Cuivre River State Park Campground offers well-maintained hiking trails and spacious sites just north of Wentzville. The park lies within the Ozark border region at elevations ranging from 500-600 feet, creating varied terrain for hiking and exploration. Winter camping remains open with reduced services, while summer brings higher humidity and temperatures averaging in the upper 80s.
What to do
Kayak rentals at Lincoln Lake: At Cuivre River State Park Campground, visitors can enjoy water activities on Lincoln Lake. "This campground has a lake you can rent kayaks for. They have a small store at the check in booth. It also has an accessible fishing dock that is covered," notes Kayla S.
Bike the Katy Trail: The 240-mile Katy Trail connects to several campgrounds in the area, offering easy access for cyclists. "The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town. Beautiful views across a large farm field to the hills beyond with incredible sunsets," explains Sam C. from Beyond the Trail RV Park.
Winter wildlife viewing: Cold weather camping near Wentzville provides unique opportunities. "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)," says Kyle R. about winter visits to Cuivre River.
What campers like
Diverse camping terrain: Klondike Park offers unique landscape features not found at other dog friendly campgrounds near Wentzville. "Beautiful park with multiple terrains... Trails are beautiful and perfect for families wanting to just come to a park for a day and hikers. Can't go wrong for a 10$ a night campsite with restrooms and water available," shares Jake K.
Secluded spots for wildlife viewing: Naturalists appreciate the quieter camping experiences. "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! No electricity but water was conveniently located right across from our site," reports Maria E. at Cuivre River State Park.
Wine country proximity: Beyond the Trail RV Park offers convenient access to local wineries. "This is just a great park. It is located in a sleepy little winery town. It is just a few minutes from the main part of town with multiple beautiful wineries within a few miles," explains Jamie C.
What you should know
City camping conveniences: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers urban amenities with a RecPlex membership for extended stays. "One couple I talked to was camping long term and they got a free membership to the St Peter's RecPlex recreation center with their long term spot (they said something about having to book a least a month out to get this perk)," mentions Annie C.
Weather considerations: The Wentzville area experiences significant seasonal variations. "Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they were not so keen on having tent campers. But they were very nice and gave me the general lowdown on this 'in the city' campground," Annie adds about 370 Lakeside Park during restrictions.
Flood potential: Low-lying areas can experience periodic flooding. "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," warns a reviewer about St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park.
Tips for camping with families
Pet-friendly cabin options: St. Charles County Klondike Park offers alternatives to tent camping for families with pets. "I will be renting a cabin later this week and will leave another review for the cabins the tent camping amenities and views are a solid 5 stars," mentions Jonathan P. about this pet-friendly campground near Wentzville.
Wildlife precautions for food storage: Proper storage prevents unwanted visitors. "Make sure to store your food securely overnight - the racoons are pretty thick and hungry at night," advises Mike L. at Klondike Park.
Water recreation options: Families can enjoy multiple water activities at many area campgrounds. "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," reports Lindsey C. about 370 Lakeside Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup placements: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Resort requires preparation for unusual utilities configuration. "Our water hook up and electric hookup was significantly far apart. May be site specific," warns GW C., offering useful advice for RVers visiting this dog-friendly campground option near Wentzville.
Site selection strategy: Choose carefully between privacy and accessibility. "Some sites are closer to the highway and cars flying down the road can make it hard to sleep but after midnight, they stopped," notes Jake K. about site selection at Klondike Park.
Seasonal RV considerations: Some parks have limited operations in winter. "Excellent little RV park behind a brewery. The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town," explains Sam C. at Beyond the Trail RV Park, noting the all-seasons access to the trail despite seasonal closures elsewhere.
