Campsites near Valley Park, Missouri provide varying camping experiences within a 20-mile radius of the city, at elevations ranging from 450 to 700 feet above sea level. The area sits at the convergence of the Meramec River watershed and features predominantly oak-hickory forests with some prairie remnants. Winter camping options remain available but with reduced amenities, as most shower facilities close between November and April.
What to do
Hiking accessible trails: At Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground, campers can explore multiple hiking trails directly from their sites. "The hiking trails are not too long but can be challenging for small kids or folks that are not used to hiking," notes Scott M., who found the park to be "a quick getaway from the city."
Boating and water activities: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers water-based recreation with boat rentals. "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," explains Lindsey C. The park "rents paddleboats, kayaks, and canoes in addition to different kinds of bikes," adds Mats.
Biking on paved trails: Many camping areas connect to regional bike paths. The 3-mile paved trail around the lake at St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park lets visitors see wildlife including "deer, bald eagles, pelicans, ducks, snakes," according to Annie C. From Klondike Park, campers can access the Katy Trail, making it "a great campground for a stayover if you are bikepacking the Katy Trail," as Megan K. points out.
What campers like
Proximity to attractions: Camping near Valley Park allows easy access to regional destinations. The Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park provides "phenomenal views of downtown and the arch, and fairly easy access to I-55/64/70," according to Scott C., making it ideal for exploring St. Louis.
Family-oriented activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort At Six Flags offers structured entertainment for children. "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.
Unexpected natural settings: Despite urban proximity, several parks offer surprising natural environments. At Babler State Park, "you wouldn't know you were that close to a big city. It is clean and feels extremely safe. There aren't many sites, but the ones they have are quiet and spacious," according to Lahree C.
What you should know
Train noise impacts: Several campsites near Valley Park experience railroad noise. At St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, "close to train tracks and highway, but didn't notice with AC on in the camper," reports Craig F. Todd P. adds, "it will be even better when they invent silent trains."
Seasonal flooding concerns: Low-lying areas experience periodic flooding issues. At St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park, one reviewer noted 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."
Bathhouse availability varies: Winter campers should check which facilities remain open. At Babler State Park, "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.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access locations: Several campgrounds offer swimming options for hot summer days. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, "there's swimming, games, lots of activities and you can go from rustic rent a tent to a really nice cabin with lots amenities," reports Mike T.
Playground availability: Families with young children should look for sites with play areas. At Cahokia RV Parque, one visitor highlighted an "awesome playground for the kids!!" Mimi mentions the park also has "laundry on site" which can be helpful for longer family stays.
Safety considerations: Security varies between campgrounds. St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park has "24 hour on site security" according to staff, and one camper mentioned park rangers actively check on visitors during severe weather: "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."
Tips from RVers
Hookup locations: RVers should check utility placement details before arrival. At Casino Queen RV Park, "utilities are set up weird on all sites - Water and electric are at the very rear of the site by the sewer, so you will need a decent sized hose to reach if your water intake is in the front of your camper," warns Josh F.
Site dimensions: For larger rigs, Greensfelder County Park has specific sites that accommodate bigger vehicles: "Sites 24-26 can fit a fifth wheel probably no bigger than 36-38 ft" while "site 29 where we stayed can fit a 40' fifth wheel," according to Matthew H.
Water pressure variations: Be prepared for significant differences in water pressure between campgrounds. At Sundermeier RV Park, one camper found "30 pound water pressure" which was sufficient, while Susan L. noted about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park: "The water pressure was so strong that I could barely open the water pump!"
