Missouri State Parks Camping Reservations

Hawn State Park Ste Genevieve

Hills of stately pine and oak trees, sandy-bottom streams, and sandstone canyons and cliffs create one of the most significant and scenic landscapes in Missouri at Hawn State Park. Located in western Ste. Genevieve County, the 4,956-acre park offers a special experience for anyone wanting to enjoy the splendor of nature. Geology buffs come to the park to see the number of exposed rock types, hikers love the park for its amazing trails, and bird watchers flock to the park for its variety of birds.

This amazing landscape offers a scenic and peaceful setting where visitors can camp, hike, picnic, and enjoy nature. The parks campground, beneath a canopy of lofty pines, includes both basic and electric sites. Picnickers can enjoy a quiet lunch at one of the many picnic tables that dot the sandy, pine-covered woodland floor. The best way to experience the park is on its trails, which range from a short walk to an overlook area to an almost 10-mile-long backpacking trail that is considered one of the best in the state.

Once visitors experience the park, its easy to understand why Hawn State Park is considered a special treasure in a state park system filled with outstanding recreational jewels.

There are 2 camp host positions at this park each year from March November.

Finger Lakes State Park Columbia

The roar of ATVs and off-road motorcycles combines with the peacefulness of rolling hills at Finger Lakes State Park, one of two ATV parks in the state parks system. Built-in a former coal mining area, Finger Lakes trails and motocross track are popular with users who come for the day, but often fall under the spell of the spacious campground, leafy trees, and hilly terrain. The park is also the site of the challenging 2.75-mile Kelley Branch Mountain Bike Trail and a 4.5-mile water trail.

They usually hire 2 campground hosts each season from April October.

Lewis And Clark State Park Rushville

The Lewis and Clark Expedition headed west in 1804 and encountered a lake that William Clark described as full of Geese & Goslings. Today, that lake is Lewis and Clark Lake, which is bordered by Lewis and Clark State Park. The parks broad open spaces make it a favorite for families who take advantage of the scenic picnic areas and playground. Bird watchers come to Lewis and Clark to watch geese, great blue herons, eagles, swans, and snowy egrets flock to the oxbow lake throughout the seasons.

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Mo State Parks Launch Upgraded Online Reservation System Feb 15

MISSOURI – Missouri State Parks will launch an upgraded online reservation system on Tuesday, February 15.

In order to complete the upgrade, they say they will not be accepting new reservations, changes or cancellations from 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 through 6:59 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15.

This includes online reservations at icampmo.com, phone reservations through the call center and reservations made at a state park or state historic site location.

According to a release from Missouri State Parks, the parks and historic sites will be open under normal, off-season operations during this time.

The new reservation system will include:

• The ability to buy and send Missouri State Parks eGift Cards
• Interactive park maps and multiple photos to preview campsites
• Easy-to-use search function, showing results up to 70 miles from your search area
• The ability to reserve shelters online
• The ability to sign up for tours online

According to the parks system, there will be a $2 decrease in reservation fees for reservations made online and a 50-cent decrease in reservation fees for reservations made through the call center.

Starting at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15, making an advanced reservation for campsites and group tent areas will result in the following nonrefundable reservation fees: $6.50 for reservations made online and $8 for reservations made through the call center at 877-422-6766.

Same-day reservations for campsites are accepted and do not have a reservation fee.

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Missouri State Parks Announces 12

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 16, 2020 Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, today announced an expanded reservation window for campgrounds, increasing from a six-month period to a 12-month period.

Beginning at 7 a.m. CST on Tuesday, June 30, campers can reserve a campsite at Missouri State Parks one year prior to arrival date to better allow for planning for visitors and staff. Reservations are required at most campgrounds and park-run lodging prior to arrival, and can be made up until 7 p.m. CST the day before arrival. Campers are encouraged to make reservations online at www.icampmo.com.

“The one-year camping reservation window will better allow large groups traveling together to book in advance,” said Mike Sutherland, Missouri State Parks director. “As of Tuesday, June 30, all campers, such as the anglers who camp at the trout parks year after year, can begin making their reservations for the 2021 season.”

Missouri State Parks has instituted a number of changes related to campground operations to better facilitate appropriate social distancing and improve the safety of operations for Missouri State Parks guests and staff.

The additional measures include the following:

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Annie And Abel Van Meter State Park Miami

Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park features remnants of the Missouria Indian village that sat at the Great Bend of the Missouri River, marked on a map by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in 1673. A hand-dug earthwork Old Fort and several burial mounds lie within the parks boundaries. The states Indian history is interpreted in displays and exhibits at the parks Missouris American Indian Cultural Center.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the park features hiking trails and an 18-acre fishing lake. Trails lead visitors through the Oumessourit Natural Area with views of the freshwater marsh and through bottomland and upland forests. The parks lofty trees shade picnic sites, picnic shelters, and a campground.

