Stanton / Meramec KOA

The Great Outdoors

The outlaw Jesse James used to hide in Meramec Caverns, a seven-level subterranean wonder already known to the Osage Indians before a French explorer discovered it in early 18th century. Lying beneath the rolling hills of the Meramec Valley near the Ozarks, the Meramec Caverns formed in a span of 400 million years, and have been enchanting visitors driving along Route 66 since the 1930s. Trained rangers lead tours along illuminated wheelchair-accessible walkways where visitors wonder in awe before "The Curtain" and the "Wine Table" and a variety of fascinating limestone formations.Missouri is not nicknamed "The Cave State" for nothing. Stanton campers are treated to another subterranean treasure at Onondaga Cave State Park where some of Missouri's most hypnotic cave corals, soda straws (the beginnings of stalactites), and active flowstones can be found. Guided tours in Onondaga Cave are also offered and take you around a mile of passageways. Two of the most notable cave landmarks are the "Lily Pad" formation and the "Rock of Ages." When you emerge from the depths, you have six miles of hiking trails to explore on the surface and the Meramec River to paddle or swim in.The gates of Mark Twain National Forest are only an hour's drive from town when you rent a camper near Stanton/Meramec KOA. Encompassing 1.5 million acres, the forest beckons with more than 750 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Canoeing and kayaking under thick canopies can also be enjoyed in perennial streams. If you'd rather explore this vast expanse of woodland in your Stanton camper rental, choose one of the many scenic byways easily accessible from the Willow Springs Ranger District. A drive on Blue Buck Knob National Forest Scenic Byway takes you to the Blue Hole Trailhead to access a segment of the Ozark Trail.

Exploring the City

When motorhome camping in Stanton, you’ll inevitably hear the legend of daring bank and train robber Jesse James who was killed over 100 years ago. Some locals believe, however, that he lived to a ripe old age and died in the early 1950s. To that effect, the museum's original owner amassed evidence to prove that the outlaw lived on under a different name. Whether visitors believe in the ruse or not, a visit to the museum puts them before a display of vintage firearms, photographs, and live film of Jesse James and his gang's personal belongings.On the way to Meramec Caverns, there's a private zoo near Sullivan that houses a population of reptiles and other rescued animals. Visitors are allowed to hold some of them, including snakes and small alligators. There are also a few big cats around, so it's a nice stop in or out of the caves for a look at tigers and a lion.Missouri has close to a dozen wine trails, and one of them starts in New Haven 45 minutes' drive away when RV camping at Stanton/Meramec KOA. Before leaving for the historic town of Hermann, make a fuel stop at one of the few gas stations in Stanton or nearby Sullivan and Saint Clair where you can also pick up food and supplies. Hermann is known for its German roots and some of the most breathtaking scenery in the state. Several family-owned wineries dot the 20-mile Hermann Wine Trail, which follows the Missouri River from here to New Haven. Visit any time of the year for a wine-tasting tour, or during Oktoberfest for a more festive experience of this century-old wine-growing region.Unforgettable experiences sometimes come from the unlikeliest of places. Stanton may just be bigger than a dot on the map, but it leaves visitors with huge memories to keep them inspired for a long time. So book a rental RV in Stanton, Missouri today, and start dreaming big.