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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.

  • Petroglyph Tour

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

    5/9/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Thousand Hills State Park is home to a collection of rock carvings, or petroglyphs, made by ancestors of today’s Native Americans. Explore the petroglyphs with park staff to learn more about this unique piece of history. Tours take place at the petroglyph shelter, located next to […]

    Free
  • Birding for Beginners

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

    5/10/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO In honor of World Migratory Bird Day, you’re invited to join staff at Thousand Hills State Park to learn some basic birding skills and enjoy a leisurely hike. We will meet at the Beach Shelter at 8 a.m. The birding hike will take place on a […]

    Free
  • Endangered Species Day

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

    5/16/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO In honor of Endangered Species Day, the public is invited to join park staff to learn about the plains spotted skunk, the white ash tree and the Indiana bat, all of which are endangered in Missouri. We will discuss each of these species and some ways […]

    Free
  • Kids to Parks Day

    Missouri State Parks MO, United States

    May 17, 2025 Organized by the National Parks Trust, Kids to Parks Day is a nationwide celebration of the great outdoors and is designed to connect kids and families with their local, state and national parks and public lands through thousands of events that promote discovery and exploration in the great outdoors. By discovering and […]

    Free
  • Kids to Parks Day

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

    5/17/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Join us to celebrate Kids to Parks Day with a variety of tabletop activities for kids and kids at heart! Activities will be available between Oak Trail and the playground area off Big Loop Trail Road from 11 a.m. to noon. This event is free and […]

    Free
  • Reptile Program: World Turtle Day

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

    5/23/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Join us at Thousand Hills State Park for one or more of our monthly reptile programs. Learn why reptiles are important and which ones can be found at the park. You may have the chance to meet live animals at these events. These programs are free […]

    Free
  • Petroglyph Tour

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

    5/25/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Thousand Hills State Park is home to a collection of rock carvings, or petroglyphs, made by ancestors of today’s Native Americans. Explore the petroglyphs with park staff to learn more about this unique piece of history. Tours take place at the petroglyph shelter, located next to […]

    Free
  • Petroglyph Tour

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

    9/19/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Thousand Hills State Park is home to a collection of rock carvings, or petroglyphs, made by ancestors of today’s Native Americans. Explore the petroglyphs with park staff to learn more about this unique piece of history. Tours take place at the petroglyph shelter, located next to […]

    Free
  • Petroglyph Tour

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

    6/6/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Thousand Hills State Park is home to a collection of rock carvings, or petroglyphs, made by ancestors of today’s Native Americans. Explore the petroglyphs with park staff to learn more about this unique piece of history. Tours take place at the petroglyph shelter, located next to […]

    Free
  • WIN: Women in Nature

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

    6/7/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Maximum of 40 participants Hey, ladies! Have you ever wanted to explore the great outdoors, but did not know where to begin? Come join us at Thousand Hills State Park for Women in Nature’s full-day experience to learn some new skills, taught by all female instructors. […]

    $20
  • Learn to Fish

    Table Rock State Park 5272 State Highway 165, Branson, MO, United States

    6/13/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Do you or your little ones have an interest in fishing but lack experience? Then come learn to fish with us at Thousand Hills State Park. We’ll discuss fishing equipment and techniques and see what we can reel in from Forest Lake. This event is free […]

    Free
  • Reptile Program

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

    6/14/2025 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO Join us at Thousand Hills State Park for one or more of our monthly reptile programs. Learn why reptiles are important and which ones can be found at the park. You may have the chance to meet live animals at these events. These programs are free […]

    Free