There is 1 position available at this campground from April-October.

Knob Noster State Park Knob Noster

Knob Noster State Park is a tranquil retreat of open oak woodland with a few patches of prairie along both sides of the meandering Clearfork Creek. Its a place for fishermen to wet a line, for mountain bikers, hikers, and horseback riders to get some trail time, and for families to spend quality time together. The park also features an oxbow slough, which has been officially designated as Pin Oak Slough Natural Area.

There is usually just 1 camp host position at this park from April October. The normal days off for the host are Monday and Tuesday.

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Lake Wappapello State Park Williamsville

Lake Wappapello State Park is the ideal vacation spot for a day or a week. The park offers a modern campground and cabins plus rustic camper cabins. Miles of trails for hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders offer great scenery and picturesque views. With easy access to Lake Wappapello, the park offers opportunities for boaters, including canoers and kayakers, and anglers searching for crappie, catfish, and bass.

2 Campground Hosts are available from April-November. The hours are varied and in part up to you. Hosts get the freedom to come and go as long as they are assuring that their volunteer duties are done daily.

Echo Bluff State Park Eminence

More than 85 years ago, this area opened as Camp Zoe, a summer youth camp that provided outdoor experiences and life-long memories for thousands of young people.

Today, Echo Bluff State Park is a year-round outdoor destination that allows visitors to create new memories as they experience all the Ozarks have to offer. Visitors of all ages can fill their days with floating, hiking, swimming, or fishing. While the park has a spectacular natural setting, the modern amenities enhance the experience and make it welcoming for everyone.

An impressive, iconic lodge features guest rooms, indoor and outdoor casual dining, and meeting rooms. Nine full-service cabins with 13 units are a great option for families and groups. Camping opportunities range from primitive to full-service campsites. The bluff-top shelter is perfect for special events, and an amphitheater for smaller events offers a dramatic natural backdrop. The park also offers hiking and mountain biking trails.

2 camp hosts are typically hired from March October each year.

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Missouri State Parks Scheduled To Make Enhancements To Online Reservation System

Missouri State Parks is scheduled to launch an enhanced online reservation system at 7 a.m. Tuesday, February 15.

According to a news release, in order to complete the upgrade, Missouri State Parks will not be accepting new reservations, changes or cancellations from 7 p.m. February 13 through 6:59 a.m. Tuesday, February 15. This includes online reservations at icampmo.com, phone reservations through the call center and reservations made at a state park or state historic site location. State parks and historic sites will be open under normal, off-season operations during this time.

Park officials say the new reservation system will offer many new features including:

• The ability to buy and send Missouri State Parks eGift Cards.
• Interactive park maps and multiple photos to preview campsites.
• Easy-to-use search function, showing results up to 70 miles from your search area.
• The ability to reserve shelters online.
• The ability to sign up for tours online.

As part of the new reservation system, there will be a $2 decrease in reservation fees for reservations made online and a $.50 decrease in fees for reservations made through the call center. Beginning at 7 a.m. February 15, making an advanced reservation for campsites and group tent areas will result in following nonrefundable reservation fees of $6.50 for reservations made online at icampmo.com and $8 for reservations made through the call center at 422-6766.

Graham Cave State Park Danville

A walk-in Graham Cave State Park is a walk through ancient history. Artifacts uncovered in Graham Cave reveal that people occupied the cave 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. To walk through the parks 386 scenic acres, which includes the diverse Graham Cave Glades Natural Area, is to walk in the footsteps of the hunter-gatherers who lived in the areas caves during the ancient Dalton and Archaic periods.

Visitors can go into the mouth of Graham Cave, an interpretive exhibit along the Graham Cave Trail detail the life researchers believe early inhabitants lived. Additional interpretive exhibits throughout the park explain the cultural and natural significance of the site. Graham Cave State Park is a prime hiking location, and the campground is perfect for get-togethers in a quiet place. A boat ramp to the Loutre River provides access for boating and fishing.

They usually hire 1 camp host each year from April October.

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Big Lake State Park Craig

Big Lake State Park is the perfect destination for a vacation or family gathering in northwest Missouri. The 407-acre state park offers everything visitors need to create a memorable vacation with a campground, camper cabins, day-use area, and access to Big Lake.

The park is located adjacent to Big Lake, the largest remaining oxbow lake in Missouri. The parks location provides easy access to the lake, which is popular for boating and fishing. The shallow lake also supports wetlands that create an ideal refuge for wetland bird species and migratory waterfowl.

The combination of activities provided by the lake and the amenities provided in the park make Big Lake State Park the perfect spot for a family vacation or an afternoon of fun.

Big Lake State Park, generally has 2 Campground Hosts on-site from April 15 through October 31.

Big Changes Coming To Missouri State Parks Website

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Some big changes are coming to the Missouri State Parks website.

