67 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
St. Joseph, Missouri provides a range of camping options within easy reach of the city. Campgrounds like AOK Campground & RV Park and Beacon RV Park offer established sites with hookups for RVs, while conservation areas such as Arthur Dupree Memorial and Bluffwoods provide more primitive camping experiences. The camping landscape includes a mix of public and private facilities, with options for tent camping, RV sites with full hookups, and even some cabin accommodations at Lewis and Clark State Park Campground approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown St. Joseph.
Road conditions and accessibility vary significantly across the region's campgrounds. Many conservation areas feature gravel roads that may become challenging after rain, while established RV parks typically offer paved access. "We attempted to post up at Dupree on the river for our inaugural spring camping trip, but was not able to enter the CA the usual way from St. Joseph off Highway 36," noted one camper, highlighting potential access challenges at some conservation areas. Weather considerations are important when planning trips, as spring flooding can affect riverfront camping areas along the Missouri River. Most private campgrounds remain open year-round, while some conservation areas have seasonal limitations or may require advance planning for primitive sites.
Campers consistently mention the appeal of waterfront locations in the region. Several visitors highlighted fishing opportunities at conservation areas and state parks, with Honey Creek Conservation Area and Rochester Falls Access providing river access points. The proximity to Kansas City (approximately one hour's drive) makes St. Joseph area campgrounds popular weekend destinations, with Weston Bend State Park receiving particularly positive reviews for its wooded sites and hiking trails. One visitor described it as "less than half an hour from our home, but at the same time, it seems a world away." Mixed-use campgrounds that accommodate both tent and RV camping are common in the area, with varying levels of amenities from basic fire rings and picnic tables at conservation areas to full hookups and shower facilities at private RV parks.
"There is a lake/ river at the edge of the property with fish, plenty of frogs and I even saw a beaver or otter swimming across it. You can fish but it is catch and release."
"We travel with a dog and so much lush green grass to explore and walk was a plus for us. There is a dog park but I didn’t look for it so can’t comment on it. Didn’t use the bath house either."
"The easy access to the beach there is incredibly helpful and the fishing was great. As a Rockhound, I found so many beautiful and unique minerals and made a lot of jewelry from it."
"There is a bathroom and is close to the river."
"The site is long but has a 1/4 moon turn so we had to pull back around to get better positioned on the pad so we could disconnect our 39’ 5th wheel and F450 for our 3-night stay."
"We enjoy camping there to get away from routine and responsibilities and simply hang out at our camper. The campground is wooded, generally cool, and peaceful."
from $15 - $52 / night
Check Availability"This camp is easy in and out, close to St Joseph, some concrete pads, some gravel. We will stay here again next year"
"Two fire pits in the grass to use but you can’t drive up to them. We were the only ones there and it was quiet."
"I’m driving up to Wyoming from Tennessee and camping along the way and this was my first stop."
"A Missouri conservation area, a mile off the road. a gravel road gives you access to many multi use trails. see map attached. there were 5 or so nice camping spots with picnic tables and fire rings along"
"It was a little close to the highway so got a little highway noise, but not bad. No trains😊 Only one other camper so plenty of room.
Pit toilet, no water."
"We arrived around midnight and there was very limited parking. We did not plan to use the RV hook ups but there seemed to still be one available slot if we wanted it."
from $32 / night
Check Availability"The roads to, around, and within the campground are paved and great for a family walk or bike-riding."
"There is a trail to walk or bike ride. Small lake to canoe or kayak or fishing crom the shore line. Whole campground is nice and level."
from $15 - $35 / night
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TravelerWe stopped at this campground for 1 night as we traveled thru. The park was immaculately mowed and the sites were spacious and we'll maintained. It looked like a perfect place to have a picnic as well. Plenty of parking. The lake is narrow and long, so plenty of space to boat. I didn't see a designated swimming areas, so can't say if they're was one or not. I would definitely stay here again.
ScoutIt’s a great campsite, clean bathrooms, great scenery, easy-going camp host and overall I do it again for us
GuideWe stopped here for one night on our trip from Texas to Iowa - very nice campground! It’s well kept, clean, and nice facilities. The site wasn’t very level, but other than that, it was great.
TravelerSmall lake with a paved trail, you camp in large parking space with fhu.
TravelerAbout a half hour from i70, this place is crawling with insects so be prepared. Nice quiet spot tho.
TravelerThe renovations they just did to this campground are fantastic and really surprising to find in a state park. Most of the campsites were paved to an extent, but where we stayed they all had large concrete slabs that covered the picnic area as well as the landing site for the RV. It was very nice. They have planted new trees, so eventually it will have plenty of shade. The bathrooms were also clean. The sites were spread out and we had plenty of room to ourselves. The park as a whole was very nice and well maintained, as was the town. I would definitely stay here again!
GuideThis park has two entrances. One leads to to 2 fishing areas, one with a pier and a toilet (we didn't check out). It also leads to a gold course. The other entrance has disc golf scattered throughout and a campsite at the end of the road. It has a gravel pad, trash can, fire pit, and bbq pit. The trash was not full which we did appreciate but the firepit had trash in it and there was a lot of debris on the ground, like broken glass, fishing line/rusty hooks, small litter. Also was a bit busier than we expected, especiallysince it was a Monday evening/night.. We had some disc golf players park near us to do the course, maybe it starts here at the site, idk. One older gentleman stopped by to fish. One truck with a kayak in the back pulled up but then turned around and a couple of cars just turned around at the end of the road. We went fishing for a little bit. My husband caught a couple of small fish and also got some lures untangled from a tree so win!! It says no swimming here, unfortunately, because when we're visiting it's crazy hot. We didn't see any signs about camping at all, but looking it up online, there are apparently 3 camp sites here operated on a first come first serve basis with no formal registration required. So, free is awesome! Lots of trees! No bathroom on this side of the lake as we've seen.
