Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Dexter, MO is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Dexter and user-submitted reviews.
Redman Creek offers a varirty of recreational opportunities for every visitor! This large park is an ideal place for just a day visit or an extended stay. Redman Creek Campground features 109 full service campsites in the Redman East and West Campground. Each campground loop has a playground and shower house, with some restroom facilites replaced in 2021. Enjoy the scenic view along the new paved Lake View Trail, this multi-use trail is a hiker, biker or walkers dream. Beginning at Redman East Campground, the trail connects the entire Wappapello Dam area featuring multiple trailheads with unique landscapes. A tennis court, basketball court, sand volleyball court and playground are available for use year-round. A family picnic or a day of grilling are easy at one of 17 picnic sites or 4 reservable group shelters. An accessible fishing pier, 4-lane boat ramp with courtesy dock and a seasonal swimming beach provide a multitude of water recreation opportunities. Click here to take a virtual tour of the facilities at Wappapello Lake!
Wappapello Lake can be a boater's paradise with a string of secluded coves, islands and wooded shorelines. Hunting, fishing and kayaking are popular activities year-round. Hiking and biking on one of the Lake's 9 trail systems provides opportunities for all ages and abilities. The new accessible Shell Lake Archery Trail is a unique destination for achery enthusiasts.
Wappapello Lake is fed by the St. Francis River and boasts 8,400 acres on a whopping 45,000-acre expanse of public land in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
Explore the nearby Pine Ridge Nature trail, Shell Lake Archery Trail and Wappapllo Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse areas or St. Francis River. The Mingo Wildlife Refuge is approximately 11.6 miles from Redman Creek Recreation Area. The Lake Wappapello State Park is approximately 17 miles away, and the Sam A. Baker State park is 34 miles away from Redman Creek Recreation Area.
Between 03/16/2022 and 11/01/2022 this location is staffed. Please call (573) 222-8233 to speak with local staff. From 01/07/2022 to 03/15/2022 this location is unstaffed. Please call (573) 222-8562 for general information.
$10 / night
People's Creek Recreation Area, located in the southeastern Ozark foothills of Missouri, is a great launchpad for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking or simply exploring the Wappapello Lake area.Completed in 1941, Wappapello Lake provides an estimated $3.9 million in annual flood protection to agricultural lands and developed areas along the St. Francis River. A peaceful cove offers endless recreation opportunities with 57 campsites, a picnic shelter, beach, accessible fishing pier, and Lake View Trail. Click here to take a virtual tour of the facilities at Wappapello Lake.
People's Creek is ideally suited for swimming and boating activities. The lake is home to some of Missouri's most sought after game fish, including largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass and channel catfish. Hunting, fishing and kayaking are popular activities year-round. Hiking and biking on one of the Lake's 9 trail systems provides opportunities for all ages and abilities. The new accessible Shell Lake Archery Trail is a unique destination for achery enthusiasts.
Wappapello Lake stretches 8,400 acres on 45,000 acres of public land. Lightly wooded shorelines add shade to the scenic landscape.
Between 09/23/2022 and 09/27/2022 this location is staffed. Please call (573) 222-8234 to speak with local staff. From 09/28/2022 to 04/06/2023 this location is unstaffed. Please call (573) 778-5404 for general information.
Explore the nearby Pine Ridge Nature trail, Shell Lake Archery Trail and Wappapllo Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse areas or St. Francis River. The Mingo Wildlife Refuge is approximately 11.5 miles from Peoples Creek Recreation Area. The Lake Wappapello State Park is approximately 18.2 miles away, and the Sam A. Baker State park is 33.4 miles away from Peoples Creek Recreation Area.
$50 / night
Lake Wappapello State Park is the ideal vacation spot for a day or a week. The park offers a modern campground and cabins plus rustic camper cabins.
Lake Wappapello State Park offers basic and electric campsites. For a little extra space, try one of the park's family campsites.
Ridge Campground has family sites in addition to electric sites and accessible sites.
Lake Wappapello State Park is the ideal vacation spot for a day or a week. The park offers a modern campground and cabins plus rustic camper cabins.
Lake Wappapello State Park offers basic and electric campsites.
20% discount. Open year round. Full hookups water, sewer, electric 30/50amp, cable tv, WiFi, Laundry, Propane station, Food and car rental delivery to sites. Close to town for everyone’s shopping, dining and entertainment needs. Family owned and operated since 1982. We offer a country/rural setting with forested hills, in the beautiful Ozark Foothills of Missouri. Poplar Bluff is known as“Gateway To The Ozarks”. You can relax, stay in, or check out the area. We have camping with convenience in mind.
Check In after 11:00AM. Check out day by 11:00AM.
Local activities include a, 18-hole golf course, Wolf Creek Trail offers walking, trail running, and mountain biking, Black River Coliseum has shows and events, 8-Showtimes AMC Classic Theaters, museums, antiques and more.