Improvements to its online reservation system are being rolled out on Tuesday, February 15. Users will now be able to buy and send e-gift cards, make cave tour reservations at the same time as booking a campsite, and reserve shelters online. One of the biggest changes though will be an interactive map with multiple photos of each campsite, so campers can get a better idea of whats available before picking an area to pitch their tent. Think of it like Google Maps Streetview, but inside a state park.

These are real-time maps, explains David Kelly, Director of Missouri State Parks. They have satellite so you can see the tree cover and things like that, but it will also show you real-time whether that sites available. Its just using technology to meet user needs.

Another major change will be seen when using the websites search bar. Kelly explains it will now show similar state parks within a 70-mile radius if the park youre looking at is already fully booked.

Weve got some great parks all over the state, and I think with the new system and some of the new features, hopefully, theyll explore some state parks that theyve not been to before, says Kelly.

Because more people are going to the web… and changes in technology and competition… that impacted the price, says Kelly. Its been good not only for Missouri State Parks but for our visitors.

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Missouri State Parks Offers Same

• May 1, 2021

Missouri State Parks is offering same-day reservations at most park and historic site campgrounds this season. The only exceptions are campsites at Battle of Athens State Historic Site, Prairie and Taum Sauk Mountain state parks, which remain available on a walk-up registration basis only.

To ensure a camping spot, campers are strongly encouraged to make a reservation prior to arrival at the park. Most campgrounds are fully reservable and any campsites not reserved are available on a walk-up registration basis. Campers must pay the camping rate prior to occupying the site.

Shower houses and modern restrooms are available during the parks camping season. Firewood and ice are available for purchase at most locations during operating hours. For more information on specific hours, please contact the park or historic site office directly.

State park and historic site day-use areas are also now open. Playgrounds, trails, boat launches and picnic areas are open as well, along with most indoor spaces, including visitor centers, nature centers, museums and offices.

For more information on camping, visit mostateparks.com/activity/camping. Same-day reservations can be made online at icampmo.com or through the reservation call center at 422-6766 until 7 p.m.

Make Your Reservation Today

Same-day reservations are now available for camping stays and will be accepted online at www.icampmo.com or by phone at 877-422-6766 up until 7 p.m. the day of your planned arrival. For more information on camping reservations, please click here.

A minimum stay of two nights is required for weekend reservations at Big Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, Lewis and Clark, Pershing, St. Joe, Stockton, Table Rock, Mark Twain, Wakonda, Wallace, Watkins Mill, and Weston Bend state parks. The two-night minimum must be Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday. The cancellation of one night of a two-night minimum stay is not allowed.

Any campsites that are not reserved remain available by walk-up registration. All campsites at Battle of Athens State Historic Site, and Prairie and Taum Sauk Mountain state parks are available by walk-up registration only.

While there are no reservation fees associated with making a same-day reservation, our current cancellation and modification policies become effective upon conclusion of your reservation web session or phone call. More information on these policies can be found here.

Contactless self-check-in feature remains available to customers with reservations on their day of arrival. For more information on self-check-in, please click here.

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Missouri State Parks Offers Early Camping Reservations For 2017 Solar Eclipse

On Aug, 21, 2017, a solar eclipse will be viewable throughout Missouri. In response to public interest, Missouri State Parks is allowing visitors to make plans to observe this major astronomical event in a state park. From Nov. 4-Nov. 25, guests will be able to make camping reservations for the weekend of the eclipse.

“Its been nearly 150 years since a total solar eclipse took place in the Show-Me State and we recognize that many Missourians are already planning a memorable way to experience the big event,” said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks. “Guests can make advance reservations now to guarantee that they will have the chance to top off a fun weekend of camping and exploring the outdoors by viewing this extraordinary and rare astronomical event in a state park.”

Camping reservations are typically available six months before the first night of a stay. This special reservation window will allow guests to begin planning their visits now.

To make reservations, visit or call 877-ICampMo

7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT, seven days a week.

Missouri State Parks is supported by the one-tenth of one-percent Parks, Soils and Water Sales Tax, which accounts for approximately 75 percent of the budget to repair, improve and maintain state parks and historic sites. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Meramec State Park Sullivan

The Meramec River flows by majestic bluffs, wooded areas, and a dramatic cave entrance. More than 13 miles of hiking trails are available for exploring the park and visitors can swim, fish, raft, and boat in the river. A modern campground, cabins, and motel give visitors a choice to stay the night or even longer. Exhibits in the visitor center interpret the natural and cultural features of the park. No visit to the park would be complete without a tour of Fisher Cave with hand-held lights.

3 camp host positions are available at Meramec campground from February-November. Hosts work split shifts from 7 a.m. until the evening hours when they are on duty. Hosts will work 4 days on and 3 days off during their stay at the park.

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