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Events

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Discover Missouri State Parks

Reserve a Campsite

Approximately 3,500 state park campsites are available for reservation at 38 different state parks and state historic sites.

Make a reservation.

Reserve a Lodging Unit

Twelve state parks accept lodging reservation through their concessionaires, while five offer reservations through the Centralized Reservation System. Refer to the information below to make a reservation at the park of your choice.

Make a reservation.

Find a Job with Missouri State Parks

We’re looking for people to join our team who love nature and want to care for Missouri’s outstanding natural and cultural resources for all to enjoy! Check out the current list of open positions within our team. Be sure to sign up to receive updates when a new position is available.

Learn about careers.

Become a Volunteer

Do you love Missouri State Parks and the outdoors?

The Volunteers In Parks (VIP) Program is for everyone: professionals, aging adults, students, teachers, youth and civic groups. VIPs provide invaluable assistance to Missouri State Parks on a wide variety of tasks and projects around the state.

Learn about the VIP Program.

Access Park & Historic Site Maps

Plan your adventure with confidence. View park and historic site maps to navigate trails, facilities, and points of interest across Missouri State Parks.

View the Park and Site Maps.

Explore Upcoming Events

Discover what’s happening in Missouri State Parks. Explore upcoming events that connect you with nature, history, and outdoor adventure through guided hikes, educational programs, and family-friendly experiences.

View upcoming events.

Apply for a Grant

Missouri State Parks administers three federally funded grant programs and one state-funded grant program related to outdoor recreation. It also administers one federally funded grant program related to historic preservation. This page provides basic information about each program.

Learn about grant opportunities.

Purchase a Gift Card

A Missouri State Parks gift card lets you take advantage of a more convenient way to make camping reservations, purchase state park merchandise and give great gifts to your friends. A gift card can be purchased for $10 or more. Physical gift cards purchased online or by phone will be sent by postal mail. Please allow seven to 10 business days for delivery. E-gift cards will sent to the email address on your customer account within 24 hours.

Get gift cards now.

Take a Tour

Visitors to Missouri’s state historic sites have a wealth of experiences awaiting them, from touring Civil War battlefields to seeing the birth sites of Mark Twain and Harry S Truman.

Find a virtual tour.

Find a historic site to tour.

Take a cave tour.

Purchase an ORV Permit - ORV Riding

ORV permits can be bought online for up to three days of riding. Riders can purchase their ORV permit before arriving to the park. Permits are nonrefundable and nontransferable.

Go ORV riding!

Rent a Watercraft - Paddling

Watercrafts are available for all-day and half-day rentals. A watercraft agreement will be completed at the park. A driver's license will be obtained by the park office and kept there until all rented equipment is returned.

Go paddling!

Reserve a Meeting Space

Several parks and historic sites offer meeting spaces. Visit the Park Site & Status Map to decide which space is right for you and use the reservation system to stake your claim on your date.

View the brochure.

Make a Donation

By making a donation, you can personally help us preserve and maintain Missouri's 93 state parks and historic sites. With your help, we can continue to provide the many special places across Missouri that preserve our state's most outstanding natural landscapes and cultural landmarks and provide recreational opportunities.

Make a donation now.

Bring My Pet to Missouri State Parks

Responsible pet owners and their pets are welcome in Missouri State Parks. Following are a few simple rules to ensure that you, your pet and other park visitors enjoy the outing. These rules apply to all types of pets except service animals assisting people with disabilities.

Learn about pet rules.

Buy Missouri State Parks Merchandise

Bring a piece of Missouri State Parks into your everyday life! You can browse our complete selection of items together, or you can shop by category.

Shop now.

Find the Latest News Releases

The department's Office of Communications releases notices to the media throughout the day. These news releases are posted to our website as soon as possible. If you have questions about a specific news release, please email or call the department contact listed in the news release.

View the latest news.

