River, stream, or creek camping near Cape Girardeau with fishing
See how the Mississippi River shaped the landscapes and culture of this Missouri city.
98% (562 reviews)
- Cape Girardeau
98% (562 reviews)
Popular camping styles for Cape Girardeau
Star Hosts in Cape Girardeau
Under $50
8 top river, stream, or creek campgrounds near Cape Girardeau with fishing
100%
(468)
Wine Trail Wilderness
16 sites · RVs, Tents37 acres · Pomona, IL
The Shawnee National Forest surrounds us, accessible only by wandering roads, passing over creeks and alongside wineries. The trip is worth the beautiful drive, eventually arriving at "The Villa".
Our home looks like an Italian villa, appropriately placed between two wineries in the middle of the Shawnee Forest.
It is actually a straw-bale home with supplemental solar energy.
Originally built as a Holistic Healing Center, we have converted it into a comfortable home with great vibes.
We have converted an old grain bin into a "GrainZebo" just outside our home as a fun place to hang out with friends and family. We hope you enjoy the same relaxed feel we get while living out here in the woods, when you come visit.
We will be happy to help you feel at home out here. We love sharing the Shawnee experience.
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$30
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Total Eclipse Camp, Commerce, MO
30 sites · RVs4 acres · Commerce, MO
The Village of Commerce is located halfway between St.Louis and Memphis. Commerce has an unobstructed view of the Mississippi without a levee. This location will have approximately 4 minutes of totality for the April 8, 2024 eclipse. There is public access to the Mississippi for fishing and exploring.
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$50
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Fredrock Waterfront Glampground
20 sites · RVs33 acres · Fredericktown, MO
Fredrock is a small privately owned glampground on crystal clear 12mile Creek.
It is located about 15 minutes from the nearest town on 33 beautiful acres.
Enjoy one of the 7 themed stays or bring your own RV and stay in one of only 5 RV spots.
It is just a few minutes walk to 12 Mile Creek which runs through the property.
Enjoy the beautiful bluffs, shut-ins, gravel river beds and crystal clear water. Swimming, hiking, stargazing, and horseshoes are all available at Fredrock!
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Riverview Campground
12 sites · RVs, Tents10 acres · Grand Chain, IL
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92%
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Red Gate Farm, LLC
2 sites · Lodging, Tents50 acres · Creal Springs, IL
Welcome to Red Gate Farm, LLC, a farm with a vision! We previously ran a very successful Hipcamp site at our previous property, but completely relocated and are starting fresh! We purchased 50 acres of GORGEOUS timbered property, with rolling forested hills, several creeks, trees towering over 100 feet tall, and abundant wildlife. It's absolutely perfect for Hipcamp!
Building a new farm (and Hipcamp program) from scratch takes time--years even, but we decided now is as a good a time as any to share our beautiful timber with Hipcampers looking for some peace and privacy. While the site itself will be groomed and set up as listed, the surrounding grass won't be perfectly green yet, there will still be a lot of dead-wood and natural debris around the sites, and trails are a bit rough and uneven. If you can overlook the "rustic" aspects though, and enjoy the beauty of the peace and quiet of just enjoying nature, as it has sat unmanaged for roughly 50 years around the sites, then you are likely to love every moment!
If you desire more adventure than just hanging around and enjoying nature, be sure to check out the additional experiences we offer here on the farm, as well as the entire surrounding area. Southern IL is made up of the Shawnee National Forest and multiple state parks and recreational areas. You can find a wide variety of activities to keep you busy! Even the local towns have much to offer, whether you enjoy fine dining, casual restaurants, antique shopping, or a nice theater production.
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$25
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Heron House Total Eclipse Camping
20 sites · Tents3 acres · Murphysboro, IL
2024 Total Eclipse Camping in the Path of Totality and Longest Duration
Four minutes and six seconds of totality!
Pitch your tent in the path of totality at the edge of Kinkaid Lake and the Shawnee Forest. Campsites have shade and views of open skies for the eclipse. Immerse yourself in the experience at the edge of a lake away from light pollution. The entire eclipse will last over 2 hours, start to finish.
