St. Louis County parks and state facilities provide pet-friendly camping near Imperial, Missouri. The terrain features a mix of hardwood forests, limestone bluffs, and river valleys with campsites at elevations ranging from 400-800 feet above sea level. Imperial-area campgrounds typically experience hot summers with high humidity and mild springs and falls, making May and September popular camping months.
What to do
Hiking along Big River: Washington State Park Campground offers trails with different difficulty levels near Big River. "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," notes Scott M.
Cave exploration: Meramec State Park Campground features guided tours of Fisher Cave. "Pay the extra for the caves tour! Down the road there's an old iron foundry and a historic cemetery to explore," recommends Lynn G. The park includes both walking trails and cave systems with interpretive programs.
History discovery: Ancient Native American petroglyphs are accessible at Washington State Park. "This park is so rich in Missouri and USA history - from buildings constructed by the African-American CCC stonemasons to Native American petroglyphs, there's some fascinating stuff here," reports Kyle K.
Mountain biking: Greensfelder County Park maintains well-groomed trails used by bikers and equestrians. "The park is known for its well-groomed trails, which are used by hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians alike. Plenty of stables surround the area, where you may rent a horse and go for a stroll through the woods," explains Lucas M.
What campers like
River access: Robertsville State Park Campground provides direct access to the Meramec River. "The dump station was a little broke down and the camp hosts had two big dogs that never stopped barking," mentions Keaton K., though he still rated the park favorably for its secluded campsites and river access.
Seasonal beauty: Fall colors make St. Francois State Park especially attractive. "Surrounded by trees changing colors the fall is beautiful here. The campground has several hiking trails and also river access to go canoeing. You can rent a cabin here as well," shares Lindsey R.
Family activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort At Six Flags offers numerous kid-friendly amenities. "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," reports Lindsey R. The park is particularly popular with families seeking pet-friendly campgrounds near Imperial.
Wildlife viewing: Multiple parks feature frequent wildlife sightings. "The State Park has a great canopy of trees located next to a stream as a setting for the campground that bounds with wildlife. We saw deer and raccoons here that entered our campsite," shares Tom K. about Meramec State Park.
What you should know
Weekend crowding: St. Francois State Park can get busy during peak times. "The park itself is huge, but they unfortunately have plots right on top of one another. Its really nice to have space but here there's almost no space for a larger tent," warns Allyson D.
Site leveling challenges: Casino Queen RV Park and other area campgrounds often require leveling equipment. "Spots are concrete and gravel, very urban camping. There are trains every 15-30 minutes all day long," reports Josh F.
Cell service variability: Signal strength varies significantly between campgrounds. "The cell phone service is virtually non-existent. We had planned to work from here and had to cut our visit short," cautions Mats about Meramec State Park, while other parks report strong coverage.
Seasonal flooding: Spring rains can affect river-adjacent campsites. "While we were there they had a record rainfall amount and the park apparently already has flooding issues so it was flooding pretty bad," reports Charlie & Danielle B. about Covered Bridge RV Park.
Tips for camping with families
Urban conveniences: Cahokia RV Parque provides a metro-area camping option. "This is not a rural campground. It's a centrally located campground in the Metro St. Louis area. It's close to interstates and it's a short drive across the river to Missouri attractions," explains Roger G.
Playground access: Multiple area campgrounds feature play equipment. "I do wish they had a playground or some level place for the kids to play, but overall it was very nice and quiet," notes Montt B. about Robertsville State Park, while other parks offer more robust playground facilities.
Educational opportunities: Historical and natural features provide learning experiences. "The Petroglyphs are the icing on the cake here!" exclaims Lynn G. about Washington State Park, where children can see ancient rock carvings.
Weather preparation: The region experiences significant seasonal variations. "It was hot in late July and with no trees on the larger sites, it seemed hotter. But the full hookups worked great with no issues," shares Richard H. about Casino Queen RV Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Many campgrounds offer varying site types. "We stayed in a gravel site with a concrete pad, fire pit, picnic table and full-hook ups. The spaces are tighter, but that was expected being closer to a city," explains Carlyne F. about Cahokia RV Parque.
Utility placements: Hookup locations can present challenges. "Utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper," warns Josh F. at Casino Queen.
Access challenges: Some dog-friendly campgrounds near Imperial have terrain issues. "Our site was across from campground cabins where the occupants of the cabin street-parked their trucks. The campsites are so tight; we couldn't back-in and park," shares Jenni W.
