S
Steve E.
Scout
ScoutCuivre River State Park Campground
Cuivre river state park
Traveling for the first time with our two Bangal cats. Easy to get to from stl area. Clean bathrooms.
Camping near West Alton, MO
92 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Camping options near West Alton, Missouri are situated along the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, offering a mix of established campgrounds and recreation areas. St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA provides tent, RV, and cabin accommodations with full hookups, while Pere Marquette State Park Campground offers year-round camping about 30 minutes north of West Alton. Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground, located southeast across the Mississippi River in Illinois, features more primitive camping opportunities with basic amenities at affordable rates.
Access to most campgrounds in this region varies seasonally, with several sites like St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA operating from March through November while others such as Pere Marquette State Park remain open year-round. Many campgrounds require advance reservations, particularly during summer months when sites fill quickly. The region experiences hot, humid summers and occasionally severe spring storms that may affect camping conditions. Several campgrounds in industrial areas present unique settings. A visitor noted, "When you first pull down the road you'll be worried you're going to end up in the train yard, but the campground is hidden and actually really quiet and secluded."
Campers consistently mention the mixed urban-rural experience that characterizes camping in this area. Proximity to St. Louis attractions serves as a primary draw for many visitors seeking developed campgrounds with amenities. Horseshoe Lake State Park receives positive reviews for its affordability and natural setting, with a camper noting it costs "only $8 a night" with "clean and well-kept spots." Train noise affects several campgrounds near Granite City, though many visitors find the convenience to urban attractions worth the occasional disruption. Wildlife viewing opportunities exist particularly at Horseshoe Lake, which becomes especially notable during waterfowl migration seasons. Most developed campgrounds in the area provide electric hookups, water access, and shower facilities, though primitive camping options with fewer amenities are available for those seeking a more basic experience.
Best Campgrounds near West Alton (92)
1. St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA
"Conveniently located just outside of St Louis. We camped here for a trip to the city for St Louis cardinals game and zoo. My kids loved the jumping pillow at the park."
"It's not in the prettiest location, very industrial and the train tracks run close. First night one came through blowing its horns around 5am."
2. St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park
"I've been to 370 Lakeside Park many times to walk around the huge lake and to hear concerts in the summer, but I had never camped there. Still haven't. I'll explain."
"All hookups were conveniently located. Shower house and restrooms were clean and well maintained/cleaned every day. Had a lakefront site but didn’t get to fish this time."
from $35 - $60 / night
Check Availability3. Pere Marquette State Park Campground
"Pere Marquette Campground is a little gym, just past Grafton, Missouri. It is located in the Great River Road, and within 10 minutes to restaurants and bars."
"Great little campground just outside of Grafton, Illinois, on the Mississippi River. The campground is located in an open grove of old trees. There were owls when we were there."
from $10 - $20 / night
Check Availability4. Sundermeier RV Park
"We were able to park next to our 5th wheel with enough room to not feel crowded while using the picnic bench. Also the site was level. We stayed for a week to enjoy St. Louis, St."
"You can literally be parked right at the Katy Trail. Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles. Easy ride in to St."
from $56 - $61 / night
Check Availability5. Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park
"Very clean and secure overnight park just outside of STL. Phenomenal views of downtown and the arch, and fairly easy access to I-55/64/70."
"Close to the arch, that’s why we chose this place to stay overnight."
from $65 / night
Check Availability6. Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground
"Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
"Horseshoe Lake is one of my most visited parks and most favorite park in the STL and surrounding areas. First off absolutely beautiful land and peace is easily achieved."
7. Cahokia RV Parque
"It's a centrally located campground in the Metro St. Louis area. It's close to interstates and it's a short drive across the river to Missouri attractions."
"The spots are roomy enough, given that you’re situated less than 15 miles from downtown St. Louis. The picnic tables and fire rings are nice additions and the lots appear to be level (ours was.)"
8. MGM Campground
"Nice little lake(catch and release I believe). Surrounded by nature, lots of grass and trees, great for dog owners. Spacious spots."
9. Town and Country Lakes
"It’s a beautiful place with good people but could definitely use some updating on the playground, signage, and drive."
10. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground
"Tucked away, not far from St. Louis, 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."