Events

  • Where the Wildflowers Are Hike

    Thousand Hills State Park 20431 State Highway 157, Kirksville, MO, United States

    Experience the beauty of wildflowers in bloom during this 1-mile guided hike on Red Bud Trail. We won't see all 1,500 of Missouri's wildflower species, but participants will leave this […]

    Free
  • Guided Hike of Red Bud Trail

    Thousand Hills State Park 20431 State Highway 157, Kirksville, MO, United States

    The forest of Thousand Hills is a never-ending story where every plant, animal and person has a part to play. Join park staff for a guided hike along Red Bud Trail to uncover more of this story. This event is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Participants should […]

    Free
  • History Hike

    Thousand Hills State Park 20431 State Highway 157, Kirksville, MO, United States

    Join us for a leisurely guided hike on a portion of Carolyn Bagley Harding Trail. We will meet by the bulletin board at the parking lot between the restaurant and the cabins and then hike to the petroglyph shelter and back. We will stop at various points along the way to discuss the history of […]

    Free
  • Guided Bison Saunter

    Prairie State Park 128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines, MO, United States

    3/7/2026 | Prairie State Park | Mindenmines, MO Prairie State Park will host a guided bison saunter starting at the Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center at 1 p.m. “What is a saunter?” you say? According to Merriam-Webster, “saunter” means "to walk about in an idle or leisurely manner : STROLL" (that is, to walk at […]

    Free
  • Full Moon Hike

    8/9/2025 | Stockton State Park | Dadeville, MO Join representatives from Stockton State Park and the Stockton Trails Initiative Coalition for a night hike under the full moon. This guided […]

  • Photo Contest Exhibit Opening Reception

    Missouri State Museum/Jefferson Landing State Historic Site First Floor, State Capitol, 201 W. Capitol Ave., Jefferson City, MO, United States

    3/9/2026 | Missouri State Museum | Jefferson City, Mo. Celebrate the winners of the 2025 Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest at an opening reception for an exhibit featuring contest photographs. The exhibit includes the the top four photographs in three categories: Natural Resources, Unique Places, and People Enjoying Missouri Outdoors. MoDNR hosts a […]

    Free
  • Toddler Thursday: Maple Trees

    Mastodon State Historic Site 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive, Imperial, MO, United States

    Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site! Our Toddler Thursday programs are designed for toddlers and their grown-ups. Each session focuses on a different topic and includes story time and a craft. These free programs are offered every other Thursday, excluding holidays. There is no need to register; just show up at […]

  • Toddler Thursday: Bats

    Mastodon State Historic Site 1050 Charles J. Becker Drive, Imperial, MO, United States

    3/12/2026 | Mastodon State Historic Site | Imperial, MO. Come learn, create and play at Mastodon State Historic Site! Our Toddler Thursday programs are designed for toddlers and their grown-ups. Each session focuses on a different topic and includes story time and a craft. These free programs are offered every other Thursday. There is no […]

    Free
  • Frog Call Survey

    Knob Noster State Park 873 SE 10, Knob Noster, MO, United States

    3/12/2026 | Knob Noster State Park | Knob Noster, MO. Visit Knob Noster State Park to learn how to identify different types of frog calls at this citizen science program. After an overview of frog calls at the visitor center, we will go out to our lakes to count the number of different types of […]

    Free
  • Basket Weaving Classes: Shaker Tape Tote

    First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site 200 S. Main St., St. Charles,, MO, United States

    3/13/2026 to 3/15/2026| First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site | St. Charles, MO. Join staff members at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site to make a beautiful handcrafted basket. This event is part of an ongoing series of basket weaving classes held at the site. Each class takes place in the interpretive center […]

    $60
  • Toddler Tuesday

    Crowder State Park 76 NW Highway 128, Trenton, MO, United States

    3/17/2026 | Crowder State Park | Trenton, MO Looking for a fun activity for your children? Bring your toddlers and other preschool-aged children to the park for one or more of our Toddler Tuesday programs. The spring 2026 programs will be offered each Tuesday from March 17 through the end of April. There will be […]

    Free
  • Stream Monitoring Blitz

    Rock Bridge Memorial State Park 5901 S. Highway 163, Columbia,, MO, United States

