Castlewood State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Before the establishment of Castlewood State Park, this 1,818-acre site in Missouri was a popular resort that attracted more than 10,000 visitors every summer. The area, known as Lincoln Beach until the 1940s, was home to dance clubs and hotels. However, the resort went out of fashion and fell into disrepair. In 1974, the state turned the area into an outdoor recreation destination featuring the Meramec River for watersports and the lush valley surrounding it for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Nearby Cities:
St. Louis, MO
Eureka, MO
Valley Park, MO
Manchester, MO
Spring 33-77 F
Summer 67-89 F
Fall 37-81 F
Winter 23-45 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Castlewood State Park
Campground Accommodations
Castlewood State Park is a day-use park with no tent or RV camping sites available.
St. Louis RV Park
You will appreciate the convenience of staying at St. Louis RV Park in downtown St. Louis. You can easily walk around the downtown areas and see many interesting attractions, such as the Gateway Arch, Forest Park, and Busch Stadium. The river is nearby, and there are many shopping and dining options. The campground is close to the city trolley, which will take you around downtown.
Number of sites: 54
Rates: $48 nightly, $308 weekly
Type of hookup: Full hookups
Electrical Amps: 30 and 50 amps
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pool or hot tub: Pool
Pet-friendly: Pets are allowed on a leash and outside the gate
Showers: Yes
Additional amenities: Camp store, fitness room
Pin Oak Creek RV Park
Pin Oak Creek RV Park has been rated as a 10 Best Camping Spot by "Best of Missouri" and offers resort types of amenities and activities that feature plenty of family fun. Visitors will enjoy the arts and crafts, fishing pond, and miniature golf, and there are also seasonal, planned activities throughout the year. The park is close to Six Flags and other St. Louis attractions.
Rates: $42.77-$59.05
Type of hookup: Full hookups
Electrical Amps: 30 and 50 amps
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pool or hot tub: Pool
Showers: Yes
Laundry: Yes
Additional amenities: Camp store, paintball, arcade room, playground, volleyball and basketball courts, fishing pond
Sundermeier RV Park
You will be next to the Missouri River when you stay at the Sundermeier RV Park, 20 miles from St. Louis, and close to St. Charles. You will love all the amenities in the park and the proximity to the number of attractions in St. Charles, like concerts, fairs, crafts, and pioneer reenactments. St. Charles was the original capital of Missouri and has many restored and original historical buildings, and the city hosts commensurate themes and events.
Number of sites: 106 back-in or pull-through
Rates: $54-$59/daily, $324-$354/weekly
Type of hookup: Full hookups
Electrical Amps: 30 and 50 amps
Wi-Fi: Yes
Pool or hot tub: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Showers: Yes
Laundry: Yes
Additional amenities: Camp store, nature trails
What to Do at
Castlewood State Park
Many trails wind throughout the park are suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Peddlers will be glad to know that the park is considered one of the best mountain biking locations in the St. Louis area. Alternatively, the deep waters of the Meramec River are ideal for cooling off on warm days and fishing. The picnic areas offer tables and grills so you can prepare and enjoy a hot meal in the serenity of nature. In addition, there is a nearby playground for kids.
Inside Castlewood State Park
Castlewood State Park straddles the Meramec River on both sides and runs along five miles of the river banks. Visitors can hike or bike on the Grotpeter Trail in the uplands area, the River Scene Trail, which loops along the bluffs and down to the river and back, and the Chubb Trail, which is a multi-use trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You can take part in boating activities or fish along the river for bass, bluegill, carp, drum, gar, walleye, crappie, and catfish. The World Bird Sanctuary houses several birds of prey and related exhibits.
Fishing
With several miles of shoreline on the Meramec River, there are many good fishing holes where you can cast your line. Some of these are along the Al Foster, Stinging Nettle, and River Scene trails. The river is home to bass, sunfish, gar, drum, carp, flathead catfish, and channel catfish.
Geocaching
Several caches are positioned throughout Castlewood State Park, including a few puzzle caches. Once you find a cache, you can take a prize, but remember to bring a family-friendly item to leave for the next treasure hunter.
Nature Watching
Castlewood State Park is home to several species of mammals, amphibians, birds, and fish. Whether you are picnicking, hiking, or enjoying time in the park in other ways, you can spot native wildlife like blue herons, kingfishers, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and cricket frogs.
Flora and Fauna
From spring wildflowers to towering trees and the river, the park has a variety of flora to enjoy. On the park's southern end, you can find the remnants of a bottomland forest. The landscape features shagbark hickory, northern red oak, and white oak trees in other areas.
Hiking
The longest of the eight trails that wind through the state park is the 6.5-mile Chubb Trail. It is hilly at each end and features forested bottomland and several restored prairie fields in the middle. If you are looking for a more leisurely hike, the 1.5-mile Lone Wolf Trail is a good choice. This route offers a view of the river valley below, and you will see a stone fireplace that is all that remains of the Lone Wolf Club, a popular dance club during the area's resort era.
Boating
While there is not a boat ramp at Castlewood State Park, kayaking and canoeing are permitted on the river. Parking is available only 100 feet from the water on the park's eastern edge. During most of the boating season, the river is mild and easy to paddle, even for beginners.
Swimming
Castlewood State Park is a popular spot in eastern Missouri for a fun day on the river. Several trails run close to the water, including Castlewood Loop and River Scene Trail, which offer access to the water. Swimmers should be aware of sharp elevation changes in the water and the potential for strong currents.
Biking
Many of the park's trails permit mountain biking. Some trails, like the Cedar Bluff Loop, have steep elevation changes and require technical proficiency. However, routes like the Riverscene Trail offer scenic routes suitable for people of all abilities.
How to Get to
Castlewood State Park
Castlewood State Park is located between Interstate 44 to the south and Highway 100 to the north, and it is flanked by Highway 109 on the west and Highway 141 on the east. However, there is no direct route to the park from Interstate 44. Traveling from St. Louis, take Highway 100 West. Use the exit for Resort Road, and turn south or left on this road. Resort Road takes you directly to the north entrance of the park.
If you are traveling west from Columbia, take Interstate 70 East. At Wentzville, take the exit for Interstate 64 toward St. Louis. A few miles past the Missouri River, turn south or right on Highway 340. At Ellisville, turn east or left on Highway 100. Then take the Res Road Exit. Turn south or right on Resort Road. After a few miles, you will reach the park's north entrance.
Entering Castlewood State Park
Castlewood State Park is open year-round and has no admission fee. Parking is available in the park's southern area close to the World Bird Sanctuary. The park's northern area has parking close to the picnic areas and water access at the eastern end. Parking is also available near the park office.
Castlewood State Park Per person : $0.0
When you are ready to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, or you are eager for an outdoor adventure, Castlewood State Park is the ideal location close to St. Louis.
Frequently Asked Questions About Castlewood State Park
The summer months can be uncomfortably hot and humid, and the winters can be very cold and icy. Because of these weather conditions, the milder temperatures in the spring and fall make these seasons more popular for visitors.
You can spot numerous animals in the grassy picnic areas, forestlands, and rivers. These include kingfishers, blue herons, white-tailed deer, cricket frogs, wild turkeys, and others.
Castlewood State Park is a day-use park. While camping is not permitted, several parks nearby offer campgrounds suitable for RVs.
Castlewood State Park and those with campgrounds nearby are popular destinations during peak seasons. It is recommended that you make a reservation during these times to ensure you get a spot.
Pets are welcome at Castlewood State Park. They must be on a leash, and you are expected to clean up after your four-legged companions.