Looking to go glamping near Kirkwood and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping near Kirkwood is a great way to travel off the beaten path. Find the right glamping site for you with our user-submitted photos, reviews, and tips. You're sure to find glamping for your Missouri camping adventure.
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.
$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
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
This is the KOA closest to St. Louis attractions! Set up camp on Old Route 66, just 12 miles from downtown. See the soaring Gateway Arch. Walk or bike across the Historic Route 66 Chain of Rocks Bridge. Whether you want to cheer on a pro team, shop until you drop or try your luck at casinos, St. Louis has it all! Visit Cahokia Mounds and Lewis & Clark state historical sites, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the unique City Museum. At the campground, you can swim, romp on the playground or play horseshoes. Kids love the free Jumping Pillow. Sorry, but NO CAMPFIRES are allowed due to county ordinances. Pool: Memorial Weekend - Labor Day Weekend. Max pull thru 75 feet. Your hosts: the Cuvar family and friends.
Horseshoe Lake State Park is located off Highway 111 in the southwestern part of Illinois in Madison County. With easy access from the Metro East for visitors from throughout the region, the park offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities on 2,960 acres.
Horseshoe Lake State Park accommodates 26 tent or trailer campsites. A sanitary dump station, pit toilets, and hydrants are conveniently located. The campground is open from May 1 - Sept 30. Campers can stay a maximum of 7 days in a 30-day period. We do not take reservations for camping. Although, group camping reservations are accepted through the ExploreMoreIL™ website.
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.
Ranger
Not a huge campground but, Its a really simple beautiful place to enjoy Missouri's rolling hills. It is located 1 hour from St. Louis and 30 ish min from Elephant Rock State park. If your in the area check out the other amazing Missouri state parks while staying here. The Missouri Mines state park is maybe a 5 min drive and a neat place to see. Tent sites, Bathroom and some hammock spots.
Guide
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 campgrounds are a bit rocky like, but each has a picnic table and fire pit, and they sit on the hills of a beautiful Missouri pineforest. Big River runs through this park, so there's some great swimming and fishing here, and there are three hiking trails of varying difficulty, so most people can do whatever. No supplies are available onsite, so bring everything you need!
Guide
This is a city run camp with like-new amenities. Unfortunately it sits on the wrong side of a levee with not much atmosphere. The water is part of the Missouri river flood control. An overnight site in my opinion.
GuideWashington State Park is a hidden gem in Missouri! We camped in mid-March 2021 for 7 days and thoroughly enjoyed the area. They had just opened a new shower house which was clean and well kept. The campground hosts were especially helpful and friendly. The prehistoric Petroglyphs nearby are a must see.
GuideWe utilized the special use area of the campground for our Cub Scout family camp, but visited the main loop during our trip.
Best campground hosts we ever encountered! Knowledgeable and friendly. The park has a pool, river access, canoe & kayak rentals and miles of great trails. Great program for kids on staying out of they get lost presented by hosts. This is a great park for organized groups, with lots to do!
Shower house was clean and convenient. Hands down one of Missouri’s best!
Tip- check out the petroglyph site.
TravelerSt. 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. I grew up here, and I am biased toward it, but we camped many places, and it remains one of my favorites then, and now. The campground has more of a communal vibe, for better or worse, depending on your perspective. If privacy is your main concern, you may be better served looking elsewhere, but I have always enjoyed the friends I have made there, both young and old due to the proximity of the campsites and the many programs offered there by the Conservation Department.
Traveler
We really enjoyed this campground. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Check-in was very easy and we were met at the gate. They drove us over to our spot and brought us over a firepit. The electrical box was setup correctly and everything worked as expected. Water hookup was very close as well and water pressure was strong. As an FYI, we did have to use a regulator to reduce the water pressure.
We were able to stay right along the river. We had arrived a little too early in the camping season and we happened to pick days where Missouri had a cold front (previous weekend was warm). Even with the cold weather, we were able to really enjoy the trip and get our RV ready for the upcoming season.
The camping spots are basically just spots in a big parking lot layout. It is fully paved, but during busy season, you would be very close to other rigs. The park is beautiful and a very short walk over to the cave and ziplines. There is easy access to the river and you are able to easily put in your kayak or small boat. Restroom, showers and trash were a short walk as well.
We will return to this site.
Scout
I love it
TravelerWe stayed here for 10 months. The place did nothing but improve the entire time. Rent is cheap, and the people are nice.
