RV camping options near Granite City, Illinois provide convenient access to the St. Louis metro area while offering varied experiences for motorhome travelers. The region sits along the Mississippi River floodplain at approximately 420 feet elevation, with humid continental climate bringing hot summers and moderate winters. Most RV parks in the area maintain year-round operations with the exception of seasonal closures at select locations during winter months.
What to do
Bike the Katy Trail: Access this popular trail directly from Beyond the Trail RV Park in Defiance, Missouri. "The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town. Forgot your bike? Walk 3 minutes away and rent one," notes a camper who visited in 2021.
Explore historic St. Charles: Located approximately 30 minutes from Granite City, this area offers walking tours and riverfront activities. "Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River. Great shops, great restaurants," explains a reviewer from Sundermeier RV Park.
Visit nearby wineries: The wine region west of Granite City features multiple tasting rooms. "Very close to wineries and local bars," notes a camper who stayed at Beyond the Trail RV Park. Another visitor adds, "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."
What campers like
Water recreation: The manmade lake at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers paddleboating and kayaking. "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). There is fish in the lake and you are allowed to fish," according to a reviewer.
Convenient brewery access: Several campgrounds feature on-site or adjacent brewery options. "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," says a camper who stayed at Beyond the Trail RV Park.
Security features: Gated access at Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park provides peace of mind for campers. "You need a code to get in the gate, so you must register in advance," explains one visitor. Another notes, "Security is proactive in patrols and are friendly and helpful."
What you should know
Utility configurations: Some RV sites near Granite City, Illinois have unusual hookup layouts. At Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park, "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," reports a November 2023 visitor.
Weather considerations: Flooding can impact campgrounds in this Mississippi River region. At Cahokia RV Parque, drainage becomes problematic during heavy rains. "A few of the campsites will flood, not bad enough to get to your camper, but just enough to be annoying," notes one visitor.
Ambient noise: Being near urban areas means noise is common at RV parks. A Sundermeier RV Park visitor explains, "It is near a highway, there a railroad bridge right next to it, and it is under the airport flight path. The planes and trains stopped after about 10-11pm I think."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park has "a small playground" according to reviews, while Cahokia RV Parque offers "an awesome playground for the kids!" as noted by a visitor.
Consider site location: At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, "The nicest spots are the ones by the lake, with only one neighbor and a better view of the lake," recommends a family who stayed there for several weeks.
Activities for different ages: Covered Bridge RV Park offers proximity to stores and restaurants but limited on-site activities. A visitor noted, "There wasn't any signage telling us where to park to check in or any of that which was more confusing because there's a separate entrance for the office than there is for the actual park."
Tips from RVers
Site surface options: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers both concrete and gravel sites at different price points. "Concrete pads with full hookups, as well as dirt pads with full hookups," notes a recent visitor. Another mentions they "feature cement pad ($50) and gravel ($45) sites."
Big rig accessibility: Multiple parks accommodate larger RVs with varying levels of site spacing. At Kamper Kompanion RV Park, "Easy pull thru site with 40' and toad. Basically a big open flat field with sites and building spread throughout," reports a winter visitor.
Urban vs. natural settings: RV sites near Granite City offer both options. A Covered Bridge RV Park visitor explains, "It's not necessarily a 'pretty' RV park but it's not really ugly either, just somewhere in the middle." Meanwhile, 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."
