3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort at Six Flags and St. Louis West Historic Route 66 KOA house upscale glamping accommodations near Arnold, Missouri. Jellystone Park offers safari-style glamping tents with comfortable beds, electricity, and climate control systems that keep guests comfortable in all seasons. The KOA features well-appointed yurts with wooden floors, canvas walls, and furnished interiors that provide a perfect blend of outdoor connection and modern comfort. One visitor noted, "We loved our stay aside from the snow and wind - the park is great! The sites have concrete pads, it's quiet, and close to Interstate 40 with paved roads for easy access." Both locations provide amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to clean shower facilities, making these glamping options suitable for travelers seeking outdoor experiences without sacrificing comfort.
St. Francois State Park's glamping sites sit alongside the Big River, offering a peaceful retreat with canvas accommodations that feature real beds and electricity. Visitors can explore multiple access points to the river, hike on fantastic trails, or participate in interpretive programs offered by the Conservation Department. According to a camper, "St. Francis is a beautiful Missouri state park with many programs offered by the Conservation Department. The campground has more of a communal vibe, which I have always enjoyed for making friends." Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park provides glamping yurts within its 868-acre urban setting, complete with miles of hiking, paved biking, and equestrian trails. Both parks maintain proximity to St. Louis attractions while offering a secluded glamping experience with amenities like showers, toilets, and drinking water. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak season from April through October when these glamping destinations reach capacity.
"Close to all the St Louis attractions as well as practically across the street from Six Flags. There is a pool and store on site."
"They have a dog park, rv hookup sites, electric tent sites and primitive sites. We stayed at a primitive tent site with both dogs."
"Babler State Park Wildwood, MO
💰 $12-$21/night
🗓 Feb 19-21, 2022
Site 48 ⚡️💧
🦮 Pets Welcome (on leash at all times)
➕Concrete Pads, Quiet, Close to Interstate 40, Paved Roads, Easy to Access"
"There are miles of hiking and biking trails right outside your doorstep and plenty of woods to explore. "
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $14 - $29 / night
"We stayed here last minute for Labor Day Weekend and the staff were great with finding us a good tent site available."
"Good breakfast and nice store. Really enjoyed our trip bundled with a Six Flags trip."
"Pretty nice wooded campground close to St. Louis! Each site has a picnic bench, a fire pit and grill."
"The park is known for its well-groomed trails, which are used by hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians alike."
"The nicest spots are the ones by the lake, with only one neighbor and a better view of the lake. The staff are kind and helpful. Water and electric worked fine."
"I've been to 370 Lakeside Park many times to walk around the huge lake and to hear concerts in the summer, but I had never camped there. Still haven't. I'll explain."
from $35 - $60 / night
"This park is so rich in Missouri and USA history - from buildings costructed by the African-American CCC stonemasons to Native American petroglyphs, there's some fascinating stuff here."
"The electrics sites are closer to the river, the tent sites are more private in trees in a separate area. Yay: Rent a canoe/kayak/tube to enjoy the river (on site!)."
Available this weekend
from $10 - $32 / night
"It’s about a 30-40 min drive to the arch from campground Sites were all gravel, fire pits were poorly placed and frequently it fell under someone else’s slide or trailer."
"Showers were well stocked and clean. Good hot water. The store and gift shop has everything you could need. Friendly staff and lots of activities to do."
"Definitely a lot of kid noise, but I much prefer that to adults drinking into the night."
"Francis is a beautiful Missouri state park, not to mention campground. It features many access points to its anchor, the BIg River, picnic areas, multiple pavilions and some fantastic trails. "
Available this weekend
from $14 - $23 / night
"Horseshoe Lake is one of my most visited parks and most favorite park in the STL and surrounding areas. First off absolutely beautiful land and peace is easily achieved."
"Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
"When you first pull down the road you’ll be worried you’re going to end up in the train yard, but the campground is hidden and actually really quiet and secluded."
"Laundry worked good. Pizza was good. Pet runs clean and in good shape. Good air signal for tv."
