State Parks near Columbia, MO

Castlewood State Park in the state of Missouri is an ideal motorhome camping trip location. Spanning Meramec River, the park is in the town of Ballwin. Scenically located in the lush green Meramec Valley, the state park is popular with outdoor enthusiasts from different parts of the state. Not too far from Castlewood State Park is the city of Chesterfield, and renting an RV will make it easy to travel here. Book an RV rental in St. Louis County to discover everything in the areas around Castlewood State Park. Even before Castlewood State Park was established in 1974, the park was a popular location with visitors. Resorts and hotels abounded in the area, and St. Louis residents would …

Whether you are coming for a few days or a few hours, a visit to Cuivre River State Park will certainly not disappoint. As one of the most rugged state parks in Missouri, is it packed with potential for outdoor adventure and is easily accessible near the towns of Troy and Winfield, and the city of St. Louis just a short drive away. Lake Lincoln offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and swimming, while the hiking trails take you through fields of wildflowers in fall, and towering prairie grasses in the fall.The park contains three natural areas that are noted for their high-quality ecosystems, and Big Sugar Creek, which winds its way through the woodland, is one of the …

Emmenegger Nature Park is a nature preserve and public recreation area near Valley Park, Missouri. It is bordered along its western perimeter by the Meramec River and to the south by Possum Woods Conservation Area. In the past, the property was owned by a family who also owned and operated a brewery. Its varied uses included a tennis club, a public swimming pool, and a riverside resort; it was also used for breeding exotic animals for the St. Louis Zoo. The land was purchased in the 1970s by a private citizen who donated part of the estate to the city of Kirkwood; the property is managed by the city and the Missouri Department of Conservation.The geography of the …

Created in 1978, Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri covers over 3,700 acres and is best known for being home to the ruins of Ha Ha Tonka, a 20th-century mansion. In addition to this, the state park is filled with a vast amount of landscapes, including caves and sinkholes.The area tends to be somewhat chilly during the winter, but temperatures start to rapidly rise during the summer. Ha Ha Tonka State Park is a short drive away from Jefferson City and Lebanon.

Spend a motorhome camping trip at Klondike Park in Missouri. Located off Route 94 between the towns of Augusta and Defiance, the park sits amid Missouri’s picturesque wine country. Not too far from Klondike Park are the cities of Washington and Lake Saint Louis. Book an RV in St. Charles County to explore everything this cozy community has to offer.  The St. Charles County Parks converted a silica sand quarry into a site of recreation and thus came about the Klondike Park. Located alongside the Missouri River, the park now finds itself surrounded by cliffs and bluffs made of sandstone and limestone. Along with the river, there is also a large pond that was created from a quarry that …

Covering 3,934 acres, Knob Noster State Park in Missouri has enough room for everyone to enjoy this outdoor escape. The park gets its name from the nearby town of Knob Noster, which is then named after one of the small hills in the area. The hills are particularly notable as they rise up dramatically in what is otherwise a flat section of the state.The park offers visitors the opportunity to take part in a range of recreational activities throughout the year, including fishing, hiking, and camping, all of which encourage people to rent a camper in Johnson County. The area of land is often dubbed 'where the forest and the prairies meet,' as the large stretches of prairie in …

Lacey-Keosauqua State Park enjoys a picturesque setting on the Des Moines River and is a fantastic place to reconnect with nature. With a footprint of more than 1,650 acres, it's the largest state park in Iowa and features a diverse landscape of rolling hills, rugged bluffs, and lush valleys. The park has been welcoming visitors since the 1920s and offers excellent outdoor recreation opportunities, including fishing, hiking, and camping. History buffs love the park's connection to the Mormon Trail, the area's Woodland Culture tribes, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).Planning a Midwest road trip? Book an RV in Van Buren County and you can sleep under the stars in Lacey-Keosauqua State Park. With the freedom of a home on …

Summers are full of fun at Longview Lake Park in Missouri. Located to the southeast of Kansas City with parts of the park extending into Grandview and Lee’s Summit, Longview Lake Park is a great spot for a motorhome camping trip. Covering over 4,800-acres of parkland, the primary attraction of the park is Longview Lake. The 930-acre lake is a freshwater reservoir that offers a variety of recreational activities to visitors. While its primary inflow is the Little Blue River, the lake plays host to several tournaments and special events throughout the year. Longview Lake Park is pretty popular with visitors and attracts over a million adventure enthusiasts annually! Camping with an RV at Longview Lake Park throws open …

Mark Twain National Forest, which is Missouri’s only National Forest, was designated in 1976. It is 1, 506,100 acres in size and lies in the Ozark Plateau. Rolla, MO, is located about an hour’s drive away while Park Hills is approximately 26 miles away.Mark Twain National Forest spreads to 29 counties in Southern and Central Missouri. The forest was named in honor of Mark Twain, who was a prolific writer and humorist in the state of Missouri. Visitors interested in exploring this expansive hardwood forest will find plenty of attractions, including rivers, caves, lakes, and boulders. One of the most notable features in Mark Twain National Forest is the beautiful Eleven Point Scenic River, which meanders through the …

Meramec State Park, on the outskirts of the city of Sullivan, MO, offers an escape into the lush green wilderness. Camping with an RV is a great way to explore the park and its many recreational offerings. Bordering the Meramec Conservation Area, Meramec State Park is home to varied ecosystems like glades and hardwood forests.Located about 60 miles from the city of St. Louis, Meramac State Park is easily accessible by renting an RV, and you’ll find a range of affordable RV rentals in Franklin County. The park extends into the neighboring counties of Washington and Crawford. Close to Meramec State Park are the cities of Rolla and Bourbon that you could include visiting as well. The …

Deriving the name Nauvoo from a Hebrew word meaning, “beautiful place,” this little West Central Illinois gem truly lives up to its name. The park is located in Nauvoo, one of Illinois’ largest cities. Nearby cities include the deeply historic Carthage and rural Hamilton. Have fun exploring nearby museums, historical sites, and more, without having to drive very far, as each town is under a half-hour drive from the park.Nauvoo campers can benefit from boating, hiking, fishing, and family picnicking all within the lovely park perimeters. With the park featuring the sparkling 13-acre Horton Lake, it's only fitting that the lake brims with a variety of aquatic vertebrates such as rainbow trout, channel catfish, and largemouth bass. …