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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

    Missouri State Parks

    Phone 800-334-6946
    Email moparks@dnr.mo.gov
    Website https://mostateparks.com

    Missouri state parks and historic sites are administered by the Division of State Parks, which is a part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Its main responsibilities are the administration of the Missouri state park system, and coordination of statewide programs in the areas of outdoor recreation and trails.

    The mission of the state park system is to preserve and interpret the state’s most outstanding natural landscapes and cultural landmarks, and to provide outstanding recreational opportunities compatible with those resources.

    Events from this organizer

    Today

    • Toddler Thursday: Salamanders

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

      2/26/2026 | 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

    • Rock Bridge Memorial State Park 2026 First Day Hikes

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

      Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is hosting several First Day Hikes in 2026. Below is a summary of the hike offerings.  For information about First Day Hikes at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, please call the park office at 573-449-7402. For a complete list of First Day Hikes in Missouri state parks in historic sites, […]

      Free

    • Trout Opening 2026

      Missouri State Parks MO, United States

      The opening of the catch-and-keep trout fishing season on March 1 is an important Missouri tradition, marking the beginning of a season that runs until Oct. 31. The season officially begins at 6:30 a.m. at Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Salem, and Roaring River State Park near Cassville. In addition […]

    • Testing – Arrow Rock

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

      Testing body copy.

      Free

    • “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 hike with the skills to identify some common wildflowers. We will meet at the trailhead on Big Loop Trail Road, across from the playground. 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

    • 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
    • Friendly woman harvesting fresh vegetables from the garden

      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