Robertsville State Park: Quiet Camping Near St. Louis

I like to tent camp. I’ve been doing it for years now. My family has camped for many years in large 18×10 tents, and I’ve also camped solo or with one of my kids in a 9×7 dome tent. Because of the logistics of hauling that gear, we prefer to stay within a day’s drive of St. Louis.

I’ve also come to appreciate some of the state park campgrounds closest to St. Louis. Sometimes I want to scratch the itch of an overnight tent stay without going too far. That makes places like Babler State Park, Washington State Park, Meramec State Park, and Cuivre River State park appealing choices. I can do a single evening, sleep under the stars, and then head home.

Among the many choices within a short distance from the 314 is Robertsville State Park, a little gem of a park that’s a perfect overnight camping spot.

Getting There

Robertsville State Park (Google Maps link) is about 40 miles (45 minutes) outside of St. Louis. Drivers from St. Charles might take more time; drivers from West and South County might take less. To get there from St. Louis, take I-44 West to Gray Summit. From there, you head south, then west on 100, south on Robertsville Road, southeast on State Highway O, and then east on Montgomery Road.

Parking

There are a few parking spots around the showerhouse in the campground, and ample parking in other parts of the park. I’ve never had problems finding parking here. Some campsites are back-in, while others are pull-through. Parking, as you would expect, is free.

Costs and Considerations

You can find current camping costs on the Robertsville website. Costs vary depending on the type of site, the time of year, and, during the summer, the day of the week. As of mid-2025, basic sites range from $14-15 per night, electric sites range from $25-$27 per night, and family electric sites range from $38-$42 per night. Electric sites are 30 amps.

There is a group camp area as well, located on the eastern side of the campground.

You can either reserve sites online or at the campground. Missouri charges fees for online reservations but you also are sure to get what you want, so there’s a tradeoff. I tend to prefer basic sites and camp during the week, so I rarely have a problem getting what I want.

Everything at Robertsville is handled through a campground host. The host sites are located right next to the showerhouse. They take care of checking you in; you can also buy firewood through the host.

If you forgot anything, there’s a Dollar General about a five-minute drive from the park. The DG there sells most of the basics, including camping supplies and ice.

The campground is a loop with a one-way road. The showerhouse sits on the east end of the loop; a full single-person restroom — as in a real toilet, not a vault toilet — can be found on the west end. Basic sites ring the outside of the loop, while electric and family sites sit along the inside. You can find scattered water pumps along the inside of the loop near the electric sites.

Things to Do

Robertsville is a more low-key state park. It’s not Meramec. That said, there are a few things to do here.

For one, Robertsville has a pair of trails: the Spice Bush Trail and the Lost Hill Trail. The Spice Bush Trail is a moderate 0.8 mile loop that meanders down along the west quarter of the park. The Lost Hill Trail stretches 2.6 miles along the east half of the park. Both are moderate dirt paths with a few moderate grades, weaving through woods and the occasional clearing. Neither of them is particularly strenuous, and if you spend a single night there a healthy person can hike both of them without trouble.

The trailheads for both trails sit nearly across from one another on the park’s main road. The Lost Hill Trail can also be accessed through a trailhead at the east end of the campground loop.

The north end of the park runs against the Meramec River, and here lies a marina where boat owners can put in along the river. There is also roughly two miles of riverbank access to fish. The most common fish in the river are smallmouth bass, bluegill and crappie.

Between the campground and the river is a small marked trail leading back to Roberts Cemetery. Here  you can find a small enclosed space housing the remains of some of the family the state park and the nearby town are both named after.

You can find a day use area east of the campground, in an open space just off the main park road. It’s got pavilions, open grassy areas, and a decent playground with benches.

There is a park office on property, but it’s not typically open to the public. As I mentioned, the campground host is the primary point person on site for campers.

I should also note that there are a few notable attractions just minutes from the park. If you head back up toward I-44, you’ll find Shaw Nature Reserve, operated by the Missouri Botanical Garden. For a fee, you can stroll through the wide grasslands of the reserve.

North of I-44, you can also find Purina Farms, an entertaining space devoted to animals that is free to enter. Here you can find a visitor’s center and walk along a barn filled with different kinds of animals. You can also sit outside and watch the daily dog performances. Note: In March of 2025 Purina Farms suffered heavy tornado damage to multiple buildings, and as of mid-2025 is closed indefinitely to the public.

Farther out, Six Flags St. Louis and Don Robinson State Park are both about 20 minutes away by car.

Our Thoughts

I’ve camped at Robertsville State Park many times over the years. As a St. Louisan, I love the park simply for its ease of access. I can leave from STL in the early afternoon, and be set up and cooking dinner by late afternoon. It’s a mostly quiet park, even when full, since there aren’t a lot of sites. During the week, it’s mostly empty, making it even more tranquil. The only sounds, really, are that of nature and — at night in particular — occasional vehicles traveling down State Highway O.

This is where I like to camp when I need a little solitude to collect my thoughts. When I’m here I rarely encounter people outside of the host, and on the trails it’s unusual for me to cross paths with another human soul, although I have passed by a turtle or two.

If you’re the kind of camper who wants a lot of activities, this may not be your park. But if you like quiet nature and not too many humans around you, Robertsville is just a stone’s throw from St. Louis.