Puma Campground — Mark Twain State Park
Beautiful
I stayed in one of the cabins which are very nice. They are basic but I loved the front porch. Tge cabins ha e electricity and a fridge but no bathroom. The hiking was great and I loved the rocks.
Rustic cabins near Montgomery City provide comfortable accommodations with varying levels of amenities. Mark Twain State Park's Puma Campground offers basic cabins with electricity, air conditioning, and refrigerators but no indoor plumbing. These cabins feature front porches, picnic tables, and fire pits, making them suitable for families seeking a wilderness experience with some modern comforts. The cabins at Ray Behrens Campground include level pads, fire rings, and picnic tables on concrete pads. "I stayed in one of the cabins which are very nice. They are basic but I loved the front porch. The cabins have electricity and a fridge but no bathroom," noted one visitor about the Puma cabins.
Cabin options in the region range from rustic structures to more furnished accommodations. St. Charles County Klondike Park provides basic cabins that require guests to bring their own bedding and supplies. Turner Katy Trail Shelter offers hostel-style accommodations with bunk beds specifically designed for hikers and cyclists using the Katy Trail. Most cabins require advance reservations, especially during summer months when availability becomes limited. Pet policies vary by location, with some campgrounds like Ray Behrens allowing pets while others restrict them. "We rented cabin A for 4 days for our summer vacation. We couldn't have been happier. The cabin is simple and clean. It has air conditioning, which is needed in Missouri in August," reported a camper at Puma Campground.
Visitors should plan to bring their own bedding, towels, and toiletries as most cabins provide only basic furnishings. Cooking facilities vary significantly between locations - some cabins include refrigerators but lack stoves or microwaves, while others have no kitchen facilities at all. Campground stores at locations like Ray Behrens and Pin Oak RV Park offer firewood, ice, and basic supplies, though selection is limited. The nearest full grocery stores are approximately 15 miles from most cabin locations. Campers staying at Turner Katy Trail Shelter have access to a kitchen with refrigerator and microwave, making meal preparation more convenient for trail users.
$25 - $48 / night
"He escorted us to our site which was tucked away under some nice trees. Though campground is close to interstate, noise was minimal (I think because of the trees)."
"Showers and bathrooms."
"Only a couple have picnic tables, but all seemed to have at least a level spot for the tent and a fire ring."
"The main pull-in parking area was completely empty. Has a ton of spots, most with their own fire ring. Some have some shade."
"Great place to go right off the highway"
$14 - $36 / night
"Fire rings with attached rebar grills on a bricked square. Picnic table and lantern post. Small playground near the check in station/camp store. The store is small but will have what you need."
"Water and restrooms where still closed until the 15th of April, except a outhouse across from the playground on the right as you enter."
$24 - $30 / night
"The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect."
"PROS Senior discount
Site 32 level asphalt pad surrounded with grass and river rocks
Moveable aluminum table
Metal fire ring with cooking grate
One hook lantern pole
Site 19 very near toilets"
$24 - $80 / night
"I stayed in one of the cabins which are very nice. They are basic but I loved the front porch. Tge cabins ha e electricity and a fridge but no bathroom. The hiking was great and I loved the rocks."
"We rented cabin A for 4 days for our summer vacation. We couldn’t have been happier. The cabin is simple and clean."
"The cabins are spectacular and right on the water! We just tooK 40+ family members and everyone fell in love with this campground."
"Oh my as we drove in this place was amazing There were fishing ponds a retreat center and cabins Hiking trails Rv park w laundry Over 160 acres of land to explore on!!!"
"A nice private catch and release pond, an old little mini golf setup, a small (but adequate) swimming pool kept the kids busy."
"Mini golf, activity room with a pinball machine and pool table. A band played on Saturday night at the pavillion but unfortunately it was very cold and we didn't stay long."
"Summer time swimming at 1 outdoor pool and 2 swimming beaches at the lake. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, kayaks and fishing boats."
"I spent years growing up enjoying lost Valley lake. Many enjoyable family fun."
$10 / night
"The Katy Trail Turner Shelter Hostel is located in Tebbetts, Missouri at mile 131.2. The shelter is open for individuals and groups, including youth groups, using the trail."