The area offers rivers, springs, lakes, wildlife, and the Mark Twain National Forest. Our seasons offer brilliant spring and fall colors with winding scenic drives, and we provide year-round camping opportunities for everyone.
Make us your Campground Headquarters and enjoy the area.
$40 - $50 / night
Holliday Landing is a fun family resort and marina located on sunny Lake Wappapello. Tucked in the Ozarks of southeastern Missouri, we offer everything you need to make your vacation a success! The resort is secluded enough to escape from your everyday life, yet conveniently located and easy to get to. We offer boat launching and camper parking assistance if needed. Whether you are looking for a relaxing, peaceful retreat or a fun, active family vacation, call Holliday Landing Resort& Marina for your next vacation or getaway! The campground offers daily cabins, camping spots, and marina slips. We also offer monthly rates for the campground & the marina.
$30 - $35 / night
Redman Creek offers a varirty of recreational opportunities for every visitor! This large park is an ideal place for just a day visit or an extended stay. Redman Creek Campground features 109 full service campsites in the Redman East and West Campground. Each campground loop has a playground and shower house, with some restroom facilites replaced in 2021. Enjoy the scenic view along the new paved Lake View Trail, this multi-use trail is a hiker, biker or walkers dream. Beginning at Redman East Campground, the trail connects the entire Wappapello Dam area featuring multiple trailheads with unique landscapes. A tennis court, basketball court, sand volleyball court and playground are available for use year-round. A family picnic or a day of grilling are easy at one of 17 picnic sites or 4 reservable group shelters. An accessible fishing pier, 4-lane boat ramp with courtesy dock and a seasonal swimming beach provide a multitude of water recreation opportunities. Click here to take a virtual tour of the facilities at Wappapello Lake!
Wappapello Lake can be a boater's paradise with a string of secluded coves, islands and wooded shorelines. Hunting, fishing and kayaking are popular activities year-round. Hiking and biking on one of the Lake's 9 trail systems provides opportunities for all ages and abilities. The new accessible Shell Lake Archery Trail is a unique destination for achery enthusiasts.
Wappapello Lake is fed by the St. Francis River and boasts 8,400 acres on a whopping 45,000-acre expanse of public land in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
Explore the nearby Pine Ridge Nature trail, Shell Lake Archery Trail and Wappapllo Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse areas or St. Francis River. The Mingo Wildlife Refuge is approximately 11.6 miles from Redman Creek Recreation Area. The Lake Wappapello State Park is approximately 17 miles away, and the Sam A. Baker State park is 34 miles away from Redman Creek Recreation Area.
Between 03/16/2022 and 11/01/2022 this location is staffed. Please call (573) 222-8233 to speak with local staff. From 01/07/2022 to 03/15/2022 this location is unstaffed. Please call (573) 222-8562 for general information.
$10 / night
People's Creek Recreation Area, located in the southeastern Ozark foothills of Missouri, is a great launchpad for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking or simply exploring the Wappapello Lake area.Completed in 1941, Wappapello Lake provides an estimated $3.9 million in annual flood protection to agricultural lands and developed areas along the St. Francis River. A peaceful cove offers endless recreation opportunities with 57 campsites, a picnic shelter, beach, accessible fishing pier, and Lake View Trail. Click here to take a virtual tour of the facilities at Wappapello Lake.
People's Creek is ideally suited for swimming and boating activities. The lake is home to some of Missouri's most sought after game fish, including largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, white bass and channel catfish. Hunting, fishing and kayaking are popular activities year-round. Hiking and biking on one of the Lake's 9 trail systems provides opportunities for all ages and abilities. The new accessible Shell Lake Archery Trail is a unique destination for achery enthusiasts.
Wappapello Lake stretches 8,400 acres on 45,000 acres of public land. Lightly wooded shorelines add shade to the scenic landscape.
Between 09/23/2022 and 09/27/2022 this location is staffed. Please call (573) 222-8234 to speak with local staff. From 09/28/2022 to 04/06/2023 this location is unstaffed. Please call (573) 778-5404 for general information.
Explore the nearby Pine Ridge Nature trail, Shell Lake Archery Trail and Wappapllo Wildflower Trail and Greenhouse areas or St. Francis River. The Mingo Wildlife Refuge is approximately 11.5 miles from Peoples Creek Recreation Area. The Lake Wappapello State Park is approximately 18.2 miles away, and the Sam A. Baker State park is 33.4 miles away from Peoples Creek Recreation Area.
$50 / night
Lake Wappapello State Park is the ideal vacation spot for a day or a week. The park offers a modern campground and cabins plus rustic camper cabins.
Lake Wappapello State Park offers basic and electric campsites. For a little extra space, try one of the park's family campsites.