Guide
For those who need to get out of town yet can't imagine not checking the latest tweet, Tik Tok, or Instagram post, this park is for you. Not 2 miles from Six Flags, and 5 minutes from the freeway, you'll find plenty of beauty, creature comfort amenities, and cell service.
We are looking at 3 primitive campsites(closed at the time of this review), 6 family tent sites, as well as plenty of RV spaces with electrical hookups.
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.
The primitive sites are large, with picnic tables and an outhouse, while the family tent ones are near restrooms, showers and a source of water.
The whole park is rather pretty with plenty to do and see.
Now, with that said, I was not a huge fan. This is not a place for a person who wants to get away from people. The Family tent sites are very close to the road, as in 10ft from it, so traffic to and from the stables are rather annoying. Being very close, the freeway noise is still present, and you'll find many motorcycles riding by you on their way through the winding roads of Wildwood. It's a nice sight but the noise sucks. The place has A LOT of deer which means that ticks are everywhere-which is not a big deal if you know what you're doing.
During the time I spent here 2 different homeless looking kids stopped by asking for food, money, to borrow my phone to make a call. One after the other had to be shooed out of my site. That was followed by a STL County Police Officer patrolling the location. That did not settle well, and the night was a bit odd. Keep in mind that I was here alone and during the middle of the week so, chances are, during the weekend you might not have the same experience.
Overall, this is well maintained park with plenty of activities and close to all the luxuries that a town can offer, lots of amenities nearby or on site.
You would enjoy it:
You'd, maybe, not enjoy it so much:
GuideWell taken care of and close to the city. Trails range from a short walk to an endless combination.
GuideThere’s tie stalls under a roof and a round pen mounting blocks shower and bathrooms in camp. Electricity at each site and water nearby m. Kinda busy maybe make reservations when it’s a holiday. Trails are well marked maps available Awsome views and a cool trail by six flags this park is busy with hikers and bikers I’d say 90% of them are polite and yield to horses. Love this place!
TravelerPretty nice wooded campground close to St. Louis! Each site has a picnic bench, a fire pit and grill. It was very quiet when we stayed there on a Friday night, but it go really busy on Saturday morning because the equestrian folks use the campground as a staging area. There are two trail heads near the campground(very nice hiking!)
GuideSmall campground ground ram by saint louis county parks. We were the only ones here. Heavy equestrian park, it’s not required (to have a horse) to stay here. A few piles of horses droppings but very well maintained. We stay about 30 feet to the right of the horse pin, and behind it where they dump the horse stuff really can’t smell anything. Only sites 20-29 have electric and 28 can’t be reserved. Pro -Most sites are great for trailers 26’ or less and 1 slide (sites 24-26 can fit a fifth wheel probably no bigger than 36-38 ft) -2-20 amp plugs and 1-30amp plug -Not to many trees hanging over your camper that would drop branches -site 29 where we stayed can fit a 40’ fifth wheel -a lot of room to back in -showers and restrooms year around -frost free water at both ends of the campground -usual fire pit, picnic table and grill -park campers on grass to be closer to one side or another of your site -sites are reservable
Cons -no water at sites -no 50 amps -no dump but KOA and RV dealer 5-7 mins away
-site 29 only have 2-20 amp plugs no 30 didn’t realized till we parked. Only this one doesn’t have 30 -horses traffic on Saturday eventually from what the ranger told me once Covid is better -most sites back up to main road(mostly light traffic and none at night)
ScoutQuieter despite the surroundings. Due to foliage, seems much more spacious and nature rich.
LegendCampground Review: This is a nice little hidden gem outside St Louis in a great county park. If you are a Six Flags kinda person, the amusement park sits at the southern entrance to Greensfelder. The park itself has some great hiking and biking trails, but the big draw is equestrian in nature (including eventing jumps along some of the trails). This campground caters to the horse-set, with more campsites attached to the equestrian park than not, which means you should make reservations in advance as it is a busy little campground. The equestrian camping area has a standing stall type open barn, a round pen for turn out, and large campsites designed for horse trailers. All of the sites with electric are meant for horse trailers as there are no amenities for RV's. The showers and toilets are in the horse camping portion of the campground. The non-horse camping area seemed to be an afterthought, and is along side a park artery leading to a boarding barn and more trails. I did like that there were two trail heads on opposite sides of the camping lot, and the trails were well marked. Expect this campground area to be busy as it is the staging area for equestrians who use the park.