I stayed in one of the cabins which are very nice. They are basic but I loved the front porch. Tge cabins ha e electricity and a fridge but no bathroom. The hiking was great and I loved the rocks.
The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect. Great shade, almost no slope to pads, all power options, great water pressure, and a sewer hookup. Plenty of rocked lounging or tent space with each site. Good size fire pits, lantern post, and an aluminum picnic table on a concrete pad. All the sites have enough empty space in between that most campgrounds would have stuck another site in-between. Restroom/shower house very close by and it's regularly cleaned. 2 trails to lakeside access are close by too.
PROS
Senior discount
Site 32 level asphalt pad surrounded with grass and river rocks
Moveable aluminum table
Metal fire ring with cooking grate
One hook lantern pole
Site 19 very near toilets and a dumpster
Friendly and helpful gate personnel
4 bars TMOBILE
CONS
Some road noise in the distance
Electric box at rear of site pad
Sewer connection 6 inches above ground
Poor planning to demolish all but one campground toilet/shower facilities at the same time
No overnight gate closure
Don't Miss
Rustic Oak Cabin Restaurant
Mark Twain Memorial Shrine in Mark Twain State Park. Free entrance
Ride the Mark Twain Riverboat in Hannibal
Downtown Hannibal nice variety of stores and shops
Dam Visitor Center very nice--fairly new
We rented cabin A for 4 days for our summer vacation. We couldn’t have been happier. The cabin is simple and clean. It has air conditioning, which is needed in Missouri in August (it was sooo hot). Cabin is private with fire pit and picnic table at the front which faces near the woods. Bathrooms and shower houses were clean and a short walk.
Nice campground with tent areas and RV area well separated. Fire rings with attached rebar grills on a bricked square. Picnic table and lantern post. Small playground near the check in station/camp store. The store is small but will have what you need. The showers were adequate with the requisite daddy long legs. There were a fair amount of ticks so spray your gear with permethrin. Many of the sites were pretty small - we had a hard time seeing where a tent would fit, usually the answer was on the side of the road. Also, many were close together with little privacy. We stayed on site 53. Which I definitely recommend. Plenty of space for the tent (on a bit of a slant with tree roots, but doable, especially with air mattresses), great privacy on one side, decentprivacy on the other, and a lovely view of the woods at the back.
Pure, pristine, well maintained. Easy access to the lake. The campsites were level, clean, and spacious. I didn't think I'd like the gravel pad or concrete block for trailer & picnic tables, but they made the set up & tear downs easy. The screen room fit perfectly around the picnic table block. The campground bathrooms were clean and the shower temperature & water pressure were phenomenal. The park featured a playground, boat ramp, and a fish cleaning station. Everything we hoped it would be & more. Wished we had booked a longer stay!
I found the camping area to be tight but what a fun place to be. Being after Labor Day the water par was closed, but looked like fun. Mini golf was booming. They had nice pavilion areas for gatherings. There was also a large swimming pool. Several of the sites were for seasonal but were very well kept. The camping cabins looked nice. As you came into the resort there was a well equipped store and a huge banquet center. They had two good sized ponds for fishing. Amenities included cable and WiFi. Not wilderness camping but fun for kids.
I have bike-packed along the Katy and this is an excellent spot for an overnight(s) stay. It is a tough, but short, climb from the trail. You may have to walk up the hill - challenge made :-) . This is a St. Charles County Park and it is well maintained. They also have small cabins though pretty basic. Make sure to store your food securely overnight - the racoons are pretty thick and hungry at night. I have also done short bike-packing trips from Chesterfield and St. Charles for an overnight(s) stay. If you need it, grab food in Augusta or Defiance before arriving. There are no services in the park.
We stayed only one night here while passing through. Campground’s new owner is very kind and friendly. He escorted us to our site which was tucked away under some nice trees.
Though campground is close to interstate, noise was minimal (I think because of the trees).
Pretty flowers throughout campground. Bathrooms with a shower and laundry room. Salt water pool, nice grassy area. Some sites had fire pits and picnic tables but not all.
