are many relatively newly planted trees," writes Suzie S.
Campfire restrictions: Some parks prohibit open fires due to local ordinances. At Sundermeier RV Park, "The only bad thing which isn't the campgrounds fault, is you can't have a camp fire due to the city ordinances," notes Brian A.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers family-friendly amenities. "Located right next to a lake with a lot of RV and tent camping spots. Kids had a blast riding bikes. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night," says Joseph F.
Rental activities for kids: Several parks offer equipment rentals. "We rented a peddle buggy. Those are a lot harder to get moving then they look. Awesome workout for the whole family!" explains Barbie B. about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Security features: Many RV campgrounds near Portage Des Sioux maintain security measures. The Casino Queen RV Park "need[s] a code to get in the gate, so you must register in advance," according to Richard H. Parents appreciate this added safety feature when camping with children.
Last-minute family options: Beyond the Trail offers easy online booking. "Easy to book online even the day of. Choose your spot ahead of time and pull in, easy as that! There are RV & tent sites, bathrooms with hot showers," says Brooklyn G., noting a later checkout time of 2 pm that works well for families.
Tips from RVers
Electric safety considerations: Some RV parks may have electrical issues. At Sundermeier RV Park, one licensed electrical engineer warned about potential wiring problems with 30A receptacles, suggesting RVers "DO NOT use the 30A receptacles here unless you have a surge protector with an Electrical Management System (EMS) that explicitly confirms correct wiring before connecting your RV."
Big rig accessibility: Most campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. At Kamper Kompanion RV Park, "Easy on off, right by highway, pulled in after dark and they met us to show us to the site and got us settled. Easy pull thru site with 40' and toad," reports Jessica T.
Full hookup variations: Hookup configurations differ between sites. At Casino Queen RV Park, "Utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper," advises Josh F.
Water pressure variances: Water connections vary between parks. One RVer at Sundermeier noted "30 pound water pressure" as a positive feature, while another at St. Peters' mentioned, "The water pressure was so strong that I could barely open the water pump!"
