Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Defiance, MO has a lot to offer. Aside from great camping spots, you'll find hiking and many more outdoor experiences. Thinking of traveling with kids? You're in luck—Defiance is surrounded by family-friendly activities. Find the best campgrounds near Defiance, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
Enjoy picturesque camping as it was meant to be - with lots of trees, a babbling creek, fireflies, a campfire under a starlit sky, and all Pull-Thru RV Sites. Located on Historic Route 66, this KOA is less than 1 mile from Six Flags St. Louis and I-44. It's an easy 30 minutes from other St. Louis attractions, including the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden, City Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and Grant's Farm. Stay in a Deluxe Cabin or on a Patio RV Site or Premium Tent Site. Kids love all the activities/amenities, such as the heated pool, gem mining station, and new Jumping Pillow. Groups love the pavilion and meeting space with A/C. Pool: May 10 - September 30. Your host: Paul Shepherd.
Cuivre River State Park is one of the state’s largest and most rugged parks! Cuivre River State Park lends a wilder, Ozarkian flavor to the otherwise predominately agricultural landscape of northern Missouri. Although not far from St. Louis, the park is a nature lover’s paradise. It is an outdoor delight to stroll through the park in the spring when flowering dogwood is in bloom or in the fall when the trees are ablaze with autumn colors.
The park is perfect whether you want to enjoy an afternoon visit or spend a few days. Both primitive and modern campsites are available, and Lake Lincoln offers swimming, boating and fishing. The park’s wild and natural areas provide hiking, backpacking, photography and wildlife observation activities. There is also an equestrian trail with a campground for overnight stays.
Cuivre River State Park offers reservable basic, electric and sewer/electric/water campsites, an equestrian campground, three organized group camps and a special-use camping area. Try one of the park's family campsites for a little extra space or a platform tent site for a unique camping experience.
$15 - $38 / night
$35 - $60 / night
Pere Marquette State Park is a nature lover's paradise. In addition to enjoying the spectacular views of the Illinois River and its backwaters from several points atop the bluffs, visitors can take advantage of a variety of year-round recreational opportunities, including horseback riding, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and boating.
Pere Marquette's Visitor Center has a 3-D map of the park and wealth of other displays and exhibits concerning the Illinois River, wildlife habitat, local history and geology.
Fall color drives are popular along the wooded ravines and riverside roadways at and near Pere Marquette. In January and February, the park is a hot-spot for bald eagle watching. For many years, the park has hosted tours of the river bluffs and woods for visitors to get an up-close look at wintering bald eagles in the hundreds along the Mississippi River and lower Illinois River near the park.
Campers will find plenty to like at Pere Marquette, from camp sites and cabins to the popular Youth Tent Camp and three group camps. Campground reservations can be made at ExploreMoreIL.
The beautiful Pere Marquette Lodge and Conference Center is an ideal place to stay for a weekend or weekday getaway. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the lodge has been expanded and updated in recent years. The mammoth stone fireplace in the lobby soars to a roof height of 50 feet, and is said to weigh 700 tons. There are 50 spacious guest rooms and 22 stone guest cabin rooms.
While groups of 25 or more are welcome and encouraged to use the park's facilities, they are required to register in advance with the site office to avoid crowding or scheduling conflicts. At least one responsible adult must accompany each group of 15 minors. Pets must be kept on leashes at all times. Actions by nature can result in closed roads and other facilities. Please call ahead to the park office before you make your trip. We hope you enjoy your stay. Remember, take only memories, leave only footprints.
$10 - $20 / night
$19 - $30 / night
Laying at the foothills of the gently rolling Ozark mountain range, Greensfelder Park features lovely shaded trails and spectacular views, horse boarding, equestrian and group camping, hayrides, trails, nature learning center, picnic sites and shelters, playground and trim orienteering course.
The area was donated to St. Louis County in 1963 by the Trustees of the St. Louis Regional Planning and Construction Foundation. The Foundation was established in 1939 by A. P. Greensfelder, civic leader.
This is primarily an equestrian campground. There is a tie horse stall located behind the restroom that is lighted and will hold approximately 30 horses. A round pen is also available for horse turn out. Two trail heads are at opposite ends of the campground, with connectors to additional trails.
Lazy Day has full hook up RV sites, pull through sites and tent sites.
$40 - $55 / night
I stayed one night in the RV campsite. There was only one other camper. The grass had been mowed recently so the path around the pond was easily walkable.
Not many of the RV sites had fire rings and, with all of the fresh cut grass, it would have taken a lot of raking to make a spot safe for a fire anyway.
Well maintained and well managed park. Staff on duty at all hours is awesome! We called ahead but didn't need a reservation. It is a city park and had that feel... not many trees for shade but the lake was pretty and the playground was good for the kiddos. Five minutes from food and stores. 30 minutes from downtown Saint Louis. I'll
Stayed one night in a campervan. Would definitely recommend! We arrived a little late - right at sunset - but the friendly and helpful staff had already texted us all the info we needed for arrival. It was very quiet. Level spaces. Very dark, unlit walk to the bath house, so bring a light! Bathhouse was clean and well kept. Would recommend!
