Looking to get away and reconnect with nature? Glamping near Wappapello Lake is the perfect choice. Glamping near Wappapello Lake is a great way to travel off the beaten path. Find the right glamping site for you with our user-submitted photos, reviews, and tips. Search nearby glamping or find top-rated spots from other campers.
$19 - $30 / night
Enjoy picturesque camping as it was meant to be - with lots of trees, a babbling creek, fireflies, a campfire under a starlit sky, and all Pull-Thru RV Sites. Located on Historic Route 66, this KOA is less than 1 mile from Six Flags St. Louis and I-44. It's an easy 30 minutes from other St. Louis attractions, including the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden, City Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and Grant's Farm. Stay in a Deluxe Cabin or on a Patio RV Site or Premium Tent Site. Kids love all the activities/amenities, such as the heated pool, gem mining station, and new Jumping Pillow. Groups love the pavilion and meeting space with A/C. Pool: May 10 - September 30. Your host: Paul Shepherd.
$11 - $16 / night
Ranger
Not a huge campground but, Its a really simple beautiful place to enjoy Missouri's rolling hills. It is located 1 hour from St. Louis and 30 ish min from Elephant Rock State park. If your in the area check out the other amazing Missouri state parks while staying here. The Missouri Mines state park is maybe a 5 min drive and a neat place to see. Tent sites, Bathroom and some hammock spots.
Guide
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. The campgrounds are a bit rocky like, but each has a picnic table and fire pit, and they sit on the hills of a beautiful Missouri pineforest. Big River runs through this park, so there's some great swimming and fishing here, and there are three hiking trails of varying difficulty, so most people can do whatever. No supplies are available onsite, so bring everything you need!
Scout
Favorite park in Missouri for backpacking.
GuideWashington 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. The campground hosts were especially helpful and friendly. The prehistoric Petroglyphs nearby are a must see.
Guide
This is a city run camp with like-new amenities. Unfortunately it sits on the wrong side of a levee with not much atmosphere. The water is part of the Missouri river flood control. An overnight site in my opinion.
LegendHawn is a smallish state park in the eastern part of Missouri. The hiking in this state park is fantastic. The campground is small but well maintained. The eco-system is something to marvel and we would have loved to see it in the summer.
GuideHawn has a large variety of campgrounds. Whether you have a trailer, a tent, or you want to hike into a remote site, they have options for you. On top of great clean sites, Hawn also has one of the best trails in Missouri, Whispering Pines.
ScoutHawn State park, located off of highway 32 near St. Genevieve, is a wonderful, must visit in southeast Missouri. The work staff is amazing, the campgrounds are always clean and organized, trails could use some tidying up here and there but the lookout points, Pickle creek trails, wildlife, & native pine trees are definitely a sight to see.
GuideWe utilized the special use area of the campground for our Cub Scout family camp, but visited the main loop during our trip.
Best campground hosts we ever encountered! Knowledgeable and friendly. The park has a pool, river access, canoe & kayak rentals and miles of great trails. Great program for kids on staying out of they get lost presented by hosts. This is a great park for organized groups, with lots to do!
Shower house was clean and convenient. Hands down one of Missouri’s best!
Tip- check out the petroglyph site.
GuideThis place is awesome! It was our second overnight backpacking trip we did! We started on beautiful pickle creek trail which is rock scramble right beside a awesome clear water creek bumbling over big rocks! Then we hit whispering pines trail and stayed at campsite 5! It is about 5-6 miles in. Perfect campsite a creek on each side with waterfalls on each one!! We finished the trail the next day right at 12 miles! Be sure to arrive early as the parking lots and campsites fill up fast!! Absolutely stunning trail for Missouri!!
TravelerSt. Francis is a beautiful Missouri state park, not to mention campground. It features many access points to its anchor, the BIg River, picnic areas, multiple pavilions and some fantastic trails. I grew up here, and I am biased toward it, but we camped many places, and it remains one of my favorites then, and now. The campground has more of a communal vibe, for better or worse, depending on your perspective. If privacy is your main concern, you may be better served looking elsewhere, but I have always enjoyed the friends I have made there, both young and old due to the proximity of the campsites and the many programs offered there by the Conservation Department.
Traveler
This site was probably my favorite one in Missouri so far. Has a few sites that are great for groups. Then a few sites that are more private for solo/family camps. Fire pit/lantern hooks/tables at the sites. No cell service for both my AT&T and Verizon phones. No restrooms. Only negative I could say about the site would be the other campers that have stayed before me. There was trash I had to police up left by other campers. The fire ring was still hot with a burning log. Bring a shovel if you’re going to camp here and want to have a fire. The fire rings were full with ash. Will have to clean out the rings to have a safe fire. Don’t think they are maintained that well.