Ridge Campground has family sites in addition to electric sites and accessible sites.
Lake Wappapello State Park is the ideal vacation spot for a day or a week. The park offers a modern campground and cabins plus rustic camper cabins.
Lake Wappapello State Park offers basic and electric campsites.
ScoutTent camping back away from the RVs & we were the only people. Gorgeous river to view just a few steps away & the night sky view was fantastic. LOVED the bathroom & shower facilities!
Legend
Beautiful small campground with large sites. Restroom was emaculate. Clean park with a boat launch. Electric only spots and dispersed. Water and dump are on site.
Traveler
We opted for this site on our way west as a stopover because it was free and not a parking lot. There are a couple of loop trails and we walked one of them. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon. The locals use the area for fishing and walking and it was somewhat busy in the afternoon. A couple of guys fished at night until about nine. There was only one other couple camping. Very quiet and peaceful. There was a portable toilet but we didn't investigate.
The cool thing was that the loop trail was forested by hundreds of paw paw trees. It must have been just past the season and we saw only a couple of decaying ones, but the entire trail smelled of apple cider vinegar and was quite pleasant.
If you consider this waypoint, two things:
1. The last mile is good, but very dusty, gravel road.
2. No cell coverage in the parking lot for T-Mobile, some coverage on loop trail.
Traveler
Sam a Baker is a beautiful destination for any family. There is plenty to do from hiking to horseback riding. There are multi camp sites that can be easily reserved online. The Saint Francis River and the Big Creek meet in the park. The big creek is spring feed and ice cold. The Saint Francis is wild and is considered white water during the rainy season. There are plenty of amenities in the park for the novice camper. From the camp store to the shower house. SAM A BAKER has you covered
Ranger
There are only two camp site at this location and they are very close to each other. The camp sites are also very narrow. We camped in the lower site and had a difficult time getting everything out of the road.
On the positive side, the site was clean, there was nobody there over the weekend and there was a humming bird. The pond had lots of frogs and and a few fish.
TravelerTent camped here during the week in June and the campground was only about 1/3 full. Quiet and the restrooms and showers were very clean.
Traveler
My parents (from Mississippi) and I (from St. Charles, MO) found this place sort of between us and we sure do love it. The owner Kelly and his whole team were nothing but gracious and hospitable to us the entire weekend. You can tell there's some work to be done on this new venture for Kelly but his heart in it and I can't wait to see how he continues to grow the property. Thanks for having us and we can't wait to come back.
The bath house was clean. The site was huge. There was plenty of firewood when we needed it. The nature was nature'in and the wild was wild'in. Good times.
Guide
We had so much fun playing in the creek learning about as Aztec and their gardening methods. Very adorable , baby goats and baby chicks that were just all over and loving living. ❤️ My family and friends found out that I was going there and she was more than happy to help us be accommodated for so many people. I kept adding and she was like no problem. Thank you so much for making it easy and affordable. We will definitely be back to visit. I feel that we have actually found some true lifelong friends. Thank you Ivy
Guide
Way to crowded tiny sites
Traveler
We stopped here chasing the 2024 eclipse. Easy to find. No cost. About 20 parking spaces, a vault toilet, and a boat launch. Open for solar panels, but tree cover around the lot. Only about 5 parking spaces are not on a slant. Places in the trees for tents. Absolutely beautiful views up and down the river. A single fire pit on the river’s edge. No road noise to speak of because it is way in the distance and rare at night. Fireflies and owls into the night. Mist on the water in the morning: just beautiful. T mobile service has 3 of 4 bars. There is no apparent Verizon service.
Scout
This area is beautiful and overall I recommend it but we did have trouble finding a flat spot. I think they're only five or six decent spots total. We met a local who warned us of wild pigs that will charge you and a lot of ticks in the forest.
TravelerThere is not much here other than a place to camp for free. There is one two-path logging road suitable for hiking and mountain biking back into the woods. It leads to a T where additional two-path logging road.
Guide
Road can be a little rough in spots after it rains. 1/2 bars with Verizon. Limited spots to set up tent. Only flaw is the sound of traffic.
Traveler
Went to stay in a cabin for one night, then extended our stay. The place was to nice to leave. The lake and St. Francis river are crystal clear. Watched the baby deer, and listen to thw owls at night. The cabin had all the amenities included, towels, coffee, soaps, dinnerware and cookware. check-in was easy. Front deck included a B-B-Q grill, and hot tub that over looked the lake and camp fire. Our family will be back. Thank you!
Scout
The name of this facility is truthful, it’s a camper lot. All white stone gravel, no landscaping, no trees, no tables or fire rings. Even for a single night stopover, it’s not very attractive. It is right on the lake but then, the nice State Park camping site is right around the corner is too and charges about half the price.
3 stars because descriptions on this app are not necessarily written by campground owners.