TravelerIt’s fun to see the animals. I was happy they have an outdoor shower because I needed it when I got here. I’d say the only down side is the animals roam so there is a lot of poop. Wouldn’t want to wander at night.
TravelerTrails in the area re nice but facilities for this many sites are limited. Sites are close to each other.
ScoutGood showers 10 dollar tenting fire pits and park benches at each site. Dump stations and there are flushing and pit toilets on site
TravelerThis campground is very well taken care of. The kids had plenty of things to do to stay busy and entertained outside.
RangerThis is a decent campground to stay for free. There is a pit toilet. There was only one picnic table and not many defined spots but I think you can pull up in the grass wherever you like. It's right at a trailhead. I started to walk the trail but couldn't find it when it crossed the road. The roads are good getting here. The campground road has a few pot holes, but nothing too bad. I would come back here and look for nearby hiking.
ScoutIts fine. Nothing snazzy. Its in more of an industrial area so its kind of loud with the trains going by and whatnot. Mostly an RV site. 9 tent sites (first come first serve on spot) and a handful of cabins.
GuideI gave this campground a five star again. I am a solo female camper. I like to go to places that are safe with a good atmosphere and this had both and plenty of things to do a roundabout when coming through this area again I will definitely stay here.
GuideCamping area is closed until further notice. Construction
LegendThis campground was easy to find, as both our GPS and the campground signs led us right to the city park and campground entrance. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m., but we called ahead and were graciously allowed to arrive an hour early. We checked in and proceeded to back-in Site 426 with full hookups. As the last site in the campground, the curve in the road made for an exceptionally easy back-in. The concrete pad easily accommodated our 40-foot toy hauler and F-450, with utilities conveniently located near the center of the site and no issues connecting two sewer hoses. Water pressure was adequate, and the 50-amp electric performed flawlessly. The campground's four loops have mostly younger trees, so satellite reception should not be a problem in most sites. Although we brought our Starlink, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet instead, averaging 217 Mbps download and 21.5 Mbps upload. The campground information sheet mentioned Wi-Fi, but we never saw a network to join and didn't inquire further since our internet worked well. We received three bars on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. The campground has a nice fenced dog park that's large enough to actually throw a ball, plus a paved walking and biking trail that circles the lake. The office also sells ice and firewood, and the dump station is located behind the office. Many sites offer lake views, and the RV sites are generally well spaced. We noticed Loop 100 has all concrete pads, the first two rows of Loop 200 are concrete with the remaining sites primarily gravel except for some end sites, Loop 300 is reserved for primitive camping and tents, and Loop 400 has a mix of concrete and gravel sites. The center rows of the RV loops are pull-throughs. One thing to be aware of is that the campground has begun charging short-term campers for electricity. We weren't informed about it during check-in, although our traveling companions were shown how to monitor their usage online. The information sheet we received only referenced weekly and monthly electric charges. Even with hot weather and occasionally running three air conditioners during our three-day stay, our electric charge was only about $14. We departed without stopping at the office and received a checkout email about an hour after the noon checkout time. The St. Louis area is our home base, and in our opinion, this is the best RV park in the area and the one we most often recommend to our RV friends.
St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort offer glamping accommodations near Arnold, Missouri, about 20 miles southwest of downtown St. Louis. The area sits in the northern Ozark Highland foothills with elevations ranging from 450-700 feet. Spring and fall camping seasons provide the most comfortable temperatures, with summer highs typically reaching the 90s with high humidity. Winter glamping options remain available at several parks with heated accommodations.
River exploration: Big River: St. Francois State Park provides multiple access points for kayaking, swimming, or fishing. "We spent a Saturday and Sunday there camping in the electric site. They do have tent sites but we wanted to be closer to the river which was a 2min walk," writes one camper at St. Francois State Park Campground.