ScoutHawn State Park is a park like no other. Nowhere else in the state of Missouri have I been able to camp and feel like I'm in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The car camping area is nestled in the middle of a pine filled valley. There's nothing more refreshing than sitting in the evening and hearing the wind whistle through the pines. The trails are amazing with big boulders and beautiful creeks. If you're car camping take the extra walk to the walk-in camping sites. It's like a micro backpacking trip. And if you like backpacking, Hawn state park is the place to do it!
TravelerI have been to Hawn State Park many times! It is a very clean campground with a newer shower house. The campground is smaller and has amazing views. I love electric site 17 best because it has the perfect view of the cliffs. There is 3 trails with the longest having two loop options with connectors from the other two trails. There are also walk in sites here and hike in sites. This park will not disappoint. It is also close to Ste. Genevieve which is a great town to visit for a history lesson on the settlement of Missouri. Pickle Springs Nature Area is also a few minutes away which is another fantastic area to hike. It is beautiful any season but I love the views in autumn best!
TravelerTook the youngest kids for their first camping trip, and it could not have been better. Plenty of space, site was level for our tents and had a nice, soft carpet of pine needles, facilities in great shape (didn't use the showers, but they looked decent and were fairly popular), nice sink in the laundry room we used to fill our dish-washing tubs, good neighbors, nobody too noisy and folks generally kind and friendly. Really enjoyed being on the tents-only side of the campground--allowed for a clear, wide view of the landscape and the fall colors. Hiking is some of the best in Missouri.
I will say that the "walk-in" sites didn't seem to have much privacy and weren't very far from the parking lot, if that matters to you.
All in all, you can't get much better for tent camping.
Traveler
We really enjoyed this campground. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Check-in was very easy and we were met at the gate. They drove us over to our spot and brought us over a firepit. The electrical box was setup correctly and everything worked as expected. Water hookup was very close as well and water pressure was strong. As an FYI, we did have to use a regulator to reduce the water pressure.
We were able to stay right along the river. 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). Even with the cold weather, we were able to really enjoy the trip and get our RV ready for the upcoming season.
The camping spots are basically just spots in a big parking lot layout. It is fully paved, but during busy season, you would be very close to other rigs. The park is beautiful and a very short walk over to the cave and ziplines. There is easy access to the river and you are able to easily put in your kayak or small boat. Restroom, showers and trash were a short walk as well.
We will return to this site.
RangerCampground Review Hawn State Park is beautiful! It is one of my favorite state parks. It offers a variety of hiking trails, a nice play ground, plentiful picnic tables, and is some of the best scenery in Missouri. The pine trees that surround the parking lot give you a sense of the grandeur of this place before you ever leave your car. Then you walk to the beginning of the Whispering Pines trail and see the creek flowing, and know this place is going to be worth it. Don't get me wrong, this trail is rated as rugged, and they aren't joking around with that. If you are backpacking give yourself plenty of time to make it to camp, there are some big hills involved. Big, rocky hills. Once you get to one of the three established backcountry sites you find a generally flat area to sleep, a good amount of cleared land for activities, and a fire ring (although techincally no fires are allowed in the backcountry there). The camping is serene. I stayed at campsite 2 this time and got to listen to the trickle of a small waterfall near my site all evening, I mean, until it started raining. The hike is always worth it. This is an extremely popular trail in Missouri because of its beauty and promiximty to St. Louis (about 1.25hrs), so expect to make some new friends at your campsite. All backcountry sites are first come, first serve and free! No permit is needed, just sign in at the trail head. If you are not a fan of ruffin’ it, there are basic ($13/night) and electric ($21-23/night) drive up campsites with a showerhouse nearby. These are reservable in advanced for an additional fee. I would recommend advanced reservation on weekends in peak season. The campground is well maintained with fire rings, parking pads, and picnic tables at each site. Outside of the shower house, all other restrooms are vault toilets in the front country area (no privies in the backcountry, bring your shovel). This campground is worth a stay and hike around, even if it is on one of the shorter, easier trails.
