Campground

Thomson Causeway

Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 · THOMSON · Illinois — managed by US Army Corps of Engineers

Sites open now — checked live on Recreation.gov
Thomson Causeway campground
Photo: Recreation.gov · Dan VanDenBroeke

Weekend availability at Thomson Causeway

Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 19, 7:05 AM PT

Sold out 1 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.

  • Fri, Sep 18
    Sold out
  • Fri, Sep 25
    Limited
    26/126 sites
  • Fri, Oct 2
    Open
    62/126 sites
  • Fri, Oct 9
    Limited
    29/128 sites
  • Fri, Oct 16
    Limited
    8/126 sites
  • Fri, Oct 23
    Open
    94/128 sites

Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.

How booked is Thomson Causeway?

as of September 19

Sites are open right now — we found space out to Oct. That changes fast at a campground. We check Thomson Causeway around the clock, so the moment your dates fill up and a cancellation reopens them, you'll be first to know. Weekdays still have room — for now.

Weekends (Saturday night)

Sep 26Open
Oct 3Open
Oct 17Open
Oct 24Open

Weekdays (Wednesday night)

Sep 23Open
Oct 7Open
Oct 21Open

Availability checked directly against the reservation system, out to 3 months ahead.

Campsites & amenities

Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.

Campsites
133
Electric sites
128
Water hookups
102
Pull-through
2
Group Picnic AreaStandard ElectricTent Only No Hookup

About this campground

Overview Thomson Causeway provides the unique experience of island camping on the great Mississippi River and it's well worth a try! The western edge of the recreation area offers visitors an unobstructed view of the widest spot on the Upper Mississippi River Basin, 3.5 miles from shore-to-shore. Here, campers can enjoy memorable views of the river and the valley, and partake in plenty of great water activities. Recreation Popular activities include fishing, hiking, hunting, biking and boating. Common fish species include the channel catfish, bluegill, walleye, large mouth bass, and northern pike. The Central Trail section of the famous Mississippi River Trail passes beside the campground, offering visitors miles of walking and biking trails along the river bank. Facilities Of the 125 reservable campsites, 120 have electric hookups and 5 campsites do not have electric hookups and are for tents only. Campsites in the Hickory, Potters South, and Potters North camping loops have water available at each individual campsite. Thomson Causeway provides the comforts of modern camping, including drinking water, an accessible flush toilet, electrical hookups, shower house and boat ramp, while still providing visitors with an authentic outdoor experience. This park also offers 2 reservable picnic shelters for day use. Natural Features The campground is built mainly on an island in the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Slow moving water on the eastern edge of the main recreation area creates a rich environment in which wildlife and fish abound. Contact Info For local information, please call (563) 362-8839 or call (815) 259-3628 for general information. Nearby Attractions Head northbound along the river to see the Ayers Sand Prairie State Nature Preserve or the Mississippi Palisades State Park. Visit the Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center and Fulton's Dutch Windmill. Or watch a minor league baseball game at the Clinton Lumberkings stadium.

Getting there

Take IL State Route 84 to Thomson, Illinois. Turn west onto Main Street, then turn south onto Lewis Avenue.

Elevation
603 ft
Contact
815-259-3628

Activities

  • DAY USE AREA
  • HUNTING
  • HIKING
  • FISHING
  • CAMPING
  • BIKING

Nearby federal campgrounds

Never miss an opening at Thomson Causeway

Popular Illinois campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Thomson Causeway around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.

Not ready to subscribe? Get a free weekend heads-up.

We'll email you if Thomson Causeway opens up for a weekend you pick. No account needed.

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.