Top Camping Sites Near St. Louis

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 13, 2014 7:00 am EST

A tent in the woods or parked RV can be a solitary getaway for a solo camper, or a fun, cheap getaway for families, couples and groups of friends. Sometimes campers are looking for a quiet place to get back to nature and forget about responsibilities for a few days. Other campers want cheap lodging or lots of family activities. The St. Louis area is surrounded by campsites that offer something for everyone. Here's a sampling of the best.

Babler State Park
800 Guy Park Drive
Wildwood, MO 63005
(636) 458-3813
www.mostateparks.com

Babler is an absolutely beautiful state park just west of the city. Individual campsites are placed far enough apart to offer some privacy, but are clustered around services like showers. Firewood is available for purchase. Kids will love the interactive nature exhibits at the Visitors' Center. Babler's hiking and equestrian trails are very popular. This is a great campsite for families and individuals, and a good starter site for kids.

Klondike Park
4600 S. Route 94
Augusta, MO 63332
(636) 949-7535
www.visitmo.com

Nestled in Missouri's lush Wine Country between Augusta and Defiance, Klondike has a wide range of options. Rent a cabin for eight, with electricity and a ceiling fan, or a primitive campsite. Quiet, secluded campsites share a shower house that also contains a camp kitchen. A basic site includes a fire pit and covered picnic table. This is a wonderful getaway for adults, or a great way to bring an element of nature and adventure to a weekend in the Wine Country.

Pin Oak Creek RV Park and Paintball
1302 Hwy AT
Villa Ridge, MO 63089
(636) 451-5656
www.pinoakcreekrvpark.com

If you're looking for a fun site for families or groups of teens, try Pin Oak Creek. The Pin Oak Creek campground has been around since the 1970s, but it was renovated and the two paintball fields were added in more recent years. In addition to RV camping, the park has campsites and cabins. The park also offers a ton of activities, including paintball, fishing, arcade games, swimming and karaoke. Pin Oak Creek is the perfect site for youth groups, young adults and families with older kids.

Old Cove Canoe & Kayak
1316 Old Cove Road
Saint Clair, MO 63077
(636) 629-2220
www.oldcovecanoe.com

Float trips are a favorite pastime around the STL. If you want to combine your float with camping, Old Cove offers riverside campsites, with picnic tables, grills and campfire wood. You'll have access to port-a-potties, pavilions, chairs and other little camping luxuries. Old Cove will also outfit you with everything you need for your canoe, raft, tube or cooler tube float. Even if you've never been on a float trip, the staff at Old Cove will take care of you and make sure you have a safe and memorable float.

St. Louis West/Historic Route 66 KOA Campground
18475 Old US Highway 66
Eureka, MO 63025
(636) 257-3018
www.stlouiswestkoa.com

This campsite is popular with families who are visiting Six Flags Theme Park, and also with people on Route 66 road trips who are just passing through the area. It's a clean, tidy little campground with planned activities like bingo, movie nights and hay rides to keep families happy. A sparkling pool, clean restrooms and convenient location make this campground a winner. If you live in the West County area, or have season passes to Six Flags, this is a convenient family getaway.

Lauren Haas was the founder and publisher of The St. Louis Area Family Gazette magazine, and editor-in-chief of Marketplace Magazine. Now, Lauren is a full-time freelance writer who travels the world, using St. Louis as her base. Contact her at Lauren@LaurenHaas.com