Near St. Peters, Missouri, camping and glamping options sit at approximately 550 feet above sea level in a region characterized by rolling hills and hardwood forests along the Missouri River floodplain. Seasonal temperatures range from winter lows around 20°F to summer highs reaching 90°F, with humidity levels often exceeding 70% during summer months. The camping season typically runs March through November, with some facilities remaining open year-round.
What to Do
Hiking trails: Cuivre River State Park offers multiple well-marked trails through hardwood forests. "Great well maintained state park right outside of St Louis. Park has an awesome trail system around the lake, and it looks like you can rent canoes/kayaks in the summer (was not open in the winter)," notes Kyle R. about Cuivre River State Park.
Equestrian activities: Greensfelder County Park focuses on horse riding opportunities with dedicated facilities. "There's tie stalls under a roof and a round pen mounting blocks shower and bathrooms in camp. Electricity at each site and water nearby. Trails are well marked maps available Awesome views and a cool trail by six flags," writes Alicia B. about Greensfelder County Park.
Lakeside recreation: Paddleboats and various bicycle options are available for rental at some parks. "We love going here and watching the sunsets. This is a great place to kayak and camp if you don't want to drive that fare and live in the city," mentions Lindsey C. about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
What Campers Like
24-hour security: Some glamping close to St. Peters, Missouri offers round-the-clock monitoring for peace of mind. "This campground, a City of St Peters park and campground, is as excellent as a campground comes. The staff is SUPER NICE AND CARING. Example 1: There was some rough springtime weather expected one day. A park ranger went around to every site and notified every camper of where the shelters were and gave out a flyer about the specific weather forecast," reports Mats.
Privacy levels: Sites vary from close quarters to more secluded options. "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! Our site was fairly spacious and not super close to others which we liked," explains Maria E. about Cuivre River State Park.
Lodge amenities: Some parks include historic buildings with additional comforts. "Pere Marquette has many options for your stay. The Lodge has great character and a wonderful great room. There is a restaurant inside the main building with decent food. I prefer to stay in a cabin room which sleeps 4-6 and affords you more privacy," shares Shawn M. about Pere Marquette State Park.
What You Should Know
Train noise: Several campgrounds near major railways experience nighttime disturbances. "This was such a nice and serene setting. Close to the city and local attractions, yet surrounded by nature none the less. The family atmosphere at this campground brings a smile to your face and the amenities are clean and in order. We loved it. It will be even better when they invent silent trains," remarks Todd P. about St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA.
Seasonal flooding: Low-lying areas may experience closures due to high water. "One of the downsides to this location is that it is prone to flooding. It was out of commission for most of the summer of 2019 as the entire area was flooded. But the City of St Peters did a great job getting this place back to usable with new sod, a new bathhouse, and some general sprucing up," notes Annie C.
Site limitations: Many campgrounds have restricted amenities during off-season months. "Maybe we are spoiled by Arkansas State Parks and the standard amenities they have. Not having water available except at the camp host, and no open restrooms and showers until after April 1, regardless of when the last freeze is was inconvenient for a spring break trip," advises Archie S.
Tips for Camping with Families
Children's activities: Look for campgrounds with dedicated youth programming. "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. They also host daily kids activities and crafts," shares Lindsey R. about Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort.
Wildlife viewing: Many parks offer opportunities to spot local fauna. "The lake is great to walk around, about a 3 mile walk or bike on a paved trail. You can see all kinds of wildlife in and around the lake- deer, bald eagles, pelicans, ducks, snakes," observes Annie C.
Safety considerations: Site selection can impact family comfort. "The site we were in had a steep drop just past our steps, and not a lot of room to set up chairs, etc. Honestly, the site we were in felt like an afterthought, as we were just pulled off the lower loop road," warns Jan S.
Tips from RVers
Site placement: Choose locations based on specific needs and preferences. "Sites 13-33 are popular open and sunny campsites with nice grassy areas between them. In contrast sites 52-75 are much more treed and have a private feel to them. It seems this is where most of the tent campers like to be," advises Nancy W.
Seasonal preparations: Winter camping requires additional planning for water access. "The campground is open year-round but the bathhouse with flush toilets closes November 1 and doesn't open until the spring. During the winter the only water spigot is available located near the camp hosts at site #36," explains Nancy W.
Electrical setups: Many parks offer limited electrical options. "Small campground run by Saint Louis county parks. Only sites 20-29 have electric and 28 can't be reserved. 2-20 amp plugs and 1-30amp plug. Site 29 only have 2-20 amp plugs no 30 didn't realize till we parked. Only this one doesn't have 30," points out Matthew H.
