Hazel Green sits at the southwestern tip of Wisconsin, right where the borders of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois converge above the Mississippi River. Downtown Dubuque is minutes south. Downtown Galena is minutes east. For a camping trip, this tri-state corner punches well above its size: historic river towns, bluff drives, wineries, balloon festivals, and miles of trail, all within a short drive of where you park.
The way you camp here depends on what you want. If you are bringing an RV or want a cabin with a water park out front, Coconut Cove RV Resort is the destination stay in Hazel Green. If you are tent camping, the Mississippi River parks a short drive away are your move, since Coconut Cove is an RV, cabin, and pod resort and does not allow tents. Here is how to plan camping near Hazel Green, where to stay, and what to do once you are set up.
Why Hazel Green Works as a Camping Base
Three States in One Trip
Hazel Green sits where Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois meet above the Mississippi River. From your campsite you can hit downtown Dubuque, Iowa to the south and downtown Galena, Illinois to the east, both within minutes. Few camping bases in the Midwest put three distinct river towns this close together.
Resort Stay or River Camping
Coconut Cove RV Resort is the destination option: full hookups, cabins, pods, and a floating water park on a 13-acre lake. If you are tent camping, the Mississippi River parks a short drive away (Grant River near Potosi and Blanding Landing south of Galena) cover that need, since Coconut Cove does not allow tents.
Summer Events Stack Up
June through August the calendar fills: the Great Galena Balloon Race in June, the Dubuque County Fair in late July, wine festivals, and rodeos within driving distance. Book early for any stay overlapping a festival weekend, since the resort fills fast in peak season.
Tent Camping Near Hazel Green
Coconut Cove is an RV, cabin, and pod resort and does not permit tent or car camping. If a tent is your plan, two Mississippi River parks within about 20 to 30 minutes have you covered. Grant River Recreation Area near Potosi (a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground) has both electric and tent-only sites, showers, a dump station, and a boat ramp along the river. Blanding Landing, south near Hanover, Illinois, adds grass tent and electric sites on the backwaters with a shower building and river access. Both are first-come or reservation through Recreation.gov and trade resort amenities for quiet riverfront and excellent catfish and walleye fishing.
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Coconut Cove RV Resort by RJourney
Coconut Cove RV Resort by RJourney sits at 1549 Bluff Rd in Hazel Green, Wisconsin, at the southwestern tip of the state where Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois meet. The resort wraps a 13-acre lake with a floating water park as the centerpiece. Full hookup RV sites, 10 cabins, and 4 glamping pods sit around the water, alongside a full-service restaurant (The Clubhouse), a tiki-themed poolside bar, and live weekend bands. It runs like a beach vacation more than a traditional campground, and families come back every summer. The season runs April 15 through October 15. One honest note for trip planning: this is an RV, cabin, and pod resort, so tent and car camping are not permitted on the grounds.
Sites & Hookups
RV sites come with full hookups: water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electric, in both pull-through and back-in configurations, each with a picnic table. Because every site has its own full sewer hookup, there is no separate dump station on the grounds (if you need dump service, it is $50 to use an available site). Tent and car camping are not permitted here; this is an RV, cabin, and pod resort. For tent campers, the Mississippi River parks listed below are the area alternative.
For guests who want the resort without towing a rig, 10 cabins and 4 glamping pods put you steps from the water park and lake. Extended-stay and monthly options (starting at $900/month) work for seasonal campers locking in for the summer. Golf cart rentals are the preferred way to get around, and the on-site store stocks essentials and can deliver to your site.
What's On-Site
The centerpiece is a floating water park on the 13-acre lake: inflatable obstacles, slides, splash zones, and open swimming. A swimming pool sits at the heart of the resort, ringed by lounge chairs and the poolside tiki bar. The Clubhouse serves lunch and dinner, the Coconut Cove Bar runs tiki drinks poolside, and on weekends live bands take over the pool deck. Beyond the water there is lake fishing, kayak and paddleboard rentals, morning yoga, golf cart cruising, outdoor movie nights, a jumping pillow, a sand beach, and a playground. Practical amenities cover a 24-hour laundromat, ADA-accessible facilities, showers, a fenced dog park, propane sales, and a camp store. Note: water park access requires a wristband purchased separately from your site reservation; call (608) 716-7933 to confirm current rates before you arrive.
What Guests Say
Coconut Cove holds a 3.8-star rating across 507 verified Google reviews. The consistent positive themes: the water park is the draw families drive hours for, the food and drinks from The Clubhouse and the tiki bar come up again and again as a real convenience, and the staff get repeated mention for going out of their way. Seasonal campers point to the resort-style atmosphere, the 13-acre lake, and the community feel that builds over a summer. The critical themes worth flagging for honest expectation-setting: add-on costs that were not obvious at booking (water park wristbands, extra-guest fees) have surprised some guests, and pool and beach crowding on peak weekends comes up. Our recommendation: call (608) 716-7933 before you arrive for a full cost breakdown so your total spend matches your expectations.
Other Campgrounds Near Hazel Green, WI
Coconut Cove is the destination resort in Hazel Green, but if you want tent camping or a rustic riverfront stay, two Mississippi River parks nearby cover it. Availability and policies change, so call ahead before making plans.
Grant River Recreation Area
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campground on the Upper Mississippi with both standard-electric and tent-only sites, showers, drinking water, a dump station, and a boat ramp. Towering bluffs, big river sunsets, and famous channel-catfish fishing. No full hookups, so plan on the dump station. Reserve through Recreation.gov. Visit website.