Additional attractions and amenities are detailed below. We look forward to hosting you!
Heron House Campground is in the path of totality and just a few miles from the point of greatest duration. This listing is for 1 of a handful of sites that can be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Heron House is located a few miles northwest of Murphysboro at the edge of Kinkaid Lake and the Shawnee National Forest in the Illinois Ozarks (away from city lights). It is gorgeous country!
Here the skies are dark, the laughs are belly-deep, the wildlife is boisterous, and deep breaths of contentment live among the breezes in the bluffs.
Heron House is a relaxing camping environment with friendly hosts.
$90 per camper per day, tents only. Campsites are available April 6-April 11. There will be numerous events taking place in the region. 3-night minimum. Feel free to participate in all of them or simply kick back and enjoy the serenity of springtime at the edge of a lake in the Shawnee National Forest.
Campsites have shade trees and access to uninhibited views (open skies for the eclipse). The night skies are stunning here. Heron House also has a shaded porch that campers are welcome to sit and enjoy a cold beverage on. :) Campsites will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Attractions and Amenities:
~Multiple gorgeous hiking trails—from easy to rigorous—and biking opportunities close by
~Owners/hosts on-site
~Walking distance to restaurant, bar, laundry (coin), showers, and convenience shop
~Kinkaid Lake Spillway is the area’s most beautiful “swimming hole” and can be accessed by car (6-min. drive) or boat
~Fishing docks and lake within walking distance
~Beautiful lakeside and sunset strolls
~Scads of wineries and breweries in the area, including the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail
~Parking on-site (one standard-size parking place per campsite)
~Award-winning restaurants nearby, including 17th Street Barbecue, three-time World Grand Champions
~Science and history museums (adult and kid-friendly)
~The area is a nature lover’s paradise, surrounded by national forest and state parks and stunning beauty.
Campers have access to shared, serviced toilet facilities and hand-washing stations that meet county code. Laundry (coin) and shower facilities are located within walking distance. Potable water, dumpster for trash, and a large, in-the-ground, shared campfire pit for campers to share. Campers are very welcome to bring self-sustaining cooking/campfire equipment as long as it is in a contained unit that is raised off of the ground. In other words, no fires or dig pits on/in the ground. Thanks!
A power-strip station is available for campers to share to charge mobile phones, laptops, and tablets; these are the only electronic devices that can be charged at the power station, so please be sure to have adequate batteries or charging equipment for other devices. For the courtesy of others, gas-powered generators are not permitted, and power is not available on-site for electric generators.
Please note that each individual camper must sign a release of liability (guardians sign for minors). If the release has not been signed before arrival, it must be signed upon arrival. Please note that refunds will not be granted, including for refusal to sign the release on the part of any camper in the party.
Free coffee in the morning for early risers from 6 a.m. 'til it's gone—and free treats in the evening for after-supper snackers ('til they're gone). :)
We look forward to hosting your magnificent stay in Southernmost Illinois for the 2024 Total Eclipse!
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Camp Ondessonk
9 sites · Tents983 acres · Ozark, IL
Operating since 1959, Camp Ondessonk is a non-profit youth camp on 983 acres of beautiful wooded property adjacent to the Shawnee National Forest. Guests have access to several miles of paved road for walking and cycling, 15 miles of on-site hiking and biking trails, and access to a huge network of public Shawnee National Forest trails including the River-to-River Trail. Our property is home to the tallest free-falling waterfall in Illinois, Cedar Falls, as well as rock bottom creeks, canyons, prairies, forests, and hills. Detailed trail maps of our property and the surrounding area are available. Guests are welcome to stroll the grounds, observe our horses grazing in the pastures, enjoy views of our lakes and forests, or relax by the campfire. Stop by the Camp Store at the Trading Post to purchase Ondessonk apparel, souvenirs, or essential items. To schedule a guided hike, boating, archery, or horseback riding program, or test yourself on our high challenge course or climbing wall, contact Ondessonk staff for program availability and more information. The Camp Kitchen can prepare certain meals for you; contact us for meal availability and more information.
