Missouri is famous for its dramatic and awe-inspiring nature, including mountains, caves, rivers, lakes, and wildlife. Because of this natural bounty, there’s no shortage of families who want to spend time outdoors camping, and no shortage of great places to take them. Here are five awesome Missouri campgrounds for your family to enjoy.
Missouri is known as the Cave State, and that’s nowhere more in evidence than in Onondaga Cave State Park. The caves themselves, especially Onondaga Cave and Cathedral Cave, are worth the trip, with their stunning geological formations, but camping at the park also offers fishing, boating, hiking trails, and towering bluffs overlooking the Meramec River. Access to local attractions from the campgrounds make this an ideal Missouri vacation.
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The Endangered Wolf Center was founded by naturalist Marlin Perkins to protect a species that was quickly going extinct. Located right outside St. Louis, the Wolf Center allows camping with one particular attraction—campers can walk to the wolf habitat area and howl at the wolves, and the wolves almost always howl back.
Set in the clean, well-kept areas outside of St. Louis, Babler State Park features walking trails, fire circles, a paved bicycle trail, riding trails, and playgrounds. With easy-to-use parking slabs, clean toilets and showers, plenty of shade, and quick access to the city, it’s an ideal place for a family vacation.
Open year-round, Ozark Trails is one of the best destinations for family camping in the state. Situated in Linn Creek, Ozark Trails is an RV campground with big pull-thru sites, full hook-ups, and 30 or 50 amp service. Amenities include a pool, children's playground, campground store, and gorgeous nearby hiking trails.
St. Joe is one of the few parks in the system that has absolutely everything—including ATV trails, horseback riding trails, hiking trails, biking trails, swimming, and playgrounds. It’s near local attractions, including local wineries, but there’s enough to do at the park to make it a destination all on its own.
