The best camping near Pershing State Park

Located in north-central Missouri, Pershing State Park provides access to open lands and waters. Explore the bottomland forest, expansive prairies, oxbow sloughs, and lakes and streams. Take a boardwalk trail through the 1,000-acre wet prairie to find views of wildlife, wildflowers, and wild landscapes. Maybe you’ll get a nibble after tossing a line into Locust Creek or one of the four lakes. Bring your boat, canoe, or kayak to set sail on Missouri’s clear waters. This park has a reputation for being a peaceful retreat.

• Best for tent campers: Pershing Campground’s has basic sites in a loop (sites 30 through 39).
• Best for hikers: Sites 9 through 16 at Pershing Campground are close to the Oak Ridge Trail trailhead.
• Best for accessing services: Sites 22 through 25 at Pershing Campground are located near the laundry, shower, and amphitheater facilities.

1. Reservations may be made up to 12 months in advance through the Missouri State Park website or by phone. 
2. The campground is open year round, with reservations offered throughout the year.
3. Showers and water are available April 15 through October 31. 
4. A two-night stay is required on weekends, either Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday. 
5. The park offers basic sites, with no hookups, and electric-only sites. Water is available at spigots spread throughout the campground.

Spring comes to northern Missouri in late April or early May, as the trees begin to fill in with leaves. This is still a quiet time at the park. Summer brings higher temperatures and humidity. As summer gives way to fall, the bottomland forests fill with color and the temperatures cool, making this a scenic time to enjoy the park’s natural landscapes. The campground is open year round, making it possible to camp through the winter months. Come prepared for the potential for freezing temperatures and snow and ice.

• One of Missouri’s four remaining covered bridges is found nearby at Locust Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site. The 151-foot white pine bridge is both scenic and historic. 
• Generator use is prohibited within the campground, unless needed for health or safety reasons.