State Park Nearby

Camp Lakewood Campground

52 RV Sites, 3 Tent Sites

Camp Lakewood Campground in Effingham, Illinois, offers 52 RV sites and three tent sites within a mile of both I-70 and I-57, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted up to 120 feet. Premium pull-through categories, including one with a patio, join full-hookup and water-and-electric back-in tiers, with an outdoor pool, boat ramp, and game room. Fifty-two sites span back-in 30-amp, back-in 30/50-amp, back-in water-and-electric, premium pull-thru, premium pull-thru with patio, and pull-thru 30/50-amp categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted with site WiFi, sized to 120 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. One hundred twenty feet is among the most generous capacities anywhere and accommodates anything on the road. Confirm your tier, as the water-and-electric category does not carry sewer at the site. Three tent sites round out the lodging. A laundry, propane fills, dump station, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. If you arrive after the office closes with a reservation, your name will be on an envelope with your site details. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a boat ramp for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing, and a game room, playground, and swimming filling the rest. Pets are welcome. Effingham is the crossroads city of downstate Illinois, where I-70 and I-57 meet — one of the most convenient overnight stops in the Midwest. Demand tracks interstate traffic rather than a season. Reserve ahead for holiday travel periods.

from $35/night

Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park

34 RV Sites, 7 Tent Sites

On the banks of the Kaskaskia River in New Athens, Illinois—in the rolling agricultural landscape of St. Clair County between East St. Louis and the old river towns of the American Bottom—Kaskaskia River Camping and RV Park provides a straightforward, waterfront RV experience in a part of the Midwest that most highway travelers pass through without stopping and fishing-focused river campers seek out specifically for what the Kaskaskia delivers. The river's character, the property's waterfront sites, and the genuine quiet of a small-town Illinois campground in an agricultural landscape represent the specific version of Midwest camping that city-adjacent travelers find restorative in ways that resort campgrounds with crowded pool decks simply cannot replicate. Full hookup sites with electric, water, and sewer connections provide the basic infrastructure for comfortable stays, and the park's seasonal water schedule—available April 1 through October 31—reflects the operational reality of a Midwest river campground that closes water service rather than risks freeze damage during the colder months. Electric service continues year-round for guests who use the campground during the colder season. Evening fire pits, picnic areas, and a pet-friendly policy fill out the on-site amenity picture, and the park's location on the water puts fishing access immediately adjacent to the campsite rather than requiring a drive to a separate launch facility. Hike and bike camping sites are available for guests exploring the surrounding gravel road network on two wheels. The Kaskaskia River flows south from central Illinois through a landscape of bottomland forest, agricultural fields, and the small river communities that define the working landscape of the American Midwest's interior. The river's character in this stretch—wide, flat, and moving with the deliberate pace of a prairie river on a gentle gradient—supports a diverse fish population including bass, catfish, crappie, and the white perch species common in the Kaskaskia's lower reaches. The Peabody River King State Fish and Wildlife Area, accessible from the park, extends the fishing and wildlife observation options beyond what the river frontage alone provides, and the bottomland forest character of the surrounding landscape changes significantly with the seasons—spectacular with spring wildflowers, productive for summer bird diversity, and reflective in the quiet of late fall. The American Bottom surrounding New Athens carries deep historical significance as one of the most important pre-Columbian cultural landscapes in North America. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and UNESCO World Heritage Site—the largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico, whose earthworks include Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric mound in the Americas—is within practical driving range and provides one of the most extraordinary archaeological experiences available anywhere in the Midwest. The surrounding town of Collinsville, East St. Louis, and the greater St. Louis metropolitan area across the river extend the regional day-trip possibilities for guests who want to combine river camping with urban cultural programming. Kaskaskia River Camping and RV Park is open year-round with seasonal water service, making it most comfortable from April through October when the full hookup infrastructure is operational. The park is ideal for fishing-focused travelers who want immediate river access, cyclists exploring the regional trail network, and guests seeking the genuine quiet of a small Illinois river town campground without the resort pricing that larger facilities command. Book your riverside site and let the Kaskaskia's working-river character provide the authentic Midwest camping experience.

