St. Joe State Park Campground
Loud
I know a large majority of the park is meant for ORV’s but there was just constant noise even in the campground. Besides that it was great though!
Leasburg, Missouri sits amid several established campgrounds that provide access to the Meramec River and Onondaga Cave State Park. Tent and RV sites are available at Onondaga Cave State Park Campground, which features concrete pads, water and electric hookups, and proximity to cave tours and river recreation. Additional campground options include Ozark Outdoors-Riverfront Resort and Meramec State Park Campground, both offering cabin accommodations alongside traditional camping. Garrison Canoe Rental and Campground and Bass' River Resort expand the range of options with glamping facilities and yurt rentals. Most established campgrounds in the area maintain full hookup sites for RVs while preserving tent camping areas.
Seasonal considerations affect camping experiences throughout the region, with most campgrounds operating year-round but experiencing peak visitation during summer months. Water-based recreation drives much of the camping activity, with canoe and kayak outfitters operating near several campgrounds. Concrete pads at Onondaga Cave State Park help mitigate wet conditions, though some sites may experience drainage issues during heavy rainfall. A visitor noted, "Avoid campsite 65 when it rains. We had over an inch of standing water on the concrete pad when we arrived. 18 hours after it stopped raining, we still had some water on the concrete pad."
Campers consistently highlight the natural features and recreational opportunities surrounding Leasburg's campgrounds. The Meramec River provides swimming, fishing, and floating opportunities directly accessible from several campgrounds. Cave tours at Onondaga Cave State Park represent a distinctive feature, with one reviewer noting, "Onondaga Cave is amazing with the new lighting; it just reopened July 4, 2024." Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to scenic areas, with some sites offering direct trail access. Developed campgrounds typically provide clean restroom facilities, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Several campgrounds feature on-site markets and firewood sales, reducing the need for supply runs. The proximity to water recreation, cave exploration, and hiking trails makes the Leasburg area particularly appealing for multi-activity camping trips.
$15 - $57 / night
"Other than the water, Onondaga Cave SP has been one of my favorite places to camp in Missouri for more than 20 years."
"We stayed one night on our way through Missouri. It’s only about ten minutes south of I-44. The campground was only about half full, so it was nice and quiet."
$15 - $65 / night
"Miles upon miles of trails. Spacious campground, caves to explore, old time blast furnace to explore, fresh Missouri spring with exceptional fishing. Then theres a general store with a restaurant"
"Growing up near here, this was the state park that my family always went to. Forty some years later, it is still my favorite park in Missouri. I enjoy camping here with my family and friends."
"Positives: quiet time starting at 11:00 pm, we didn’t hear cursing, loud music, or anything else that disturbs little ones once they go to sleep, close to the river, clean restroom and shower house, shaded"
"They have a family section if you prefer to be away from the louder bunch."
"River access within walking distance. Canoe and raft rental available."
"We stayed in our pop-up camper that was close to the road at the front of the campground. Across the road was the river so we were close to the river which was very nice."
$11 - $16 / night
"This go around we pulled our popup down and chose a site with out hookups. (545) only negative things to say about the site was that it was very densely populated with trees."
$23 - $38 / night
"We had arrived a little too early in the camping season and we happened to pick days where Missouri had a cold front (previous weekend was warm)."
"Security patrols around the clock and doesn't put up with any ridiculousness. Campsites available on pavement, gravel for campers and RVs and grass for tents."
"One we used, and many other we saw, had small trees outlining the edges of the sites.
We had a group of people next to use who were very loud on Friday evening until past midnight .""We took a couples float during the week to get away from our busy lives and relax. The huzzah resort is always top notch."
$20 - $39 / night
"You will hear some highway noise, but honestly, after years in trucking, it just felt like home. No restrooms or extras, but for a quick, no-hassle stop right off I-44, this place nailed it."
"There is a pavilion near the access points to the Berryman and Ozark trails."
"Pretty creek right behind campsite. Enjoyable walking trails."
"We park close to the creek, we drive to the Meramec River and sometimes enjoy petting a horse or goat. Last year we zip lined. It’s close to the caverns and other awesome sites."
"It's up by the cabins/cottages and you definitely need to drive there. Get there early in the morning to set up your chairs in the river to get a good spot."












I know a large majority of the park is meant for ORV’s but there was just constant noise even in the campground. Besides that it was great though!
Decided to visit with family(wife, teenage daughter, and 76 y.o. father) this Saturday afternoon, after completing a peaceful hike at Onandoga S.P., to consider camping later in the week. We politely, respectfully drove into the campground on the MAIN LOOP, around 5-10 mph, and checked the condition of the campsites. We noticed a few other campers present throughout the campground. Our windows were rolled down. Near the primitive campsites, a white vehicle rapidly, aggressively approached us from the left, rear of our car. Horn blaring. RECKLESSLY drove right up onto our rear bumper, then swerved to the left to try to force us over. The man rapidly approached us from his vehicle and accosted us with multiple, rapid fire questions what we were doing and why we were there. WHILE HE WAS AGGRESSIVELY INTERROGATING US, HE WAS CROUCHED FORWARD, POSTURING THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO DRAW ON US. I COULD CLEARLY SEE HIS LEFT HAND ON A FIREARM IN HIS LEFT POCKET- the handle of the firearm was clearly visible. The silhouette of the gun was clearly visible in his left pants pocket. Any reasonably intelligent person would have seen as we drove at a near walking pace on the main loop that we were not there to cause any problems. Any REMOTELY INTELLIGENT person would have instantly realized that we were just a family checking out potential campsites. Any reasonable person would have also considered this RECKLESS ACT OF AGGRESSION as a threat on their family. I was concerned for the safely of my family and myself. An embarrassing act of overreach. The"security guard" identified himself as"Dave." We will NEVER give this place our business again. I will NEVER risk taking my family here again. This place probably does not want your family here either...
This campground is nice for March, when it's a little cool. But there is no shade, so mid-summer would be hot! Level sites, full hookups, pretty nice.
⭐ 0 stars if I could. TRAVELERS& TOURISTS, BEWARE– AVOID THIS ESTABLISHMENT. The lack of communication and respect is unacceptable. Before booking, read the reviews on Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor—you’ll see we are not the first to experience this. Three weeks ago, my son-in-law called and spoke directly with Michele Broxton, the owner, regarding full-time opportunities while moving from California to Missouri. She was friendly and helpful, guaranteed him a spot when ready at a monthly rate of$595 or three months in advance at a discounted rate of$1,500, and then completely ghosted him. For the next two weeks, he tried calling, texting, and emailing repeatedly to confirm the deposit for placement. Meanwhile, trusting her guarantee and the availability of openings, he secured employment starting in March and arranged RV transport, paying over$2,500 for delivery to Ozark Farms on February 24, 2026. Being from Missouri and familiar with the area, I got involved because I know it’s a great state to raise a family—but based on Ozark Farms’ website, this experience was anything but welcoming. I called to check if there had been a communication error and found two additional numbers still routing to Michele Broxton. I called, texted, and emailed every single one, hoping someone would respond—no one ever did. Finally, after numerous attempts, someone answered at 5:30 PM California time/ 7:30 PM Missouri time. I believe it was Michele Broxton. When I asked if this was Ozark Farms, the response was,“How can I help you?” I explained the urgency and asked if I was speaking with Michele Broxton—she refused to answer and stated she needed to speak only with the person signing the agreement. When I requested to merge the call with my son-in-law, she refused. Throughout the call, she acknowledged the urgency in a somewhat caring tone—but gave no apologies, no explanation, and would not confirm her identity. She stated she would review communications to“ensure nothing was lost in translation.” It doesn’t matter who I spoke with—this person is a representative of Ozark Farms and the face of the company to customers. Despite being polite and professional, the lack of respect and transparency was shocking. Only after persistent follow-ups did she finally contact my son-in-law—and not by phone or text, but via an email at 9:30 PM PST/ 11:30 PM Missouri time, declining his reservation four hours after our call. We will never recommend or patronize Ozark Farms. They advertise as a“caring, family-run business,” but offer zero communication or transparency. Relocating to a new state is a huge financial and personal commitment. Prospective tenants deserve honest communication, clarity, and follow-through—things Ozark Farms failed to provide.
Plenty of space between spots. Not a lot of flat spots, though. Off-season pit toilet was available. Campground has shower house in-season. Nice and quiet. There was no host but a ranger came around.
Very well maintained. Everything looks new, works well, is clean and organized. Nicest thing is the park is quiet. No road noise which is wonderful. Winter stop for me so I have only seen the shower house from the outside but I would expect it to also be well maintained.
Stayed for a night and I think there were only like 4 campsites filled in the whole campground? Pit toilets in pretty bad shape but did we expect any different😂 loved our visit, went down to the lake to swim and found a walking trail by the water just down from our campsite. Bugs were bad but that’s to be expected, can’t really get away from it in Missouri in June.
Had a wonderful weekend camping trip in the basic loop. Grass well-trimmed, campground pretty clean and full of families. Definitely a lot of kid noise, but I much prefer that to adults drinking into the night. Staff always cheerful and eager to provide a good experience; they do ride around every so often to check in on things. Camp host on site. Some sites certainly better than others; the biggest ones are near the entrance to the basic loop.
Bathrooms older and not spotless, but they stay on top of stocking them. Very well lit at night. Check-in station has patches, t-shirts, and firewood for sale in big bundles for $5. They do cover them when it rains.
There is definitely a friendly community atmosphere, but you can keep to yourself if that's your preference.
There is a nice 3-mile hike that begins at the campground.
It's a nice lil place to camp but the camp sites r not that big
Camping sites near Leasburg, Missouri provide access to the Huzzah and Courtois creeks alongside the Meramec River in the northern Ozarks region at approximately 700-800 feet elevation. The area's limestone geology creates distinctive karst features including caves, springs, and clear streams that remain cool even during hot summer months. Campgrounds typically experience humidity levels above 70% during summer with temperatures cooling significantly in evening hours.
Cave exploration: 1-2 hour guided tours at Onondaga Cave State Park Campground offer an escape from summer heat. "No matter how many caves you've seen, you'll remember this one. Elevated walkways, pools, absolutely lovely," notes a camper who particularly appreciated the tour guides who "are very knowledgeable and everyone seems to love their jobs."
Ropes course adventures: 2-3 hour sessions at Ozark Outdoors-Riverfront Resort provide a unique treetop perspective. "My family also enjoy the Floating Trees ropes course. It was supposed to be about 2 hours but the instructors let them go an extra 45 minutes without anyone feeling rushed," explains a visitor who appreciated the unhurried experience.
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening hours yield best results for spotting local fauna. "We saw deer and raccoons here that entered our campsite," reports a camper at Meramec State Park, while another mentions, "We got to see many bats and found out there was a BatFest the next month!"
Horseback riding: Reserve well in advance during summer months when demand is highest. "There is trail riding and a zip line, but trail riding was all booked when we called to reserve," warns a camper who missed out at Blue Spring Ranch.
River access: Varies by campground with some offering direct beach access. "Get there early in the morning to set up your chairs in the river to get a good spot," advises a visitor to Blue Spring Ranch. Another camper appreciated how their site was "right on the gravel bar and about 100 ft from waters edge. Great for relaxing and having a 'beverage' while watching the floaters figure out life."
Well-maintained facilities: Most campgrounds offer clean restrooms despite high usage. "Spotless bathroom/shower, attentive campground hosts and plenty of amenities," notes one camper about Onondaga Cave State Park, while another praises, "The bathhouse was walking distance from our camp" though cautioning that "a few of the showers on the female side didn't work."
Group-friendly setups: Some campgrounds cater specifically to larger parties with specialized site configurations. At Huzzah Valley Resort, "They have group buddy sites that allowed four rigs to all front doors to face each other all being pull through sites," explains a visitor who appreciated the social layout.
Low-cost options: National Forest sites offer basic but free camping. "Remote and off the beaten path. A small campground with only 8 spots, some big enough for RVs. No hook ups or water. Pack it in and pack it out," describes a visitor to Berryman Trail Campground who "didn't find Bigfoot, although we were warned by some locals at the campground."
Noise levels vary dramatically between campgrounds and campground sections. Many locations separate areas by intended use. "Huge campground with a family side and a late night side," notes a regular at Ozark Outdoors, while another camper at Garrison Canoe Rental and Campground found "Very quiet thru the week" conditions but weekend activity increases substantially.
Cell service limitations affect most campgrounds in the area. "The cell phone service is virtually non-existent. We had planned to work from here and had to cut our visit short," reports a visitor to Meramec State Park. At Berryman Trail Campground, visitors found "AT&T and Sprint have only enough service to make calls at the sites."
Weekend reservations essential during summer months for established campgrounds. "We called on the day I wanted to go camping and still got a spot," notes an off-season visitor to Bass' River Resort, but summer visitors consistently recommend booking weeks in advance.
Traffic hazards exist at some campgrounds with highway proximity. "Our campers backed up to a fence about 5 feet off the highway. Cars and trucks fly down this highway at very fast speeds all hours of the day and night. Worried for everyone's safety if there was a crash," warns a visitor to Garrison Canoe Rental and Campground.
Look for dedicated family areas: Many resorts separate quiet family camping from party areas. At Meramec Caverns Natural Campground, staff are particularly accommodating, as one military family noted: "The staff put us on an end spot farther from the high traffic high noise area. We were close to the beach, but further from the noise."
Check river safety features: Water depth and current vary significantly. "The river can be dangerous there but if you respect it and have life vests, it makes for an amazing day," advises a parent whose "kiddos played (with life vests) for 8 hours straight."
Consider camping cabins: Several campgrounds offer alternatives to tents during extreme weather. "We stayed in the large cabin, very nice space, great views, and everyone is very friendly," shares a visitor to Bass' River Resort who appreciated the comfortable option for a family float trip.
Verify playground conditions: Many campgrounds have limited play equipment. "The playground was not huge but my kids still enjoyed it," reports a parent from Ozark Outdoors, while another visitor noted that "Rock beach for wading and swimming" provided better entertainment than the play structures.
Concrete pad availability: Seasonal weather impacts site quality. At RV Self-Park, "Large level spots (no need unhook for an overnight stay)" make this location convenient for quick stops, though visitors note "Lots of interstate noise as it's very close."
Electric options range widely: Most campgrounds offer some hookups but with variations. "We have an rv with 50amp service and essentially, we were on a converted parking lot next to a pavilion. The sites facing the river were a bit nicer," reports a camper at Meramec Caverns Natural Campground.
Site levelness varies significantly: Even improved sites may present challenges. At Bass' River Resort, a camper noted the site "was very densely populated with trees. (Not a problem if you love shade or aren't trying to back in a camper for the first time)."
Overnight options exist for quick stops: For travelers passing through, self-service RV parks provide efficient alternatives. "You can reserve a site online or just do it when you get there as I did. After paying the power is supposed to be turned on," explains a visitor to RV Self-Park who appreciated the convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Leasburg, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Leasburg, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 122 campgrounds and RV parks near Leasburg, MO and 8 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Leasburg, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Leasburg, MO is Onondaga Cave State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 39 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Leasburg, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 free dispersed camping spots near Leasburg, MO.
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