Thomson Causeway
Mississippi River - Pools 11-22
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.
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.
Notifications and Alerts
Attention Campers! Beginning 2024, the Mississippi River Project's new Check-out time will be 12 pm. The new Check-in time will be 2 pm.
Due to construction, the River Birch camping loop will be closed throughout the 2024 season.
Closure Notice: The River Birch camping loop (Campsites #79 - #98) will be closed for the remainder of the 2024 camping season to complete infrastructure upgrades and pave camping pads.
Need to Know
New check-in/out times this year:
Check-in: 2 pm
Check-out: Noon
Campsites 33, 79-97, and 127-131 do not have water available at each campsite. You are able to fill up your holding tank at the dump station or from a water faucet.
Please make sure to empty or flush your water and waste tanks at the designated dump station drains only. Emptying tanks, including freshwater tanks, on roadways, parking lots, campsites or other areas in the park is prohibited. Also, dumping or emptying water or waste tanks, including freshwater tanks, on state, county or city roads is illegal per state statutes. Thank you for your cooperation.
All campers must check-in on the day of arrival during fee booth hours.
Fee booth hours are:
Monday - Wednesday - 4 pm - 8 pm
Thursday - Sunday - 9 am - 12 pm and 4 pm - 8 pm
Mondays of holiday weekends - 9 am - 12 pm and 4 pm - 8 pm
Campers using a discount card are required to verify their discount card number during check-in by providing the discount pass and a photo ID.
Only one RV and two tents will be allowed on RV sites. The only exception is if there is no RV on site, in which case you may have three tents.
Visitors are expected to be aware of Campground Rules
To learn more about this campground, click here
Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information.
- Firewood can be purchased in the campground during the hours of 5 pm to 8 pm nightly for $5 per bundle from the on-site firewood shed.
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.
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.
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.
Contact Information
Default
PO Box 398 THOMSON IL 61285
Physical
1600 Lewis Avenue Thomson IL 61285
Phone Number
For campground inquiries, please call: 815-259-3628
Rental Options
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
Driving Directions
Take IL Route 84 to Thomson, Illinois. Turn west onto Main Street, then turn south onto Lewis Avenue.
Available Campsites
- Site 059, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 129, Loop TENT, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 066, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 114, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 004, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 011, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 078, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 054, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 060, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 131, Loop TENT, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 106, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 115, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 016, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 042, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 025, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 093, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site Octagon, Loop THOMSON CAUSEWAY, Type Group Picnic Area
- Site 061, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 092, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 104, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 055, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 102, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 045, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 112, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 111, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 099, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 026, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 110, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 012, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 049, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 006, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 052, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 058, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 035, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 022, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 126, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 083, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 120, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 107, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 062, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 089, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 071, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 101, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 064, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 039, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 046, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 015, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 100, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site Stone, Loop THOMSON CAUSEWAY, Type Group Picnic Area
- Site 079, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 020, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 075, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 094, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 084, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 121, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 008, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 069, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 043, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 109, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 125, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 056, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 051, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 065, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 127, Loop TENT, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 005, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 103, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 019, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 040, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 067, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 002, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 037, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 070, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 009, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 023, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 123, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 021, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 014, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 024, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 108, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 097, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 041, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 053, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 118, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 038, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 003, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 013, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 090, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 017, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 091, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 128, Loop TENT, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 073, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 044, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 034, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 007, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 105, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 036, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 010, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 072, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 095, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 057, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 048, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 119, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 088, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 130, Loop TENT, Type Tent Only Nonelectric
- Site 086, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 113, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 082, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 047, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 080, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 050, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 076, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 063, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 074, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 001, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 028, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 087, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 068, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 096, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 116, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 085, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 077, Loop PMAN, Type Standard Electric
- Site 027, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 117, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 124, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
- Site 081, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 018, Loop PMAS, Type Standard Electric
- Site 098, Loop RIVE, Type Standard Electric
- Site 122, Loop HPOI, Type Standard Electric