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Saco Valley Farm, LLC
4 sites · RVs, Tents28 acres · Cherokee Pass, MO
Camp, Swim, BBQ, wade the creek, enjoy the campfire!
Primitive Camping. Very Private. Water is cool and clear.
Open to the stars. A great place to commune with nature, or enjoy some peace and quiet!
12 mile creek runs directly through our property.
Shallow and deep all throughout. Great for wading, swimming, floating, kayaking. Great small mouth fishing! We are approximately one mile by water from the St. Francois River. We have kayaked down the creek to the river for many years.
The farm is very rural. We are 16 miles to the closest gas station, and 25 miles to town. There is no internet. Cell phone service is spotty at best.
Currently a working farm, we have 2 high tunnels on the property behind the house, and our original market garden.
Across the creek we are finishing up our 5 acre agroforestry planting. 3 acres of elderberries and 2 acres of blackberries.
28 acres, 3 on one side, and 25 on the other.
The farm is located approximately 2 hours south of St. Louis.
Fredericktown is 30 mins away. Food, Drinks, Golf, and Lalo's Mexican Restaurant! There are a ton of local antique shops, and outdoor activities.
Local places of interest:
Amidon
Arcadia Valley
Black River
Bonne Terre Mine
Elephant Rocks
Johnson Shut Ins
Mill Stream Gardens
One Nation Paintball Park
Sam A. Baker State Park
Saco Valley Farmstand
Sherpher Mountain Bike Park
Silvermines
Taum Sauk Mountain
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$25
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Dog-friendly getaways
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Explore the area’s public lands.
River, stream, or creek camping near Cape Girardeau with fishing guide
Overview
As the Mississippi River makes a slow roll from St. Louis to the Missouri Bootheel, it crosses through the historic town of Cape Girardeau. Once a trading post on the frontier, Cape, as locals call it, offers a relaxed travel experience. Take a stroll through Old Town Cape to find restaurants and shops in historic buildings, some covered with colorful murals, or ponder the grandness of the Mississippi at Riverfront Park. Campers will find private RV parks in Cape and the nearby town of Jackson. Full hookups, free wifi, and other amenities are available. Public campgrounds offer sites for both tents and RVs, with scenic views and varied hookups.
Where to go
Trail of Tears State Park
Trail of Tears State Park commemorates the solemn history of the forced relocation of the Cherokee tribe in the mid-1800s. The visitor center shares details of this piece of the park’s story, as well as the unique geology and geography. Prominent lookouts offer prime views of the Mississippi River. Hike trails through the woodlands and along the waters. Fish, boat, or paddle in “The Big Muddy” or the clearer waters of Lake Boutin. Or, camp alongside the lake or river. Basic, electric, and full hookup sites are available, some with water views.
Shawnee National Forest
West of Cape Girardeau, Shawnee National Forest offers outdoor recreation and camping in Illinois’s only national forest, which offers a 250,000-acre natural playground with woodlands, prairies, waterways, and waterfalls to explore. Nine campgrounds are found across Southern Illinois. Pine Hills Campground is the closest to Cape and has primitive sites for both tents and RVs.
Giant City State Park
Deep in Shawnee National Forest, Giant City State Park is just under an hour northeast of Cape Girardeau. Named for the massive sandstone bluffs that rise like skyscrapers over the woodlands, this state park is a recreational haven, offering hiking trails, horseback riding, archery, rock climbing, and more. The Giant City Campground has tent and RV sites nestled in the trees, offering partial hookups. Other accommodations include an onsite lodge and cabins, including rustic, historic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s.
When to go
As the spring weather warms, the great outdoors begin to beckon, with peeping leaves and wildflowers, making this a pleasant time for camping in Cape Girardeau. The temperatures reach their peaks, sometimes in the 90s or above, in summer, as humidity seeps into the region. Fall is a scenic time to visit, with colorful leaves and pleasant temperatures. Missouri winters are generally cold, with bursts of freezing temps and snow and ice, meaning campers should be weather aware.
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