Castlewood State Park RV & Campground Guide

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In the early 1900s, the community of Castlewood was a popular nightspot for the residents of St. Louis. Patrons would ascend the grand staircase at the Castlewood depot to visit the hotel, cabins, and clubs. They could also take a ferry across the river to Lincoln Beach, located on a large sandbar on the Meramec River. In its heyday, more than 10,000 people would come to Castlewood each weekend during the summer. Today, Castlewood State Park is a large public recreation area that's located next to the Meramec River and the surrounding valleys, right near St. Louis and the small town of Ballwin, Missouri. Visitors enjoy fishing, swimming, viewing the wildlife and biking and hiking along the many multi-use trails.

Weather
Spring 33-76 F
Summer 63-88 F
Fall 34-80 F
Winter 20-44 F

Nearby Cities
Twin Oaks, MO
Valley Park, MO
Winchester, MO
Ballwin, MO

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RV Resorts & Campsites in Castlewood State Park

Traveling around the countryside in an RV is a great way to unwind from the stresses of ordinary life. Being able to take your mobile "home" with you as you travel is a convenient way to visit state parks without having to deal with setting up a tent. While you are visiting the park in your own or a rental RV, you may want to branch out and stay at one of the many RV parks and campgrounds in the nearby area.

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

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What to Do at
Castlewood State Park

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.

Outside Castlewood State Park

While you are visiting Castlewood State Park, you may want to see other interesting sites or do some shopping and dining out. The city of St. Louis is home to many attractions as well as unique restaurants and shops. Whether you'd enjoy walking around natural settings, visiting a theme park, or indulging in a shopping foray, you are sure to find the perfect amusement.

Restaurants

First Watch

First Watch is a restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. They specialize in fresh fruits and vegetables and dishes made from scratch on-site. Their menu features omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts. One of their signature plates is the Chickichanga, a flour tortilla with whipped eggs with chorizo sausage, spicy white-meat chicken, green chilies, cheddar and Monterey Jack, onions, avocado, Vera Cruz sauce, and sour cream. They are open for breakfast and lunch.

Type: American

Location: 1507 South Brentwood Blvd, Brentwood, MO 63144

Pappy's Smokehouse

Pappy's Smokehouse has all the smoked meats you could want. Some of their popular dishes include baby-back pork ribs and beef burnt-ends, which are served with a choice of sauces like sweet, spicy, vinegar and original, and their brisket sandwiches. Popular sides include burnt corn and vinegar slaw. They are open for lunch and dinner.

Type: Barbecue

Location: 3106 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63103

Broadway Oyster Bar

Broadway Oyster Bar has a wide variety of Cajun-Creole and seafood dishes, housed in a historic building that is more than 170 years old. The oysters are served in 10 different ways, and they also have crawfish enchiladas, Dungeness crabs, fish tacos, burgers, po'boys, and more. Their signature dish is the alligator sausage and shrimp cheesecake. They have outside dining as well as inside, and they have live music in the evening hours. They are open for lunch and dinner.

Type: Cajun, Creole

Location: 736 S Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102

Anthonino's Taverna

Anthonino's Taverna is an Italian restaurant that serves traditional Italian dishes with a Greek influence. They offer pizzas, pasta, lamb, chicken, steaks, gyros, and more. A favorite dish is their roasted ravioli. They are located in "The Hill" district, an Italian neighborhood of St. Louis. They are open for lunch and dinner.

Type: Italian

Location: 2225 Macklind Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

Brasserie by Niche

Brasserie by Niche offers fine dining menu choices in a casual atmosphere. The cuisine is American, and there is a wide variety of entrees, sandwiches, soups, and salads. Some favorite dishes include the brasserie burger, trout amandine, sea scallops, and other meals. They serve lunch and dinner through the week but have a brunch menu on Sundays.

Type: American

Location: 4580 Laclede Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Shopping

Urban Matter

Urban Matter is a retail shop that has home decor, gifts, and home-made items from local artisans. They also offer design services and custom lighting.