Hiking trails: Various difficulty levels: Washington State Park offers trails for all skill levels, including the challenging 1000 Steps Trail. According to a reviewer, "We hiked the 1000 step trail. Most of the campers did fine but those who were not use to hiking did struggle a bit. If you are use to hiking, then this trail should not be any problem for you." One visitor to Washington State Park Campground adds, "Lots to do for all ages, including swimming and hikes of any difficulty/length. Famous for petroglyphs and other history too."
Historical sites: Native American petroglyphs: Washington State Park features preserved ancient rock carvings. A recent visitor notes, "The prehistoric Petroglyphs nearby are a must see." Another adds that the park is "famous for petroglyphs and other history too." The area combines natural beauty with significant historical artifacts.
Privacy levels: Varied by campground: Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park offers sites with differing privacy. "Sites 13-33 are popular open and sunny campsites with nice grassy areas between them. In contrast sites 52-75 are much more treed and have a private feel to them," explains one reviewer at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground. Another camper adds, "Tucked away, not far from St. Louis, you wouldn't know you were that close to a big city."
Clean facilities: Modern bathhouses: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park maintains excellent facilities. "Because it's new the restrooms/showers were very clean and modern," reports a visitor. Another camper at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park adds, "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."
Glamping variety: From tents to yurts: The region offers diverse glamping options including safari tents and yurts. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, "You can go from rustic rent a tent to a really nice cabin with lots amenities," according to one visitor. The park provides glamping opportunities with convenient access to area attractions.
Noise considerations: Railroad tracks: Some campgrounds experience train noise. At St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, a camper reports, "Close to train tracks and highway, but didn't notice with AC on in the camper." Another notes, "It will be even better when they invent silent trains." Consider campground location if noise sensitivity is an issue.
Spacing between sites: Variable by campground: Site spacing differs significantly between parks. One camper at Greensfelder County Park observed, "Pretty nice wooded campground close to St. Louis! Each site has a picnic bench, a fire pit and grill." However, some campgrounds offer less separation between sites.
Weather preparation: Flooding potential: Some parks experience occasional flooding. For St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, a reviewer mentioned, "One of the downsides to this location is that it is prone to flooding. It was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded."
Seasonal limitations: Winter facilities: Winter campers should note facility closures. "The campground is open year-round but the bathhouse with flush toilets closes November 1 and doesn't open until the spring," explains one reviewer about Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park.
Activity options: Kid-friendly amenities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park features numerous family activities. "This is not a rugged style campground as there are many amenities such as a pool, putt putt golf, volleyball, and more. They also host daily kids activities and crafts," shares a reviewer at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort At Six Flags.
Location flexibility: City proximity options: Families can choose between parks closer to or farther from urban areas. "Babler is located off I-64 in the chesterfield area about 30 minutes from Saint Louis. There are many spots to choose from. Basic and electric/water sites. Tent and Rv set ups are mixed," notes one camper.
Wildlife awareness: Local fauna: Wildlife encounters add educational value for children. A visitor to St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park noted, "You can see all kinds of wildlife in and around the lake- deer, bald eagles, pelicans, ducks, snakes."
Safety planning: Park security: Many parks offer security measures. One camper mentioned that St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park provides "24 hour on site security."
Hookup considerations: Variable options: RV sites offer different hookup configurations. At Horseshoe Lake State Park, a camper notes, "No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$." Another camper recommends checking site lengths before booking.
Parking surface quality: Paved vs. gravel: Surface types vary by campground and affect leveling ease. One reviewer mentioned, "All campsites and patios are paved and level with a comfortable amount of space between sites," while another noted their site had "gravel to park on with grass around it."
Pull-through availability: Limited but available: Some parks offer pull-through sites for larger rigs. A camper at St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA reports, "Sites are mostly level. Nice staff. Appears cabins are going through some refurbishing efforts."
Road conditions: Narrow access at some parks: RVers should research access routes. One visitor warns, "Entrance to campground is tight, swing wide," suggesting caution when navigating larger rigs into some facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Arnold, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Arnold, MO is St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Arnold, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 glamping camping locations near Arnold, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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