Nice rv park. Lots to do. The golf carts are genius. We used all weekend and had a great time. Played in the waterhole, played on the lake w/paddleboats and kayaks. Nice campsites and showerhouse. The bar and store were beautiful. Arcade, pool,games for kids and adults. Loved it
Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$.
Awesome place to camp. Bummed the sites didn’t have their own water hookups. Staff is super kind. Quiet time is at 10pm and fellow campers are certain to enforce that rule but that’s unfortunate for those of us who still want to listen to music and sit by the fire. Overall great camping spot!
Very clean and well kept!
Very secluded!!! Hiking was great!
Stayed here most of the several weeks we needed to be in St. Louis for family matters. Definitely our favorite place in the area. 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. 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. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Trash and recycling receptacles are huge and convenient. My only complaint is the poorly thought out sink situation in the bathrooms which make it impossible to wash in a sanitary way as you must hold the tap to keep the water flowing and there are no paper towels to that with, only hand dryers. There is boating and archery on site, a dog run, and a small playground.
Loved the campground! However, lesson learned to reserve a campsite further from the road. Great hiking trails. Fishing not so much. Scenic views. Easy plug n play electric on a 30 amp box, no issues with blowing fuses like I have at other big state parks. Clean vault toilets (I didn't like how people would drive into the park from the highway just to use the bathroom).. overall good stay though. I'll definitely go back!
One of the best campgrounds we’ve ever stated
Great spot. Enjoy the sound of owls and silence. Plenty of dead/down trees for firewood. 2 bars w/Verizon.
Great staff, wonderful level sites. Bathroom on site. Pool during season. Partially shaded. Dog walk area. Pet friendly.
We discovered this gym. On our way home. Just needed to stay overnight, but will definitely be back. The little details make it very homey. Sites are well laid out and easy to maneuver. Full hook ups or tent sites are available to meet the needs of the camper. Clean facility and family friendly.
We stayed there for a scout event. They had hot showers and bathroom which is always a plus. There was a little trash at the site but nothing bad.
We had a ton of room between us and others. We could choose our site. I appreciate that quiet hours were enforced.
Excellent grounds. Very very clean and well kept. Hosts/owners are extremely responsive and helpful. Sights have some trees. Walking paths, dog walk area, fire pits, bathhouse. I would visit again.
Wild pads are allowed in the RV area. They are not allowed in the camping area.
Stayed there for a week. The owners are very friendly. Very well kept campground. Enjoyed the pool.
We stayed here for one night on our way home from Colorado. After checking in at the office, an employee escorted us to our site. Site A13 was a combination of mostly gravel and soft ground. The site was not level front to back and we had to build a sizable pyramid with our blocks to get the rig leveled out.
The pool area was very nice. It was great to be able to cook off after a long day of driving. We’d definitely stay here again.
Great customer service! Sites were nice and pool was great! Small campground but worth staying. Very nice
We actually didn’t hang out in the campground very much because we spent a lot of time in St. Louis. The campsite was very nice with lots of trees. It had a pool for the kids and some fun things for little ones to do there. The campsite is 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis, and a great place to stay if you’re looking to go check out the gateway arch or go to a Cardinals game.
I have stayed in hundreds of places and hiked many miles and have never experienced a tick infestation like I did at this park. I stopped counting at 20(!!!) pulled off my dogs(yes, they are on prevention meds), myself(yes, I was wearing DEET), and inside my camper in just two days. 0/10 do NOT recommend
Getting here is an adventure but the park is nice. I only had 30 amp electric and no water or sewer hookup. Didn’t see any sites with water but there were ample water spigots to fill our tank.
We have tent camped at this quiet campground many times. We just recently purchased a travel trailer, and being only an hour from home decided this would be a good spot to test it out. Had a great weekend with our family and our two dogs and ran into some friends from home camping right across the street! Went down to Grafton for their fireworks last night too. This site has a very deep "backyard" perfect for dogs and shaded in the afternoon but no shade in the morning.
I stayed here in June on a Tuesday night. The main pull-in parking area was completely empty. Has a ton of spots, most with their own fire ring. Some have some shade. There were also other more private pull-in spots where I saw only 2 other vehicles. There’s a little pond with wildlife like rabbits and frogs. You get there after about 5 miles on a well maintained, wide gravel road. Overall, I really enjoyed my stay!
Good spot for a St.Louis stop. Sites are paved and relatively level. $25 for electric only but with a dump and fresh water fill up stations. Hot water showers in bathrooms. Reservations on the website are until 7pm day-of or first-come first-served need to arrive by 9pm before gate closes. Little tags on each site to say which is still available for that night. No pay station so if office is closed can pay in the a.m.
Good store to get everything you forgot. Really good pizza delivery to the site
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Defiance, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Defiance, MO is St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA with a 4.3-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Defiance, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 glamping camping locations near Defiance, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