"Great for taking long walks or bike rides, although very steep hills. Close to St Louis, so you can do some urban exploring."
from $15 - $35 / night
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Drive Time
- 28 min from St. Louis, MO
- 1 hr 21 min from Springfield, IL
- 1 hr 56 min from Jefferson City, MO
- 1 hr 58 min from Decatur, IL
Recent Camping Photos near West Alton, MO
89 Photos of 92 West Alton Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Horseshoe Lake State Park CampgroundF
Pere Marquette State Park Campground
St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park
Beaver Dam State Park Campground
Cherokee Lakes CampgroundR
Rustic Acres Jellystone
Dr. Edmond Babler State Park
Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground
Lazy Days RV Park & Campground
Beyond the Trail RV Park
Greensfelder County ParkK
St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA
Recent Reviews near West Alton, MO
480 Reviews of 92 West Alton Campgrounds
- BBrad A.Scout
Pin Oak RV Park
Mostly long term campers
Most of the campers here live here long term. It’s more of a trailer park than a camping spot. They have a pool but most people probably wouldn’t use it. The restrooms and showers or shower, only one for the entire grounds, are 2 stars. If you needed an emergency stop over it would work.
- M
Mikayla E.
TravelerSt. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park
Quiet and very clean
This campground is very well taken care of. The kids had plenty of things to do to stay busy and entertained outside.
Jeff S.ScoutCuivre River State Park Campground
Nice place for an overnight
Secluded state park but a little hard to get to when pulling a 34 foot fifth wheel. Lots of ups and downs on the road. Love the fact that you are absolutely in the hills of Troy MO with nothing else around you. We stayed during the week the end of August and there were hardly anyone else here. Very quiet. No road noise whatsoever. You felt very much in the woods.
Maddie E.ScoutSt. Louis NE-Granite City KOA
Its fine 🤷🏼♀️
Its fine. Nothing snazzy. Its in more of an industrial area so its kind of loud with the trains going by and whatnot. Mostly an RV site. 9 tent sites (first come first serve on spot) and a handful of cabins.
Patrick L.
GuideHorseshoe Lake State Park Campground
Today 8/8/2026 camping area is closed for construction.
Camping area is closed until further notice. Construction
MickandKarla W.
LegendSt. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park
Our Recommended Campground for Visiting the St. Louis Area
This campground was easy to find, as both our GPS and the campground signs led us right to the city park and campground entrance. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m., but we called ahead and were graciously allowed to arrive an hour early. We checked in and proceeded to back-in Site 426 with full hookups. As the last site in the campground, the curve in the road made for an exceptionally easy back-in. The concrete pad easily accommodated our 40-foot toy hauler and F-450, with utilities conveniently located near the center of the site and no issues connecting two sewer hoses. Water pressure was adequate, and the 50-amp electric performed flawlessly. The campground's four loops have mostly younger trees, so satellite reception should not be a problem in most sites. Although we brought our Starlink, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet instead, averaging 217 Mbps download and 21.5 Mbps upload. The campground information sheet mentioned Wi-Fi, but we never saw a network to join and didn't inquire further since our internet worked well. We received three bars on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. The campground has a nice fenced dog park that's large enough to actually throw a ball, plus a paved walking and biking trail that circles the lake. The office also sells ice and firewood, and the dump station is located behind the office. Many sites offer lake views, and the RV sites are generally well spaced. We noticed Loop 100 has all concrete pads, the first two rows of Loop 200 are concrete with the remaining sites primarily gravel except for some end sites, Loop 300 is reserved for primitive camping and tents, and Loop 400 has a mix of concrete and gravel sites. The center rows of the RV loops are pull-throughs. One thing to be aware of is that the campground has begun charging short-term campers for electricity. We weren't informed about it during check-in, although our traveling companions were shown how to monitor their usage online. The information sheet we received only referenced weekly and monthly electric charges. Even with hot weather and occasionally running three air conditioners during our three-day stay, our electric charge was only about $14. We departed without stopping at the office and received a checkout email about an hour after the noon checkout time. The St. Louis area is our home base, and in our opinion, this is the best RV park in the area and the one we most often recommend to our RV friends.
Kalo O.TravelerKlondike Park
Outdoor Family Fun
My family and I really enjoyed being at Klondike Park Camping. I can't really find anything I didn't like about this place. The camp sites were clean and well maintained, there are bathrooms not to far to get to and a camp kitchen where you can do dishes and cook if needed. I love the off grid feeling of being in the outdoors but when you have children it is nice knowing you have these luxurious not far from your camp site. I also love how easy it is to navigate around Klondike. I never got lost once I figured out the layout. My family and I can't wait until our next adventure at Klondike and we stayed at site 25 if anyone is wondering about the perfect site to camp.