from $18/night

Jellystone Park™ Pittsfield

90 RV Sites, 52 Cabins, 5 Tent Sites, 4 Glamping Sites, 6 Cottages

Jellystone Park Pittsfield in Illinois offers 90 RV sites, 52 cabins, five tent sites, and four glamping sites on a private lake, with 30 and 50-amp full hookups and rigs accepted to 60 feet on a big-rig-friendly layout, open all year. Back-in and pull-through categories at both amperages join a splash pad, beach, jumping pillow, and boat rentals. Ninety sites run in back-in 30-amp, back-in 50/30-amp, and pull-through 50/30-amp categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with site WiFi, sized to 60 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Fifty-two cabins, five tent sites, and four glamping sites make the lodging inventory unusually deep. A general store, boutique shop, laundry, propane fills and exchange, dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Day passes run 11am to 6pm and include the jumping pillow, wibit, pool, slide, splash pad, paddle boards, and kayaks. A splash pad and outdoor pool anchor the summer, with a private lake, beach, and boat rentals supporting swimming, boating, paddle boats, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, inflatable water toys, and fishing. A jumping pillow, arcade, game room, gem mining, sports courts, volleyball, gaga ball, horseshoes, golf cart rentals, walking trails, hiking, biking, a recreation center, playground, pavilion, dog park, bar, and snack bar fill the rest. Pike County sits where the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers define the western Illinois landscape. Summer is decisively the season. Reserve well ahead.

from $43/night

Pin Oak RV Resort

144 RV Sites, 5 Cabins

Pin Oak RV Resort in Villa Ridge, Missouri, is a full-hookup resort with cabin rentals, an outdoor pool, a lake with a beach, a recreation center and mini-golf, 40 miles west of St. Louis on the historic Route 66 corridor. Sites take rigs up to 65 feet, and each site allows a maximum of eight people. Full-hookup RV sites accommodate rigs to 65 feet. Cabin rentals serve guests traveling without an RV, and personal mailboxes and on-site laundry support the longer-stay and seasonal guests the resort draws. A general store stocks camp basics, propane fills and firewood are available, and bathrooms and showers are on site. WiFi reaches the property. No wristbands are required to use the amenities; visitors pay $10 per car and check in at the office, and they are welcome to use the pool and other facilities. On-site recreation is the resort's strength. An outdoor pool and a lake with its own beach cover the swimming season, and fishing is available on the property's lake and pond. Mini-golf, a ball field, sports courts, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes and shuffleboard spread across the grounds, with an arcade, ping pong and a craft room in the recreation center for indoor days. Walking and hiking trails run the property, a playground and a covered pavilion serve families and groups, and a fenced dog park is on site. Pets are welcome. Meramec Caverns is 10 miles east in Stanton — a 4.6-mile cave system with five stories of limestone formations and the barn-billboard advertising legacy that made it Route 66's most pre-advertised roadside stop. The Meramec River sustains one of Missouri's most actively paddled float corridors, and Hermann's German-heritage wineries are 35 miles west. Pin Oak operates year-round. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for Route 66 driving, cave touring and Meramec floating, and the winter months carry steady snowbird traffic using I-44 south. Reserve ahead for summer peak and for the April-to-October float season.

from $40/night

Meramec Campground

30 RV Sites

Meramec Campground in Stanton, Missouri, operates year-round along the Meramec River corridor in Franklin County — a campground positioned where the river's spring-fed limestone clarity, the forested Ozark foothills terrain, and the proximity of one of Missouri's most dramatic cave systems combine to create a multi-day outdoor destination within the comfortable driving orbit of the St. Louis metro area. The campground's setting on the Meramec, a river known for its exceptional transparency and the cave systems that the region's limestone geology produces throughout the watershed, gives guests immediate access to the kind of outdoor character that draws generations of Missouri families back to this specific stretch of Ozark river country. RV sites, rustic cabins, deluxe cabins, and tent camping spots give guests a range of accommodation options appropriate to the full spectrum of camping preferences from fully self-contained motorhome travel to the basic tent-on-ground experience that the Meramec's wooded riverbanks have provided Missouri campers since before the highway era. Hiking trails through the surrounding Ozark hillside terrain, biking on the regional trail network, and canoeing on the Meramec from camp deliver three genuinely distinct outdoor activity channels that sustain multi-day stays without exhausting the nearby options. Pets are welcome throughout. Meramec Caverns, just miles from the campground, is one of Missouri's most visited natural attractions — a cave complex with decorated formations developed over centuries of guided tourism, offering one of the most accessible cave experiences in the Midwest in a setting where the geology of the Ozark karst is presented at spectacular scale. The cave's temperature holds at 60 degrees year-round, making it a particularly welcome afternoon destination on hot Missouri summer days. Boone's Lick State Historic Site, associated with the salt lick operations of Daniel Boone's sons, adds a historical excursion option that connects the Meramec region to Missouri's earliest Euro-American settlement era. Six Flags St. Louis, within driving range of the campground, provides the full-scale theme park experience for families whose camping trip itinerary includes a dedicated thrill-ride day. Meramec State Park, a few miles east, encompasses the river's most protected Ozark woodland terrain with canoe rentals, cave tours, and the spring-fed swimming and float experience that defines a Missouri Ozarks summer outing. The Meramec's water character — spring-clear over gravel and limestone through the park's forested corridor — offers the textbook Ozark float trip accessible without a major outfitter logistics operation. Meramec Campground's year-round operation gives guests access through Missouri's full four-season calendar, with summer float season and fall foliage representing the two peak periods. The river corridor's hardwood and shortleaf pine mix produces consistently rewarding October color, and the Meramec's spring clarity — before summer algae builds in the slower pools — gives early-season canoe trips exceptional underwater visibility. Reserve ahead for summer float season and Labor Day weekend, when the Stanton-area Meramec campgrounds fill from the St. Louis day-trip and weekend market that the river has drawn for over a century.

