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Best Tent Camping near Ste. Genevieve, MO

311 Reviews

State parks and conservation areas within driving distance of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri offer several tent-only camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground, located about 45 miles southwest of Ste. Genevieve, provides primitive tent camping at Missouri's highest point. This tent-only campground features approximately 12 basic sites nestled among trees, with two additional group camping areas for larger parties. Apple Creek Conservation Area, situated closer to Ste. Genevieve, offers walk-in tent sites with more rustic accommodations. Lake Girardeau Conservation Area, though farther south, provides another option with about 8 small primitive tent campsites near a no-wake lake.

Most tent campsites in the region operate on a first-come, first-served basis with payment collected through self-registration systems. Sites typically include fire rings with grates and picnic tables, but amenities remain minimal. Taum Sauk Mountain's tent camping area features vault toilets and a water spigot near the entrance, though water may be shut off during winter months. The terrain at these primitive tent campgrounds varies considerably, with Taum Sauk featuring rocky ground that requires careful tent placement. Apple Creek offers level gravel pads that stay relatively dry during wet weather. Wildlife activity is common throughout these areas, with raccoons frequently investigating improperly stored food items. Campers should secure all food in vehicles rather than hanging it from the provided trash hooks.

The tent camping experience at these locations emphasizes natural surroundings over conveniences. One camper noted that Taum Sauk Mountain State Park's sites are "nicely spaced with lots of shade," making them ideal for summer tent camping. The campground's proximity to hiking trails, including access to the Ozark Trail and Mina Sauk Falls, provides excellent recreational opportunities. According to reviews, even when all sites are occupied, "you still feel there is enough space between you and the next camper." Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for exploring nearby attractions like Johnson Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks, and Fort Davidson. The walk-in nature of some sites creates a backcountry tent camping feel while still providing basic amenities like vault toilets within walking distance.

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Best Tent Sites Near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri (5)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Ste. Genevieve, MO

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Tent Camping Reviews near Ste. Genevieve, MO

311 Reviews of 5 Ste. Genevieve Campgrounds

  • Marla F.
    Jul. 24, 2018

    Hawn State Park Campground

    Great views and awesome campground

    I have been to Hawn State Park many times! It is a very clean campground with a newer shower house. The campground is smaller and has amazing views. I love electric site 17 best because it has the perfect view of the cliffs. There is 3 trails with the longest having two loop options with connectors from the other two trails. There are also walk in sites here and hike in sites. This park will not disappoint. It is also close to Ste. Genevieve which is a great town to visit for a history lesson on the settlement of Missouri. Pickle Springs Nature Area is also a few minutes away which is another fantastic area to hike. It is beautiful any season but I love the views in autumn best!

  • Mike V.
    Aug. 3, 2016

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground

    Camping, hiking, sightseeing, & birding at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in Missouri

    Gave this campground a 5-star rating, but it probably should only be a 4 star. It only has about 12 basic tent campsites, no water or electrical at the sites. The campsites were nicely spaced, most have a lot of shade, each has a picnic table and a place to make a fire. No trailers allowed at camp sites, just tents. There is one or two special-use camping areas that can be used for groups such as boy scouts, etc. It appears you can pay in advance and reserve some campsites, so that you be sure to get one for your trip. I went in late May on the Mon-Tue of-after Memorial Day weekend and was able to find an available campsite even though I did not have a reservation. Camping fees/rates were posted on a board near the restroom building by the honor system camping fee pay station.
    The restroom bldg only has pit toilets, not flush toilets. But they were cleaned very well by the workers on the 2nd day I was there. Also worth noting is that there is water faucet an a drinking fountain next to the restroom bldg, so you can get fresh water if needed. OK, so this sounds normal to average, so why give this campground a good rating? Because of location to the great stuff near-by on this mountain.
    Missouri's High Point is here on this mountain. There is a very nice overlook w/ viewing platform w/ handrails very close to the campground. Some awesome hiking trails are worth checking out, although they are a bit rugged in places where you could twist an ankle. One of the trails will take you to a nice waterfall, which is Missouri's highest falls. Note that I would not call it MO's largest waterfall. Further to all of this great stuff is that the birds were plentiful and quite active when I was there. Easy to watch and listen to them at the camping area, and at the overlook viewing platform. Birds were pretty much everywhere. There is also a look-out tower up on the mountain, which is probably used as a fire watch tower. A few pictures attached.

  • Leah H.
    Jul. 18, 2017

    Silver Mines

    Great Camping Near the River

    This camp site has RV hook-ups and tent camping. There are trees throughout the campground if you're looking to set up a hammock. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table and is a mix of grass and light gravel. Pit toilets, no showers. Water spigots throughout the camp ground. Keep an eye out for snakes though! I nearly stepped on a copper head in the outhouse! Camp sites are a 2 minute walk to the St. Francois River. Great hiking along the river and good fishing, swimming and kayaking in the river! Also not to far from the Castor River Shut-ins if you're looking to pack two rivers into one trip. We just celebrated my husband's birthday here last weekend, though we have been a few times before. Always a blast!

