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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

  • Toddler Thursday: Turkeys

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

    11/20/2025 | 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
  • Victorian Christmas Traditions and Ornament Class

    Battle of Lexington State Historic Site 1101 Delaware, Lexington, MO, United States

    11/22/2025 | Battle of Lexington State Historic Site | Lexington, MO The Victorians created many long-lasting holiday traditions; however, they sometimes had a very strange way of expressing their holiday cheer! Join us in the visitor center on Saturday, Nov. 22 for a Victorian Christmas traditions program to learn how the Victorians celebrated Christmas and […]

    Free
  • Nature Bingo

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

    11/29/2025 | 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
  • Jingle Bell Hike

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

    12/1/2025 to 1/31/2026 | Knob Noster State Park | Knob Noster, MO. No ticks; no mosquitoes; no hot, humid weather – winter hiking is where it's at! Knob Noster State Park encourages you to take part in a fun challenge this chilly season. Park staff have placed five sets of jingle bells at various locations […]

    Free
  • 2025 Holiday Events

    Missouri State Parks MO, United States

    Enjoy one of the many Missouri State Parks events designed to get you into the holiday spirit! Take a candlelight tour, attend a concert, enjoy some holiday treats, or step back in time to discover how the holidays have been traditionally celebrated. Check out the list of events below to find one near you. You […]

    Free
  • Landing After Hours: Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and the First Expedition Across the Missouri Ozarks

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

    12/3/2025 | Missouri State Museum | Jefferson City, MO In the winter of 1818, geologist and cartographer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft set out to explore the Ozarks with his partner. Throughout the trip, Schoolcraft kept a detailed journal of observations. He described plants, forests, limestone cliffs, prairies, oak savannas, and other features that he encountered. His […]

    Free
  • Toddler Thursday: Animal Tracks

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

    12/4/2025 | 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
  • Winter Traditions: An Exploration of Celebrations

    Felix Vallé House State Historic Site 198 Merchant St., Ste. Genevieve, MO, United States

    12/4/2025 to 12/28/2025 | Felix Vallé House State Historic Site | Ste. Genevieve, MO The public is invited to view the exhibit “Winter Traditions: An Exploration of Celebrations” at Felix Vallé House State Historic Site during the month of December. The exhibit will be on display in the site’s Shaw House from 10 a.m. to […]

    Free
  • Christmas Bird Count

    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park 148 Taum Sauk Trail, Middle Brook, MO, United States

    1/5/2026 | Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park | Middle Brook, MO. Join birders from across the country for the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. This free event will begin at the Black River Center at 8 a.m. It is open to the public, and there is no need to register. Participants […]

    Free
  • Frozen Chosin Challenge

    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park 148 Taum Sauk Trail, Middle Brook, MO, United States

    12/5/2025 to 12/7/2025 | Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park | Middle Brook, MO From Dec. 5-7, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park will host a series of winter treks collectively known as the Frozen Chosin Challenge. Sponsored by the Missouri Korean War Veterans Memorial, this event is designed to bring awareness to the Korean War – specifically the […]

  • Tree Lighting and Salem Chamber Choir Performance

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

    12/5/2025 | Echo Bluff State Park | Eminence, Mo. Ring in the holiday season with the annual tree lighting and Salem Chamber Choir performance at Echo Bluff State Park. The festivities will take place inside the the Betty Lea Lodge and will start with the tree lighting at 7 p.m. After the lighting, the choir […]

    Free
  • Weihnachtsfest

    Deutschheim State Historic Site 101 W. Second St., Hermann, MO, United States

    12/6/2025 to 12/14/2025 | Deutschheim State Historic Site | Hermann, MO Celebrate a traditional 19th century German Christmas at Deutschheim State Historic Site in historic Hermann, Missouri. This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the first two weekends of December. Throughout the event, the 1840 Pommer House will be decorated in […]

    Free