Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois
Thomson Causeway
Army Corps of Engineers · Illinois, United States
- Sites
- 133
- Hookups
- 121 electric, 106 with water, 5 no hookups
- Season
- May 1 to October 24
- Group sites
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Showers
- Yes
- Dump station
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 607 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- Verizon weak · AT&T good · T-Mobile none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Lake
- Mississippi River - Pools 11-22
- Nearest town
- THOMSON
- Address
- PO Box 398, THOMSON, IL, 61285
- Phone
- 815-259-3628
- Activities
- Amphitheater, Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting
133 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 11° | -18° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 35° | 17° | -13° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 48° | 30° | 3° | 75° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 60° | 39° | 25° | 80° | 5 of 11 |
| May | 72° | 53° | 35° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| June | 82° | 63° | 48° | 93° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 84° | 68° | 59° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 81° | 66° | 56° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 80° | 60° | 51° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 61° | 45° | 28° | 81° | 2 of 10 |
| November | 47° | 32° | 5° | 71° | 8 of 10 |
| December | 37° | 24° | -9° | 68° | 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
- Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area · Army Corps of Engineers · 4 mi · 24 sites
- Gary McDermott RV Campground · City, County & Regional Parks · 8 mi · 28 sites
- South Sabula Lake Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 8 mi · 39 sites
- Morrison Rockwood State Park · Illinois State Parks · 11 mi
- Mississippi Palisades State Park · Illinois State Parks · 13 mi
All public campgrounds in Illinois · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-08-03. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.