RV camping options surrounding Ballwin, Missouri span into neighboring counties with varying terrain from river valleys to wooded hillsides. The region experiences humid continental climate with warm summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round camping at most facilities. Elevation ranges from 400-700 feet above sea level with camping areas positioned primarily along major transportation corridors including I-44, I-70, and Highway 94.
What to do
Bike the Katy Trail: Beyond the Trail RV Park provides direct access to the Katy Trail for cycling enthusiasts. "The Katy trail borders the park for easy access to town. Beautiful views across a large farm field (soy beans when we were here) to the hills beyond with incredible sunsets," notes Sam C. The trail connects to multiple regional attractions.
Fishing opportunities: St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park offers fishing in their man-made lake. "You can see all kinds of wildlife in and around the lake- deer, bald eagles, pelicans, ducks, snakes. In the summers they have live music in the large pavilion, and you can rent kayaks and other small boats to take out on the lake as well as bikes to ride around on," shares one camper.
Explore historic towns: Sundermeier RV Park connects campers to St. Charles' historic district. "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. Charles a wonderful historic river town on the Missouri River. Great shops, great restaurants," explains Cheryl K.
What campers like
Easy access to St. Louis attractions: Casino Queen RV Park offers views of the Gateway Arch from the campground. "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. Facilities lacked some amenities (only vending machines, convenience store has shut down), but clean, paved, level sites with full hookups throughout," writes Scott C.
Convenient rural settings: Pin Oak RV Park balances accessibility with countryside atmosphere. "About 45-50 minutes West of downtown STL, it was close enough to do 'city things,' but far enough out that it felt like camping. The real gem is the little town of Washington about 15 mins away which has great restaurants and an awesome ice cream place," shares Carrie A.
Nearby breweries and wineries: Beyond the Trail RV Park offers proximity to local breweries and wineries. "The park is bordered by the Katy Trail which will take you into town (and many other scenic places) so bring your bikes! Just on the other side of the trail is a great brewery with a fantastic patio and rooftop deck. We walked there a few times to enjoy pizza," mentions Jamie C.
What you should know
Railroad and flight path noise: Several campgrounds experience transportation noise. At Cahokia RV Parque, "There was road noise, quite a bit. But large trash bins and a great bbq restaurant on the grounds! I was planning on grabbing a gallon of milk when we got there...there really is nothing around the rv park! Maybe a couple gas stations at best," explains Kelsey R.
Seasonal weather considerations: The region experiences frequent spring flooding. At St. Peters' 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. But the City of St Peters did a great job getting this place back to usable with new sod, a new bathhouse, and some general sprucing up."
Fire restrictions vary by location: Some campgrounds prohibit fires due to municipal ordinances. "You can't have a camp fire due to the city ordinances. But if that's the worst....I'll take it," notes Brian A. about Sundermeier RV Park. Conversely, St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park provides fire pits at their sites.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: St. Louis West KOA offers family-friendly facilities with swimming available. "There is lots to do at this park. There is a pool, bike rentals, dog park, movie night, basketball court, and more. You can bring your RV, travel trailer, tent camp, or stay in a cabin. Most of the sites are in the shade and are fairly level," writes Crystal H.
Playground accessibility: Several campgrounds feature children's play areas. "Oh and an awesome playground for the kids!" reports Kelsey R. about the facilities at Cahokia RV Parque, making it suitable for families needing recreational options.
Kid-friendly fishing: Pin Oak RV Park offers fishing opportunities for children. "A nice private catch and release pond, an old little mini golf setup, a small (but adequate) swimming pool kept the kids busy," reports Carrie A., highlighting activities that engage younger campers.
Tips from RVers
Level sites and pad types: Beyond the Trail RV Park features gravel sites with specific considerations. "All the roads and pads are gravel and level. All the campsites are decently sized and looks like all of them will house 25' or bigger campers. My only complaint is they have some drainage issues if it rains a lot. A few of the campsites will flood," explains Adam F.
Electrical safety considerations: RV campers should check electrical hookups carefully. At Sundermeier RV Park, one experienced camper notes, "DO NOT use the 30A receptacles here unless you have a surge protector with an Electrical Management System (EMS) that explicitly confirms correct wiring before connecting your RV. My equipment detected a Line/Neutral Reversal on some 30A receptacles; the 50A receptacles appeared to be wired correctly."
Big rig accommodations: RV campgrounds around Ballwin generally accommodate larger vehicles. "This is a big busy campground they have plenty of staff to handle the rush. Level concrete sites with FHU will definitely stay here again," shares Robert O. about Sundermeier RV Park, noting the full hookup capabilities.
