CoMo Science

Missouri State Parks

Missouri State Park Locator Map

Within 10 minutes of Columbia

  • Rock Bridge State Park
    • No camping

Within 1 hour of Columbia

  • Graham Cave State Park – 42 minutes
    • Camping available
    • Cave of archeological significance, can’t go in deep
    • Some hiking
    • “A walk in Graham Cave State Park is a walk through ancient history. Artifacts uncovered in Graham Cave reveal that people occupied the cave 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. To walk through the park’s 386 scenic acres, which includes the diverse Graham Cave Glades Natural Area, is to walk in the footsteps of the hunter-gatherers who lived in the area’s caves during the ancient Dalton and Archaic period. Visitors can go into the mouth of Graham Cave, and interpretive exhibits along Graham Cave Trail detail the life researchers believe early inhabitants lived. Additional interpretive exhibits throughout the park explain the cultural and natural significance of the site. Graham Cave State Park is a prime hiking location, and the campground is perfect for get-togethers in a quiet place. A boat ramp to the Loutre River provides access for boating and fishing.”

Within 2 hours of Columbia

  • Long Branch State Park – 1 hour 2 minutes
    • Mostly water activities
    • “Looking for a place to get a watersports fix? Long Branch State Park’s three boat ramps provide access to sprawling and picturesque Long Branch Lake. For more fun on the water, fishing is popular, and the marina store, swimming beach and day-use area next to the beach are a favorite for families. In addition, the park’s modern campground is a perfect place for overnight stays. The park preserves some of the last savanna and prairie remnants in the Chariton River Hills. Trails through Chariton River Hills Natural Area provide a good way for hikers to see colorful prairie wildflowers and a variety of birds, including red-headed woodpeckers, brown thrashers and indigo buntings. “
  • Mark Twain State Park – 1 hour 7 minutes
    • Camping
    • Mostly water activities
    • “Nestled in the Salt River Hills of north-central Missouri, Mark Twain State Park gives visitors access to sprawling Mark Twain Lake, as well as unparalleled outdoors activities. The terrain is covered by bluffs overlooking the lake and stands of oak, hickory and maple that are filled with white-tailed deer, turkey and other wildlife. Numerous picnic areas, two four-lane boat ramps and more than 6 miles of hiking trails with lake views offer something for everyone.”
  • Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park – 1 hour 11 minutes
    • Camping
    • Native American earth structures
    • “Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park features remnants of the Missouria Indian village that sat at the Great Bend of the Missouri River, marked on a map by Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in 1673. A hand-dug earthwork — Old Fort — and several burial mounds lie within the park’s boundaries. The state’s American Indian history is interpreted in displays and exhibits at the park’s Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center. For outdoor enthusiasts, the park features hiking trails and an 18-acre fishing lake. Trails lead visitors through the Oumessourit Natural Area with views of the freshwater marsh and through bottomland and upland forests. The park’s lofty trees shade picnic sites, picnic shelters and a campground.”
  • Lake of the Ozarks State Park – 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Camping
    • Water activities
    • Ozark Caverns
    • “Your vacation destination — Lake of the Ozarks State Park has it all! Enjoy the solitude of an undeveloped cove hidden along the shorelines of one of Missouri’s largest lakes. Swim, fish, boat or simply take in the view from a shady campsite or picnic area overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks. The park offers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of recreational activities on the lake or on shore. On shore, hikers, backpackers, equestrians and bicyclists can wind through open woodlands, sunny glades, small springs and streams to blufftop views of the Lake of the Ozarks. Water enthusiasts can make use of the park’s two swimming beaches, boat rentals and paved boat ramps. Park stores sell all of the necessary supplies for a day on the water. Year-round overnight accommodations include campsites, Outpost cabins and yurts. Lake of the Ozarks State Park’s natural beauty and solitude remain untouched, yet visitors are just minutes away from extensive shopping, restaurants and a variety of entertainment opportunities.”
  • Pershing State Park – 1 hour 35 minutes
    • Camping
    • Small area for hiking
    • “Wander through a slice of pre-settlement landscape at Pershing State Park. The park includes a boardwalk and hiking trail that winds through a wet prairie near a meandering stream with oxbow sloughs and cutoffs, and into a bottomland forest. The park’s wetlands attract a variety of birds and waterfowl as well as scores of other wildlife species. Locust Creek and four small lakes give anglers a chance to try their skills and a shady campground with electric and basic campsites makes the park an ideal overnight location.”
  • Cuivre River State Park – 1 hour 42 minutes
    • Camping
    • Lots of hiking
    • “Looking for the Ozarks in northern Missouri? Cuivre River State Park is one of the state’s largest and most rugged parks! Cuivre River State Park lends a wilder, Ozarkian flavor to the otherwise predominately agricultural landscape of northern Missouri. Although not far from St. Louis, the park is a nature lover’s paradise. It is an outdoor delight to stroll through the park in the spring when flowering dogwood is in bloom or in the fall when the trees are ablaze with autumn colors. The park is perfect whether you want to enjoy an afternoon visit or spend a few days. Both primitive and modern campsites are available, and Lake Lincoln offers swimming, boating and fishing. The park’s wild and natural areas provide hiking, backpacking, photography and wildlife observation activities. There is also an equestrian trail with a campground for overnight stays.”

