Blanchard Island Recreation Area

4.6·5 reviews
·Mississippi River - Pools 11-22

Overview

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.)

Great Facilities and Amenities

  • Campfire Allowed

    (1 of 16 campsites have Campfire Allowed)

  • Checkin Time

    (1 of 16 campsites have Checkin Time)

  • Checkout Time

    (1 of 16 campsites have Checkout Time)

  • Firepit

    (1 of 16 campsites have Firepit)

  • Max Num Of People

    (Up to 6)

  • Max Num Of Vehicles

    (Up to 2)

  • Pets Allowed

    (1 of 16 campsites have Pets Allowed)

  • Picnic Table

    (1 of 16 campsites have Picnic Table)

  • Shade

    (1 of 16 campsites have Shade)

  • Site Access

    (1 of 16 campsites have Site Acceses)

Natural Features

Camper looking out over the river from lawn chair and trailer - Credits: Muscatine Rangers
BI Entrance Sign - Credits: Muscatine Rangers
BI Boat Ramp and Boats along shoreline - Credits: Muscatine Rangers
Popup Camper and Tent along river campsite - Credits: Muscatine Rangers

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!

Recreation

Pickup Truck Campers along river campsites - Credits: Muscatine Rangers

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.  

Permitted Equipment

  • rv-N/A

  • tent-N/A

  • trailer-N/A

  • vehicle-N/A

  • 5th wheel-N/A

  • camper van-N/A

  • pickup camper-N/A

  • pop up camper-N/A

Additional Information

Campsites