Campgrounds and RV parks near Doe Run, MO

The biggest draw is trail riding. The trails set aside for off-road vehicle use make St. Joe State Park the premier off-road vehicle area in the state park system, and the park also features four lakes, two swimming beaches, equestrian trails, hiking and bicycling trails, a water trail, and picnic sites. A paved bicycle trail is open to bikers, hikers, and skaters. Families with younger kids gravitate to Elephant Rocks State Park. The elephant rocks, formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite, are giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants, and the formations fascinate children who love to climb on and between the boulders. At St Francois State Park, three hiking trails wind through the Coonville Creek Wild Area, one allows equestrian access, and the Big River offers canoeing, floating, and swimming at gravel bars.

Southeast Missouri has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summer is the busiest camping window, with warm river water drawing swimmers and paddlers, while spring brings wildflowers and higher water levels on the Big River. Water service is the main seasonal variable at state park campgrounds in this area. Water is not available in the St. Francois State Park campground during the off-season from November through March, and campers must have an immediate means of motorized transportation in case of evacuation due to flooding. Park gates close at 10 p.m. during the on-season and 6 p.m. during the off-season. Day-use parks scale back in winter too. At Elephant Rocks State Park, hours run 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April through October and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through March. Bouldering under 16 feet without technical equipment does not require a permit, while roped climbing is not permitted in the park.

Sites in this area tend to be shaded and set among mature oak and hickory. The St. Francois State Park campground offers 110 sites total, including 63 with 30-amp electric hookups and water and 28 pull-through sites, plus hot showers, restrooms, laundry, and a dump station. At the Equestrian - St Joe State Park loop, expect basic amenities geared to horse trailers, with modern restrooms, hot showers, a playground, and a dump station located in the neighboring campground. Generators are not allowed in either St. Joe campground, tents must be pitched on designated pads, and vehicle wheels must stay on the asphalt pad. Missouri State Parks recommend no more than two dogs per campsite, and pets must be supervised and kept on leashes no longer than 10 feet at all times.