    3/21/2026 | Rock Bridge Memorial State Park | Columbia, Mo. Rock Bridge will host its spring 2026 Stream Monitoring Blitz on Saturday, March 21. Everyone age 6 or older is invited to participate in this ongoing citizen science project for the Bonne Femme watershed. Participants will catch aquatic animals, conduct chemical tests to evaluate water quality, and […]

    Free
Future/Past
  • Upcoming
  • Past
Recurring
  • Yes
  • No
Facility
Organizer
  • Missouri State Parks
  • Truman State University
  • Onondaga Friends Association
  • Forest ReLeaf
  • Missouri Department of Conservation
  • World Bird Sanctuary
  • Boone County Resource Management
  • Missouri Stream Teams
  • Missouri Master Naturalists
  • Dickerson Park Zoo
  • Wilderness Voyageurs Outfitters Inc.
  • Boone Electric Cooperative
  • Friends of the Thompson House
  • Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial
  • Bronco Wild Fund
  • Wonders of Wildlife
  • Friends of Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
  • The Friends of Arrow Rock
  • Barton County Chamber of Commerce
  • The Belt Cocktail Co.
  • Mother Tucker's Pizza
  • Tractors BBQ and Grill
  • National Parks Trust
Venue
  • Weston Bend State Park
  • Rock Bridge Memorial State Park
  • Missouri Mines State Historic Site
  • Big Sugar Creek State Park
  • Graham Cave State Park
  • Crowder State Park
  • Cuivre River State Park
  • First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site
  • Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site
  • Onondaga Cave State Park
  • Roaring River State Park
  • Robertsville State Park
  • St. Francois State Park
  • Thousand Hills State Park
  • Wakonda State Park
  • Katy Trail State Park
  • Knob Noster State Park
  • Meramec State Park
  • Stockton State Park
  • Bryant Creek State Park
  • Lake of the Ozarks State Park
  • Table Rock State Park
  • Trail of Tears State Park
  • Bennett Spring State Park
  • Missouri State Museum/Jefferson Landing State Historic Site
  • St. Joe State Park
  • Washington State Park
  • Rock Island Trail State Park
  • Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park
  • Prairie State Park
  • Mastodon State Historic Site
  • Missouri State Parks
  • Arrow Rock State Historic Site
  • Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park
  • Lewis and Clark State Park
  • Felix Vallé House State Historic Site
  • Echo Bluff State Park
  • Sam A. Baker State Park
  • Hunter-Dawson State Historic Site
  • Wallace State Park
  • Scott Joplin House State Historic Site
  • Battle of Lexington State Historic Site
  • Harry S Truman State Park
  • Pomme De Terre State Park
  • Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site
  • Montauk State Park
  • Finger Lakes State Park
  • Current River State Park
  • Trails of the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry
  • Big Lake State Park
  • Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center
  • Lake Wappapello State Park
  • Watkins Mill State Park
  • Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site
  • Boone’s Lick State Historic Site
  • Sappington African American Cemetery State Historic Site
  • Sappington Cemetery State Historic Site
  • Bollinger Mill State Historic Site
  • Hawn State Park
  • Battle of Athens State Historic Site
  • Iliniwek Village State Historic Site
  • Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site
  • Ha Ha Tonka State Park
  • Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site
  • Mark Twain State Park
  • Union Covered Bridge State Historic Site
  • Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site
  • Dillard Mill State Historic Site
  • Deutschheim State Historic Site
  • Clark’s Hill/Norton State Historic Site
  • Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park
  • Elephant Rocks State Park
  • Confederate Memorial State Historic Site
  • The Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center
  • Route 66 State Park
City
  • Weston
  • Columbia,
  • Park Hills
  • Pineville
  • Danville
  • Trenton
  • Troy
  • St. Charles,
  • Ash Grove
  • Leasburg
  • Cassville
  • Robertsville
  • Bonne Terre,
  • Kirksville
  • La Grange
  • Knob Noster
  • Sullivan
  • Dadeville
  • Ava
  • Brumley
  • Branson
  • Jackson
  • Lebanon
  • Jefferson City
  • Park Hills,
  • De Soto
  • Middle Brook
  • Mindenmines
  • Imperial
  • Arrow Rock
  • Wildwood
  • Rushville
  • Ste. Genevieve
  • Eminence
  • Patterson
  • New Madrid
  • Cameron
  • St. Louis
  • Lexington
  • Warsaw
  • Pittsburg
  • Lamar
  • Salem
  • Columbia
  • Craig
  • Kansas City
  • Williamsville
  • Lawson
  • Boonesboro,
  • Burfordville
  • Revere
  • Alexandria,
  • Butler
  • Camdenton,
  • Pilot Knob
  • Florida
  • Paris
  • Davisville
  • Hermann
  • Osage City
  • Miami
  • Belleview
  • Higginsville
  • Eureka
Cost
Month
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
Year
  • 2025
  • 2026
  • 2027
Time
  • All Day
  • Morning
  • Afternoon
  • Evening
  • Night
Date Range
Reset
Date:
May 16, 2026
Time:
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Venue:
Knob Noster State Park
Location:
873 SE 10, 65336, Knob Noster, MO, United States
Category:
Knob Noster State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 22, 2026
Time:
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Venue:
Washington State Park
Location:
13041 State Highway 104, 63020, De Soto, MO, United States
Category:
Washington State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 22, 2026
Time:
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Venue:
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
Location:
39521 Visitor Center Drive, 65230, Arrow Rock, MO, United States
Price:
Free
Date:
May 22, 2026
Time:
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Venue:
Thousand Hills State Park
Location:
20431 State Highway 157, 63501, Kirksville, MO, United States
Organizer:
Truman State University
Category:
Thousand Hills State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 23, 2026
Time:
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Venue:
Crowder State Park
Location:
76 NW Highway 128, 64683, Trenton, MO, United States
Category:
Crowder State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 23, 2026
Time:
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Venue:
Knob Noster State Park
Location:
873 SE 10, 65336, Knob Noster, MO, United States
Category:
Knob Noster State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 23, 2026
Time:
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Venue:
Knob Noster State Park
Location:
873 SE 10, 65336, Knob Noster, MO, United States
Category:
Knob Noster State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 23, 2026
Time:
2:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Venue:
Washington State Park
Location:
13041 State Highway 104, 63020, De Soto, MO, United States
Price:
Free
Date:
May 23, 2026
Time:
7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Venue:
Arrow Rock State Historic Site
Location:
39521 Visitor Center Drive, 65230, Arrow Rock, MO, United States
Price:
Free
Date:
May 23, 2026
Time:
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Venue:
Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park
Location:
32146 N. Highway 122, 65344, Miami, MO, United States
Category:
Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 24, 2026
Time:
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Venue:
Thousand Hills State Park
Location:
20431 State Highway 157, 63501, Kirksville, MO, United States
Category:
Thousand Hills State Park
Price:
Free
Date:
May 26, 2026
Time:
10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Venue:
Katy Trail State Park
Location:
MO, United States
Category:
Katy Trail State Park
Price:
Free

