Looking for the best campgrounds near Wappapello Lake, MO? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Wappapello Lake, MO. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.
$12 - $48 / night
"Huge park with tons of amenities and options. Although there is year round Camping, the host on site advised water to each individual site will be turned off end of October for winter."
"From every to truck bed camping. We were in a secluded area and had rented almost all spot in loop. Nice campsites with water and electric. Bathroom and showers were a pretty good walk."
$23 - $38 / night
"This is a private campground run by Meramec Caverns. The campground is large and shaded, right on the river. There are hook up sites and tent sites."
"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."
"We absolutely love this park. It’s just under an hour from St. Louis, with river access, amazing hiking trails & great views."
"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."
"A nice private catch and release pond, an old little mini golf setup, a small (but adequate) swimming pool kept the kids busy."
"Mini golf, activity room with a pinball machine and pool table. A band played on Saturday night at the pavillion but unfortunately it was very cold and we didn't stay long."
"We chose an electric site towards the back to avoid most people."
"Store, pool, ropes course, playground, and several options for floating, including a 1 1/2 mile tube loop you can do over and over all day."
"Shaded level sites, nice pool, general store, playground, float trips. Community fire pits, no fires allowed at rv sites."
"They have canoes for rental onsite. Nice place but sites are un-level for Motorhomes and they are a little tight. Relaxing to walk around the park."
"It's a large grassy area with plenty of trees (though no shrubbery or other privacy screens). There are no numbered campsites. Vehicles can be parked and tents pitched anywhere on the grass."
$25 - $100 / night
"Enjoy your personal fire-pit. Campsites are spaced far enough apart to feel private. Give them a visit and leave your review here. Don't forget the photos!"
"Lots of animals on this farm sanctuary to keep you entertained. 4 beautiful, big rustic sites! I'll be back..."
"They have a few different clusters of camp sites and cabins as well. We did a 5 mile float which was amazing! They bus you up river and then you end up back at the campground."
"We park close to the creek, we drive to the Meramec River and sometimes enjoy petting a horse or goat. Last year we zip lined. It’s close to the caverns and other awesome sites."
$11 - $16 / night
"We rented the large cabin, very nice space, great views, and everyone is very friendly. Recommended for any float trip"
"This was a great campsite with water and electric hookups. We tent camped and floated the 6 mile float. Bathrooms we're clean and we'll maintained. Showers needed quarters to operate."
LegendHuge park with tons of amenities and options. Although there is year round Camping, the host on site advised water to each individual site will be turned off end of October for winter. Potable water is available near dump stations (hmmm....). Very well kept, and vacant this time of year, affords the opportunity for a more private camping and river experience. Clean well kept shower houses. Lodge & cabin rentals also available. Boat ramp in back of campground. Campsites with blue bands and parking stops are ADA compliant with concrete pads, elevated grills plus fire ring and picnic table.
TravelerI had no idea what to expect, just following brown signs in the Ozarks. The state park has a very interesting, well done visitor center to learn about the surrounding areas geological history. Arriving at the shut-ins by walking down a wooden boardwalk you get glimpses of crystal clear rushing water, then it opens up to points to get in. It's beautiful and impressive. The water has carved out tide pools and waterslides, canals and whirlpools. There are several deep collections if you want to take a break and float around. There are trout and blue gill, armadillo and elk in the area. Down the road a bit there is also Elephant Rock State Park and campground with walk in primitive camping that each have raised decks, picnic tables and fire pits. Also available RVs and cabin rentals. I personally walked around and collected quartz and mushrooms. Very pleasant.
LegendThis is a private campground run by Meramec Caverns. The campground is large and shaded, right on the river. There are hook up sites and tent sites. My advice is to try and get a spot all the way to the left of the entrance. These sites seem quieter and more spread out. The down side is that they are pretty far from the shower house and bathrooms. Most of this sites (but not all) have picnic tables, grills and fire pits. There are a few really nice sites right on the river. There is a restaurant, general store, canoe rental, zip line (it goes across the Meramec River, not sure how you get back!), and of course the caverns. The cave tour is a bit hokey, but if you can look past the mannequins and silliness, the caves themselves are really spectacular. You can definitely see why Jesse and Frank James used this as a hideout.
TravelerWe absolutely love this park. It’s just under an hour from St. Louis, with river access, amazing hiking trails & great views. Very clean campsites with lots of shade for tent campers & nice level lots. There is even a swimming pool if the river isn’t your thing & a couple playgrounds too. There is a dollar general right outside the park entrance which is super convenient if you forget something or your lighter runs out of fluid like us lol. They have cabins to rents as well as Camper spots and basic lots. Pet friendly! Highly recommend this park. The whole family enjoyed staying here.