  • Napunani
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Trail of Tears State Park Campground

    Back-up to the Mississippi River

    PRO 

    Senior discount saving $6 

    Able to reserve on-line 365 days prior to arriving 

    Very friendly and helpful camp host 

    Unobstructed view of the Mississippi River 

    Great dark sky viewing 

    No highway/road noise, but... 

    Asphalt parking pad surrounded by grass 

    Metal fire pit with cooking grate 

    One hook lantern pole 

    Moveable wooden picnic table in the grass 

    Toilet/shower building.35 miles from campground very nice and very clean with ample TP and hand soap 

    Firewood for sale by camp host $5 

    Mississippi River Scenic Overlook was very nice V

    Visitor Center has small museum (no admission fee) on the Trail of Tears Native American tribal migration 

    Coin-operated laundromat on South Hope Street Jackson after the roundabout 12 miles from campground 

    Tractors Restaurant Main Street Jackson very good diner type restaurant 

    CONS

    $8.50 reservation fee for online self made reservation 

    Sites that back to the river very close to each other. We stepped out our door onto the neighbors stinky slinky. Insufficient space to deploy awning. 

    Electrical utility connection is on passenger side of the campsite#6 

    Sewer connection was high above ground so drainage was up hill. Camp host warned us upon arrival we may need to use dump station to get tanks totally drained. 

    Site 6 not level side-to-side 

    Lots of trains, day and night with train horn blaring due to road crossing at campground Lots of river barge noise 

    Only one single unisex pit toilet in campground 

    No park headquarters or entrance gate office for check-in. Sign in campground informing how to conduct virtual check in. 

    No security gate closed overnight 

    No ranger patrolling campground

    No WiFi 

    2 bars Verizon LTE

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Reviews on Campground #1 & #2

    I’ve camped at both campgrounds offered at St. Joe. In the fall of 2018, we stayed at CG#1, the spot has a nice gravel tent pad with border, picnic table, and a fire pit. The spot also offered a concrete section for a camper and cars. We had a pop-up and one tent and it was very spacious. A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1.

    CG#2 is located about 2-3 away from the main campground, this includes the shower house and main bathrooms. There is no shower house at CG#2. I stayed at CG#2 about a week ago. Very similar in design to the sites at CG#1, it also offers amenities for those with horses. We had a spot with electric and no water, water is located close by the vault toilets. The site has a gravel parking area rather than the concrete one at CG#1. We had two tents, two cars, and five people, just as spacious. If you want more seclusion and don’t really care about being right next to the showers, I would suggest CG#2.

    Also, there was a trail located right by our spot at CG#2, it’s a good hike!!

    Two clean and well kept swimming areas, great trails, good camp sites, and great bathrooms/showers!

  • Matt S.
    Sep. 4, 2016

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground

    Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest point in Missouri, and a good campground

    I had a great time at Taum Sauk Mountain. I came down to check out the area to see if it would be a good place to do a Boy Scout High Adventure for my son's troop. It is only tent sites, no RV's, campers or pop ups. I prefer setting up my tent and sleeping under the stars so I loved camping here.

    There are not a lot of campsites and they are reserved on a first come first served basis. There are only pit toilets and no showers but if you are in a pinch you can power your phones from the outlet outside of the pit toilets and there is a water fountain with a spigot right next to the pit toilets as well.

    Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest point in Missouri with a beautiful overlook. It also has a tower if you are not afraid of heights and can make it up the 91 steps to the top. There is a lot of wildlife. I saw several deer myself and my neighbors had a pack of raccoons who terrorized the food they left out on their picnic table. Be sure to keep your food and belongings in your car or hung up in a tree or on one of the posts set up in the camp site.

    This is a great park for scenery, wildlife, and solitude.

  • AC
    May. 16, 2021

    Washington County State Recreation Area

    Shady Rest campground

    Really great campground. Good mix of tents and RVs. Bath house was very well kept and clean. Showers ran cold at first but after a few mins it gets warmer! There were plenty of pit toliets through out the campground and trash cans. My tent site was clean, good flat spot for tent, picnic table and fire pit with attached grill.

    The Concession building in the park is closing. No boat rentals, selling everything he has on the shelf.

    Caught a few bass and and good amount of hiking. Large trail around the whole lake, smaller trails lead to sites around the different campgrounds.

