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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

  • Geminid Meteor Shower Viewing Event

    Elephant Rocks State Park 7406 Highway 21, Belleview, MO, United States

    12/13/2025 | Elephant Rocks State Park | Belleview, MO Mother's Nature's Christmas Lights Display To mark this year’s most spectacular meteor shower, the Geminids, Elephant Rocks State Park will be open to the public for a rare after-dark event. You’re invited to view this spectacular phenomenon from 5 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, Dec. 13. […]

    Free
  • Christmas Open House

    Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site 1009 Truman, Lamar, MO, United States

    12/13/2025 | Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site | Lamar, Mo. Celebrate the holiday season with a visit to Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site. The home in which President Harry S Truman was born will be lit by candles and adorned with Christmas decorations. Step back into the 19th century and see […]

    Free
  • Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Party

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

    12/13/2025 | Roaring River State Park | Cassville, Mo. Join us to witness the Geminid meteor shower, one of the biggest meteor showers of the year! Dress warmly for a night of meteor viewing and stargazing, and come learn more about this cosmic spectacle. This event will take place in the Emory Melton Inn parking […]

    Free
  • Old-Fashioned Christmas

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

    12/14/2025 | Crowder State Park | Trenton, MO. Join Crowder State Park staff and the Friends of the Thompson House for an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. Come make old-fashioned Christmas ornaments while enjoying old-fashioned refreshments, and watch the kids visit with Santa.  We will meet at the equestrian parking lot at 2 p.m. and then head […]

    Free
  • Toddler Thursday: Hibernation

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

    12/18/2025 | 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, excluding holidays. There […]

    Free
  • Santa at the Park

    Echo Bluff State Park 35244 Echo Bluff Drive, Eminence, MO, United States

    12/20/2025 | Echo Bluff State Park | Eminence, Mo. Ho ho ho! Santa will make an appearance at Echo Bluff's Betty Lea Lodge on Saturday, Dec. 20. Bring out all the kids young and old for a fun day at the park.  Start the day off by hiking a trail, relaxing around a fire, or […]

    Free
  • Christmas Candlelight Stroll

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

    12/20/2025 | Roaring River State Park | Cassville, MO. Roaring River's second annual Christmas Candlelight and Cookie Stroll will take place on Saturday, Dec. 20. From 5:30-8:30 p.m., hundreds of luminaries will light the banks of the river, evoking a sense of peace and wonder.  There will also be a variety of activities and displays […]

    Free
  • Winter Walk and Talk

    Weston Bend State Park 16600 Highway 45 N., Weston, MO, United States

    12/27/2025 | Weston Bend State Park | Weston, MO. Join park staff for a guided interpretive walk along North Ridge Trail. As we walk, we will discuss elements of the park's natural and cultural history. Let us get ready to greet the new year by taking a closer look at what was, what is, and […]

    Free
  • Nature Bingo

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

    12/27/2025 | Prairie State Park | Mindenmines, MO Prairie State Park is hosting Nature Bingo on the last Saturday of each month from February through December.  Instead of “BINGO,” this game uses the word "NATURE," and instead of calling out numbers and letters, a staff member will give a fact about an animal, plant or […]

    Free
  • First Day Hikes

    Missouri State Parks MO, United States

    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. First Day Hikes are promoted by America’s State Parks and are held throughout the […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Missouri Mines State Historic Site 4000 State Highway 32, Park Hills, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Missouri Mines State Historic Site | Park Hills, MO. Join historic site staff for a guided hike on the site's new Interpretive Trail and beyond. This easy 1-mile hike will include interpretation of historic mining structures and equipment and the long-term changes brought on by the lead industry. The trail features a mix […]

    Free
  • First Day Hike

    Stockton State Park 19100 S. Highway 215, Dadeville, MO, United States

    1/1/2026 | Stockton State Park | Dadeville, Mo. Join park staff on the first day of the year for an invigorating hike on the North Loop of Sortor's Bluff Trail. We will meet at the trailhead at 9 am. Located in the southwest portion of the park, Sortor's Bluff Trail runs through one of the […]

    Free