from $52/night

Perryville RV Resort

73 RV Sites, 8 Cabins

The Mississippi River bluffs region of southeast Missouri is one of the most historically layered corridors in the state — a landscape where French colonial settlement, Cherokee removal history, and nineteenth-century river commerce have left their marks across a countryside of surprising scenic beauty. Perryville RV Resort by RJourney sits just off I-55 in Perryville, serving travelers who move between St. Louis and Memphis and those who come specifically to spend time in a corner of Missouri that rewards exploration well beyond the interstate itself. Sites at the resort include both standard and pull-through configurations with full hookups and 30- and 50-amp electric service, and a selection of pet-friendly cabins provides solid-wall accommodations for guests who prefer them. A swimming pool, Wi-Fi, and level gravel pads that accommodate larger motorhomes with ease make Perryville RV Resort a comfortable stopping point that exceeds typical highway-corridor standards. The staff's reputation for going beyond the basics to ensure a comfortable stay is a consistent theme among returning guests who make this campground a regular fixture in their southeast Missouri travels. Perry County's rolling farm country and the Mississippi River floodplain define the surrounding terrain, and the proximity to the river's dramatic limestone bluffs gives the region a scenic texture that surprises many travelers who know southeast Missouri only from the interstate. The back roads south of I-55 trace a scenic corridor through vintage river towns, family farms, and old Catholic mission sites that reflect the deep French and German heritage of this corner of the state — a half-day driving loop worth adding to any multi-night stay. The bluffs above the Mississippi in this stretch of the state reach heights that create overlooks of genuine grandeur — the kind of views that make a short detour off I-55 feel like a different country from the flat river corridor below. Trail of Tears State Park, about 30 minutes north near Jackson, preserves bluff-top forest with views over the Mississippi River and interprets the tragic history of the 1838 Cherokee removal — a sobering and worthwhile half-day excursion. Ste. Genevieve, just 25 minutes away, is Missouri's oldest permanent European settlement, with French colonial architecture, artisan wineries, and a National Historical Park that together make it one of the most rewarding day-trip destinations in the region. St. Louis is 80 miles north, putting the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, and Busch Stadium within comfortable day-trip range for guests staying multiple nights. Perryville RV Resort operates year-round, with the I-55 corridor keeping it accessible even during shoulder seasons when other campgrounds in the region reduce operations. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable conditions for exploring Ste. Genevieve's streets and Trail of Tears State Park's bluff trails. Any time the travel itinerary takes you through southeast Missouri, this campground consistently delivers a quality stay in a region where genuinely good overnight options are limited.

