Blanchard Island Recreation Area

Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 · Iowa · Recreation.gov

Blanchard Island Recreation Area cancellation alerts

Blanchard Island Recreation Area is usually sold out. Get a free email when a cancellation opens: pick your dates and we check Recreation.gov every 30 minutes.

★ 4.5 (10 ratings) · 1 sites · $14/night · Tent · RV · Trailer · Caravan/Camper Van · Pickup Camper · Fifth Wheel · Pop up

Watch Blanchard Island Recreation Area for free Book on Recreation.gov · Google Maps

Tent campers along the Mississippi River at Blanchard Island

Camper looking out over the river from lawn chair and trailer

Father/Son on table along river with tent

About

The Mississippi River Project’s Muscatine Ranger Station has gone to a new way to pay for First-Come First-Serve campsites at the Blanchard Island Recreation Area. This new way is called "Scan & Pay". Blanchard Island’s open fee dates are May 15th through October 15th. Visitors are required to physically arrive at the campground to purchase and claim a site using the QR Code and Recreation.gov mobile APP. (Cash will no longer be accepted for payment. Credit Card Only.) Fisherman have good luck fishing for catfish from Blanchard Island. If you have a boat, you can launch it from here and find the best catfish holes. In the Fall, hunters enjoy camping and hunting deer from here, as well as the Island; if they bring their boat.

Others just enjoy the serenity of the park and the natural views of the river and bottom lands. Wildife viewing is a popular activity here. Bald Eagles, ducks, Pileated Woodpeckers, deer, and the occasional muskrat or otter may be seen. This "off the beaten" path Class B campground is a fisherman' and hunter's and camper's paradise. The park has a boat ramp, concrete vault toilets, 15 campsites-each with a picnic table and fire ring, as well as a beautiful and quiet view of Blanchard Chute on the Mississippi River.

There are a number of water hydrants throughout the park that provide potable water. A dump station is also available for camper's use.

Blanchard Island Recreation Area is a great place to view wildlife due to it's serene backcountry feel. It sits along the backwaters of the Mississippi River. You'll have to travel about 2 miles on a gravel road to get here, but it's well worth it. You'll want to bring the bug spray though to be safe!

Amenities

Drinking water
Toilets (pit)
Pets allowed

Availability at Blanchard Island Recreation Area

CampFinder checks Recreation.gov every 30 minutes, around the clock, and emails you when a booked-up night opens back up. That catches most cancellations, which sit open for hours; at the few campgrounds that refill in seconds it can miss the race. Set up a free availability alert for Blanchard Island Recreation Area.