Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park and Greensfelder County Park are among the traditional camping options within a 30-minute drive of New Melle, Missouri. The area sits at approximately 600 feet elevation, where wooded terrain creates natural shade for campsites throughout the spring and summer months. Weather patterns in this region typically deliver mild 75-85°F summer temperatures with morning fog common in valley campgrounds from April through October.
What to do
Hiking trails exploration: At Pere Marquette State Park Campground, extensive trail networks provide varying difficulty levels through wooded terrain. "Great hiking in the park, and a bike trail passes by the front. Lots of historical buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930's," notes Annie C. The park requires no additional hiking permits beyond standard camping fees.
Kayaking opportunities: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers equipment rentals for water recreation directly from the campground. "The park/campground rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes," reports Mats. Multiple rental options exist with hourly rates starting at $10 for single kayaks.
Archery range access: Facilities for target practice exist at 370 Lakeside Park with designated ranges for different skill levels. According to Barbie B., "They have an archery range. They rent out peddle boats, bikes and peddle cars/buggies as well." Equipment rental packages include basic instruction for beginners.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Cuivre River State Park Campground features notably large site areas compared to other parks in the region. "Campground is quiet and has big campsites. The campground is close to Lincoln Lake for kayaking," writes Cody S. Most sites offer enough room for two tents plus dining area.
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting at several campgrounds provides opportunities for animal observation. "Campground is beautiful and very woodsy. We saw bunnies hopping around and when we first arrived to our site a deer was grazing nearby, such a bonus!" shares Maria E. about her experience at Cuivre River State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Lazy Day Campground maintains particularly well-kept bathroom and shower areas. "The laundry and bathrooms/showers are adorable. The sites are well spaced and nice and level," reports Darlene T. Modern fixtures and regular cleaning schedules make this stand out among private campgrounds.
What you should know
Train noise concerns: Some campgrounds near New Melle experience railroad disruptions. At St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, Todd P. notes: "It will be even better when they invent silent trains." Most noise occurs between 10pm-5am with 3-4 trains passing nightly.
Limited shade at newer facilities: Some recently developed camping areas have young trees providing minimal coverage. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, Suzie S. explains: "The grounds are clean and pleasant, if a bit sparse with little shade. This will change over subsequent years, however, as there are many relatively newly planted trees."
Seasonal campground closures: Not all facilities maintain year-round operations. While many state parks remain open, amenity availability changes significantly from November through March. "The bathhouse with flush toilets closes November 1 and doesn't reopen until the spring," notes Nancy W.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-focused activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort At Six Flags specializes in family entertainment options. "We stayed here last minute for Labor Day Weekend and the staff were great with finding us a good tent site available. This is not a rugged style campground as there are many amenities such as a pool, putt putt golf, volleyball, and more," explains Lindsey R.
Playground accessibility: Several parks feature dedicated play structures within walking distance of campsites. Joseph F. shares about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park: "Kids had a blast riding bikes. Even finding a few little frogs jumping around and fireflies at night."
Swimming options: Water recreation areas provide summer cooling opportunities at select locations. Crystal H. explains that at St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, "There is a pool, bike rentals, dog park, movie night, basketball court, and more."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds require extra equipment for proper RV positioning. "The site we had was very small and there are train tracks that run near by the campground so it can be quite noisy. The pool is nice as well as the bathrooms and showers," shares Charles S. about camping at Jellystone Park.
Hookup variations: Greensfelder County Park offers limited electrical connections. According to Matthew H., "Only sites 20-29 have electric and 28 can't be reserved... site 29 only has 2-20 amp plugs no 30 didn't realize till we parked. Only this one doesn't have 30." Water access points are centrally located rather than at individual sites.
Pull-through availability: Certain parks accommodate larger vehicles with specialized sites. "The site was ok, tricky to level. There was a steep drop just past our steps, and not a lot of room to set up chairs, etc.," explains Jan S. about Jellystone Park, making site selection crucial for larger rigs.