Matthew M.TravelerScott AFB FamCamp
No frills
BL, the camp could use a Camp Host or Mayor. Stayed 1 night. We used the bathhouse and walked the grounds- so did a lot of other people; especially in the morning up to lunch. Quiet camp -Aircraft noise held off until 08:00 (bonus). Men’s shower side had great water pressure and temp- water fixtures were dated, dirty and temperamental (2 shower heads-1 working) also, cozy up to your multi-legged friends (spider webs and bugs were in competition for our shower space), Laundry is $1.50/wash&dry. I’ve stayed at a good many FamCamps: Lake Martin Rec -AL Uchee Creek-GA Destin Army Inf CTR-FL Robins AFB FamCamp-GA Round Pond -NY Kings Creek-VA Ellsworth AFB-SD Blue Angel Rec-FL Anniston Army Depot-AL Sigsbee-FL That’s my starter list! So, I’d like to see this one level up. It’s in a good area (we come through every couple years) and I think it could get a few more interested in it, if it were managed just a little bit better.
Guide to West Alton
Camping spots near West Alton, Missouri border both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the Mississippi River, with several locations offering electric hookups for $8-23 per night depending on the season. The region sits at the confluence of two major rivers, creating unique waterfowl viewing opportunities during migration seasons. Winter camping options remain available at several year-round parks, though water access may be limited during freezing conditions.
What to do
Hiking and wildlife viewing: Pere Marquette State Park Campground offers challenging trails with scenic river overlooks. A camper noted, "Pere Marquette has many options for your stay... The hiking is worth the effort. The views from the bluffs are gorgeous" while another mentioned "We did a 7 mile loop that led us to an amazing overlook."
Fishing opportunities: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park provides lakeside fishing within a city park setting. "This is a great place to kayak and camp if you don't want to drive that fare and live in the city," one visitor reported. The park also offers paddle boat and bike rentals for additional recreation options.
Explore historic areas: Located near the Lewis and Clark expedition starting point, camping in this region provides access to significant historical sites. One camper at Pere Marquette noted, "The Lewis & Clark expedition started nearby," making these campgrounds good bases for history enthusiasts.
What campers like
Affordability of primitive camping: Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground receives consistent praise for its low cost. A camper mentioned, "Peaceful tent camping on Walkers Island at $8 per day" while another noted it's "Great spot and great value" with "access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."
Security features: Several campgrounds provide enhanced security measures. At 370 Lakeside Park, a reviewer appreciated that "Staff on duty at all hours is awesome!" while another observed that the park has "24 hour on site security."
Seasonal amenities: Sundermeier RV Park offers direct access to recreational paths. A visitor pointed out, "You can literally be parked right at the Katy Trail. Through the gate at the rear of the campground, and you can bike for miles."
What you should know
Industrial setting of some campgrounds: Many camping areas are located in urban or industrial zones. A review of St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA mentioned it's "not in the prettiest location, very industrial and the train tracks run close. First night one came through blowing its horns around 5am."
Limited amenities at state parks: Babler State Park has seasonal restrictions on facilities. A visitor reported, "Not having water available except at the camp host, and no open restrooms and showers until after April 1, regardless of when the last freeze is was inconvenient for a spring break trip."
Flooding concerns: Some campgrounds experience periodic closures due to river conditions. A camper noted about 370 Lakeside Park: "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several parks offer child-friendly facilities. At Casino Queen RV Park, a visitor mentioned there's a "Small play area for kids," making it suitable for families despite its urban setting.
Educational opportunities: Babler State Park provides interpretive programs. A reviewer highlighted that "There is a visitor center with exhibits and an amphitheater in the campground where interpretive programs are held."
Urban adventure base: Cahokia RV Parque serves as a convenient hub for city attractions. A camper stated, "We camped here for a trip to the city for St Louis cardinals game and zoo. My kids loved the jumping pillow at the park."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: At Pere Marquette State Park Campground, RVers should choose sites carefully. A camper advised, "Not all sites are long enough for large RVs and the roads in some loops prevent you from turning around."
Utility placement: Casino Queen RV Park has unusual hookup configurations. A visitor warned, "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."
Road access considerations: Access to some campgrounds requires navigating busy traffic. One KOA visitor cautioned, "A little sketchy getting off east bound ramp then having to cross three lanes of traffic to make a left hand turn at the first light. Entrance to campground is tight, swing wide."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near West Alton, MO?
What camping is available near West Alton, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, West Alton, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 92 campgrounds and RV parks near West Alton, MO and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near West Alton, MO?
Which is the most popular campground near West Alton, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near West Alton, MO is St. Louis NE-Granite City KOA with a 3.5-star rating from 14 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near West Alton, MO?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near West Alton, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near West Alton, MO.
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