Guide to Places to Camping
along the Great River Road
in the Middle Mississippi River Valley
Camping can be a great way to immerse yourself in nature and check out hiking trails, scenic views, and more as you go off-grid. Cabins can be an option for those wanting to stay dry and a bit more covered, but others may want to pitch a tent or drive up in an RV. Camping sites in the Middle Mississippi River Valley along the Great River Road will help you forget the daily grind for a while.
The Tri-State Region
Iowa, Western Illinois, and Northwestern Missouri
For outdoor enthusiasts who want to spend a night or two under the stars, the Tri-State region offers plenty of options. There are 4 state parks - Battle of Athens State Historic Site, Nauvoo State Park, Siloam Springs State Park, and Wakonda State Park – that offer both electric and basic camping option. Siloam Springs also has facilities for horses. In addition to the state parks campers can stay at Lake Pittsfield or a number of private campgrounds.
Missouri’s Lincoln Hills
For those looking for Camping options in Missouri’s Lincoln Hills there are two state parks with wonderful facilities: Cuivre River State Park and Mark Twain State Park. There are also numerous private campgrounds providing a range of options and activities.
Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway
Madison, Jersey, and Calhoun Counties, Illinois
There are a number of options for visitors to the area with two state parks in the region and a number of private campgrounds. Camping options in the northern section of the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway area is limited to Pere Marquette State Park, but the Park (the largest in the state of Illinois) accommodates all types of campers.
French Colonial Country
Missouri and Illinois south of St. Louis
French Colonial Country has a number of different options for visitors who want to camp. Hawn State Park has facilities for all types of camping from RVs to tents set among its pine forest habitat. Washington State Park has facilities for all types of camping including cabins and features prehistoric petroglyphs, rock carvings, from a Mississippian Native American culture and stone structures that were built by the CCC during the depression. There are also a number of private campgrounds to choose from. Randolph County State Recreation Area and Morse Mill Park offers camping options and there are several private campgrounds.
Meeting the Ohio River
The Mississippi River Meets the Ohio River Region offers campers a wide range of opportunities. Excellent full service public campgrounds in State Parks can be found at Giant City State Park and Lake Murphysboro in Illinois, Trail of Tears State Park in Missouri, and Columbus-Belmont State Park in Kentucky. Other public sites including natural areas offer a range of services ranging from Class A facilities to primitive camping opportunities. There are also a number of private campgrounds throughout the region.
The Upper Delta Region
The Upper Delta region of the Middle Mississippi River Valley offers campers a large number of choices of camping options. The area features a number of state parks plus several private RV parks and campgrounds.
