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St Joe
Overview
St. Joe State Park in Park Hills, Missouri, is a unique destination known for its vast landscape and industrial history. Spanning over 8,000 acres, it is recognized as one of the premier off-road vehicle parks in the Midwest. While it caters heavily to the motorized crowd, it also offers a peaceful retreat for traditional campers looking to explore the rolling hills and crystal-clear lakes of the Southeast Missouri region. The park manages to balance high-energy adventure with quiet, natural beauty, making it a versatile stop for any RVer.
Location & Surroundings
Situated in the heart of the Old Lead Belt, the park's topography is a blend of rugged trails and serene woodlands. It is conveniently located near the city of Park Hills, providing easy access to local conveniences while still feeling secluded. The area is defined by its mining heritage, featuring large sand flats that provide a stark, beautiful contrast to the lush surrounding forests and the pristine lakes found within the park boundaries. These lakes offer a refreshing oasis for fishing and swimming during the warm Missouri summers.
Amenities & Park Features
The park features two distinct campgrounds to accommodate different camping styles. Campground 1 is designed specifically for ORV enthusiasts, offering direct trail access and electric hookups. Campground 2 provides a quieter environment for those seeking a more traditional, relaxed stay. Both areas include access to modern shower houses, laundry facilities, and a convenient dump station. Beyond the campsites, visitors can enjoy miles of paved cycling paths, expansive equestrian trails, and designated swimming beaches at Monsanto Lake, ensuring everyone in your party finds a way to stay active.
Nearby Attractions & Things to Do
Beyond the park’s famous ORV trails, there is plenty to explore in the surrounding area. History buffs will appreciate the Missouri Mines State Historic Site, which is located adjacent to the park and offers a deep dive into the region's lead mining past. For those willing to drive a short distance, the unique geological wonders of Elephant Rocks State Park and the refreshing waters of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park are popular day trips. Locally, the nearby Bonne Terre Mine offers fascinating underground boat tours and even scuba diving opportunities.
Who This Park Is Best For
This destination is ideal for adventure-seeking families and motorized sports fans who want to spend their days traversing the dunes and wooded trails. However, its expansive trail system and multiple lakes also make it a great choice for equestrian travelers and mountain bikers looking for scenic variety. If you appreciate a mix of high-energy recreation and quiet evenings under the stars in a historically rich setting, St. Joe State Park is an excellent choice for your next Missouri RV trip.
Amenities
- Recreational Facilities
- Policies
- Other Amenities & Services
- Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles)
- Facility
- On-Site Rentals
- Sites
User Reviews
Shannon Ray
Absolutely beautiful and family fun for all off-roading, ATV, dirt bike riding on one side then water front beach on other other side swimming and to just cool off after riding gorgeous views. Camping also available. Definitely a great time you will enjoy!!!
Debra A
I visited this Park solely for the purpose of hiking the Lakeview Trail by Monsanto Lake and found that a quiet commune with nature this is NOT. But I was half expecting that since the park is primarily for ORVs. It's an okay trail with views of the lake for the first about 3/4 mile. Beware that there's one section with large pieces of broken rock underfoot that's not at all comfortable even with good hiking shoes. Being August in Missouri, it was also extremely buggy. I wouldn't go out of my way for this one, but if you're staying at the park, might as well.
Matt NAPPIER
Take my son here a few times a year and we always have a blast. Be sure to purchase passes on line prior to arrival. They are very reasonably priced. We also always use the concrete loading ramps to make things simple and quick.
Angie AuBuchon
This park has it all! Camping, a lake with awimming area, horse riding trails, cycling trails. Wooded utv, atv, and motorcycle trails and sand dunes. It was a slightly rainy day, which made for some fun riding with less dust. We hit the puddles until we were soaking wet!
Nathan Powers
This was a much larger Park than I expected. I also had no idea that it was a very popular place for off-road vehicles. We selected the campground closer to the off-road vehicle area which includes 54 mi of off-road trails. The campground was large and spacious. I had one of the cleanest bathrooms I think I've seen in a Missouri State Park. Even the 2 vault toilets next to our campsite were kept clean. While you could hear sometimes the dirt bikes or four-wheelers off in the distance from the campground and people would drive around the campground on them. They were respectful of the area and didn't go speeding through. And everybody was respectful of quiet hours, not revving up their engines all night. The campground locked at night and you needed a code to get in and out at night. Probably to deter thieves I did not get to check out the Horace centric campground because it was gated shuts and I think you needed a code to get in and out.