Blanding Landing Recreation Area - Hanover, Illinois

Nicholas K.

This is a great isolated place to camp, if you don't mind a huge freight train roaring through every fifteen minutes. You do get used to it.

If you are tent camping make sure that you pitch your tent where the ground moisture is not gonna soak through.

The toilet facilities have to be seen to believe. They are immaculate by any standards. And certainly a lot cleaner than you would expect in such an isolated place.

Sylwia V.

I usually don't leave any reviews but this time I feel obligated to do so to warn others...

Location: I understand there is nothing much that can be done about the train passing by literally right by the campground but please be aware this train is soo loud! At night, it woke me up few times and if I didn't see it earlier that day, I would have thought I am camping on the train tracks and the train will run me over any second, soooo loud!

View: The view is great! However, if the area by the river was cleaned up, there could be fantastic camping spots! The bridge is always occupied so not much of the sitting area right by the water which is unfortunate considering the river is so beautiful!

Host: I assume other people (like me) come to campgrounds to stay away from people, the city and just chill in peace. Well, although the campground had signs to collect the ticket and pay at the kiosk (as I did!). The host approached me to make sure I knew to use the kiosk. I kept my ticket at the dashboard right by the tent AS REQUIRED BY THE KIOSK but the lady asked to show it to her and attach to the site pole. I chose the site away from everybody so I am not bothered but in the evening she came again! She drove in to the site (off road!), stopped right by my tent and my campfire where I was trying to enjoy the silence between the train passings, and she wrote down something and drove away. Why would you create the automatic system for campers if you have to bother them so much!?

Overall, the place has a potential to be better. One thing I can say is that the restrooms are super clean but I would never choose this place again! When others said there is a train passing by I thought it's not a big deal but dear God! This is horrifying! So

Bob B.

If you are a lite sleeper, you might want to avoid this campground. As a previous reviewer stated, Trains go by and blast their whistle day and night. However, I don't know where you could camp along the Mississippi River and avoid train tracks. ||||The one person who ran the grounds was very efficient and nice. The grounds and facilities were very clean. ||||We had to crank up our BAL leveler quite a bit to get level on the grassy site. The further you get from the river the more trees there are, but then you get closer to the RR tracks. We were in the second row back from the river, and did not feel the earth shake when the trains went by. We kept our windows closed at night and ran the air conditioner. We also have a white noise machine to drown out our CPAP machine noise. Thus, we were not disturbed by the trains and slept very well. ||||This is on a backwater of the Mississippi, and you could not see any barge traffic. We had no problem on the narrow roads leading into and out of the campground from Hanover towing our 16 foot travel trailer. ||||I like camping at COE campgrounds because of the senior discount of 50%.

CASSIE T.

Weve camped here numerous times and Love it! The bathrooms and showers are very clean. The camp hosts have always been nice. The view of the backwaters of the mississippi river is beautiful! The train goes by alot but after the 1st few times you dont really notice it.

Michael G.

I've been there many times. It's beautiful there, and very remote. As others have stated, the trains are frequent and do blow their horn at the grade crossing. My kids enjoy the trains, and I can usually fall back asleep when one comes through. The overall area is beautiful, and we enjoy day trips to Galena and Savanna, IL. Sites are grass but relatively level.

Martha C.

Beautiful campground, very helpful Campground Host who checked us in. Camping sites were beautiful grass with electric service only. Nicely spread out. You can borrow horseshoes to play a game from the office. Check-in was between 5-8 pm, but the Host was just across the parking lot at the entry to the campground.

We didn't realize the train tracks were as busy as they were, and I'm sure there were more than 10 trains during the night. Each one blew the whistle at the crossing for our campground. 4 blasts - 2 long, 1 short, 1 long. At least until midnight, then starting up around 4:30 am. Even with air conditioner on and making noise, it still woke us up in our pop-up camper. Every time. Be prepared.

Sergiu C.

I went here for the fishing. In the pictures it looked great. When we got there you could not fish. Green plants all over and impossible to fish. No other place to fish there. If u have a boat then you will be able to fish. The camp itself was nice. I give the camp itself a 3 star. Nice to take your kids there. Be prepared to hear the train pass by every 30 min and that includes at night. I went there to fish. Not fun. If u go there for family time and outdoor feeling with the kids it's a good place. Bathrooms are good and showers are nice and warm. Extra bathrooms by the camp site and electric and water. Camp is 10 miles away from the nearest town and the tavern does not exit. In case you run low on gas when u get there.

Jason R.

Great Campground. Clean showers and restrooms. Went on July 4th and it was not crowded. Location of the camp itself was out of the way and secluded. Nearest town for supplies are about 25 mins away. That's only a gas station. Other stores are about an hour away. Train goes by every hour, but you get used to it by the second day. Not a deal breaker. Campground host was nice and never really bothered us. Most of the campsites are wooded and shaded. View of the river makes a good camp.