Product Review: In July I won some gear from Primus for reviewing some campgrounds I visited earlier this summer. This was the first opportunity I had to try out my Primus Profile Camp Stove. This is a nice car camping stove; at eleven pounds, it isn't something to carry far. Things I liked about it include the wind guards, the latching lid, and the fairly thin profile when collapsed. For a two burner stove, it really didn't take up much room in my trunk and it is sturdy enough that I wasn't worried about piling gear on top of it. However, while new out of the box, the igniter didn't work. Glad I always pack a lighter. It's not going to boil water in record time, but certainly held a steady flame and was easy to adjust. I have other stoves, but this one seems like it will be my go to when car camping with friends as I can cook more on two burners than one. https://primus.us/collections/camping-stoves
Guide
We booked this campground because we were spending time in St Louis. It only took about 35 minutes to get from here to downtown. The campground is close to grocery stores and lots of shopping! The sites themselves are very clean and well kept. Our site, 32, was huge and grassy! If you want to be close to the playground and bathrooms, this site was perfect.
ScoutPretty good campground. When I was there it wasn't crowded, and so it was quiet. Would stay again.
GuideBeautiful state park and campground. Nice hiking. Lots of room between sites - fun camp weekend!
GuideStayed one night as well drove across the country. Nice peaceful campground tucked back not far from the city. Primitive sites were mostly empty and we had plenty of room. Wish we had more time but I'd stop by again.
GuideWe loved our stay at Babler, aside from the snow & wind - the park is great! Review below ⬇️
⛺️ S I T E R E V I E W ⛺️
📍 Dr. Edmund A. 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, Gated Overnight with access code
➖Small/Close Sites, No Water in Off Season, Only Vault Toilets - No Showers in Off Season
📶 AT&T Service 4 out of 5
🚮 Dump Station located behind bathhouse. NO WATER during off season!
🚻AMENITIES •Playground •Hiking, Biking & Equestrian Trails •Wood & Ice •Interpretive Programs •Visitor Center •Special Use Area •Laundry, Flush Toilets & Showers ON SEASON ONLY!
🏕SITES Reservable 12 Months-FCFS in off season 72 Reservable 8 Accessible sites Basic - Electric Concrete Back In Lantern Hook, Picnic Table & Fire Ring
⏰ HOURS/DATES April - October 7:am - 9:pm Nov - March 7:am - 6:pm
🔺Park Office 8:30am - 4:pm M-F
🔺Visitor Center April - Oct 9:am - 4:30pm W - Sun Nov - March 9:am - 4:pm - Sat-Sun Dec - Feb CLOSED
ScoutI went camping at this place twice. Each time it rained all freaking day and got really cold at night. The first camping trip, I didn't tough it out. But the second camping trip I did tough it out until the second night, when it got cold. It didn't deter me and I plan to go camping again. At a different place though.
TravelerI 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
TravelerThe 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. The park has a lot to offer. The trails are not too long but can be challenging for small kids or folks that are not used to hiking.
GuideThere is no equestrian camping and the parking for horse trailers is super small. There’s a neat 7 mile loop goes by old stable as well.
GuideThis is truly a hidden gem. Tucked away, not far from St. Louis, you wouldn't know you were that close to a big city. It is clean and feels extremely safe. There aren't many sites, but the ones they have are quiet and spacious. There is one bathroom, centrally located, that was a 2-3 minute walk from our campsite. There was a picnic table and firpit provided. The main gate closes at 9 p.m. but if you call ahead there is a code you are given....or you can contact the camp host. I would love to go back and explore the lush, green trails.
GuideBabler is always a place you should try. we camp here every weekend because its so close to our house when we cant travel. but there are a few things to keep in mind.
The good: good trails, the whole park is a memorial so good history, very large, equestrian available, showers and bathrooms, playground, paved drive in, wood and ice available, near a grocery store and restaurants
The bad: racoons everywhere! they are scandalous and will be happy to shake your hand they dont care. thats how close they get to you. we used homemade cayenne pepper water for a perimeter but it only works until we went to bed. if you are tent camping your spot is very hit or miss. we always plan ahead and look at the pictures because some sites say its for tent but its just a dropping slope. you might as well pitch on the concrete. the sites are good are Very good! the sites that are bad... just annoying while sleeping. it lools like they are fixing it this year though. the ticks are pretty bad in spots nesstled into the trees. fpr RV's half the spots for you are out in the sun. you have to look at the pictures and choose wisely.
i know its a lot but babler is really a great park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Kirkwood, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Kirkwood, MO is St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA with a 4.2-star rating from 30 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 19 glamping camping locations near Kirkwood, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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