Fishing and paddling draw most visitors to Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area, a free Missouri Department of Conservation campground on the outskirts of Hunnewell. The lake gives anglers direct shoreside access, and free rowboats and canoes are available for anyone who wants to get on the water, though you'll need to bring your own life jacket. Ducks are a regular presence on the lake. Campers passing through northeast Missouri on longer routes also use it as an overnight stop, with COE Mark Twain Lake Indian Creek Campground and Shelbina Lake City Park among the other options in the region.
The campground itself is open and grassy, with picnic tables and fire grates spread across sites that sit close together. The terrain slopes toward the lake, which makes finding a level spot a genuine challenge. Large maintenance buildings near the water partially block sightlines toward the lake from several campsites. Noise at night has come up in multiple reviews, with quiet hours not consistently observed by all campers.
Amenities include drinking water, vault toilets, a dump station behind the ranger station, and cell service. The site is ADA accessible and accommodates big rigs. A partial trail follows part of the lakeshore, though it does not loop the entire lake. As Patti M. notes, "some spots more shaded than others," so arriving early gives you more choices. It's free, year-round, and worth a look if lake access is your priority.
Description
Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website for more information.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsHunnewell Lake Conservation Area is located in Missouri near Monroe City
Public CampgroundDirections
From Hunnewell, take Route Z north 3 miles to the area.
Address
6503 Highway Z
Hunnewell, MO 63443
Coordinates
39.71172709 N
91.86280255 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/27/26
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 users- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 6/15/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 8/27/26
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 users
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 6/15/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Phone Service
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Big Rig Friendly
FREE established camping
Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 1 hr 19 min from Columbia, MO
- 1 hr 40 min from Jefferson City, MO
- 1 hr 47 min from Springfield, IL
- 2 hrs 6 min from St. Louis, MO
