Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa
Shady Creek
Army Corps of Engineers · Iowa, United States
- Sites
- 56
- Hookups
- 52 electric, 54 with water, 2 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to October 24
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 561 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Mississippi River - Pools 11-22
- Nearest town
- MUSCATINE
- Address
- 1315 River's Edge Drive, MUSCATINE, IA, 52761
- Phone
- 563-419-0857
- Activities
- Boating, Camping, Day Use Area, Fishing, Hiking
54 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Shady Creek Campground is a 22-acre park where campers enjoy getaways on the banks of the Mississippi River. A nature trail, shore fishing and fantastic bird watching are offered at Shady Creek.
Recreation
The Mississippi River draws many anglers annually. The most popular fish species is the channel catfish; bluegill, walleye and northern pike are also found in the river.
Picnicking and playing horseshoes is a popular activity in the park.
Facilities
The park's campsites contain 50-amp electric hookups, campfire rings and picnic tables. Flush toilets and showers are provided. A boat ramp and playground are on-site.
Natural Features
The park has spectacular views of the Mississippi River. Many trees throughout the campground provide great places to lounge in the shade.
The Upper Mississippi River begins at the headwaters of Lake Itasca, Minnesota and flows 1,250 miles to Cairo, Illinois where it joins the Ohio River.
Nearby Attractions
Wildcat Den State Park is just north of Shady Creek, offering hiking trails and the historic Pine Creek Grist Mill built in 1848.
The Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge is a 40-minute drive downstream. Trails and observation decks are open to the public. Hunting and fishing are allowed in many area of the refuge.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 14° | -18° | 56° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 19° | -12° | 66° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 49° | 32° | 8° | 75° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 61° | 41° | 26° | 81° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 73° | 56° | 40° | 90° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 83° | 66° | 50° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 85° | 69° | 62° | 95° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 83° | 68° | 58° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 81° | 62° | 52° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 63° | 47° | 30° | 83° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 51° | 33° | 9° | 73° | 7 of 10 |
| December | 39° | 26° | -9° | 70° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Wildcat Den State Park · Iowa State Parks · 1 mi · 21 sites
- Indian Meadows Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 2 mi · 20 sites
- Fairport State Recreation Area · Iowa State Parks · 3 mi · 43 sites
- Loud Thunder Horse Corral Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 3 mi · 31 sites
- Loud Thunder Riverview Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 3 mi · 30 sites
All public campgrounds in Iowa · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-03-28. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.