GuideNice campground in the basic section of campground 1
ScoutVery fish rich lake. Great water nutrient lake. Kayaks will glide like ice. Large Catfish. Pretty clean but limited RV grounds. Open though for easy pull in access.
Camping near St. Joseph, Missouri typically offers elevations between 800-1,100 feet above sea level with clay-heavy soils that can impact accessibility after rainfall. The region experiences four distinct seasons with summer humidity averaging 70-80% and winter temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from December through February. Conservation areas and public lands surrounding St. Joseph provide primitive camping options with variable road conditions dependent on recent precipitation.
Fishing opportunities: Rochester Falls Access provides direct river access where campers can enjoy the Platte River. "I was amazed at this pocket of scenic beauty. When I arrived, the other campers were kind and helpful. The easy access to the beach there is incredibly helpful and the fishing was great," reports one visitor to the Rochester Falls Access.
Hiking trails: Weston Bend State Park features a comprehensive trail system approximately 30 miles from St. Joseph. A visitor to Weston Bend State Park Campground notes, "Weston Bend was everything I could hope for. The camp site were small and compact but it was nice." The park includes paved trails suitable for all ability levels.
Wildlife observation: Conservation areas provide opportunities to view local fauna. "Love this little area for camping! It's well maintained, quiet, easy to access, has lots of grass for the dogs to play and we always see wildlife," shares a camper about Bluffwoods Conservation Area, located 20 minutes south of St. Joseph.
Quiet, budget-friendly options: Multiple conservation areas around St. Joseph offer free camping with minimal facilities. "Good place for free camping just not a lot of things to do other than explore the woods or fish in the river which doesn't have great access. They say there's bike trails but it's more just access roads," notes a visitor to Honey Creek Conservation Area.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and grounds. "This place was fantastic all the way around please note it's July and they do have some construction going on in parts of the campground. These are the cleanest bathrooms and facilities that I have been to I think Mabye ever," reports a camper at Weston Bend State Park.
Convenient overnight stops: AOK Campground provides easy interstate access for travelers passing through. "We were traveling and was looking for an overnight stop. This was very easy off the interstate but once there you felt like you were miles out in the country. Yes.. if you were listening for it you could hear some road noise. But it really wasn't invasive at all," shares a visitor to AOK Campground & RV Park.
Access challenges: Some conservation areas have complicated entry points or seasonal closures. A Rochester Falls Access camper warns, "This site is right off a busy road, and there is one way In and same way out. Stayed here during my road trip from Ohio to Washington."
Bathroom facilities vary: Restroom quality differs significantly between established campgrounds and conservation areas. "The bathrooms leave much to be desired. There are only really three or four designated campsites, but there was only one other group here on a Wednesday," notes a Honey Creek visitor.
Weather impacts: Summer humidity makes camping challenging without proper equipment. "Upon setting up my campsite, the heat and humidity really settled in and it was actually quite miserable but that was my bad for not bringing a fan. Overall the place is well-maintained and quiet. But you definitely are going to want to bring a battery powered or rechargeable fan. Incredibly hot and humid," advises a Bluffwoods Conservation Area camper.
Lake activities: Lewis and Clark State Park Campground offers family-friendly water access 20 miles southwest of St. Joseph. "This campground is a great setting for a quiet family weekend. The roads to, around, and within the campground are paved and great for a family walk or bike-riding," notes a visitor.
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature dedicated play areas. "It does cost about $25 a day, but you have electricity, and shade, and it is always quiet here. The park rangers are always cleaning or doing rounds to make sure everything is okay. Bathrooms have AC and are cleaned with disinfectant daily. Very clean campground and has a playground," reports a Lewis and Clark State Park camper.
Security considerations: Some free camping areas near St. Joseph experience after-hours traffic. A Rochester Falls visitor cautions, "However when I was staying, at dark there were cars parked at the end with its lights on. I was the only one there and many random drive In and outs during the night (1 am 3 am,5 am). It's very sketchy if you're staying here solo and no one else is near by."
Site selection: AOK Campground provides level sites with varying degrees of privacy. "The sites appear mostly all level and gravel. We had a pull through and it was perfect for overnight. Full hook up and shade," shares one RVer.
Limited big rig access: Rochester Falls presents challenges for larger vehicles. "Not really big rig friendly. One site, maybe. We got ours (43.5') in, barely. It's the first site out of the 6 or 7 here. Great for 30' travel trailers," advises a camper.
Overnight convenience stops: Sharp RV Park offers basic amenities for travelers. "This is a nice place for an overnight stop. WiFi is good can stream! Good antenna reception owner is nice. Lots of full timers. Site 8 is nice would not want to spend a week though," notes a visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near St. Joseph, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, St. Joseph, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 67 campgrounds and RV parks near St. Joseph, MO and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near St. Joseph, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near St. Joseph, MO is AOK Campground & RV Park with a 4.4-star rating from 16 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near St. Joseph, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near St. Joseph, MO.
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