The Show-Me State is home to more than 90 state parks and historic sites, so you’re never far from some of the best places to experience Missouri’s diverse landscape, natural beauty or the state’s history. Even better, they are all free to enter.
Missouri state parks offer countless ways to experience adventure your way. Many feature streams and lakes for fishing, including three of the nation’s premier trout fishing destinations, and there are plenty of swimming holes to cool off during the hottest Missouri summer days.
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Plus, the parks boast more than 1,000 miles of trails for hikers, bicyclists and backpackers. All the parks have day-use areas and many offer lodging and camping options for an additional fee. Reservations are highly recommended.
Missouri state parks are generally open from sunrise to sunset for those not camping or staying in park lodging facilities. Before visiting, make sure you are aware of all general park rules and camping and lodging rules if you plan to stay overnight.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
The remains of a European-style stone castle add an air of mystery to this park, located near Camdenton in mid-Missouri. From there, atop towering bluffs, the views of Missouri’s popular Lake of the Ozarks are majestic.
EXPERIENCE
In 1904, Kansas City businessman Robert Snyder purchased Ha Ha Tonka Lake and Spring and began building what he planned to be his private retreat in 1905. He envisioned a massive castle with 60 rooms, plus a water tower, greenhouses and stables.
But his vision never came to fruition. Snyder tragically died a year later in one of the state’s first vehicle accidents. His sons finished the home in 1922, but not to the elaborate detail that Snyder planned.
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Eventually, the property was used as a hotel until it was destroyed by a fire in 1942. Decades later, only the ruins remain. The state purchased the castle and grounds in 1978, turning it into a state park and opening it to the public for exploring.
GO
Strap on your hiking boots and get moving. More than 15 miles of winding trails take you past caves, a spring, sinkholes, a natural bridge and down to the lake. Once you’re lakeside, rent a kayak and paddle around the Lake of the Ozarks.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is approximately 3 hours from Kansas City via car.
Elephant Rocks State Park
Located in southeast Missouri, Elephant Rocks State Park is a sight to behold. At this Missouri park, giant billion-year-old granite boulders stand end to end like a train of red circus elephants.
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A self-guided trail with Braille signage winds through these geologic wonders, but don’t hesitate to wander off the trail and climb on and between the boulders. An extension off the trail leads back to the ruins of an old railroad engine house, a remnant of the area’s quarrying and railroad history.
DINE
Few things beat dining around a campfire or grill while camping, but if you feel like dining out, locals recommend The Iron Mule, just a few miles from Elephant Rocks and Johnson Shut-Ins state parks. Enjoy pizza, sandwiches and appetizers while surrounded by friendly, small-town Missouri hospitality.
Elephant Rocks State Park is approximately 5 hours from Kansas City via car.
Bennett Spring State Park
As the state’s third-largest spring, more than 100 million gallons of cool water gush from Bennett Spring each day. With its trout-stocked stream, the state park is a popular spot for fishing from spring through fall.
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Put on your waders and cast your line for trout! The spring branch is stocked daily during fishing season. Daily tags, available at the park store, are required to fish on the spring branch. New to fishing? Learn from certified instructors at Bennett Spring’s Trout School.
Fishing may be the main draw, but Bennett Spring State Park also has multiple hiking trails, including one that explores the park’s nearly 300-foot-long natural tunnel.
LEARN
When it’s time to relax a bit, Bennett Spring State Park is home to a nature center featuring exhibits on Missouri’s springs and the environment. The center also offers several nature programs and guided nature walks.
STAY
Bennett Spring has five campgrounds scattered throughout the park, including sites with utilities for campers and RVs. There are also a variety of lodging options, including a small motel and standalone cabins. Just outside the state park, there are several rustic resorts and cozy inns to call home.
DINE
Grab a seat in the rustic dining lodge at Bennett Spring State Park. Built in the 1930s, the lodge is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Hungry campers and anglers can stop in for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day from March through October.
Bennett Spring State Park is approximately 3 hours from Kansas City via car.
Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park
Get your feet wet at one of Mother Nature’s water parks, created by rivers flowing around dense volcanic rock, carving out chutes, slides and pools.
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Johnson’s Shut-Ins is a favorite swimming spot in the summer and one of Missouri’s most popular state parks. Carved into rock by the flow of the Black River, the shut-ins add another layer of beauty to southeast Missouri’s lush landscape.
A boardwalk with overlooks offers spectacular views and provides easy access. The park also features trails for hiking, backpacking, biking and horseback riding.
STAY
Embrace your time in nature and camp overnight. Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park has dozens of campsites available, including those with utility hook-ups for campers and RVs.
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Or if you want something a bit more refined, reserve a cabin. They come equipped with a bed, sofa, air conditioning and more. There are also several bed and breakfasts within a 30-minute drive of the state park.
Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park is approximately 5 hours from Kansas City via car.
Your 4-Day Itinerary
Here’s how to spend four days experiencing some of Missouri’s top state parks.
The destinations on this route are not easily accessible via public transportation. If you plan to follow this itinerary, a rental car/private vehicle is strongly recommended.
Day 1: Bennett Spring
- Drive from Kansas City to Bennett Spring State Park, approximately 3 hours.
- Spend the day exploring Bennett Spring State Park.
- Camp or rent a cabin overnight.
Day 2: Ha Ha Tonka and Johnson’s Shut-Ins
- Drive from Bennett Spring to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, approximately 40 minutes.
- Spend the day hiking, boating and exploring Ha Ha Tonka.
- Drive to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, approximately 3 hours.
- Camp or rent a cabin overnight.
Day 3: Johnson’s Shut-Ins and Elephant Rocks
- Spend the morning swimming and exploring at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park
- Drive to Elephant Rocks State Park, approximately 20 minutes.
- Go hiking at Elephant Rocks State Park
- Return to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and camp or rent a cabin overnight.
Day 4: Return to Kansas City
- Drive back to Kansas City, approximately 5 hours.