Within 3 hours of Columbia

  • Don Robinson State Park – 2 hours 6 minutes
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • “Inside the quiet shady sanctuary of Don Robinson State Park, it’s hard to believe that the bustling metropolitan area of St. Louis is not far away. Its wooded hillsides buffer any outside noise and its interesting sandstone canyons make it easy to forget there is a world outside. That’s just what Don Robinson intended when he purchased the property as his personal home and sanctuary. The area is located in the upper watershed of the LaBarque Creek and features sandstone box canyons, shelter caves, cliffs, glades and upland and bottomland forests. It was Robinson’s wish that upon his death, his personal sanctuary would become part of the Missouri state park system. Today, Don Robinson State Park offers visitors a chance to experience and explore this amazing landscape that is not far from St. Louis but still a world away.”
  • Montauk State Park – 2 hours 30 minutes
    • Camping
    • Fishing
  • Echo Bluff State Park – 2 hours 47 minutes
    • Camping
    • “Echo Bluff State Park is a year-round outdoor destination that allows visitors to create new memories as they experience all the Ozarks have to offer. Visitors of all ages can fill their days with floating, hiking, swimming or fishing. While the park has a spectacular natural setting, the modern amenities enhance the experience and make it welcoming for everyone. An impressive, iconic lodge features guest rooms, indoor and outdoor casual dining and meeting rooms. Nine full-service cabins with 13 units are a great option for families and groups. Camping opportunities range from primitive to full-service campsites. The bluff-top shelter is perfect for special events, and an amphitheater for smaller events offers a dramatic natural backdrop. The park also offers hiking and mountain biking trails.”
  • Trails of the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry – 2 hours 47 minutes
    • Lots of hiking
    • Next to Echo Bluff State Park
    • “Solitude reigns in the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry, a 60,000-acre tract adjacent to Echo Bluff State Park. The backcountry is part of Pioneer Forest, which is owned by the L-A-D Foundation. It is Missouri’s largest privately owned forest. The foundation donates its lease of the more than 50 miles of the Trails of the Roger Pryor Pioneer Backcountry to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for the enjoyment of visitors to Missouri State Parks. “

Within 4 hours of Columbia

  • Elephant Rocks State Park – 3 hours 2 minutes
    • “The elephant-shaped boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park may not be the stars of a circus, but these giant granite boulders are the stars of this unusual park in southeast Missouri. The elephant rocks, which were formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite, are giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. The rocks have created formations that intrigue geologists, are popular with history buffs interested in the past quarrying, and fascinate children who love to climb on and between the boulders.  An easy way to see the rocks is from the Braille Trail, which was especially designed for people with visual and physical disabilities. The trail winds through the main area of rocks. 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. Picnic tables are scattered among the trees and provide inviting spots to have a picnic lunch or rest and enjoy the interesting geologic formations found throughout the park. “
  • Taum Sauk Mountain State Park – 3 hours 10 minutes
    • “Climb to the top of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and be on top of Missouri – literally. The park’s 7,500 acres include the highest point in the state. Located in the St. Francois Mountains, the park’s wooded areas and rocky glades provide a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers. A series of trails, including a portion of the Ozark Trail, wind through the park’s picturesque setting and provide awesome views of the surrounding countryside. The park also has a 12-site basic campground, a special-use area for group camping, and a picnic area.”
  • Johnson’s Shut-ins – 3 hours 15 minutes
    • “The wilderness qualities and geology of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and the surrounding St. Francois Mountains make this park a special place to visit. Its rugged character provides the perfect backdrop for camping, hiking, picnicking, splashing in the shut-ins, exploring nature or just relaxing.”
  • Roaring River State Park – 3 hours 55 minutes