Are you considering a big move to Missouri? There are plenty of affordable cities in the Show Me State perfect for all kinds of families. It’s also known for its iconic, storied landmarks like the Gateway Arch. Made up of distinct geological regions including the prairies, upland plains, and lowlands, this Ozark region is home to breathtaking plateaus, rushing streams, and beautiful sprawling hills.
Experience Missouri’s splendor with these top ten state parks.
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Visitors Per Year: 548,171
The first chapter in your winding Missouri adventures? Ha Ha Tonka State Park. With over half a million visitors per year, is one of the most popular spots for both tourists and residents. And it’s renowned for good reason: It’s brimming with a large natural bridge, historic castle ruins, sinkholes, caves, bluffs, and Missouri’s 12th largest spring. Ha Ha Tonka packs a lot of geological wonder into 3,700 acres (plus, it’s a great spot for birding). Smooth boardwalks and easy, scenic trails flourish throughout the park, leading to picnic sites and swimming holes, caving sites, fishing and boating areas, kayak rentals, and campgrounds.
Bennett Spring State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Visitors Per Year: 1,676,055
Sitting snugly in Bennett Springs, Bennett Spring State Park is located on a spring that empties into the Niangua River. The esteemed state park is famous for fishing rainbow trout, but also has a robust exploration experience with hiking trails, swimming areas, year-round campgrounds, cabins, and even a dining lodge.
Castlewood State Park
Google Rating: 4.8
Visitors Per Year: 901,523
Heads up, mountain bikers: This is the go-to state park in Missouri for cycling and trail biking. With green and lush meadows that are divine for wildlife watching and birding, the picturesque landscape captures many a wow-worthy moment. On your fun-filled day (there are no camping sites), enjoy gorgeous views on a horseback riding trail or walking path, and break for lunch at a picnic site.
Table Rock State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Visitors Per Year: 1,325,083
Located in a buzzy tourist town, Table Rock State Park is just one of the many vibrant attractions in Missouri. The 356-acre park is a water sports enthusiast’s dream, with a marina that includes rentals for kayaks, paddle boards, ski boats, and supplies for a day of fishing. Aside from water activities, take in the sights and sounds with trails for hiking and cycling, as well as picnic spots and campsites (including yurts!) that wrap around the lake.
Roaring River State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Visitors Per Year: 1,901,243
Looking for wow-worthy and stunning landscapes? Add Roaring River State Park to your must-see list. With over 4,200 acres to explore, it’s a paradise for outdoor lovers of all stripes. From trout and fly fishing to hiking and camping, this state park packs in a bunch of experiences. The lush, scenic terrain boasts beautiful rock formations and valleys in the Ozark hills that also host 600 varieties of plant life. Even more breathtaking is the Roaring River Spring, which begins in a deep gorge beneath a cliff.
Montauk State Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Visitors Per Year: 604,454
Southwest of Salem, Missouri, is 3,000 acres of a green-filled sanctuary. Montauk State Park is a leafy escape for all things related to fishing, hiking, picnics, and camping. First, begin at Pigeon Creek where you can fish—or simply watch—rainbow trout in the spring water. Then, make your way down to one of the three trails to take in nature at a deeper glance. With picnic sites and the famous Current River, there are plenty of picture-perfect opportunities to experience nature at full speed.
Mastodon State Historic Site
Google Rating: 4.6
Visitors Per Year: 675,286
Archaeological wonder awaits at Mastodon State Historic Site. Step into the over 400-acre site known for its fossilized remains and paleontological displays. The site’s namesake is due to the discovery of mastodon and other extinct animals in the early 19th century. Inside the park, history buffs and visitors can learn about the mastodon discovery and what the terrain of this site was really like thousands of years ago. With the museum and artifact display, you can take a deep look at science and history. Beyond the famous artifacts, visitors can wind through three trails and a picnic site for day explorations.
Meramec State Park
Google Rating: 4.6
Visitors Per Year: 436,851
Looking for a hiker’s scene? Head on over to Meramec State Park. With a mix of landscapes, including a dramatic cave entrance (yes, really), bluffs, and wooded areas, it’s a view perfect for hitting the 13 miles of trails. Then, hit up a tour of Fisher Cave. When you’re done stretching your legs, there are more activities like rafting, swimming, and fishing, plus campgrounds and even a motel in the state park.
Cuivre River State Park
Google Rating: 4.6
Visitors Per Year: 668,759
Explore the Ozarks at Cuivre River State Park. This is one of Missouri’s largest state parks, and its splendor runs through woodlands, prairies, caves, springs, creeks, and stream valleys. Additionally, there are savannas, bluffs, glades, and ponds that also house a robust array of plants (including bush honeysuckle and garlic mustard) and wildlife (like salamanders). Explore natural wild areas and set aside time to camp, walk the trails, swim, fish, or take a historic tour.
Don’t Forget about the National Parks!
In addition to state parks, Missouri is home to one of the most iconic national parks:
Gateway Arch National Park
Google Rating: 4.7
Visitors Per Year: 1,150,000
Standing in St. Louis, where f Lewis and Clark’s expedition began, is Gateway Arch National Park. The actual arch itself—The Gateway Arch—is the tallest structure in Missouri at 630 feet. This nearly 91-acre park encapsulates rich storied history, picture-perfect landscapes, and a museum. Start your visit with a tram ride to the top of the Arch to see the full view of the park. You may want to dive into a ranger-led guided tour for glimpses of history and nature in one swoop. Then, explore the Old Courthouse for tours of its architecture and insights into its famous trial, The Dred Scott Case.
All parks have been ranked based on the criteria of popularity, distance from closest major cities, violent crime, property crime, Google ratings, and the number of Google reviews.
Stephanie Valente is a Content Director and Editor in Brooklyn, NY. She’s previously held writing and social media positions at Barkbox, Men’s Journal, and currently works at a full-service advertising agency. She’s a self-confessed home and design enthusiast. Stephanie is an award-winning poet and fiction writer. When she’s offline, you can find her taking a yoga class, running, hanging out with her rescue dog Pepper. Find her on stephanievalente.com.
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