Pikes Peak State Park
Iowa DNR- Sites
- 60, most pull-through
- Hookups
- 6 full (50 amp), rest electric
- Dump
- Yes
- Season
- Mar–Nov
Best for: Bluff-top views and a short walk to Bridal Veil Falls.
Watch out: Reservations required. Closed December–February.
The short version
The Iowa side of the upper Mississippi has high bluffs, forested hills and long river views. Pikes Peak State Park near McGregor and Bellevue State Park near Bellevue both offer camping with hookups and bluff overlooks.
After a 2023 renovation Pikes Peak has 60 campsites with pull-through access at most of them. Six sites have full hookups with 50 amp and the rest have standard electric. There are modern restrooms, showers and a dump station. Its attractions include the half-mile boardwalk to Bridal Veil Falls, Bear Mound and the four-mile Point Ann trail with an overlook of McGregor and the river.
Effigy Mounds National Monument is about seven miles north of Pikes Peak and preserves more than 200 mounds, some shaped like animals.
Best for
- River-bluff scenery with state park hookups
- Short hikes to a falls, mounds and overlooks
- Fall color trips along the Mississippi
Think twice if
- You want winter camping. Pikes Peak is closed December through February
- You arrive without a reservation. Both state parks are reservation only
- You need a confirmed maximum rig length. The pages we read did not list one
Rig fit
- Pikes Peak: 60 sites, most pull-through; 6 full hookup at 50 amp, rest electric; dump station
- Bellevue Dyas Unit: electric, non-electric and full-hookup sites, dump station
- Lengths not listed. Check the campground map or ask the park
Trip at a glance
| Pikes Peak State Park | 60 sites after a 2023 renovation, most pull-through. Six full-hookup sites (50 amp), the rest electric. Reservations required, same-day booking allowed. Closed December–February |
|---|---|
| Bellevue State Park (Dyas Unit) | Electric, non-electric and full-hookup sites. Campground is 100% reservable |
| Bridal Veil Falls | Half-mile boardwalk trail in Pikes Peak State Park |
| Point Ann | Four-mile trail to an overlook of McGregor and the Mississippi |
| Effigy Mounds | About 7 miles north of Pikes Peak. More than 200 mounds. 151 Hwy 76, Harpers Ferry. 563-873-3491 |
| Pikes Peak phone | 563-873-2341 |
Rig check
Both state parks have hookups, but the pages we read do not give pad lengths.
- Hookups
- Pikes Peak: six full-hookup sites at 50 amp and the rest standard electric. Bellevue’s Dyas Unit lists electric, non-electric and full-hookup sites.
- Maximum length
- Pikes Peak’s renovation made sites larger with pull-through access at most of them, but pad lengths are not published. Ask the park office before booking a long rig.
- Dump station
- Both parks list a dump station.
- Showers
- Modern restrooms and showers at both campgrounds.
- Terrain
- Hilly bluff country. Take trails and overlooks in the tow vehicle.
- Cell service
- Not covered on the park pages. Plan ahead.
When to go
Pikes Peak is closed December to February and takes reservations from March through November.
| Time of year | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (March–May) | Reservations open at Pikes Peak. Butterflies start at Bellevue’s garden. |
| Summer | Warm and busy. Reserve ahead. |
| Fall | Bluff color along the river. |
| Winter | Pikes Peak camping is closed December–February. |
Where to stay with an RV
Park details come from the Iowa DNR. Private RV parks near McGregor and Bellevue were not checked.
Bellevue State Park (Dyas Unit)
Iowa DNR- Hookups
- Electric, full and non-electric
- Dump
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Booking
- 100% reservable
Best for: River overlooks and the Nelson Unit butterfly garden.
Watch out: A reservation is required. Season dates were not on the page we read.
Itineraries that work with a rig
All plans use the RV as a base and the tow vehicle for the river roads.
3 days: Pikes Peak and the mounds
First visit.
- Day 1. Check in at Pikes Peak and walk the boardwalk to Bridal Veil Falls.
- Day 2. Drive about seven miles north to Effigy Mounds National Monument.
- Day 3. Point Ann trail to the overlook of McGregor and the river.
5 days: Add Bellevue
Families and birders.
- Days 1–3. Follow the three-day plan.
- Day 4. Move to Bellevue State Park and visit the Nelson Unit butterfly garden.
- Day 5. Overlooks and Pulpit Rock, then leave.
7 days: Slow river week
Anyone who wants spare days.
- Days 1–5. Follow the five-day plan.
- Day 6. Fossil hunting on the trails or a rest day.
- Day 7. Buffer day before you head home.
What not to miss
Bridal Veil Falls
A half-mile boardwalk trail in Pikes Peak State Park leads to the falls.
Point Ann overlook
A four-mile trail to an overlook of McGregor and the Mississippi River.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Preserves more than 200 mounds, some shaped like animals, about seven miles north of Pikes Peak.
Bear Mound
An effigy mound in Pikes Peak State Park built by Woodland-era Native Americans.
Bellevue butterfly garden
Nearly 60 butterfly species from spring to fall in the Nelson Unit, reached by a paved trail.
Pulpit Rock
Reached by trails from the main overlook in Bellevue’s Nelson Unit, with Mississippi River views.
Getting around with a big rig
Use the tow vehicle. Bluff roads and overlooks are easier without the RV.
Book ahead. Both state parks are reservation only.
Mind snakes and ticks. Stay on trails and check yourself after hikes.
Fuel, groceries, water and repairs
Towns along the river have groceries and fuel. Both state parks have dump stations. Stock up before arriving.
Budget snapshot
The state park pages we read did not list nightly rates.
| Item | What we found | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pikes Peak campsite | Not listed | Check the Iowa DNR reservation system. |
| Bellevue campsite | Not listed | Check the Iowa DNR reservation system. |
| Effigy Mounds fee | Not listed | Check the monument’s Fees page. |
| Trails | Free to walk | Boardwalk and overlooks are in the state parks. |
Fees are the amounts listed by the managing agency when this guide was checked. Use the budget worksheet to add fuel, groceries and contingency.
Common questions
Do I need a reservation?
Yes at both parks. Pikes Peak takes reservations March through November and Bellevue’s campground is 100% reservable.
Are there full hookups?
Yes. Pikes Peak has six full-hookup sites with 50-amp service and Bellevue’s Dyas Unit lists full-hookup sites.
How long can my RV be?
The pages we read did not give a limit. Check the campground map or call the park.
Is Pikes Peak open in winter?
No. Camping is closed December through February.
How far is Effigy Mounds?
About seven miles north of Pikes Peak State Park.
What is the Point Ann trail?
A four-mile trail to an overlook of McGregor and the Mississippi River.
Sources and what to recheck
Rules were checked October 22, 2026. Rates and rig lengths were not on the park pages we read, so confirm them directly.
- Pikes Peak State Park (Iowa DNR) — Camping, Bridal Veil Falls, Point Ann
- Pikes Peak campground reopens (Iowa DNR) — Site count, pull-throughs, full-hookup sites
- Bellevue State Park (Iowa DNR) — Dyas Unit camping, butterfly garden
- Effigy Mounds National Monument (NPS) — Address and visitor links