GuideCampground was nice and quiet, spots were all maintained. only a few spots farthest away from lake had sewer, the others have water and electric. none of the spots are very far from the lake however. No wi-fi. showers were out of order half of the time. No store as it states on site, only and office but mostly no one there but it was holiday weekend. broken down marina sitting in ruins and what was left of dock didn’t seem too sturdy. Remnants of old gas pump but no marina gas. terrible fishing off of dock, you have to go out on lake. Several high speed boats passing by. Fairly far from any decent sized town but that is not bothersome as that is the point of camping. we enjoyed our stay but we’re disappointed about the showers, restrooms out of repair. Overall a decent campground just dated. grass and sites were kept up well. picnic table and fire pit at all sites.
ScoutWith a paid reservation made 3 months in advance, the Campground Host cancelled our reservation, refunded our money and then quadrupled the rate for that same period ($125 went to $750 for one night). Your paid family vacation plans reservation is not firm with Otahki Lake Cabins and Campgrounds KOA. I hope this does not happen to you and your family’s dream camping trip!
Guide
Site 17
Location : perfect location if you’re wanting a good view of the water. Brush is cleared behind this site making it a clear view to the water / sunset. The sunset is breathtaking. Directly across from the bathrooms, laundry, & dumpster. Paved site. Fire pit. Tree located right in front of the spot, would only be a problem of putting out an awning.
Bathrooms : Shockingly clean! Large bathrooms. Laundry area located in the same building. Dumpster outside of the building.
Cons : I can’t even explain the amount of mosquitoes at this site - of course because you’re directly on the water, but the mosquitoes are insane. We had trouble locating the campground by the address on the reservation. We ended up finding it by putting in Blue Bank Resort which is located right next door.
ScoutWe have been coming here for years, there is something for everyone here! The water is slow and shallow enough in tons of places for littles and deep and cold enough for the older kids and adults to cool off too. The store is adorable, the food is surprisingly really good (I’m craving those loaded nachos!), and when you’re absent-minded like me and forget the bikes you can rent them there 😁 We like Campground 2 on the gravel side (to the left when you pull in) because it’s nice and quiet and close to the nature center. You really can’t go wrong with any of the sites!
Guide
We’ve stayed here a couple times when passing through. Nice level gravel sites. Owner is very friendly and helpful. Bathrooms only have one shower and toilet. Small laundry.
Guide
It was a great stay! Site 10 had a beautiful view of the lake. Multiple restrooms but no showers. Each site was paved with a picnic table and fire pit. The only complaint would be the enormous amount of bugs.
Traveler
Gorgeous views of the Mississippi River. It was a little sketch getting here but super easy. One lane dirt road but room to move over if need be. I just got here, so we'll see how the night fares 😆 might review more later.
ScoutThis was a great stay! Nice and peaceful, great company with total strangers on the next site over. Campsites are spaced out nicely. There are only a handful of sites that are suitable for tents as each site varies on cleared area. No water or electricity that we seen. Boat launch and floating dock are just a short walk from any camp site. We stayed at campsite #5 and it was spacious for our tent. Dumpster for trash is next to the bathrooms across from site #3 & 4. Asphalt road through the camping area and Asphalt pulloffs at each site. Chiggers and bugs are an issue here so bring plenty of Off. We stayed 10 nights and we will definitely mark this one down on our list. Truck Stop 1 mile east for ice, food and drinks. There is a small grocery store about 18 miles west with a great selection. Picnic table and fire pit at each site. Free wood laying all over the place, when the management team cut trees down they leave them there for campers to use.
GuideThis park is a hidden gem. Stayed at the Asher Creek part of the park spectacular views of the lake, also has a boat ramp for registered campers.
Ranger
Love this park, lakeside or ridge top. Only 4 spots without electricity, use that how you will. The lake side is dope for water views and stag gazing.
Guide
electric was not working at some sites and one post had hookups for two sites. No sewer, there is a dump station down the road. east side campground was busier and had more people than the smaller west campground where we stayed. sites are not well demarcated and grass lots. campground near boat launch and a decent restroom with showers that mostly worked. gray lake for kayaking. about 30 minutes from Cape Girardeau no which is a decent sized town or similar to Sikeston, MO. There is gas, liquor store and dollar general within 10miles. west side was very peaceful for most part. first come first serve, no reservations but fairly cheap. electric not working at first 3 or 4 sites so check before you set up your camper.
GuideDoes have restroom and fire rings with a grill
Camping near Dexter, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.
Camping near Dexter, Missouri, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Dexter, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Dexter, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 65 campgrounds and RV parks near Dexter, MO and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Dexter, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Dexter, MO is Sam A. Baker State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 48 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Dexter, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Dexter, MO.
What parks are near Dexter, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near Dexter, MO that allow camping, notably Clearwater Lake and Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
