Campgrounds and RV parks near Keithsburg, IL

The Mississippi River is the main draw. A boat ramp at Delabar State Park provides access to the Mississippi, where anglers can catch channel cat, bass, bluegill, crappie and more. Fairport State Recreation Area has two boat ramps providing plenty of boating access to the Mississippi, along with courtesy docks for loading and unloading boats. On land, Big River State Forest offers hiking and long scenic loops. The 1 1/2 mile Lincoln Hiking Trail commemorates Abraham Lincoln's march through the area in 1832, and the forest is a remnant of a vast prairie woodland border area that once covered much of Illinois. Trails at Wildcat Den State Park wind through sandstone bluffs and natural formations such as Steamboat Rock and the Devil's Punch Bowl. Families traveling with kids may prefer Haven Hills Campground & Resort, which adds amenities like disc golf, sand volleyball, walking and biking paths, and an onsite store beyond what the state sites offer.

The area has a humid continental climate with a wide seasonal swing. Late spring through early fall is the practical camping window for most RV renters, with June through August delivering warm days and the highest river activity. Shoulder months bring cooler nights and thinner crowds, and fall foliage along the Mississippi bluffs typically peaks in October. Seasonal operating dates matter for public parks on both sides of the river. Wildcat Den campground is closed January 1 through March 31, off-peak in April, peak May 1 through October 15, off-peak the second half of October, and closed November 1 through December 31. At Fairport and other Iowa DNR campgrounds, park staff generally try to have water on and shower buildings and dump stations open by May 1, and start closing them down around mid-October depending upon the weather. Winter camping is possible but bare-bones. Between November 1 and March 31 at Wildcat Den, no reservations are required, and campers can walk on in. Expect frozen hydrants and closed shower buildings during that stretch.

Expect a mix of rustic and modern. Big River has drinking water and a sanitary station in the Shady Pines area, but sites themselves do not have individual hookups. Delabar's fifty tent and trailer campsites offer 30-amp electrical hookups, and a dump station and water filling station are also available on site. Delabar allows vehicles up to 46 feet. Across the river, Iowa sites vary. Fairport State Recreation Area has 30-amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups, and allows vehicles up to 55 feet. Wildcat Den's campground has 28 non-modern campsites with drinking water and vault toilets, and there are no showers or electrical service to the sites. Cell coverage is spotty in the state forest, and ticks are common in the wooded bottoms during warm months, so pack a repellent and check pets after walks. Buy firewood locally near the park and burn it all during the stay to help slow the spread of forest pests such as emerald ash borer.