Campsites near Chesterfield, Missouri offer a mix of county and state park options within 45 minutes of the metropolitan area. The region sits at the edge of the Ozark foothills where the Missouri River valley creates distinctive terrain with limestone bluffs. Temperatures typically range from 26°F in winter to 89°F in summer, with camping facilities adapting to seasonal shifts in precipitation and temperature.
What to do
Bike the Katy Trail: Access the 240-mile Katy Trail directly from Beyond the Trail RV Park, which offers full hookup sites adjacent to this scenic rail-trail. "The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town. Beautiful views across a large farm field (soy beans when we were here) to the hills beyond with incredible sunsets," notes camper Sam C.
Equestrian activities: Greensfelder County Park maintains dedicated facilities for horse owners with "tie stalls under a roof and a round pen mounting blocks shower and bathrooms in camp. Electricity at each site and water nearby," according to Alicia B. The park features specialized trails with jumps for equestrian riders.
Archery and water sports: At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, visitors can access multiple recreational facilities. "This is a great place to kayak and camp if you don't want to drive that fare and live in the city," writes Lindsey C. Another visitor noted, "There is an archery range. They rent out peddle boats, bikes and peddle cars/buggies as well. We rented a peddle buggy. Those are a lot harder to get moving then they look."
What campers like
Proximity to urban amenities: Campers value the short commute from St. Louis. At Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park, April D. explains, "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."
Level sites with concrete pads: Serious RVers appreciate the paved campsites at multiple locations. According to Nancy W. at Babler State Park, "What we liked about this campground was the comfortable feel of being at a state park with plenty of trees, hiking trails, space between sites, but also the convenience of having a level, paved site with electricity and television/phone reception."
Wine country access: Campsites in the western parts of St. Charles County provide convenient access to Missouri wine regions. "This is a very nice park. The spaces are a bit close together and not many trees but I've been to worse," reports Barbie B. about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, adding that "The lake is nice and they have some spots close to it."
What you should know
Noise considerations: Several campgrounds report noise from nearby transportation corridors. At St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, campers mention train tracks and highway noise. Todd P. comments, "This was such a nice and serene setting. Close to the city and local attractions, yet surrounded by nature none the less. It will be even better when they invent silent trains."
Campground flooding risks: Low-lying areas experience periodic closure due to water levels. "One of the downsites 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," reports Annie C. about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Wildlife encounters: Beyond the typical forest creatures, some parks have notable animal activity. April D. shares this warning about Babler State Park: "The only issue is the raccoons. They dont give a darn who you are. They will walk right up to, smile, and take your chips. Scandalous!"
Tips for camping with families
Cabin options for beginners: Those new to camping can ease into outdoor experiences with cabin rentals. At Klondike Park, Jonathan P. reports, "My kids loved exploring out there I will be renting a cabin later this week." The park offers cabins as alternatives to tent sites.
Theme campgrounds with activities: Families with children often prefer campgrounds with scheduled programming. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort At Six Flags, Lindsey R. notes, "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."
Site selection for group comfort: When camping with families, strategic site selection matters. Scott M. suggests, "The campground is not very large. Most of the sites are small. This works well for me since I like to talk and meet other campers. However, if you prefer some space while camping, this one may not be for you."
Tips from RVers
Electrical limitations: RV campers should verify amperage availability. At Greensfelder County Park, Matthew H. advises, "Only sites 20-29 have electric and 28 can't be reserved," adding that most sites have "2-20 amp plugs and 1-30amp plug" but site 29 "only have 2-20 amp plugs no 30."
Water access concerns: Seasonal water limitations affect winter camping. At Babler State Park, one camper noted, "Not having water available except at the camp host, and no open restrooms and showers until after April 1, regardless of when the last freeze is was inconvenient for a spring break trip."
Site dimensions and pull-through availability: RV owners should research exact dimensions. Nancy W. reports about Babler, "Not all sites are long enough for large RVs and the roads in some loops prevent you from turning around. The camp hosts we encountered are very helpful and have a list of site lengths and can tell you which ones are appropriate for large RVs."
