Campgrounds and RV parks near Leadwood, MO

Off-roading is the signature activity of the area. St. Joe State Park features a 2,000-acre off-road vehicle riding area located on the old lead mine tailings dumps, plus trails for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Amenities include four lakes, two swimming beaches, equestrian trails, and a paved bicycle trail. Families gravitate to Elephant Rocks State Park for its granite boulders. The rocks were formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite, stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants, and fascinate children who love to climb on and between them. The park also has a paved Braille Trail suitable for visitors with limited mobility. On the water, Cherokee Landing supports Big River float trips, and anglers pursue bass, catfish, and sunfish along the same stretch.

Southeast Missouri has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot, winters are cold and bring regular snowfall, and precipitation is spread relatively evenly through the year, though spring tends to be wetter and winter is the driest season. Spring thunderstorms can be intense, and St. Francois State Park requires all campers to have an immediate means of motorized transportation in case of evacuation due to flooding. Late spring through early fall is prime camping season. The St. Joe campgrounds are open daily, year-round but usually fill up during summer months and three-day weekends, so reservations are strongly recommended. Fall brings cooler nights and color in the Ozark hardwoods, and it is also when Elephant Rocks opens to climbing: climbing or bouldering is available from October to April on the elephant-shaped rocks, and climbers must be registered and hold permits. Winter is quieter. Water is not available at St. Francois State Park during the off-season from November through March, and Elephant Rocks operates on shorter winter hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through March.

Sites in the state parks are set among mature hardwoods on paved or gravel pads. St. Francois State Park offers more than 100 campsites in campgrounds with modern restrooms and hot showers, and water is available at individual sites April through October. At St. Joe, each site comes with a concrete pad, BBQ grill, and lantern holder, and both primitive and full hookup sites are available. Generators are not permitted in either St. Joe campground. Stone Park Resort and Amphitheatre and Cherokee Landing round out the private options along the Big River corridor. State-park gates close at 10 p.m. during the on-season and 6 p.m. during the off-season, and campers need to arrive prior to gate closure. Pack sturdy shoes for uneven terrain, and bring bug spray in warm months.