Blanding Landing Recreation Area
A Corps of Engineers campground with 38 grass sites shaded by hardwoods, 31 with 50-amp electric and 7 non-electric, plus a shower building, RV dump station, boat ramp, and playground. A birders’ paradise on the river backwaters with strong catfish, walleye, and panfish fishing. No full hookups. Reserve through Recreation.gov. Visit website.
Things to Do Near Hazel Green, WI
The Mississippi River defines the western edge of the tri-state area, with bluffs, scenic overlooks, and backwater channels running for miles. Fishing targets walleye, catfish, sauger, and panfish, and boat launches dot the shoreline from Potosi to Dubuque. Even without a boat, the Great River Road drive along Highway 35 is worth an afternoon. Back at Coconut Cove, the 13-acre lake offers kayak and paddleboard rentals, a sand beach, and the floating water park.
The tri-state area has more trail access than most visitors expect. The Heritage Trail in Dubuque County runs 26 miles along a converted rail bed. Mines of Spain Recreation Area south of Dubuque covers 1,400 acres of bluffs, prairies, and forest with Mississippi overlooks, and Horseshoe Mound Preserve near Galena offers one of the best three-state views in the region.
Downtown Dubuque, Iowa is minutes away and home to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and the Fenelon Place Elevator, the world’s shortest, steepest scenic railway. Downtown Galena, Illinois is one of the most photographed small towns in the Midwest, with an entire Main Street of 1800s brick buildings full of boutiques, wine rooms, and restaurants, plus the Ulysses S. Grant Home. Each rewards a half-day at a slower pace.
Seasonal Guide for Camping Near Hazel Green
Spring (April through May)
The resort opens April 15 as temperatures climb into the 50s and 60s. Early season is quieter with easier availability, and the water park and pool open once temperatures hold. A good window to explore Dubuque and Galena before the summer crowds.
Summer (June through August)
Peak season. The water park runs full-time, live bands play every weekend, and the calendar fills with the Galena Balloon Race, county fairs, and rodeos. Daytime highs reach the 80s and 90s. Book 3 to 4 weeks ahead for weekend stays, especially around the Fourth of July.
Fall (September through mid-October)
Fall color along the Mississippi bluffs is spectacular. Crowds thin and weekday availability opens up while the restaurant and bar keep operating. Temperatures cool into the 50s and 60s, ideal for hiking the bluff trails. The season closes October 15.
Winter (mid-October through April)
The resort is closed for the season. Galena stays open year-round for holiday shopping, and Dubuque’s indoor museums and breweries run full schedules. Contact Coconut Cove directly to confirm next season’s opening date.
Practical Tips for Camping Near Hazel Green
Coconut Cove does not allow tent or car camping. If a tent is your plan, book Grant River near Potosi or Blanding Landing near Hanover, both about 20 to 30 minutes away on the Mississippi.
Water park access requires a wristband purchased separately from your site reservation. Call (608) 716-7933 for a full cost breakdown (wristbands, extra-guest fees) so your trip budget is accurate from the start.
Railroad tracks run near the property. You will hear trains, especially at night. Regulars stop noticing after the first night; light sleepers should bring earplugs or request a site farther from the tracks.
The resort is spread out around the lake. A golf cart makes hauling kids, gear, and coolers between your site and the water park much easier.
Dubuque and Galena are each worth a half-day. You can hit both in one day if you start early, but each rewards a slower pace.
The Great Galena Balloon Race in June and the Fourth of July fill the resort fast. Reserve 3 to 4 weeks ahead for any peak-season weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tent camp near Hazel Green, WI?
Coconut Cove RV Resort is an RV, cabin, and pod resort and does not permit tent or car camping. For tent camping, head to the Mississippi River parks nearby: Grant River Recreation Area near Potosi (about 20 minutes) and Blanding Landing near Hanover, Illinois (about 30 minutes), both with tent and electric sites.
What are the best campgrounds near Hazel Green, WI?
Coconut Cove RV Resort by RJourney is the destination option in Hazel Green, with full hookup RV sites, cabins, glamping pods, a floating water park, an on-site restaurant and bar, and lake fishing. Grant River and Blanding Landing on the Mississippi River cover rustic and tent camping a short drive away.
Does Coconut Cove have full hookups and a dump station?
Yes to full hookups: every RV site has water, sewer, and 30/50-amp electric. Because each site has its own full sewer hookup, there is no separate dump station on the grounds. If you need dump service, it is $50 to use an available site.
How much does it cost to camp at Coconut Cove RV Resort?
Nightly rates start at $24, and monthly extended-stay sites start at $900/month (electricity and essential fee not included). The floating water park requires a wristband purchased separately from your site. Call (608) 716-7933 for a full cost breakdown before you book.
Is Coconut Cove pet-friendly?
Yes. Pets are welcome in RV sites and in five pet-friendly cabins (119, 120, 121, 150, 151), up to 2 per reservation. Additional pets are $25 each; pet cabins add a $25-per-animal fee plus a $250 refundable deposit. A fenced dog park is on-site; pets are not allowed on the sand beach.
When is Coconut Cove RV Resort open?
The resort operates April 15 through October 15. Peak season runs June through August, when the water park, live bands, and regional festivals fill the calendar. Book 3 to 4 weeks ahead for summer weekends.
Reserve Your Hazel Green Camping Trip
Coconut Cove RV Resort by RJourney puts you at the center of the WI/IA/IL tri-state area with full hookup RV sites, cabins, glamping pods, a floating water park on a 13-acre lake, an on-site restaurant and tiki bar, and live weekend bands. Dubuque and Galena are minutes away, and the Mississippi River runs through the valley below. Tent campers can pair a visit with the nearby river parks.
See all site types, rates, and live availability on the Coconut Cove RV Resort page.
Book Your Site (608) 716-7933