Downstate Illinois: Near I-24

Harrahs in Metropolis, Illinois is RV-Friendly and is convenient to Interstate 24 in the southern end of the state. It's a medium sized riverboat, docked on the Ohio River, with gambling on three levels. The gaming floors are roomy with roulette, craps and several blackjack & three-card poker tables on the second level and a poker room on the top level. Over 1,200 gaming machines throughout are upgraded as new slots and video poker machines debut.

There is a designated section for oversized vehicles on the quiet end of the parking lot. Free overnight parking is available. The casino is just 3.8 miles from I-24 exit 37.

We have visited lots of casinos throughout the country. From time to time we receive coupon offers for a free night at a casino hotel, but usually the offer arrives at our mailbox when we're hundreds of miles away from that particular casino. This week, when we knew we'd be passing through southern Illinois, we called to say we were in the area and to ask if the free hotel room offer (the one we received last year) could be used now. Surprisingly, they gave us the free room. I guess it was a slow week. So I got to enjoy a bubble bath...what a treat! (Only full-timin' RVing gals can identify with that.) The moral of this story is, it never hurts to ask for comps -- casinos are always willing to attract people to their gaming floor. Sometimes when you ask for a comp, they'll say no, but often they say yes. You never know unless you ask.

More casinos??

Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission is expected to discuss additional casino licenses at their March meeting. Specifically, expansion proponents claim that a second casino near the large Meskwaki Indian Casino resort in Tama would enhance the area as a destination resort. Meskwaki added a 52-space RV Park last year.

In llinois, the state's General Assembly is looking into expansion of gambling as a way to fund bridge, schools and road construction. However, the idea is already facing stiff opposition. Two Casino RV Parks, popular with travelers, are located in Illinois -- Casino Queen in East St. Louis (convenient to I-70/I-55) and Empress RV Park in Joliet (convenient to I-80.)

Massachussetts Governor Deval Patrick is still looking for support for his proposal to license three resort casinos. He recently announced that more than $100 million in casino licensing fees would be passed along to financially-strapped cities and towns in the state in order to cover budget shortfalls. The state does not currently have any casinos.

New Casino Queen Is Open

The new Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Illinois held its long-awaited grand opening on August 2nd. It is the first gaming facility in Illinois that's not actually on a river. It is situated 686 feet from the Mississippi River and is a barge sitting in about 10 feet of water, a casino style known as a "boat in a moat."
The new casino is spacious and less cramped than the old red and white riverboat. Also, the air quality and ventilation is definitely better. The casino has 1,100 gaming machines, 34 live action gaming tables, a new buffet restaurant, steakhouse, cafe and a coffee bar.

CONVENIENT HOME BASE FOR
TOURING ST. LOUIS RIVERFRONT

The 132-space RV Park remains a popular stopping-off place for traveling RVers. It's a convenient base for touring the attractions at the waterfront area of St. Louis, Missouri just across the river. Shuttle service is provided to the casino and also to the Metrolink station nearby.

It is convenient to hop onto the Metro (senior fare is $1) to the first stop on the other side of the river where it's a short walk to the famed Gateway Arch and other activities and attractions in the St. Louis riverfront area. The National Park Service maintains the Arch and the Museum of Westward Expansion. The journey to the top is spectacular and the museum is outstanding. The award-winning documentary, "Monument to the Dream," is also very interesting. The historic old courthouse, where Dred Scott asked for his freedom, is located across the park from the Arch. An informative movie and fascinating exhibits are featured there. Numerous dining and shopping opportunities can be found in the riverfront area, and the President riverboat casino is located a few blocks north of the Arch.

Harrahs In The Midwest

This week we visited two Harrahs in the Midwest. Both are RV-Friendly and convenient to an interstate. Consequently, either casino can be a quick and easy overnight dry camping stop.
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Downstate Illinois, four miles west of I-24, is Harrahs Metropolis. Situated on the Ohio River across from Paducah, KY, this riverboat stands alone as the only casino in southern Illinois. It draws heavily from both Kentucky and Tennessee (neither state has casinos.) The parking facility was renovated recently when the new hotel was constructed. As a result, the oversize parking lot is clean, level and accessible. To get there take exit 37 from I-24 and travel west on Rt-45 for 3.8 miles, then left onto Ferry St. to the casino. The lot for oversize vehicles is clearly identified. The casino is a typical riverboat, somewhat crowded in spots, but it has a complete range of 1,200 slots, 25 tables plus a poker room. The buffet was disappointing...not up to what we'd come to expect of Harrahs in terms of quality, presentation and service.

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West of St. Louis, MO, the most popular casino in the area is the newly-renovated Harrahs St. Louis. It is spectacular with two separate casinos covering 120,000 square feet of gaming including 2,800 slots, pit/table games and a new 21-table poker room. Eight food venues offer variety on two levels. In a word, this place is huge! Located just a mile and a half off I-70 exit 231A, it's easy to get to. The parking lot designated for oversize vehicles is newly paved and just far enough away from the casino action to allow for a restful night. From the interstate go south on Earth City Expressway for 1.5 mile to the fourth stoplight and once you're on the property follow signs for bus parking on the south side.

More About the "Boat In A Moat"

Casino Queen in East St.Louis has one of the prettiest and most popular casino RV Parks in the Midwest. Situated right alongside the Mississippi River and directly across from the City of St. Louis, RVs parked in the pull-through sites get a spectacular view of the famed Gateway Arch and the St. Louis skyline. The new "boat in a moat" casino will be closer to the RV Park than the old river boat is. This RV Park is also a great base camp for touring the city. A Metro Train station is nearby and it takes tourists across the river, with the Gateway Arch as the first stop.

Free shuttle service is provided from the RV Park to and from the casino. This RV Park also gives incentive coupons, but they're only given once (upon check-in), $5 matchplay for the driver, $5 matchplay for the navigator, 2-for-one breakfast and 35% off at the gift shop.

A Boat In A Moat

Up until this year, casinos in Illinois had been traditional riverboat style boats permanently docked on a river. This summer Casino Queen in East St. Louis, IL will become the state's first gaming facility not actually on a river. Situated 686 feet from the Mississippi River, the new 120,000 square-foot casino is a building atop a barge sitting in water about 10 feet deep -- a casino style known as a "boat in a moat." We stopped at Casino Queen last month and found construction on the new, larger casino to be progressing. They expect the grand opening of the new casino to be in August...and the folks at the casino promise that the air quality will be far superior than it is on the old riverboat. Meanwhile, the old boat is still open for business and is very busy, as usual.