Nauvoo Campground

You don’t have to go far to find yourself among lush trees and feel the peace and tranquility of nature – all you need to do is step out of your campervan rental and start discovering the secrets of Nauvoo State Park. Its name means "a beautiful place," and it shares it with the nearby town. Lake Horton is there for boaters and anglers, while hikers can stretch their legs on one of the hiking trails winding through the greenery. Campers looking forward to some rest will find peaceful picnic areas where they can enjoy some time outside with their friends and family. A variety of birds can be spotted in the park, and if you come in winter, you can take part in sledding and cross-country skiing. Another highlight of the park is the museum, featuring a wine cellar open to the public and interesting artifacts from the town history.

Crossing the Mississippi and Iowa border and traveling north will get you to a natural oasis called Geode State Park. Explore the heavily wooded parts of the park as you hike the trails lined with wildflowers. A unique activity waiting for adventurers who park their Nauvoo campers in the park is hunting for geodes. The rocks do need to remain in the park, though admiring their beauty in a natural surrounding is the best way to enjoy them. Geode Lake is the heart of the park, excellent for fishing, boating, and splashing around during the warm months.

Sitting at the confluence of the Illinois and the Mississippi rivers, Pere Marquette State Park is another incredible place you can get to in a couple of hours when you opt for camping at Nauvoo Campground. A dramatic landscape of bluffs rising from the greenery is one of the most striking features of the park – if you reach the top, you will get a chance to enjoy stunning vistas of the rivers cutting through the trees. Artifacts such as pottery and spearheads can be found around the park, offering a glimpse into the history of the Native American tribes living in the area. Campers who come in the winter get a chance to admire bald eagles in all their glory.

With so many amazing cities just a couple of hours' drive away, RV camping at Nauvoo Campground can easily turn into an exciting day of sightseeing.

If you decide to spend the day in Peoria, make sure to find some time to discover what the Peoria Riverfront Museum has in store. A place where art, science, and history meet, it offers something interesting to every visitor. Whether you visit the planetarium, explore the life along the Illinois River, or admire artworks ranging from fine and decorative art to ethnographic and folk art, you will find something new and exciting around every corner.

To get familiar with the history of the state and its spirit, pay a visit to Springfield and enter the impressive Illinois State Capitol. One of the tallest capitol buildings in the country, it will impress you with its zinc-covered dome and its silvery shine, as well as the greenery of the surrounding park. Inside, visitors can study the scenes from state history and admire the wonderfully decorated dome and stained glass windows.

When you get tired of roaming around big cities and want to enjoy the cozy small-town atmosphere, visit the Nauvoo Grape Festival. A great thing about the festival is that it takes place at Nauvoo State Park, adding even more excitement to your RV camping trip. Sample some local grapes and delicious food, listen to some great music, take part in a competition, or attend the Festival on Wheels Car Show – the fun never stops at this one-of-a-kind festival.