from $48/night

Sankoty Lakes

Sankoty Lakes Resort in East Peoria brings a genuinely exceptional resort experience to the Illinois River Valley — built on the crystal-clear waters of the Sankoty Aquifer, one of the deepest and cleanest natural water sources in the Midwest, where spring-fed lakes have the remarkable clarity of a mountain trout stream in the flatlands of central Illinois. Twenty minutes from Peoria and two and a half hours from Chicago, Sankoty Lakes offers resort-quality amenities and a natural setting that consistently surprises guests who didn't know this caliber of Illinois camping experience existed. Accommodations range from glamping safari tents and well-appointed RV sites to upscale lakeside cabins sleeping up to eight guests — each with fully equipped kitchens, decks, and outdoor fire pits — and the exclusive 1840 Ranch House, a private guest property suited for larger groups and special occasion gatherings. The Woolly Bugger, Sankoty's signature on-site restaurant and bar, provides full-service dining and evening atmosphere that sets this resort clearly apart from conventional campground food. A beach pavilion and bathhouse, outdoor fireplace, free bicycles for guest use, picnic spots, a 24-hour front desk, and a coffee shop deliver service quality alongside the outdoor recreation. Pets are welcome at Sankoty Lakes Resort. The Sankoty Aquifer lakes provide a water recreation environment of genuinely unusual quality — the kind of visibility that makes kayaking, canoeing, and swimming feel like engagement with a natural aquarium rather than typical Midwest lake recreation. A dedicated fly-fishing trout stream on the property adds a specialty fishing experience alongside the lakes' broader angling, birdwatching, and hiking trails that keep guests occupied from dawn into the evening hours. Peoria, 20 minutes from the resort, offers more cultural depth than its Midwest city reputation sometimes suggests. The Caterpillar Visitors Center chronicles the engineering achievements of one of the world's great manufacturing companies in an interactive exhibition that resonates well beyond industrial tourism. The Peoria Riverfront Museum combines natural history, art, and a giant-screen theater in a well-funded facility anchoring the riverfront. The Peoria Zoo and the Historic District's restaurants and live music venues fill an evening excursion with ease. Starved Rock State Park, roughly an hour east, provides the Illinois River's most dramatic canyon scenery with 18 canyons, waterfalls, and trails for a full day of hiking. Sankoty Lakes Resort operates through the Illinois camping and resort season, with summer representing peak demand for the lakes' swimming, kayaking, and fishing recreation. The Woolly Bugger restaurant and the resort's premium amenity level have created a devoted local following — Sankoty lakes guests often describe the resort as a destination in its own right rather than a base camp for elsewhere. Reserve early for summer weekends and cabins, which fill ahead of RV and glamping tent availability.

Jellystone Park™ Mark Twain Lake

7 RV Sites, 33 Cabins, 12 Tent Sites, 1 Lodge

Jellystone Park at Mark Twain Lake in Monroe City, Missouri, delivers the full Yogi Bear resort camping experience on the shores of Mark Twain Lake—a 18,600-acre reservoir on the Salt River in the northeastern Missouri prairie—creating a destination that combines one of the Midwest's most comprehensive Jellystone activity rosters with the fishing, boating, and natural exploration opportunities of a major Missouri reservoir set in the landscape of Mark Twain's boyhood territory along the Mississippi River's western bank. The park's extraordinary amenity depth and the lake's recreational resources combine to make this one of the Jellystone system's most capable Midwest family destinations. The park's resort infrastructure is exceptional even by Jellystone standards: a water park with splash pad, lazy river, and pool, mini-golf, a snack bar, bar, boutique shop, general store, golf cart rentals, boat storage, RV storage, full hookup sites, and cabin rentals form the physical plant, while the activity calendar delivers gold panning and gem mining, jumping pillow, gaga ball, horseshoes, corn hole, laser tag, volleyball, basketball, biking, stargazing, live music and entertainment, and the signature Yogi Bear character experiences that define the Jellystone brand's family entertainment identity. The pond and lake access extend the fishing and non-motorized water recreation opportunities beyond the water park. Mark Twain Lake, completed in 1984 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, was named in honor of Missouri's most celebrated literary son—Samuel Clemens, who grew up in Hannibal on the Mississippi River approximately 35 miles east of Monroe City—and the reservoir's name celebrates the connection between the northeastern Missouri landscape and the American literature it produced. The Salt River's impoundment created a diverse fishery for largemouth and striped bass, white crappie, walleye, and channel catfish in a reservoir whose numerous coves and points provide structure that supports one of Missouri's most productive multi-species fishing environments. Mark Twain's Hannibal, on the Mississippi River approximately 35 miles east via US-36, is the defining pilgrimage destination for American literature enthusiasts—a small Mississippi River city where the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, the cave that inspired Tom Sawyer's adventures in McDougal's Cave, Cardiff Hill, and the riverfront that shaped Clemens's imagination are preserved and interpreted in a heritage district that draws visitors from across the world. The Mark Twain State Park on the lake's shore provides additional fishing access, camping, and hiking in the surrounding oak and hickory woodland. Jellystone Park Mark Twain Lake operates seasonally from spring through early fall, with summer's school-vacation peak filling the water park and Jellystone activity programming from June through August and the fall fishing season extending meaningful outdoor recreation through October. The summer holiday weekends—Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day—represent the most competitive reservation periods, and families targeting these windows should book as early as the reservation system allows. The lake's consistent bass fishing, the water park's multi-activity recreation, and the Mark Twain heritage day trip create a vacation package of genuine depth for Midwest families within driving distance of northeastern Missouri.

