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Camping near Wappapello Lake

781 Reviews

The landscape surrounding Wappapello Lake in Missouri encompasses a variety of mixed-use campgrounds catering to different outdoor preferences. Meramec State Park Campground and Meramec Caverns Natural Campground provide established camping areas with amenities for tent, RV, and cabin camping. Riverside camping opportunities exist along the Meramec River, offering water access for activities like floating, fishing, and swimming. The region includes several developed sites with electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, particularly in state park properties where reservation systems are in place.

Road conditions and campground accessibility vary throughout the area, with most developed sites offering year-round availability. During peak summer months, waterfront campsites fill quickly, especially on holiday weekends. "We really enjoyed this campground. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We were able to stay right along the river," shared one visitor about their experience at Meramec Caverns. Seasonal flooding can impact riverfront camping areas, and campers should check with park offices about potential closures during heavy rain periods. Most developed campgrounds in the region require fees, with primitive tent sites typically costing less than full-service RV hookups or cabin rentals.

The Meramec River corridor features prominently in camping experiences throughout the region. Campers report high satisfaction with riverfront sites that provide direct water access for swimming and floating activities. Several campgrounds offer amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, and shower facilities within walking distance of water recreation areas. A camper noted, "The primitive sites are spacious and lovely," highlighting the natural setting available at some locations. Cave tours represent another popular attraction near several camping areas, with Meramec Caverns and Onondaga Cave State Park offering underground exploration opportunities alongside their camping facilities. Security patrols are common at the larger established campgrounds, providing added safety for families and groups while maintaining quiet hours.

Map showing campgrounds near Wappapello Lake, MissouriExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Wappapello Lake (104)

    1. Meramec State Park Campground

    57 Reviews
    Sullivan, MO
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 468-6072

    $12 - $48 / night

    "Miles upon miles of trails. Spacious campground, caves to explore, old time blast furnace to explore, fresh Missouri spring with exceptional fishing. Then theres a general store with a restaurant"

    "Growing up near here, this was the state park that my family always went to. Forty some years later, it is still my favorite park in Missouri. I enjoy camping here with my family and friends."

    2. Meramec Caverns Natural Campground

    23 Reviews
    Stanton, MO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 468-3166

    $23 - $38 / night

    "We had arrived a little too early in the camping season and we happened to pick days where Missouri had a cold front (previous weekend was warm)."

    "Security patrols around the clock and doesn't put up with any ridiculousness. Campsites available on pavement, gravel for campers and RVs and grass for tents."

    3. Onondaga Cave State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Leasburg, MO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 245-6576

    $12 - $52 / night

    "Other than the water, Onondaga Cave SP has been one of my favorite places to camp in Missouri for more than 20 years."

    "We stayed one night on our way through Missouri. It’s only about ten minutes south of I-44. The campground was only about half full, so it was nice and quiet."

    4. Washington State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Cadet, MO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 586-5768

    "This park is so rich in Missouri and USA history - from buildings costructed by the African-American CCC stonemasons to Native American petroglyphs, there's some fascinating stuff here."

    "Washington State Park is a hidden gem in Missouri! We camped in mid-March 2021 for 7 days and thoroughly enjoyed the area. They had just opened a new shower house which was clean and well kept."

    5. Pin Oak RV Park

    15 Reviews
    Union, MO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (406) 962-1501

    "Nice little lake to fish in and areas to walk around in."

    "We were close to the playground though, which had bright lights at night and loud kids - I would avoid that area next time."

    6. Robertsville State Park Campground

    13 Reviews
    Robertsville, MO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (636) 257-3788

    "Hiking trails, a stocked pond, meramec river access, 12 basic and 13 electric shaded campsites available, play ground away from the campground and shelters available to rent for a family gathering. 2 trails"

    "The hook up sites are on the inside of the loop and the tent sites are on the outside of the loop. You need to look carefully for a level tent site as some are fairly slopped."

    7. Ozark Outdoors-Riverfront Resort

    21 Reviews
    Leasburg, MO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 245-6837

    "Positives: quiet time starting at 11:00 pm, we didn’t hear cursing, loud music, or anything else that disturbs little ones once they go to sleep, close to the river, clean restroom and shower house, shaded"

    "They have a family section if you prefer to be away from the louder bunch."

