Army Corps of Engineers · Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 · Clinton, IA

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is a hidden gem located on the Mississippi River. Whether you like camping, fishing, boating, or just taking in nature, Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is the perfect place.

More like this: reservable in Iowa · pets allowed in Iowa

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Campsite at Bulger's Hollow Recreation AreaFishing boats at Bulger's Hollow Recreation AreaKayaking at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area
Photos courtesy of pocketsights.com, US Army Corps of Engineers, thedyrt.com · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups24
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SitePeople / vehiclesFires
6 / –Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsNone
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
FeesThe "Scan & Pay" way to pay for your campsite is easy to use. However, once payment is made on-site; know that we do not offer refunds or modifications.

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area offers 23 non-reservable campsites, 14 RV sites and 9 tent camping sites, primitive amenities, such as drinking water, vault toilets, and a dump station. Other facilities in the park include a boat ramp, playground, and picnic shelter.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.40 inches of precipitationFebruary: 1.56 inches of precipitationMarch: 2.41 inches of precipitationApril: 3.39 inches of precipitationMay: 4.03 inches of precipitationJune: 4.52 inches of precipitationJuly: 3.40 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.43 inches of precipitationSeptember: 3.66 inches of precipitationOctober: 2.58 inches of precipitationNovember: 2.20 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.69 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 21.4°F averageFebruary: 25.4°F averageMarch: 36.9°F averageApril: 49.6°F averageMay: 61.2°F averageJune: 71.2°F averageJuly: 74.6°F averageAugust: 72.7°F averageSeptember: 65.5°F averageOctober: 53.2°F averageNovember: 39.5°F averageDecember: 27.7°F average0 in1 in2 in3 in4 in5 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Fulton L&D #13, 3 miles from the campground at 592 feet, station USC00113290 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 34 inches a year.

Getting there

The address to Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is 4686 170th Street, Clinton, IA 52732. From Clinton, IA. Take Highway 67 North for 6.5 miles. Turn right onto 170th Street. Travel 1 mile and the entrance to Bulger's Hollow will be straight ahead.

Nearest townClinton, Iowa
Coordinates41.9351° N, 90.1842° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • Camping is not the only attraction to the area.

Charges and cancellations

As in the past, no refunds will be given if you must leave the campground early.

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗5.7 mi
RV sales & serviceCampers Inn RV of Davenport ↗32 mi
Outdoor gearFever River Outfitters ↗35.3 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Riverside Camping Paradise: Massey Marina & Bulger's Hollow Tour

Worth a stop

  • Lock and Dam 13, Fulton, IL
  • Eagle Point Park, Clinton, IA
  • The Sawmill Museum, Clinton, IA
  • Wide River Winery, Clinton, IA
  • City of Clinton Showboat
  • Clinton Lumberkings Baseball, Clinton, IA
  • Bickelhaupt Arboretum, Clinton, IA
  • Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, Clinton, IA
  • Windmill Culture Center, Fulton, IL
  • Heritage Canyon, Fulton, IL

Natural features

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is a great place to view wildlife, boat, fish, and camp. It sits along the Mississippi River, 7.5 miles North of Clinton, IA off Highway 67. You'll have to travel about 1 mile on a gravel road to get here, but it's well worth it.

Recreation

If you are looking for a few nights of good old fashioned camping, then Bulger’s Hollow Recreation Area is your stop. With 23 non-reservable campsites, 17 RV sites and 9 tent camping sites, this park is small in size but offers one of the best views of the Mississippi. This campground offers primitive amenities, such as drinking water, vault toilets, and a dump station. As a reminder, campers have a 14-day camping limit, within a 30-day period. The camping area is open from May 15-October 15. The boat ramp and day use areas are open year-round. Bulger’s Hollow also offers a boat ramp, playground equipment and picnic sites for a great way to spend an afternoon with the family. Fishing Opportunities: Bulger’s Hollow offers a gravel boat launch for access to Pool 13 of the Mississippi River. A popular launching site for local fishermen, you can easily find a honey hole for an afternoon of fishing. Directly in front of the campground is a field of lily pads that are ideal for fishing. You can also take a short trip up or down river to a find a calm backwater slough for hours of casting.

Guidebooks for Iowa

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Hiking Iowa
    Elizabeth Corcoran Hill and Kate Corcoran, 2023
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Iowa & Missouri
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Easy Day Hikes des Moines
    Michael Ream, 2011
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

Sites at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

The "Scan & Pay" way to pay for your campsite is easy to use. However, once payment is made on-site; know that we do not offer refunds or modifications.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area have?

24 sites, including 24 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area offers 23 non-reservable campsites, 14 RV sites and 9 tent camping sites, primitive amenities, such as drinking water, vault toilets, and a dump station.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

If you are looking for a few nights of good old fashioned camping, then Bulger’s Hollow Recreation Area is your stop. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area?

Clinton, Iowa. Lock and Dam 13, Fulton, IL

Source: Getting there

What if Bulger's Hollow Recreation Area is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Thomson Causeway (3.9 mi), Blanding Landing (26.7 mi), and Fishermans Corner (27.4 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby