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The best camping near Washington State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Washington adventure.

100% (15 reviews)
100% (15 reviews)

Explore rugged landscapes along the Big River in eastern Missouri.  

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Washington State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Washington State Park

94%
(1550)

Spring Lake Ranch

38 sites ¡ RVs, Tents101 acres ¡ Potosi, MO
Spring Lake Ranch boasts countless trails and lake activities. Formerly known as Sayersbrook Bison ranch, at one time it was one of the largest Bison ranches in the world. This property is filled with amazing things to see and explore. Nothing like it in Missouri. Lake is 60+ acres and is spring fed. Amazing fishing, swimming and kayaking. We are pet friendly. You will have amazing lake views and will be close to hiking trails, horseback riding, and wine tasting at Edge Cliff Wineries which is next door to us. The beautiful shower house is super clean, has restrooms and hot showers and it is within walking distance. Firewood and ice are available to purchase; kayaks and fishing poles are available for rent. If you forget something at home stop by our little country store, we might have it! :) The sites are about 20 ft from each other - if you are looking for more privacy please check out the secluded site or the peninsula.
from 
$15.99
 / night
100%
(42)

Big River Outdoors Campground

59 sites ¡ RVs, Tents87 acres ¡ Frankclay, MO
80+ acres with over a mile of river frontage. Also a unique custom off road park on the property. Swimming, fishing, kayaking, and live music on weekends. Tent camping or RV/camper . Campers who need electric are allowed to bring a generator. We have limited electric as of now. We are located just 2-3 miles from 3 different gas stations but are also very secluded.
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$50
 / night
100%
(25)

Mint General Store & Campground

54 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents460 acres ¡ Tiff, MO
The town of Tiff 
from 
$25
 / night
99%
(368)

Hummingbird Hollow Outdoors

29 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents27 acres ¡ Saint Clair, MO
Hummingbird Hollow Outdoors is a not for profit Farm Animal Sanctuary. You will be able to camp with the horses, goats, potbellied pigs and more. We open up our farm so that people can enjoy the outdoors, animals and nature, and the animals can enjoy people! We are a sanctuary for all creatures on earth, including humans. "Today, whatever is good for your soul, do that."
from 
$25
 / night
99%
(118)

Swim/BBQ/Camp Such and Such Farm

5 sites ¡ RVs, Tents120 acres ¡ De Soto, MO
***We are on winter break and will begin accepting bookings for 2024 on March 1st*** Learn more about this land: Camp at our beautiful private swimming hole in the middle of a creek. It's fed by a 300,000 gallon/day fresh water spring that runs along the length of the campsite with a community picnic table, two Webber grills, and a huge fire pit. Bring your fishing poles and water shoes! There are fire ring's at each site but be sure to bring your own camp chairs. Folding tables available per site at your request!  Take a stroll around the pond and visit our goats, pigs and piglets, market garden, barn and working farm by adding a farm tour.  Don't worry about packing food in the cooler! As a working farm, we have fresh eggs, pork products and produce available that are all grown and harvested here. Be sure to add those items on at checkout!
from 
$30
 / night
100%
(2)

Kaskaskia River Camping & RV Park

40 sites ¡ RVs, Tents10 acres ¡ New Athens, IL
Welcome to the Village of New Athens RV Park! We sincerely appreciate your choice to stay with us. As you settle in, we're thrilled to invite you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of our campgrounds and the warmth of our community. Our park offers a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay. You'll find convenient water hookups and sewer connections, along with waterfront views that promise a serene and picturesque experience. Embrace the outdoors at our picnic area and explore the surrounding landscapes, as we happily welcome pets, making your stay pet-friendly. For the adventurous souls, we have hike and bike campsites, providing opportunities for thrilling exploration on our gravel roads. Should you require any essentials during your stay, rest assured, we have gasoline available nearby. And as the evening settles in, gather around the fire pit, where cherished memories are created, fostering camaraderie among fellow travelers. While you're here, don't miss out on the various activities we offer. Cast a line and indulge in the art of fishing, or take to the waters for a boating adventure that promises to be both invigorating and unforgettable. Once again, thank you for being our guest. We look forward to making your time with us truly memorable as you embrace the wonders of our Village of New Athens RV Park. Happy exploring!
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$28
 / night
99%
(479)

Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

23 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents150 acres ¡ Ironton, MO
A wooded, more private camping experience with unique site designs and natural elements. Primitive Camping Van/vehicle Camping Small Trailers Glamping Bike Trails, Hiking, creek sit-in' on site! Best of the midwest biking, hiking, Ozark Trail, rock climbing Elephant Rocks Park, Johnson Shut-ins and more swimming holes nearby! Wood for sale on site, $5 per bundle, Fire starters also available. Ask us about our "Really Good At Camping" merchandise. We have shirts, mugs & wine tumblers! *Cash Only* at this time. We Have free stickers! *For camp site locations please refer to our map in the campsite listing photos. We are located just west of the Ironton Water Works Plant and the Shepherd Mountain Lake dam. Turn right after the dam, drive through Shepherd Mountain Lake Park, open the "campground guests only" gate if it is closed, and please close gate behind you. Thank you! No Hook Ups No swimming in the lake and no outside boats, but we have boats for campers to use free of charge! General Store and restroom facilities/showers coming soon!
from 
$20
 / night
99%
(75)

Hagood Farms and Trails

8 sites ¡ Tents164 acres ¡ Sullivan, MO
We have 172 acres of trails with scenic waterfalls and trees. A pond for fishing and conveniently located with in 8 miles from sevetal state parks and 2 miles from 300 acers of off road trails. We have owned and lived on tje property since 1999 .Learn more about this land:We are a fully functioning farm with Longhorn cattle, horses, mini donkeys and goats that are very friendly. We have 164 acres that have trails for horseback riding and ATVs. We are located 8 miles from Mermac River and Washington State park where you can rent canoe's and go hiking. We are an hour from St. Louis and Elephant Rock State park as well as Johnston shut ins. We are also with in 8 miles of ROMP dirt bike trail and 1 mile from Moonlight trails and racing that is 400 plus acers of ATV and jeep trails. We have a few waterfalls on the property and lots of areas to hike as well. Several areas of camping to choose from, you can be in the woods or out in the open. Spring and Summer months we offer farm fresh eggs and there is always plenty of firewood. We recently added a pond area as well. We now have Electric and water as well.
from 
$30
 / night
97%
(154)

Cinco de Mayo Campground

16 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents2 acres ¡ MO
Every morning that I wake up at Cinco I think how fortunate I am to have a place on this earth where I am excited to be. Whether it is sweaty-hot summertime or deep-freeze, snow-covered wintertime I treasure the moments sipping a cup of tea on the riverbank listening to the birds competing over food and mates...or to the ice breaking up with the morning heat. Starting the day this way can sure alleviate a lot of stress!   The tenants and guests that have stayed here make my favorite place on earth truly precious.  Sharing with others magnifies the experience.  Please give yourself the gift of staying here for a weekend.Learn more about this land:Sleep right on the banks of the river or in the clean level yard just a few feet away. Kayak or fish all day then enjoy a nice warm shower in our bathhouse. You can freshen your gear in our new mini-laundromat. Bring quarters or download an Iphone app to start the laundry machines.  
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$45
 / night
94%
(33)

BEAUTIFUL SECLUDED CAMPSITE

5 sites ¡ RVs, Tents30 acres ¡ Potosi, MO
Easy access to hundreds of miles of trails and gravel roads in Mark Twain National Forest for hiking, biking, ATV / SXS. Multiple fishing ponds less than a mile away. Come and explore Missouri's best kept secret! The campground has 8 campsites, great for RV or tent campers, nestled under old-growth oak trees for shade & protection during the hot months.
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$26
 / night
100%
(56)

Matt's Place at Meramec n Labarque

5 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres ¡ Eureka, MO
Located at the confluence of the Meramec River and Labarque Creek, my place (Matt's Place) is a ridge above a bottomland bowl of sorts. The ridge is an ancient road bed recorded on an old map as the "kings highway" under Spanish rule. Flakes of flint hint to the first people to walk this ridge perhaps 10,000 years ago. The old iron truss bridge here is likely built in 1910 and it has a survey marker from 1932. The overlook at the confluence is a magical vortex of energy. A few chairs are waiting there for folks to ponder what that means. Bald eagles nest upstream and their daily commute can be seen from here as they fly down toward the Mississippi in the morning, and in the evening, back upstream to their nest about a mile and a half further, at a bend in the river up high in a grove of sycamore trees. Great blue herons, kingfishers, hawks, vultures, beaver, turtles, fish, and deer are frequently seen from this vista. The bottomland is also special. It's darker down there under so many tall silver maples. And in summer, bring bug spray. The creek has a nice little swimming hole, and a beach that is sometimes sand, sometimes, gravel, and sometimes a mix of both with some silt or even mud after a storm. It's peaceful down there to explore in the creek, wade while looking outward to an opening into the Meramec River. It's also fun to stand just at the mouth of the creek in the Meramec River. It's an awesome view upstream or downstream of tree lined banks, rock bluffs, and every now and then, passing boats, canoes, paddle boards, or kayaks. The old iron truss bridge hovers above the meeting of two waters. The water is cool and clean. Some fifty species of fish have been recorded in this creek, the most in all of Jefferson County and St Louis County. The bottomland has two levels, the lower bottoms down by the creek and the upper bottoms about a hundred feet from the creek. The upper bottoms has a clearing like a meadow with mowed grass, picnic table, electric extension cord and fan (plugged in up at the house). My favorite things to do here include gazing up at a cottonwood tree that must be sixty feet tall. It's leaves in a breeze are like a thousand hands waving hello. The bottomland meadow offers just enough sky to see bats dance in the dusk air between the trees, then fireflies as it gets darker yet. Up top is where I live. Matt's Five Acre Farm Overview updated 2/2024 We have six goats, Ross, Monica, Rachel, Joey, and Chandler. Rachel recently gave birth to Phoebe in February. We have 14 chickens that are laying about 8 eggs a day more or less. More eggs per day as it warms up in the Spring. Guests may inquire about eggs for sale at $5 per dozen. We can collect them or you can take them straight out of the nest boxes, same price either way. We also have a rabbit, a dog, and a kitten. The 13 year old female dog, Bella, barks a little at first but is friendly. We can keep her inside if that is preferred by guests. If guest brings a dog, we may have to arrange to not let the chickens forage outside of the coop if guest's dog might harass the chickens. Let us know before arrival if it is a possibility your dog might harass or kill the chickens and we will keep them in the coop while your here. I can shuttle gear with my pick up to the bottomland meadow or close to the creek. If a visitor forgets some camping gear, I'm sure to have an extra to lend. What attracted me to this place is the sense of a vortex of energy that is always at a meeting of waters such as the Meramec River and Labarque Creek. We hope you like this place like we do. Learn more about this land: Just five miles off HWY 44 and HWY 109, at Eureka, MO, (30 minutes west of downtown St Louis, 18 minutes from Six Flags) this place sits on a ridge with great views above the Meramec River. A century-old iron trapezoidal truss bridge is abandoned and is a beautiful feature aging in place above the confluence of Labarque Creek. The bottomland meadow and sand and gravel beach with swimming holes, fishing, canoeing, or kayaking is just a short walk (300 feet or so) or drive if conditions are not muddy (4wd suggested). We have a half-mile loop trail around the small property and just across the road is the Young Conservation Area and down the road 2 miles is Glassberg Conservation Area. This is a great base camp or picnic stop for a group floating downstream from Pacific Palisades Meramec River Access Ramp. Most people take out a mile and a half downstream at Allenton River Access Ramp (near Six Flags). We also have bunnies, chickens, honey bees, and blackberries. Thousands of acres of adjacent parks, plus river access ramps for boats a few miles upstream or downstream. We can shuttle your kayaks or even lend you one of ours by request as an extra. You can camp up top on the ridge or driveway (close to bathroom or shower in the house) or you can camp down by the creek or bottomland meadow. The creek/swimming hole is about 500 feet walk from the driveway up top. I can shuttle your gear (coolers, tent, chairs) down there in my 4wd pickup truck upon request. One may hear the local road traffic from two-lane HWY FF which is just a few hundred feet from the campsite. It's not so bad. Hipcampers report they can tune it out and late at night it gets very quiet. We've seen bald eagles, osprey, beavers, otters, hawks, great blue herons, bats (at dusk), and lots of other wildlife. At night, you may hear frogs, owls and maybe even coyotes safely from far off on the other side of the river. We hope this place feels like your far away place, nearby. Risks Outdoor activities tend to have some inherent risks. The bridge abutment has a potential fall hazard, the river and creek, a potential drowning hazard, and the outdoors in in general may pose risks of mosquitos, ticks, and poison ivy. In high winds a branch or tree could fall, lightning could strike, or floodwaters may rise. Campfires have burn or smoke inhalation risks. With proper caution , care, and a bit of bug spray, these risks can be managed and mitigated. Bad Weather In case of bad weather, too hot, too cold, too many mosquitos, or upon request, you can find refuge up in the clubhouse, close but separate from my house. It's a small concrete block building with a single bed, two picture windows looking down on the river, chairs, space heater, air conditioner, fridge, microwave, butane stove, and toaster oven. Refunds You can cancel with full refund even after you've arrived if the place is not what you were hoping for. No worries. Be happy.
from 
$18
 / night

Beth R.’s Land

1 site ¡ Tent53 acres ¡ Mineral Point, MO
from 
$20
 / night

The best camping near Washington State Park guide

Overview

About

The Big River makes a slow wind through this section of the Ozark Mountains, where water and woodlands meet. Located in eastern Missouri, Washington State park is home to rugged landscapes and grand outdoor adventures. Wade or float in the river waters—or make a splash in the park’s pool. Explore the state’s largest collection of petroglyphs, with rock carvings dating to around 1000 A.D. A more recent piece of history is the 1000 Steps Trail, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, providing a challenging route to reach a scenic view from a bluff above the river valley. Camping and campground rentals are available.

Notable campgrounds

  • Best for big rigs: Washington Campground’s pull-through sites offer easy maneuvering.  
  • Best for casual campers: No tent? No problem. Washington Campground’s platform tent sites include a three-season canvas tent.
  • Best for glamping: Washington Campground’s electric sites offer 30-amp service.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. Advanced reservations may not be required, but check ahead for summer weekends and holidays.
  2. Reservations are accepted 12 months in advance online and by phone through the Missouri State Parks office.
  3. This park offers basic and electric campsites, in addition to platform tents and family campsites (with paired pads and a shared yard).
  4. Reservations are offered year-round.
  5. Walk-up reservations are available.

When to go

Summer is river season, making it a nice time to hit the waters—or the park pool. Both offer a refreshing way to cool off from the heat and humidity of Missouri summers. Spring and fall offer moderate temperatures for exploring the trails—watch for wildflowers in the spring and autumnal colors in the fall, reaching their peak in October. Winter camping brings a stillness to the park, along with freezing temperatures and occasional snows. During the off-season, park amenities (like the camp store and showerhouses) are limited.

Know before you go

  • Individual campsites do not have water spigots. Water spigots are scattered around the camping loops.
  • Showers and water are available April 1 through October 31, with a frost-free spigot available near the park office.
  • Watercraft rentals for paddling and floating are available seasonally in the camp store.
  • Though it feels far from the city, this park is an hour’s drive from Gateway Arch National Park in downtown St. Louis.
  • Elephant Rocks State Park is 40 minutes to the south, offering a unique landscape to explore.

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