    8. Arapaho Campground, Canoe, Raft Rental

    6 Reviews
    Stanton, MO
    6 miles
    Website

    9. Stanton-Meramec KOA

    6 Reviews
    Stanton, MO
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 927-5215

    "Relaxing to walk around the park."

    "Dinner was delivered with a smile after driving through a spring storm. Pool looked nice. The sites were kind of tight."

    10. RV Self-Park

    8 Reviews
    Sullivan, MO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 259-6678

    $20 - $39 / night

    "You will hear some highway noise, but honestly, after years in trucking, it just felt like home. No restrooms or extras, but for a quick, no-hassle stop right off I-44, this place nailed it."

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Recent Camping Photos near Wappapello Lake

213 Photos of 104 Wappapello Lake Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Wappapello Lake

781 Reviews of 104 Wappapello Lake Campgrounds

  • Stephanie O.
    Oct. 27, 2025

    St. Francois State Park Campground

    Excellent choice for quick weekend trip!

    Had a wonderful weekend camping trip in the basic loop. Grass well-trimmed, campground pretty clean and full of families. Definitely a lot of kid noise, but I much prefer that to adults drinking into the night. Staff always cheerful and eager to provide a good experience; they do ride around every so often to check in on things. Camp host on site. Some sites certainly better than others; the biggest ones are near the entrance to the basic loop.

    Bathrooms older and not spotless, but they stay on top of stocking them. Very well lit at night. Check-in station has patches, t-shirts, and firewood for sale in big bundles for $5. They do cover them when it rains.

    There is definitely a friendly community atmosphere, but you can keep to yourself if that's your preference.

    There is a nice 3-mile hike that begins at the campground.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 19, 2025

    Sundermeier RV Park

    This RV park could be great but they have a bad wiring problem with some 30A receptacles and the office staff is extremely rude.

    I've stayed here a couple times and generally like the park. I appreciate owners investing in urban RV parks and I don't expect much for amenities in these kinds of settings. The staff were pleasant on a pre-arrival phone call and at check-in—but once there was an issue, the office staff member became very argumentative and rude, consistent with other online reviews.

    ELECTRICAL SAFETY WARNING DO NOT use the 30A receptacles here unless you have a surge protector with an Electrical Management System (EMS) that explicitly confirms correct wiring before connecting your RV. My equipment detected a Line/Neutral Reversal on some 30A receptacles; the 50A receptacles appeared to be wired correctly.

    When I reported this life-safety hazard, the staffer’s response was, “Don’t use your surge protector—they’re not compatible with our system.” As a licensed Electrical Engineer with 30+ years of experience, I can state that this is 100% nonsense. The surge protector was correctly doing its job by flagging a major wiring fault. Do not follow the staff's advice when they tell you not to use your surge protector to "make it work." That is irresponsible advice that is literally endangering your safety.

    The staff also insisted that they don't have a problem because previous 30A users without surge protectors had “no problems.” This is plausible because a Line/Neutral reversal doesn’t usually affect RV operation but the statement shows their complete lack of understanding of the actual problem.

    A Line/Neutral reversal energizes the neutral side of the RV's electrical system. This means the RV chassis, appliance housings, and internal neutrals, which should be near ground potential, all become live, creating a serious shock or electrocution hazard if someone touches those RV components while grounded.

    The sites are basic with level concrete pads in good condition and other utilities (water/sewer) were fine. Excellent location near the historic St. Charles district. WiFi is unusable—bring your own Internet source. Restrooms and showers are dated and not in great condition. There was also no hand soap at the bathroom sinks all weekend.

    This park should be a 7/10 rating, but the electrical hazard drops it to a 5/10. The staff bring the rating down further to a 3/10.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Brazil Creek Camping Area

    Free to stay, no water, no gray dump, no garbage

    It's a free place to park and stand the night. The campground does not have any water, grey dump, or garbage. So it is primitive camping.

    There are lots of insects that will attack you on your walk, too...

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Meramec Caverns Natural Campground

    A Few Key Points Missing

    Stayed here overnight en route to New Mexico. We arrived just after dark in Oct at 7p. The person manning the entrance thought we couldn't be campers because we had just a pickup truck. RTTs must be new here. They didn't offer a map and there is zero signage to help you find your site in the dark. The bathrooms have no mirrors, no hot water and were not the cleanest, we passed on showers.