Location: 3179 S Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118

Zee Bee Market

You can find a truly unique gift at the Zee Bee Market. They specialize in offering handcrafted and fair trade items that are ethically produced. There is something for every taste, and they sell jewelry, ceramics, gifts, clothing, and even chocolates.

Location: 3211 South Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63118

Cool Stuff Period

Cool Stuff Period is an antique and consignment store, but it is not your usual antique-and-flea-market type of establishment. The items are singular and of high quality, and everything is well-displayed.

Location: 2301 S Big Bend Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63143

Retro 101

Retro 101 is a store that sells vintage, used clothing. They offer handbags, jewelry, clothing, and accessories for both men and women. They also have some unique items sold seasonally, like vintage Valentine's Day cards.

Location: 2214 Cherokee St, St. Louis, MO 63118

Sightseeing

Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch is the symbol of the spirit of St. Louis. The monument to the gateway to the west is the tallest archway in the world. It is 192 meters tall and sits beside the Mississippi River on the Missouri side. The purpose of the Gateway Archway is to commemorate all the pioneers who set out from St. Louis on their westward travels. Visitors can either take a ride inside the arch to the observation floor, or they can enjoy the shady park that runs along the Mississippi River.

Location: 11 N 4th St #1810, St. Louis, MO 63102

Missouri Botanical Garden

You will feel refreshed and rejuvenated after visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. This botanist's dream contains flower beds, greenhouses, lawns, and stands of trees. Established more than 150 years ago, this garden has served to present to visitors a variety of local and non-native plants. The exhibits include the Gladney Rose Garden with accents of red and white, the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Chinese Garden with gilded gateways, and the Biblical Garden with fig and olive trees. The resident butterfly house is the largest in the U.S.

Location: 4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110

Six Flags St. Louis

The Six Flags theme park is spread out on 323 acres in western St. Louis and is home to thrilling rides, like the Bonzai Pipeline, the Boomerang, American Thunder, the Fireball, and the Ninja. The adjacent water park contains rides like the Big Kahuna with rafts, the Tree House with slides, and Hook's Lagoon with splash pools.

Location: 4900 Six Flags Rd, Eureka, MO 63025

How to Get to
Castlewood State Park

Castlewood is outside St. Louis near Ballwin along Kiefer Creek Road. Take Hwy 141 (Meramec Station Road) until the Big Bend exit. Turn west onto Big Bend. Big Bend turns into Oak Street. Turn left at Ries Road. After you go over the hill, turn left at the Castlewood sign.

Entering Castlewood State Park

Castlewood State Park is open year-round, from 7 a.m. to sunset. The gates are closed 30 minutes after sunset.

Castlewood State Park Per person : $0.0

All Missouri State Parks are free

Castlewood State Park is a great destination for anyone looking for plenty of outdoor recreational activities. The Meramec River has been a longtime favorite site for the residents of St. Louis, and now it's also a favorite for all travelers. Visiting in an RV rental from RVshare is one of the best ways to get to Castlewood State Park, and your fellow RVers would love to see your photos that you can send to [email protected] Don't forget to tag RVshare on your trip-related social media posts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Castlewood State Park

What is the best time of year to visit Castlewood State Park?

The best time of year to visit Castlewood State Park is in the summer because this park’s water will be warm enough for swimming after you explore the hiking and mountain biking trails.

Are there designated RV camping spots in Castlewood State Park?

No, there are no designated RV camping spots at Castlewood State Park. This park is near Ballwin, Missouri, and many nearby campgrounds exist. You may want to consider options in West St. Louis.

What kind of wildlife can be found in Castlewood State Park?

Castlewood State Park is a fabulous place to see spot mink, river otters, beavers, skunks, and white-tailed deer. Watch above you when visiting. You may see kingfishers, great blue herons, wild turkeys, and bald eagles.

Are pets allowed at Castlewood State Park?

Dogs are allowed in all areas of Castlewood State Park. Remember to bring along drinking water for your pets as it is not provided. You must keep your pet on a leash.

Is Castlewood State Park accessible for disabled visitors?

The park office, east day use area, and west day use area are ADA compliant at Castlewood State Park. There are accessible parking spaces in the west area because it is very hilly.