  • Loren G.
    Jul. 9, 2018

    Marble Creek Rec Area

    Basic campground near a creek

    The campground is an adventure to get to. Located on a winding road off of 72/21 just south of Arcadia. Nice campsites close to the creek. None are on top of each other so there is a nice bit of space between you and your neighbor which provides some privacy. Campsites are well maintained with fire rings and picnic tables in each site. There is a public pit toilet in the center of the campsites near the entrance. This is a nice location in close proximity to both Elephant Rocks and Johnson Shut-Ins.

  • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2016

    Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground

    Horseshoe Lake Recreation Area

    Nice little campground close to down town St Louis (when the leaves are down I bet you can see the Arch). Campsites are nice and flat with the standard picnic tables and fire rings. No showers, but decent toilets. The nice thing is the campground is staffed by rangers in the day, and at night they sometimes take a security swing through the campground. Nice lake for fishing and boating.

Guide to Ste. Genevieve

Tent camping options around Ste. Genevieve, Missouri extend beyond well-known state parks into conservation areas and recreational complexes. The terrain varies from the rocky highlands of the St. Francois Mountains to the Mississippi River floodplain, with elevations ranging from 400 to 1,772 feet. Winter camping remains available at several locations, though water access becomes limited from November through March.

What to do

Hike to waterfalls: The Mina Sauk Falls trail at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground offers a 4-mile moderate hike best experienced after rainfall. "Best to hike after a heavy rainfall to see the waterfall but don't let that stop you if it hasn't rained in awhile, still beautiful to see," notes Erica P.

Fishing opportunities: Fish at Apple Creek's boat ramp near the camping area. "Apple Creek is a very short distance north on the gravel road. The creek is a good place to fish and you can launch a kayak the boat ramp," explains Ralph S. from Apple Creek Conservation Area.

No-wake boating: Lake Girardeau Conservation Area provides calm water recreation options. "It is a good area for fishing, kayaking or canoeing. It is a no-wake lake," according to Kim R., making it ideal for peaceful water activities.

What campers like

Solitude and quiet: During off-peak seasons, campgrounds near Ste. Genevieve offer remarkable privacy. "We were the only people in the campground that night, which was a little freaky, but also very peaceful," shares Mara F. about winter camping at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.

Natural sleeping surfaces: The forest floor at some sites provides unexpected comfort. "Where we camped, the ground was covered in moss. That made for very soft sleeping, except for the few large rocks spread over the area," reports Scott M. from Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground.

Wildlife encounters: Campers frequently spot wildlife around their sites. "Also had deer at our tent," mentions Lynn G., highlighting the proximity to nature available when tent camping near Ste. Genevieve.

What you should know

Ground conditions vary: Rocky terrain requires careful tent placement at some locations. "Very rocky ground so be careful where you put your tent," warns Amanda C. about Taum Sauk Mountain State Park.

Limited facilities: Most conservation areas offer minimal amenities. "There is no running water. There is one bathroom. It is secluded and nice to just get away, but each campsite is very close to each other so there is not a lot of privacy," explains Kim R. about Lake Girardeau.

Seasonal water availability: Water access changes with seasons. "The water was turned off at the time of year we were there and the pit toilets were pretty full, but otherwise still clean," reports Mara F. about winter camping at Taum Sauk.

Tips for camping with families

Group camping options: Lake Girardeau Conservation Area features a pavilion near the primitive sites. "Spots have a table and a fire pit. Vault toilets, and a pavilion on site," notes Matthew G., providing a gathering space for family activities.

Educational opportunities: Historical sites complement camping trips. "It is very close to several points of interest- Fort Davidson in Pilot Knob, Elephant Rocks & Johnson Shut-ins," suggests Lisa P., highlighting educational day trips from Taum Sauk Mountain.

Level camping surfaces: Look for established gravel pads for easier tent setup. "It's a level spot with gravel, so it's a 'clean' place in damp weather," explains Ralph S. about Apple Creek Conservation Area, making it easier for family camping.

Tips from RVers

Tent-only restrictions: Several locations explicitly prohibit RVs. "TENT CAMPING ONLY!!! My friend had been turned away on a previous trip! (There are some other parks nearby if you are in an RV)," warns Lynn G. about Taum Sauk Mountain.

Alternative RV options: World Shooting and Recreational Complex near Sparta, Illinois offers full hookup sites within driving distance of Ste. Genevieve. "Site has tons of camping sites so finding a spot should not be an issue," reports Chip, noting the abundance of spaces outside peak events.

Seasonal availability: RV sites become more accessible during off-seasons. "We were here last weekend in August. Only one other camper within sight of our spot Friday night and they were gone Saturday morning," shares Chip about the World Shooting Complex.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Ste. Genevieve, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Ste. Genevieve, MO is World Shooting and Recreational Complex with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

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TheDyrt.com has all 5 tent camping locations near Ste. Genevieve, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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