Public Camping Areas
Muscatine County offers campers spectacular river views, clean comfortable facilities and plenty of recreational options.
Clark’s Ferry Recreation Area
Clark’s Ferry is an 11 acre, Class A campground located along the banks of the Mississippi River just east of Muscatine. It is easily accessible from Highway 22. This facility offers 45 camp sites, all with 50 amp electric service and some with concrete parking pads. The campground has many other amenities campers appreciate such as fresh drinking water, a shower house and a trailer dump station. A boat launch site is also available. Clark’s Ferry is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visit the Corps website at missriver.org. For further park information, contact 563-263-7913 during business hours. Reservations can be made by calling 877-444-6777 or on the web at http://www.Recreation.govcom.
Fairport Recreation Area
Fairport Recreation Area is situated between the Mississippi River and Highway 22. This facility covers 17 acres; each of the 42 sites has a 50 amp electric service and a fire ring. Select sites are available for larger RV’s. Modern showers, restrooms and a trailer dump station are available. There are three boat ramps, a boat dock and a fish cleaning station on the premises to serve the recreational boater. Fairport Recreational Area is 6 miles from Wildcat Den State Park. For a complete list of amenities, visit http://iowadnr.gov. To make reservations, go to iowadnr.gov or call 877-IAPARKS.
Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area
This Muscatine County Park is secluded and peaceful. It is located 8 miles northwest of Muscatine, along the Cedar River, and is accessible from North Mulberry Avenue. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area offers three campgrounds, each offering different levels of service. The Main Campground has 24 sites with electricity and fire rings. Restrooms and showers are located in the Main Campground. The Cedar River Campground has 9 non-modern campsites, while the Walk-in Tent area is ideal for those who like to commune with nature. Saulsbury Bridge Recreation Area, which is managed by the Muscatine County Conservation Board, covers 675 acres. During the summer, park visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, hiking and the equestrian trails. Winter activities include ice fishing, hunting, trapping and cross-country skiing. For more information, visit http://www.co.muscatine.ia.us , or call 563-264-5922 during business hours.
Shady Creek Recreation Area
Shady Creek is a 7 acre, Class A campground with 53 sites. Each campsite offers a 50 amp electric service, some sites have concrete pads and water hydrants are available throughout the park for visitor use. The campground is complete with shower house, playground, a nature trail and boat launch. The facility is accessible from Highway 22 which is part of the Great River Road. Shady Creek is the most popular campground in the area; campers love the beautiful river view, the abundant wildlife, and the many scheduled activities led by park rangers. Shady Creek is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visit the Corps website at http://missriver.org . For further park information, contact 563-263-7913 during business hours. Reservations can be made by calling 877-444-6777 or on the web at http://Recreation.gov.
Wildcat Den State Park
Wildcat Den State Park offers 27 non-electric campsites situated within a picturesque pine forest. There are non-modern restrooms available in the campground, however a shower house, modern restrooms and a trailer dump station are available to use at nearby Fairport Recreation Area. Campers can also make use of the boat launch facility at the Fairport Recreation Area. For a complete list of amenities, visit iowadnr.gov . To make reservations, go to http://iowadnr.gov or call 877-IAPARKS.
Blanchard Island Recreational Area
This off-the-beaten-path campground is located just across the Mississippi River in rural Illinois, four miles south of Muscatine. Blanchard Island is an 8 acre, Class C campground with 34 campsites. Fresh drinking water, a boat launch and a trailer dump station are available to registered campers. The area, long considered a sportsman’s paradise, is an ideal habitat for Canada geese, great blue herons, bald eagles, deer, reptiles and other wildlife. Blanchard Island is accessible from Highway 92, and then follow the signs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates the facility; visit the Corps website at http://missriver.org. For further park information, contact 563-263-7913 during business hours. |