from $25/night

Blue Springs Ranch

142 RV Sites, 33 Cabins, 65 Tent Sites

Blue Springs Ranch in Bourbon, Missouri, offers 142 RV sites, 33 cabins, and 65 tent sites on a spring-fed Ozarks property in Crawford County, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 65 feet. A zip line, horseback riding, kayak and boat rentals, and spring-fed swimming run on site, and the ranch is open all year. One hundred forty-two sites run in back-in, water-and-electric back-in, and pull-through configurations carrying 20, 30, and 50-amp, sized to 65 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Thirty-three cabins and 65 tent sites make this one of the larger and more varied properties in the Missouri Ozarks. A general store, laundry, dump station, RV storage, restrooms, and showers handle the practical side. The spring water is the difference. Constant clear cold water feeds the creek and ponds, setting the ranch apart from the warm-water lake resorts that dominate Missouri summer camping. Swimming, kayaking, paddle boats, boating, and fishing all run from the property, with kayak and boat rentals on site, plus a zip line, horseback riding, paddle boarding, an outdoor pool, and a beach. A playground, pavilion, and barn round out the grounds, with planned activities through the season and strong birding in the surrounding timber. The ranch also operates as a wedding venue. Pets are welcome. You can reserve a cabin or campsite any time of year, and groups can be accommodated year-round with notice. Note that floating and trail rides close from October 31 through April 15 — worth checking if either is central to your trip. Summer is peak for the spring-fed water. Reserve well ahead.

Ozark Outdoors Resort

Few Ozark destinations pack as much river adventure into a single address as Ozark Outdoors Resort, a sprawling riverfront property on the Meramec that has been welcoming families to Leasburg, Missouri, since 1960. The resort lines one and a half miles of the Meramec's scenic banks with more than 200 RV sites, motel rooms, cabins, and tent sites—enough variety to accommodate any travel style under the towering hardwoods and limestone bluffs that define this corner of Crawford County. A full roster of water-based recreation, aerial adventure, and evening dining ensures guests rarely need to leave the property once they've settled in. RV sites range from primitive to full hookup with 20/30/50-amp electrical service, water, and sewer, and a picnic table and fire ring accompany each site regardless of hookup level. Cabin options span rustic Country Log Cabins and Deluxe Kozy Cabins to motel rooms, condos, and group retreat lodging, giving the resort the flexibility to host family reunions, corporate outings, and church groups as easily as solo travelers. The Meramec Mercantile supplies camping essentials on-site, while the Paddlers Bar and Grill serves seasonal meals and cold drinks at the water's edge. Float trips on the Meramec, Courtois, and Huzzah Rivers form the beating heart of the Ozark Outdoors experience, with canoe, kayak, raft, and tube rentals available for half-day or multi-day journeys through crystalline Ozark spring-fed water. For those who prefer their adventure overhead, the Floating Treetops Aerial Park delivers 36 unique challenge elements across six ziplines suspended among the forest canopy—a course that engages first-time climbers and seasoned adventure seekers alike. Sand volleyball, horseshoes, and a swimming pool add land-based options when the river crowd thins in the late afternoon. The Meramec River corridor hosts some of Missouri's most spectacular cave country, with Onondaga Cave State Park just upstream offering guided boat and lantern tours through one of the Midwest's finest show caves. Meramec State Park, a few miles east on Highway 185, provides additional hiking trails, cave tours, and a family aquatic center popular with summer visitors. The resort's position between St. Louis—about 75 miles northeast—and the Missouri Ozarks interior makes it a natural launching point for exploring the Salem Plateau, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and the Current River corridor to the south. Float trip season runs April through October, with June and July delivering the warmest water and the most festive atmosphere on the Meramec, when the resort's campground fills with the laughter of families who have made the Ozark Outdoors float trip an annual tradition. Spring and fall bring lower crowds, quieter campsites, and a more contemplative Ozark experience for those who prefer their river adventure without holiday weekend energy. Reservations are strongly recommended for summer weekends and holiday blocks—the combination of riverfront camping and the Floating Treetops aerial park draws visitors from across the Midwest, and popular cabin styles book months in advance.

