Camping sites near Columbia, Illinois range from basic primitive areas to fully developed RV parks within a 30-40 minute drive radius. The region sits at approximately 400-600 feet elevation with hot, humid summers where temperatures frequently exceed 90°F from June through August. Winter camping remains available at select locations, though many campgrounds in the Mississippi River floodplain close seasonally from November through March.
What to do
Kayaking at 370 Lakeside Park: Located about 40 minutes from Columbia, this park offers boat rentals and lake access. "The park/campground rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes. There is a walking trail around the lake (4+ miles). There is fish in the lake and you are allowed to fish," notes one visitor to St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Katy Trail biking: The historic Katy Trail runs adjacent to some campgrounds. "You can literally be parked right at the Katy Trail. Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles. Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River," explains a camper at Sundermeier RV Park.
Six Flags day trips: Several campgrounds position themselves as bases for Six Flags adventures. "Stayed here for trip to six flags, well taken care of. People are friendly, has a nice and clean pool. Little shop with all sorts of stuff," reports a visitor to St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, which is "basically across the street from Six Flags and so can be very convenient."
What campers like
Urban convenience with outdoor appeal: Many campgrounds balance city access with natural settings. "Close to St. Louis attractions. Nice enough for staying a night or two," explains a camper at St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA. Another camper adds, "Spent one night on our way through. We had tram tickets for the arch so we needed a shore power hookup for run the AC for our dog. This was a good spot for that."
Affordable primitive options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate basic sites with minimal amenities. "Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$," notes a visitor to Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground. Another camper adds, "The campground is relatively small but has great sites to camp. Very private and clean. 5 ⭐ in my opinion simply because of the overnight price and privacy."
Kid-friendly activities: Family-oriented campgrounds offer structured recreation. "There is lots to do at this park. There is a pool, bike rentals, dog park, movie night, basketball court, and more," reports a visitor about Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground. Another camper mentions, "This is a great place to kayak and camp if you don't want to drive that fare and live in the city."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Many Columbia-area campgrounds experience noise from transportation corridors. "Only a one nighter while heading east. Below the pattern for STL and railroad crosses Missouri River nearby so you could call it noisy but didn't bother us much," notes a camper at Sundermeier RV Park. Another visitor mentions, "Cross country trip stop #2. Just a place to park the camper and sleep."
Seasonal flooding risks: Spring water levels affect campground availability. A staff member at Covered Bridge RV Park & Storage pointed out a specific instance: "While we were there they had a record rainfall amount and the park apparently already has flooding issues so it was flooding pretty bad but also our RV was right next to a creek that had risen really high and was in danger of flooding our site completely."
Security variations: Urban-adjacent parks often implement security measures. "The staff came out while this was happening to warn us of the potential flooding and offered to let us move to another site away from the creek if we needed to," shares a camper at Covered Bridge RV Park. At other locations, "Security is proactive in patrols and are friendly and helpful."
Tips for camping with families
Pool options in summer heat: Several campgrounds offer swimming pools to combat summer temperatures. "The grounds are clean and pleasant, if a bit sparse with little shade. This will change over the subsequent years, however, as there are many relatively newly planted trees," notes a visitor to 370 Lakeside Park. Another camper adds, "Pool was out of order while we were there, but those things happen."
Activity packages: Some campgrounds bundle recreational amenities. "You can get a band allowing your kids to do games of mini-golf, free train rides on the Yogi Bear Express Train, two arcade tokens, and a discount on Pizza at the Snack Shack," explains a visitor to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort At Six Flags.
Spacing and privacy: Campsite proximity varies significantly between parks. "The spacious sites are a big plus at 370 Lakeside Park where "the campsites are 'state-park-size', especially the back-in sites which all have plenty of lawns behind them." Conversely, at other locations, "sites are close together, and some are right on top of the next."
Tips from RVers
Hookup configurations: RVers should note varied utility setups at area campgrounds. "Utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper," warns a visitor to Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park.
Leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require additional equipment for comfortable setup. "Our site was gravel to park on with grass around it. Close to train tracks and highway, but didn't notice with AC on in the camper," notes a visitor to St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA.
Big rig accessibility: Larger RVs have specific campground needs in the Columbia area. "Very clean and secure overnight park just outside of STL. Phenomenal views of downtown and the arch, and fairly easy access to I-55/64/70," shares a visitor about Casino Queen RV Park. At other locations, "The site we had was very small and there are train tracks that run near by the campground so it can be quite noisy."