Product Review I’ve always wanted to be a Park Ranger, exploring the wilderness for a living. I guess being a Dyrt Ranger is a pretty good substitute, especially since I got the opportunity to review the Gregory Maven Backpack recently. I have to admit, I was a little reticent to try out a new backpack. My my current pack was trusty, familiar and had been with me on so many adventures. It had seen me through my longest hikes, to the most interesting places, and mostly, it was my first. It was going to take a pretty amazing pack to get me to forsake my good ol, patch-covered Kelty. I can safely say I will never use that Kelty again. Not only is the Gregory about 100xs lighter (obviously that's a literal, scientific calculation), but it has so many features that set it apart. The first I noticed and loved was the horizontal water bottle holder. Trying to reach behind you and pull a bottle upward while walking is on par with an Olympic event, especially after you've spent 10 sweaty hours out on the trail. This pocket makes it so much easier and less of a gymnastics routine to get a drink. This alone would sell me on the pack. But let me sing more of its praises. The sunglasses wrangler on the shoulder strap is so flipping handy, I can't believe I haven't seen one before! The water bladder holder doubles as a day pack, which I love because, duh, it'll hold your water when you go off on an adventure. The material on the pack all seemed nice and durable. The padding was comfortable and it was so easy to adjust to fit me. The pockets on the hip belt are always welcome! I had to hand-craft one for my old pack, I was glad to see them on this pack ready to go. The only thing with them is if you are a little bigger in the hips, you do have to use awkward t-rex arms to reach over/back to zip them up. Also some of the label on the adjustment tab for one started coming off. Not that it's the end of the world, you just expect new things to stay new for a little while. The included rain cover was PHENOMENAL! Normally when a pack comes with a rain cover it will only cover your pack. Anything you have attached to the outside is screwed. This cover was spacious! My camp shoes, ground pad, etc. did not have to worry about the rain. Things I do miss from my old pack: A few more pockets so that it's easier to keep your gear organized and find items in a hurry. I understand this lack of pockets helps keep the pack weight down and I would rather have my pack lighter than pocket-y. I also missed my front zipper so I didn't have to pull everything out of my pack to find something. A few other less awesome things: The sizing on the website was a little confusing, it was hard to know if the sx/sm, sm/md sizes were for the hip belt or back panel. Honestly, I'm still not sure, but I'm leaning toward back panel. I did view this through a mobile platform, so it may be better on PC. Also, the bigger volume size packs are only offered in blue or gray. The colors are nice looking, but I wish an aqua, pink, or purple was available too. I can hike long distances and be feminine too, but maybe I'm the only one that feels that way though. These misses are small and I'm honestly thinking of using this pack as my luggage for vacation in a few weeks. If I do, I'll post pictures. And I will definitely be using it on future trips.
https://backcountrymara.wordpress.com/2018/03/29/gregory-maven-backpack/
Scout
Lots of animals on this farm sanctuary to keep you entertained. 4 beautiful, big rustic sites! I'll be back...
LegendAshley here with The Dyrt. I want to extend a warm welcome to Susan, your host. We're so excited to have this property on The Dyrt! Come camp under the stars with her sweet farm animals, including Nikki the goat! 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!
GuideThe area was closed when we arrived. But from the looks of it, lots of good camping sites right along the river. Saw lots of grills and plenty of space between each site.
TravelerWe stayed just one night but were impressed with the lovely spot. The night was cold, but temps rise quickly after sunrise. We walked the Walking Fern trail, just half a mile but offered varied terrain and its own cave. We were sorry that the Fisher Cave was closed for the season, and the store and grill was only open on the weekend. Would definitely come back.
ScoutOur whole (cousins and everyone) met her for a week long vacation and we had a blast. The cabins were clean and the Murphy beds allowed for so much space when we weren't sleeping. We went rafting down the river and the kids had so much fun playing in the woods and swimming. It was a great trip. We are already talking about planning another one.
TravelerThe area as a whole is neat. The primitive sites are spacious and lovely. We have an rv with 50amp service and essentially, we were on a converted parking lot next to a pavilion. The sites facing the river were a bit nicer.
There is security that drives around to check on everyone which is nice and the camp store was super convenient.
Additionally, the river was amazing. We got down early to ensure we had a spot for our chairs and umbrella. Our kiddos played (with life vests) for 8 hours straight. The river can be dangerous there but if you respect it and have life vests, it makes for an amazing day.
TravelerWe were happy to be able to find space available on short notice, especially with lockdown restrictions being lifted. Basic sites are first come first serve, and the security guards come round in the evening to register you.
First timers should definitely consider the cave tour or float trip on site, but if on a budget I would stick to the camping.
TravelerBeautiful location friendly staff great facilities! Cell service is sketchy but it’s perfect for getting off the grid. Camp sites are very convenient most have fire pits as well as grills for cooking. Do the cave tour it’s really cool!
GuideClean and peaceful, very few campers when I was here maybe because it was before school was out & during the week. Cave makes for a nice cool break from the heat.
TravelerGood swimming! Clear water. Camp store. Firewood available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Wappapello Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Wappapello Lake is Meramec Caverns with a 4.4-star rating from 20 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Wappapello Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 glamping camping locations near Wappapello Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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