  • Jeff P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 12, 2025

    Meramec Valley Campground & RV Park

    Peaceful and quiet

    My cousin invited us to this particular campground and my wife fell in love with it. It truly felt like a campground regardless of the amenities they have to offer.

  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Meramec Caverns Natural Campground

    Great stay

    Quiet RV park area very quaint very nice along the river, gorgeous by the caverns shower house and bathrooms provided couldn’t be happier

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 8, 2025

    Sundermeier RV Park

    Resort quality campground

    Very nice park. This is a big busy campground they have plenty of staff to handle the rush. Level concrete sites with FHU will definitely stay here again

Guide to Wappapello Lake

Camping near Wappapello Lake, Missouri, offers a mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent, RV, or cabin.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Meramec State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The Cub Scouts loved the site, the Natural Wonders Trail, and the visitors’ center." This park has beautiful scenery and plenty of paths to wander.
  • Fishing: Head to St. Francois State Park Campground for some fishing. A visitor shared, "The campground has many access points to its anchor, the Big River, picnic areas, and multiple pavilions." It’s a great spot to cast a line and enjoy the water.
  • Caving: Check out Onondaga Cave State Park Campground for a unique experience. One reviewer said, "Onondaga Cave is amazing with the new lighting; it just reopened." The cave tours are a must-see for adventurers.

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Washington State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "Very clean campsites with lots of shade for tent campers & nice level lots." Clean restrooms and showers make for a comfortable stay.
  • Friendly staff: Many campers rave about the helpful staff at Onondaga Cave State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "The host was very nice and was available at the check-in booth to receive guests." Friendly faces can make a big difference in your camping experience.
  • Secluded spots: Campers enjoy the privacy at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground. A reviewer said, "The sites themselves are very clean and well kept. Our site, 32, was huge and grassy!" Spacious sites allow for a more relaxed atmosphere.

What you should know:

  • Limited cell service: If you rely on your phone, be prepared for spotty reception at Onondaga Cave State Park Campground. One camper warned, "No cell service from Verizon or T-Mobile." It’s a good idea to plan ahead and download maps or information before you arrive.
  • Tight campsites: Some campgrounds, like Ozark Outdoors-Riverfront Resort, have sites that are close together. A visitor commented, "Everything is like sitting on top of your neighbor." If you prefer more space, consider booking a site further away from the main areas.
  • Weather considerations: Be mindful of the weather, especially at Meramec Caverns. One camper noted, "We happened to pick days where Missouri had a cold front." Always check the forecast before your trip.

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA has a pool and activities for kids. A camper said, "The campsite was very nice with lots of trees. It had a pool for the kids." It’s a great way to keep the little ones entertained.
  • Plan for quiet hours: Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours, which can be a plus for families. At St. Francois State Park Campground, one visitor mentioned, "Quiet time is at 10pm and fellow campers are certain to enforce that rule." This helps ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.
  • Pack games and activities: Bring along games or outdoor activities to keep everyone engaged. Campers at Berryman Trail & Campgrounds enjoyed the peaceful surroundings, making it a perfect spot for family bonding.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site levels: Some sites may not be level, so it’s good to check before setting up. A camper at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground noted, "Some sites were not as level as others." Bring leveling blocks just in case.
  • Look for full hookups: If you want all the comforts of home, choose campgrounds with full hookups. Meramec State Park Campground offers these amenities, making it easier for RVers to enjoy their stay.
  • Plan for dump stations: Make sure to know where the nearest dump station is located. Campers at Ozark Outdoors-Riverfront Resort mentioned the convenience of having facilities nearby, which can save time during your trip.

Camping near Wappapello Lake, Missouri, has something for everyone. Whether you're looking for adventure, relaxation, or family fun, the campgrounds in this area provide a great experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Wappapello Lake?

According to TheDyrt.com, Wappapello Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 104 campgrounds and RV parks near Wappapello Lake and 6 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Wappapello Lake?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Wappapello Lake is Meramec State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 57 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Wappapello Lake?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near Wappapello Lake.

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