Would definitely stay here again.
Mark Twain State Park offers several cabin options within 30 miles of Montgomery City, Missouri. The cabins range from basic structures with minimal amenities to more developed accommodations with electricity and climate control. Most cabins in the region sit at elevations between 500-800 feet and experience typical Midwestern seasonal weather patterns with hot summers and cold winters.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Mark Twain Lake provides excellent fishing opportunities with multiple access points near Puma Campground. "We stayed in site 98 in the Puma area quite nice with a little more grassy area. Wonderful boat ramp off the beach. Great for kayaks. Nice fishing area," notes a camper.
Explore hiking trails: The region offers numerous hiking options through wooded terrain. At Daniel Boone Conservation Area, "There are some nice hiking trails here to explore" and the area has "some stocked ponds to fish in and trails to explore. We rode the Katy Trail which is only 3.5 miles down the hill from here."
Swimming opportunities: Several parks offer swimming areas during summer months. "Mark Twain state Park is an absolute blast... Large playgrounds in the camping area's as well as visitor center areas. Park has a boat ramp with ample parking and if you have better luck than I did a fish cleaning station."
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the spacious layout at Ray Behrens where "Every space has a lot of room. Great place for multiple family units to enjoy the outdoors." Another camper mentioned, "The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect. Great shade, almost no slope to pads, all power options, great water pressure, and a sewer hookup."
Year-round activities: Some facilities offer indoor recreation options during inclement weather. One camper at Lost Valley Lake Resort shared, "There is swimming year round with 2 indoor pools, hot tubs and sauna. Summer time swimming at 1 outdoor pool and 2 swimming beaches at the lake. You can rent paddle boats, canoes, kayaks and fishing boats."
Clean facilities: Well-maintained cabins and bathhouses receive frequent praise. "The bathhouses still need just a little work. One we used was small and the other stated they were working to improve it. But they were clean and in working order," reported a visitor at Hickory Ridge Campground.
Cabin availability varies seasonally: Reservations are essential, especially during summer months. At Turner Katy Trail Shelter, "The shelter is open for individuals and groups, including youth groups, using the trail... The shelter is two stories with 40 bunk style beds. Guests must bring their own bedding. There are showers, restrooms and a kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave."
Pack supplies carefully: Most cabins require guests to bring their own bedding, cooking supplies, and other essentials. Limited shopping options exist near most parks, with the closest full grocery stores typically 15-20 miles away.
Site levelness varies considerably: Be prepared with leveling blocks for cabins and sites. At Puma Campground, one visitor noted, "The sites are well spaced and clean. Our site was pretty unlevel and it took some work and levelers to get it straight. We rode around the campgrounds on our bikes and most of the other sites seemed level and more even."
Look for playgrounds: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. "Lots of activities - pool, cornhole tournament, potluck dinner, and movie night. Great place for families," shared a visitor at Hickory Ridge Campground.
Bring entertainment for rainy days: Weather can change quickly, so prepare indoor activities. "Bathrooms with a shower and laundry room. Salt water pool, nice grassy area. Some sites had fire pits and picnic tables but not all."
Choose cabin sites near facilities: When staying in cabins with children, proximity to bathrooms matters. "We ended up with a spot that we loved since it was close to the playground. It was closed, but the basketball court was open to roll and the field was open so the kids could run around and play catch."
Prepare for limited hookups: Not all cabin camping areas offer full hookups. "There are 10 or so primitive tent sites and an area that will accommodate about a dozen RV's. There are no services here and no hook ups, but it's free," notes a camper at Daniel Boone Conservation Area.
Check access roads before arriving: Some access roads to cabin areas can be challenging. At Pin Oak RV Park, "The sites are level, and there is plenty of shade. (One advantage of being an older park.) But everything is just a little run down. The sites are gravel and close together do not much privacy. They come with water, sewer & electric."
Consider noise factors: Some campgrounds experience road noise that might affect sleep quality. "Though campground is close to interstate, noise was minimal (I think because of the trees)."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Montgomery City, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Montgomery City, MO is Hickory Ridge Campground with a 3.1-star rating from 7 reviews.
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