Recurring Special Events Throughout Missouri State Parks

First Day Hikes

Celebrate the beginning of 2026 by taking a guided hike in a Missouri state park or historic site on Jan. 1. Start a new tradition with your friends and family as you get some healthy exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.

Public Meetings

As part of an ongoing effort by Missouri State Parks to allow citizen input regarding the facilities and services offered in state parks and historic sites, public meetings will be held throughout 2026. Park representatives will provide information on future plans for the facility and answer questions. Visitors are invited to share feedback and suggestions about park services and operations.

Conceptual Development Plan (CDP) Meetings

Conceptual development plans, or CDPs, guide the future use and development at each state park and historic site. CDPs support the mission, purpose and direction of each facility. These long-range plans outline area use, site goals, development objectives, research needs and project phasing while taking into consideration the significant natural, cultural and recreational resources of the park or site.

Managed Deer Hunts

To safely and effectively manage the deer population in some state parks, managed hunts are held in a coordinated effort between the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

National Trails Day

Celebrate National Trails Day by taking a hike on one of the great trails that Missouri State Parks has to offer! Hiking events are happening at state parks and historic sites all over Missouri. Find one near you!

Kids to Parks Day

Organized by the National Parks Trust, Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. This initiative connects kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands through hundreds of park events that promote discovery and exploration.