Glamping near Louisiana, Missouri offers rustic comfort amid the rolling hills and hardwood forests of eastern Missouri. The area sits at elevations ranging from 450 to 700 feet above sea level, with seasonal temperatures fluctuating from winter lows in the 20s to summer highs in the upper 80s. The region's campgrounds provide strategic access to both the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, creating diverse water recreation opportunities alongside woodland activities.
What to do
Kayaking on calm waters: Cuivre River State Park features a lake where visitors can rent kayaks for paddling. According to Kayla S., "This campground has a lake you can rent kayaks for. They have a small store at the check in booth. It also has an accessible fishing dock that is covered."
Explore historic sites: Mark Twain's birthplace is located near Coyote Campground at Mark Twain State Park. As one visitor noted, "Be sure to check out Mark Twain's Birthplace!" The museum has limited hours, so plan accordingly. Kelsie L. shares, "The lake is huge - probably not a lake I personally would love to kayak in. The campgrounds were well kept and fairly secluded."
Wildlife observation: The conservation areas provide opportunities to spot native wildlife. At Daniel Boone Conservation Area, campers report seeing "rabbits and frogs" around the pond, while Maria E. observed at Cuivre River: "We saw bunnies hopping around and when we first arrived to our site a deer was grazing nearby, such a bonus!"
Archery practice: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers an archery range for visitors wanting to practice their skills. The park has multiple recreation options, as one visitor notes, "They have an archery range. The rent out peddle boats, bikes and peddle cars/buggies as well."
What campers like
Free boat access: At Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area, visitors appreciate the complimentary watercraft. Patti M. notes, "They had rowboats and canoes you could paddle around in. You just needed your own life jacket. The boats were free."
Spacious, well-maintained sites: Campers repeatedly mention the site layout at Cuivre River State Park. Cody S. states, "Campground is quiet and has big campsites. The campground is close to Lincoln Lake for kayaking." Another camper, Maria E., adds, "Our site was fairly spacious and not super close to others which we liked."
Access to trails: The Pere Marquette State Park Campground receives praise for its hiking opportunities. Michael M. shares, "There are great hiking trails and the scenic drive to the park by the Mississippi and Illinois rivers is worth the trip alone."
Dark skies for stargazing: Several campgrounds offer minimal light pollution. At Daniel Boone Conservation Area, Art Z. noted, "Peaceful dark skies," while at Cuivre River, Chad K. mentioned, "The best spot is over looking the lake and offers a clear view of the night sky."
What you should know
Security considerations: Campground safety varies by location. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, campers appreciate that "they have 24 hour on site security," while at Daniel Boone, some visitors have reported issues: "There are homeless people living there in tents and late night parties with fireworks and people being rude."
Seasonal flooding: Low-lying areas may flood during heavy rain periods. St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park was "out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded," according to one reviewer.
Limited shade at newer campgrounds: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park has minimal tree coverage. Suzie S. observed, "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."
Basic facilities at conservation areas: Some locations have minimal amenities. For Hunnewell Lake, David S. notes, "Yes, the price is right (free), but this was not a great experience." At Daniel Boone, Timmy C. states, "Gravel roads to the campsites are well maintained. Campsites are clean and well maintained. Maps are okay, but not the best."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water activities: Multiple campgrounds provide swimming and boating options. At Yogi Bears Jellystone Park, Nick W. shares, "Facilities very clean and family oriented. Very fun for kids." The park features "swimming pool in addition to the lake."
Lake swimming opportunities: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas. Tracie S. mentions, "They have a large lake to swim in and you can kayak as well! Their trails are well marked and a pretty walk."
Educational programming: Conservation areas often provide learning experiences. At Cuivre River State Park, ranger-led activities teach about local wildlife, while the Mark Twain birthplace offers historical education. As Kelsie L. notes, "The campgrounds were well kept and fairly secluded. Be sure to check out Mark Twain's Birthplace!"
Playground access: For younger children, some campgrounds provide playground equipment. Joseph F. observed at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park: "Located right next to a lake with a lot of RV and tent camping spots. Kids had a blast riding bikes. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete utilities. At Lazy Day Campground, MickandKarla W. report, "We were then escorted to pull-through site 17 with full hookups. The gravel pad was fairly level, and although the utilities were toward the back of the site, we had no trouble connecting."
Water pressure considerations: Water systems vary between campgrounds. Susan L. notes at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park: "The water pressure was so strong that I could barely open the water pump!"
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. At Hunnewell Lake, Cathy C. observed, "The campground slopes toward the lake, so finding level ground is a challenge."
Cell service quality: Connectivity varies by location. At Daniel Boone Conservation Area, Timmy C. reports, "At&t gets decent service," while Owen T. notes, "2 bar LTE Verizon." This information helps remote workers plan accordingly.