Hickory Haven Campground

50 Tent Sites

Situated on 27 shaded acres just north of Keokuk, Iowa, Hickory Haven Campground has built a devoted following since 1993 by offering a well-rounded, family-friendly camping experience at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers—one of the most historically significant waterways in the American Midwest. Half a mile off Highway 61/218 with quick access to both the river corridor and Keokuk's attractions, the campground combines full hookup sites, a well-equipped pavilion, and a range of activities that make it easy to fill a long weekend without leaving the property. The river culture of southeastern Iowa surrounds the entire experience. Full hookup sites are shaded and well-maintained, with water, electric, and sewer hookups, picnic tables, and clean restrooms complemented by laundry facilities and a general store. A pavilion equipped with a fridge, griddle, BBQ grill, and gas fire pit makes group gatherings comfortable, and outdoor movie nights with popcorn add a social dimension to summer evenings. Walking trails wind through the property's wooded terrain, and a serene fishing pond provides immediate angling access. Pickleball courts, cornhole, a playground, a dog park, EV charging, and community fire pits round out an unusually complete amenity package for a property of this size. The natural setting of southeastern Iowa has a quiet, river-valley beauty that rewards attention. The campground's heavy shade canopy—hickories, oaks, and cottonwoods—creates a cool, dappled atmosphere even on hot summer days, and the sounds of the property carry the character of a Midwestern camping tradition that goes back generations. Stargazing from the campground on clear nights is excellent, and the general pace of the grounds is unhurried in a way that contrasts pleasantly with busier resort destinations. Keokuk sits at the confluence of the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers and offers genuine historical depth. Lock and Dam No. 19, the largest lock on the entire Mississippi River system, is a local landmark worth visiting for the engineering spectacle alone. The Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge flanks the corridor with outstanding birding—bald eagles winter along the Keokuk stretch in impressive numbers—and the broader Great River Road connects to river towns in both directions. Mark Twain's hometown of Hannibal, Missouri, is less than an hour south for a deeper dive into Mississippi River literary and cultural history. Hickory Haven Campground is a warm-weather operation that books up for summer weekends through a combination of loyal returning guests and destination campers drawn to the river country. The combination of full hookups, recreational amenities, a shaded natural setting, and proximity to the Mississippi makes it a standout campground in an often-overlooked corner of Iowa. Whether you're following the Great River Road, exploring the lock and dam culture of the upper Mississippi, or simply looking for a well-run campground with good shade and solid amenities, Hickory Haven delivers. Reserve your site and discover what southeastern Iowa's river country has to offer.

from $25/night

Candy Cane RV Park & Campground

9 RV Sites, 3 Tent Sites

Candy Cane RV Park & Campground in Steelville, Missouri, offers nine full-hookup RV sites and three tent sites three minutes from downtown, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet. An outdoor pool, mini-golf, and a family-owned operation that charges nothing extra for the shower house or dump station make this an intentionally small-scale Ozarks stop. Nine sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 30-amp back-in and 50-amp pull-through configurations, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Three tent sites cover simpler camping. Laundry, restrooms, showers, a dump station, and WiFi handle the practical side — and the shower house and dump station carry no charge, which small family-owned Ozark campgrounds maintain as a point of hospitality. An outdoor pool anchors the warm months, with an 18-hole miniature golf course, sports courts, basketball, volleyball, and a pavilion filling the grounds. Swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking run from the area, with live music through the season and a state park nearby. Pets are welcome. Steelville sits in the Meramec River valley at the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, where spring-fed streams, float rivers, and karst geology of the Salem Plateau created Missouri's float-trip camping culture. The Meramec River is five miles away and Meramec Spring Park — with its natural spring, trout hatchery, and trail system — is ten minutes out. Downtown Steelville's restaurants, including Rich's Famous Burgers and the Spare Rib Inn, are three minutes from the sites. Float season drives summer demand. With nine sites, reserve well ahead for any warm-weather weekend.

from $25/night