Discover the Best Missouri State Parks for Your Next Outdoor Adventure.

Click here to access Missouri State Park and Historic Site Map. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks manages both state parks and state historic sites in Missouri. At present, the Division manages over 200,000 acres of land, which includes 92 parks and historic sites, along with the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry. The parks system offers 3,500 campsites, 194 cabins, and over 1,000 miles of trails, comprising the most extensive developed rails-to-trails project in the United States. The system also features several notable attractions like the Sandy Creek Covered Bridge, Dillard Mill, Graham Cave, and Bothwell Lodge, among others.

Discover the natural wonders of Missouri with a visit to Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Take in breathtaking views of the region and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Explore the park's diverse landscapes, from the stunning Elephant Rocks to the majestic Katy Trail bridge. Marvel at the underground wonders of Onondaga Cave's lily pad room, or soak up the tranquility of Watkins Mill. With panoramic vistas at the Washington State Park overlook and exhilarating waterfalls at Mina Sauk Falls, there's something for everyone at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. Don't miss out on the adventure - come and experience Missouri's great outdoors today!

List of Missouri State Parks[Edit]

Grundy County, Missouri boasts a vast area of 1,912.10 acres or 773.80 ha. It was established in 1938 and is home to Cuivre River State Park, which covers 6,393.94 acres or 2,587.54 ha and was established in 1946. Shannon County, Missouri's Current River State Park was established in 2008 and covers 780 acres or 320 ha. Meanwhile, Jefferson County, Missouri is home to Don Robinson State Park, established in 2012, which covers 843 acres or 341 ha. Shannon County also hosts the Echo Bluff State Park established in 2016 and covering an area of 410 acres or 170 ha. Iron County, Missouri's Elephant Rocks State Park has an area of 131.74 acres or 53.31 ha and was established in 1967. Oregon County, Missouri has the Eleven Point State Park, established in 2016, which covers 4,167 acres or 1,686 ha. Boone County's Finger Lakes State Park, established in 1973, covers 1,128.69 acres or 456.76 ha while Montgomery County's Graham Cave State Park has an area of 369.51 acres or 149.54 ha, dating back to 1964. Lastly, Grand Gulf State Park in Oregon County, Missouri covers 321.96 acres or 130.29 ha, established in 1984, while Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Missouri also offers natural beauty to visitors.

The state of Missouri boasts numerous state parks that serve as popular recreational destinations for both locals and tourists. These parks are spread across the different counties of the state and cover vast acres of land, ranging from 1,121.43 acres to a whopping 17,626.55 acres.

Some notable examples include the Camden County State Park, which spans 3,709.74 acres, the Harry S Truman State Park situated in Benton County that covers an area of 1,440 acres, and the Hawn State Park that stretches across 4,953.66 acres in Ste. Genevieve County.

Another remarkable addition is the Jay Nixon State Park, established in 2017 in Reynolds County, which stands on 1,230 acres of land. Likewise, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park in Reynolds County covers an area of 8,549.51 acres, while Jones-Confluence Point State Park in St. Charles County stretches across 1,121.43 acres.

The Katy Trail State Park, covering a distance of 225.1 mi or 362.3 km, is a multi-county park that attracts many visitors. Other notable state parks also include the Knob Noster State Park covering 3,934.38 acres of land in Johnson County, and Lake of the Ozarks State Park spanning across Camden and Miller counties on 17,626.55 acres of land.

Lastly, Wayne County boasts the Lake Wappapello State Park that extends across a land mass of 7,133.21 ha. All of these state parks boast unique and compelling features that make them must-visit tourist destinations in Missouri.

Lewis and Clark State Park in Buchanan County, Missouri covers a total of 1,854.23 acres (750.38 ha) and was established in 1956. Meanwhile, Long Branch State Park in Macon County, Missouri spans 189.13 acres (76.54 ha) and was founded in 1934. Mark Twain State Park, which is located in Monroe County, Missouri, was established in 1983 and covers an area of 1,828.47 acres (739.96 ha). The park is named after Mark Twain, who was born in Missouri and is known for his literary works like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Meramec State Park, situated in Franklin, Crawford, and Washington Counties, Missouri, covers 2,775.14 acres (1,123.06 ha) and was founded in 1924. Montauk State Park in Dent County, Missouri spans 6,896.33 acres (2,790.85 ha) and was established in 1927. Morris State Park, which covers 1,396.12 acres (564.99 ha), was founded in 1926 and is located in Dunklin County, Missouri. Onondaga Cave State Park in Crawford County, Missouri, which is known for its natural beauty and unique cave formations, spans 161.22 acres (65.24 ha) and was founded in 2000. Ozark Mountain State Park, located in Taney County, Missouri, covers a total of 1,317.70 acres (533.25 ha) and was founded in 1982. Last but not least is Pershing State Park, which covers 1,011 acres (409 ha) and is located in Linn County, Missouri. It was founded in 2016 and is named after General John J. Pershing, a renowned military leader from Missouri known for his service in World War I.

The following are some of Missouri's state parks and backcountry areas, along with their respective acreage or size and founding year:

- Pomme de Terre State Park: 3,565.66 acres (1,442.97 ha), founded in 1937

- Prairie State Park: 734.44 acres (297.22 ha), founded in 1960

- Roaring River State Park: 3,942 acres (1,595 ha), founded in 1980

- Robertsville State Park: 4,093.38 acres (1,656.53 ha), founded in 1928

- Rock Bridge Memorial State Park: 1,224.65 acres (495.60 ha), founded in 1979

- Rock Island Trail State Park: 2,272.83 acres (919.78 ha), founded in 1967

- Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry: 60,000 acres (24,000 ha), founded in 2001

- Route 66 State Park: 418.61 acres (169.41 ha), founded in 1997

- St. Francois State Park: 2,734.97 acres (1,106.80 ha), founded in 1964

- St. Joe State Park: approximately 8,000 acres (3,237 ha), founded in 1976

Note that St. Joe State Park is located in St. Francois County, while St. Francois State Park is also located in the same county but is a separate park.

Covering an impressive 8,242.98 acres, Stockton State Park in 1976 became a treasured addition to Missouri's natural landscape. Cedar County is the lucky location home to an incredible 2,175.90 acres of this park, established in 1969. Equally impressive is Table Rock State Park, spanning 880.56 ha historically shared by Taney and Stone counties since it opened its gates in 1969. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, located in Iron and Reynolds counties, was born in 1959 and has 356.03 acres of natural beauty for patrons to delight in. Meanwhile, Adair County's epic Thousand Hills State Park covers 7,501.09 acres and has been a popular destination since 1991. Trail of Tears State Park has been attracting visitors since 1952 and rests on 3,079.70 acres in Cape Girardeau County. Van Meter State Park, in Saline County, with 3,415.39 acres to its name, was established in 1957, while Wakonda State Park came to light in 1932 covering 1,104.63 almighty acres in Lewis County. Wallace State Park opened in 1960 and counts 1,053.87 acres within Clinton County. In 1932, Washington State Park established itself as a great destination, featuring 501.61 acres to explore within Washington County. The stunning Watkins Woolen Mill State Park with its 2,147.57 acres established in 1932, enlivens Clay County, whereas Weston Bend State Park, established in 1964 graces Platte County with its 1,500.22 acres. State Historic Sites offers visitors 1,133.08 acres to explore since its opening in 1980. To cut a long story short, there are plenty of Missouri State Parks and America's National Parks offer even more options for outdoor enthusiasts. Browse through the list of US National Parks and start planning your next adventure today.