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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

  • First Day History Hike on Sinkhole and Devil’s Icebox Trails (Morning)

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

    1/1/2026 | Rock Bridge Memorial State Park | Columbia, MO. First Day Hikes are promoted by America's State Parks and are held at parks across the country at the start of each year. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is once again hosting several different First Day Hikes. First Day Hike on Sinkhole and Devil's Icebox […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

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

    1/1/2026 | Thousand Hills State Park | Kirksville, MO. Ring in 2026 with a guided hike! Park staff will lead a leisurely 2-mile hike on Red Bud Trail on New Year’s Day. The hike will begin at the trailhead by Forest Lake and will go along the lake, through woodlands, and across rugged terrain. This […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Big Sugar Creek State Park 6727 Big Sugar Creek Road, Pineville, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Big Sugar Creek State Park | Pineville, MO. Start the new year off right with a guided hike on Ozark Chinquapin Trail at Big Sugar Creek State Park. This rugged 3.4-mile hike will begin at the parking lot near the trailhead at 10 a.m.  Sights along the trail will include open woodlands, rocky […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Cuivre River State Park 678 State Route 147, Troy, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Cuivre River State Park | Troy, MO. Start the new year off on the right foot with an easy guided walk in Cuivre River's historic Camp Sherwood. Camp Sherwood was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened to the public in 1937. The camp is divided into four villages and contains 53 […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park 800 Guy Park Drive, Wildwood, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park | Wildwood, MO. Join park staff for a guided First Day Hike on Hawthorn Trail. This moderately difficult trail offers a scenic hike along both sides of a narrow ridge where hikers will see distinct changes in plants and habitats. The senior naturalist will highlight some […]

    Free
  • First Day Hikes

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

    1/1/2026 | Mastodon State Historic Site | Imperial, MO. Kick off the new year with fresh air, scenic views, and a journey into Missouri's ancient past at Mastodon State Historic Site. We are offering two guided hike options so everyone can start 2026 their own way: a 2-mile hike on Limestone Hill Trail and 0.8-mile […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Montauk State Park 345 County Road 6670, Salem, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Montauk State Park | Salem, Mo. Celebrate the new year with a First Day Hike at Montauk State Park. Meet at the naturalist's office for a hike on Pine Ridge Trail. This moderately strenuous hike of about 2 miles traverses some incredible scenery through the park's natural area and beyond. Be sure to […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site 7850 N. State Highway V, Ash Grove, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site | Ash Grove, MO. Join site staff for our annual First Day Hike at Nathan and Olive Boone Homestead State Historic Site. First Day Hikes are promoted by America's State Parks and are held at parks at the start of each year. This moderately difficult […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Onondaga Cave State Park 7556 Highway H, Leasburg, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Onondaga Cave State Park Join park staff for a guided hike of Vilander Bluff Trail on New Year's Day. This moderately difficult hike will cover 1.3 miles over the course of about two hours.  The hike will start at the Vilander Bluff Trail trailhead, which is about 30 minutes east of the main […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Roaring River State Park 12716 Farm Road 2239, Cassville, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Roaring River State Park | Cassville, MO. Start the new year off right with a guided hike on Devil's Kitchen Trail at Roaring River State Park. We will meet inside the CCC Lodge at 10 a.m. for a chance to use the restrooms before setting out on this 1.5-mile hike. We will follow […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Robertsville State Park 902 State Park Drive, Robertsville, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Robertsville State Park | Robertsville, MO. Please join a member of Robertsville State Park's staff for a First Day Hike on Jan. 1, 2026. First Day Hikes are promoted by America's State Parks and are held at parks across the country at the start of each year. This moderately difficult guided hike will […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike: Hike through History

    Katy Trail State Park MO, United States +1 more

    1/1/2026 | First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site and Katy Trail State Park | St. Charles, MO. Join First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site staff on Jan. 1, 2026, for a First Day Hike through history. First Day Hikes are promoted by America's State Parks and are held at parks across the country […]

    Free