Camping spots near Maryland Heights, Missouri cluster within a 30-mile radius and offer convenient river access and trail connections. Most campgrounds in the region experience 40-90°F seasonal temperature variations, with peak camping activity from April through October when rainfall averages 3.5 inches monthly. The region's predominantly flat terrain transitions to rolling hills west of Maryland Heights.
What to do
Access Katy Trail: Beyond the Trail RV Park provides direct trail access for cycling. "Right on Katy Trail. Very close to wineries and local bars. Clean restrooms and shower house," notes David E. The trail connects to multiple destinations with "a brewery just on the other side of the campground with good beer and food."
Paddle on area lakes: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers water recreation options throughout the camping season. "This is a great place to kayak and camp if you don't want to drive that fare and live in the city," says Lindsey C. The park provides rentals for visitors without equipment, as another camper mentions: "The park/campground rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes."
Visit wineries and breweries: Defiance area campgrounds provide easy access to local wine country. As Jamie C. describes Beyond the Trail RV Park: "It is located in a sleepy little winery town. It is just a few minutes from the main part of town with multiple beautiful wineries within a few miles." Many locations feature weekend entertainment with "cold beer and live music on the weekends."
What campers like
Urban camping with city access: Sundermeier RV Park puts campers within 30 minutes of St. Louis attractions. "You can literally be parked right at the Katy Trail. Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles. Easy ride in to St. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River," shares Cheryl K.
Natural settings close to city: Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground offers a forest retreat despite urban proximity. "This 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," writes Lahree C. The park maintains walking trails within its 868 acres.
Family-oriented facilities: Jellystone Park caters specifically to families with children. "This is a big busy campground they have plenty of staff to handle the rush. Level concrete sites with FHU," reports one camper. Another visitor explains the amenities: "Great kids activities! Good breakfast and nice store. Really enjoyed our trip bundled with a Six Flags trip."
What you should know
Train and aircraft noise: Several campgrounds experience transportation noise due to their proximity to highways, railroads, and flight paths. At Casino Queen RV Park, "There are trains every 15-30 minutes all day long. Casino has a metro stop that takes you into St Louis over the river," according to Josh F.
Flooding potential: Low-lying campgrounds may experience seasonal water issues. At Beyond the Trail, one camper warns: "Stay away from creek side spot lots of mosquitoes and possible flooding with enough rain." Another notes: "My only complaint is they have some drainage issues if it rains a lot. A few of the campsites will flood, not bad enough to get to your camper, but just enough to be annoying."
Site sizing and spacing: Site dimensions vary significantly between campgrounds. At Pere Marquette State Park, "The campground has 88 sites total 1-85 are either 30 amp or 50 amp electric sites. These are the Class A sites $20 a night, they also have about 15 Class C sites for tents with no electric for $8 a night." Some locations feature tighter spacing, as one visitor to Jellystone noted: "small campsites, very close to neighbors."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park provides recreation areas for children. "Beautiful area next to a man-made lake. Concrete pads with full hookups, as well as dirt pads with full hookups," notes Ernest G. The facilities include "a dog run, and a small playground."
Kid-friendly activities: Family-oriented campgrounds offer structured programs. "This campground, a City of St Peters park and campground, is as excellent as a campground comes," writes one visitor. Campers appreciate that "They have paddle boats and bikes and group bikes for rental. Located right next to a lake with a lot of RV and tent camping spots. Kids had a blast riding bikes."
Safety considerations: Several campgrounds provide 24-hour security. At Cahokia RV Parque, visitors noted "after hours check in! But also a so friendly staff in the office. Beautiful coded bathrooms with showers. They were heated and warm and very well marked." Security patrols regularly monitor the gated campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Electric capacity: Cahokia RV Parque provides full hookup options for larger rigs. "Level gravel sites with FHU near downtown St. Louis. Sites are close together, with some shade," reports Robert O. Most sites accommodate larger vehicles with "space for our larger rig and parking around for extra vehicle. Laundry and propane on site."
Site conditions: Prepare for variable site surfaces across the region. "The site I was in had full hook ups. The water pressure was so strong that I could barely open the water pump!" noted Susan L. about one campground. At Cahokia, "We stayed in a gravel site with a concrete pad, fire pit, picnic table and full-hook ups."
Reservation timing: Popular campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "We chose this campground because of its close proximity to St. Louis Missouri," explains one RVer. Another advises using online booking: "Easy to book online even the day of. Choose your spot ahead of time and pull in, easy as that!"
