Best Campgrounds near Wildwood, MO
Campgrounds near Wildwood, Missouri primarily consist of developed state and county parks offering a blend of tent and RV camping opportunities. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park serves as the main camping destination within Wildwood itself, featuring 73 campsites with concrete pads and electric hookups. Several additional campgrounds lie within a 30-minute drive, including Klondike Park in Augusta and St. Louis West KOA, providing options from basic tent sites to full-service RV facilities with water and electric hookups. The area's camping landscape includes both forested sites with natural privacy and open, grassy areas better suited for RVs and group camping.
Most campgrounds in the region maintain year-round operations, though amenities vary seasonally. During winter months (November-March), many facilities reduce services, with several parks shutting down shower houses and limiting water access to central spigots. Summer represents peak camping season, with reservations strongly recommended from April through October when full facilities are operational. The proximity to St. Louis creates higher weekend demand, particularly at Babler State Park. As one visitor noted, "The park is located about 10 miles from where my parents live so we come here a couple of times a year. If this campground had sewer and water, it would get 5 stars."
Campers frequently highlight the unexpected seclusion available despite proximity to urban areas. Babler State Park receives consistent praise for its spacious sites and hiking trails, with many reviewers appreciating the concrete pads and relative privacy between campsites. The campground layout features both sunny open areas (sites 13-33) and more heavily wooded, private sites (52-75) that tent campers prefer. According to reviews, "Babler is one of those state parks that you just don't expect to see so close to a major city. The hiking trails are plentiful and quiet." Wildlife encounters appear frequently in visitor reports, with particular mention of raccoons and ticks requiring proper preparation. The absence of fishing or swimming opportunities within the parks themselves represents the main limitation, though nearby water recreation areas compensate for this shortcoming.