LegendGeneral: Very large state park with six separate loops/areas:
• Loop 1: 10 Equestrian sites with water and electric (50 amp)
• Loop 2: 20 FHU sites (50 amp)
• Loop 3: 21 Sites with electric only (50 amp)
• Loop 4: 14 sites with no hookups
• Loop 5: 14 walk-in sites plus three special use sites
• Six cabins
Site Quality: We stayed in Loop 3. Each site was very generous in size and reasonably distanced from each other. Most had foliage separating them. All sites looked to be level, and the camper pads were either all concrete or concrete/macadam and in very good shape. A large wooden picnic table, lantern/garbage hook, and fire pit complete each site.
Bath/Shower House: The one closest to our site (and I’m assuming others are the same) had three toilet/sink combos and one family restroom/shower. On the other side of the building were three shower rooms. While they were clean, the floors were concrete, and the walls cinderblock and there was a bit of a musty odor.
Activities/Amenities: We were there during the week in May and the visitor center and both stores (one in the campground and one by the Shut-Ins) were only open on the weekends. There was a laundry room with very reasonably priced machines ($1 each for the washer and dryer), a playground, and an amphitheater (which also was not in use when we were there). There is a gravel path that bisects each of the loops providing a nice way to walk/run throughout the campground. The signage in the park is good so even though no one was at the check-in station, it was easy to find our site and other facilities. The big draw for this park is the shut-ins (narrow constriction or gorge in a stream) where people can swim/slide from one to the other via small waterfalls into pools of water. We did see a few hearty souls in the water when we were there, and I can only imagine what it would be like on a hot summer weekend!
We had almost the entire Loop 3 to ourselves, so it was a very quiet stay for us (except for the cicadas)!.
LegendWe chose Cahokia RV Park because of its close proximity to St. Louis Missouri. We stayed in a gravel site with a concrete pad, fire pit, picnic table and full-hook ups. The spaces are tighter, but that was expected being closer to a city. There is a playground, pool and pond area to walk around. We were pleased with the cleanliness of the bathrooms and showers and had no major complaints. The price reflected what we got out of our stay.
TravelerWe have a pull behind travel trailer and pick up truck. Site 107 is where we stayed. Pull thru site,asphalt paved with gravel set up area, burn pit and picnic table. Bathrooms and shower house where nice and very clean! We did not have a ORV but did have battery Burromax minbikes. 10 yr old son had an amazing time ridingtoafs with no issues. Pet friendly. Great sewer dump station. Overall it was a very clean and friendly camping experience we will definitely go back even without having a dirtbike or 4 wheeler. Lots of fun!
TravelerPet-friendly, full hookups, space for our larger rig and parking around for extra vehicle. Laundry and propane on site. Spaces were a little close together, but minutes from downtown St. Louis, and staff was friendly and accommodating. Also, fantastic restaurant right on site -- Sawmill BBQ!
TravelerThis was our first trip in our camper and a first camp at Meramec Caverns.
The staff is friendly and helpful. 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. Our site had 30/50 amp service and water on a gravel site facing the Meramec River. It waa a beautiful view!
Shower house and restroom facilities are clean and maintained.
A dump station is located just outsIde the main gate of the campgrounds.
Because of the location, there is no wifi and we had no cell service for the majority of our stay. Once in a while it would get a signal but it was very brief.
Campsites are separated from the Meramec Caverns tourist attractions so there is not constant traffic coming through the campsite.
Most campsites had a stone fire ring, bbq grill, and picnic table.
The cave tour, zipline, boat ride, canoe and float trips and motel are all within short walking distance from the campgrounds.
The campground store has ice, firewood and basics available. The gift shop at the cave has typical tourist items available. The restaurant is more of a snack bar and not a full service restaurant, so don't rely on it for your meals during your stay!
The cave tour is interesting and informative and on a hot day the 60 degree temp of the cave is the perfect place to hang out for a while!
Overall, a very nice place to camp and enjoy the outdoors without being too far from home.
We will definitely be back for another stay!
Cabin camping near Wappapello Lake, Missouri, offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, making it an ideal getaway for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Wappapello Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Wappapello Lake is Meramec State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 57 reviews.
What is the best site to find cabin camping near Wappapello Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 32 cabin camping locations near Wappapello Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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