7 unusual campgrounds in Missouri and Illinois (2024)

Do you like to sleep on the ground in a tent? If your answer is a resounding “no,” it may be a surprise to learn that according to a 2022 survey conducted by Dyrt, a subscription software for camping and the largest source of information for United States campgrounds, there are millions of Americans who disagree, and do enjoy spending a night with the crickets.

That is not anything new to Susan Brown who owns the Hummingbird Hollow Outdoors Campground in St. Clair, Missouri, and has several tent camping sites on her property. “Unless it is below 20 degrees, there is usually someone camping out there in a tent,” she says.

And nearly 36 million Americans choose an RV as a way to get outdoors.

Still an additional 5 million prefer camper vans, and almost 2 million enjoy “glamping” in a glorified tent with all the comforts of home. Many glamping tents come with roll-up sides that bring nature inside, at least until dark when many prefer to roll down the sides.

Others prefer camping in a hammock or a sleeping bag fully exposed to the stars, but Dyrt reports those numbers are few.

Regardless, the camping community is large and growing. Just in the last two years Dryt found that 15 million Americans went camping for the first time.

B.J. Davis, president of the Illinois Camping Association Campgrounds, says the pandemic is at least partly responsible. “Campers bring their own shelter,” he says. “Any time socializing was going on it was outdoors, and typically at a minimum 10 feet from each other. “

Davis says another trend is that campgrounds are offering more and more amenities. Often campground cabins for rent can be found alongside tents and RVs. So can attractions like miniature golf courses, planned activities during busy weekends, and lakes for fishing and swimming.

Several campgrounds are private. That is the case with members-only Woodhaven Lakes in Sublette, Illinois, which is also one of the largest campgrounds in the United States. Over 6,200 campsites are scattered around 1,756 acres of woodlands.

What follows is just a sampling of the more unusual camping sites near St. Louis in Missouri and Illinois. Check out current happenings and any specials on the website of each campground.

Grayville KOA Holiday

This campground is centered around eight Western-themed storefronts nicknamed “the downtown.” Inside are a full-service restaurant and bar, a recreation room, a mechanical shooting gallery and an ice cream parlor.

Special weekend events include hayrides, giant bubble machine parties and train rides for children in cars fashioned from 55-gallon steel drums pulled by a tractor. There is also a playground and both an 18- and 9-hole miniature golf course.

Where: 200 Koehler Street, Grayville, Illinois

Prices: 68 RV sites ($55-$80), 10 cabins ($110-$150), 4 tent sites ($15-$20)

Open: All year

Giant Goose Ranch

This campground started when the land was surface mined for coal in the 1930s and ’40s. Once the coal had been depleted, the 60- to 80-foot deep trenches were left to fill with water. In 1954 the property was developed into an 849-acre campground containing 52 lakes covering a total of 300 acres of water.

Each lake is individually managed for a wide variety of fishing options. An additional 200 acres of land are available for hunting waterfowl.

There are 33 miles of hiking and ATV trails, a sand beach for swimming, covered pavilions for family gatherings, and golf carts and pontoon boats for rent. (The largest lake is 2 ½ miles long.)

Ice fishing is offered if weather permits. A hobby farm is children friendly, and most weekends feature activities as diverse as fishing tournaments, scavenger hunts or sand-castle building.

A particularly unique attraction at this park is that if camping isn’t for you, they will build your family a custom cabin with 60 feet of lake frontage.

Where: 25369 North Goose Ranch Road, Canton, Illinois

Prices: Most of the 150 cabins and 220 RV sites are privately owned, but there are 6 RV rental sites ($75, three-night minimum), and 6 rental cabins ($200-$240- three night minimum.)

Open: Year-round but check website for details and offseason pricing.

Rustic Acres Jellystone Park

This is one of the Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, which is a chain of more than 75 family-friendly campgrounds throughout the United States and Canada. Locations are independently owned and franchised. You might be familiar with the one in Eureka next to Six Flags.

This location includes two lakes for fishing stocked with bluegill, crappie, bass, and catfish, and themed weekends such as “Back to School Mad Science Week,” and “Dino-Myte Jurassic Weekend.”

Other activities include visits with Yogi Bear and his friends, a huge Air Pillow for jumping fun, laser tag, foam parties, gem mining, golf cart rentals, a baseball field and basketball and volleyball courts.

There is also a general store.

Where: 12246 Binney Road, New Douglas, Illinois

Prices: 83 RV sites ($35-$90,) 65 cabins ($150-$215,) and 10 tent sites ($35-$60). Several of each type of site are lakeside.

Open: April 14 to Oct. 31

Website: rusticacresjellystone park.com

Hummingbird Hollow Outdoors

This somewhat primitive campground on private property is inside a 24-acre animal sanctuary for abused animals. All proceeds go toward feeding the menagerie, which includes chickens, geese, ducks, turkey, sheep, goats, potbellied pigs, donkeys and horses.

Owner Susan Brown says the purpose of the farm is “to allow people to enjoy the outdoors, animals and nature … and for the animals to enjoy people!” She adds that “we are a sanctuary for all creatures on earth, including humans.”

All of the four camping locations are in pastures shared with several of the animals.

Guests must cross a freshwater creek to get to the sanctuary. The creek can be used for fishing or swimming if the water level is sufficient.

Where: 518 Turkey Run, St. Clair, Missouri

Prices: There is one yurt that sleeps six. It features a patio, and all amenities including a bathroom ($100.) There are three primitive tent camping sites ($25).

Open: All year

Lost Hill Lake

This 200-acre property boasts five unusual glamping opportunities. Included are a lime-green school bus with white wheels that sleeps five and features a patio on top, two Apache campers that each sleep four, a houseboat rescued from Lake of the Ozarks with room for four, and a VW Microbus painted with vibrant colors with cozy space for three.

Glamping campers are served by an outdoor restroom and shower house with hot water and a community kitchen with refrigerator, toaster, grill, sink, and coffee station.

All accommodations are near 15-acre lake Lost Lake with swimming and fishing and a two-story diving tower. Kayaks and paddleboards are complimentary. There is also access to the Meramec River, scenic hiking trails, and an outdoor chapel tucked inside a manicured black walnut grove.

“Thinking Rock” offers a picnic site with sweeping views of the Meramec River.

Each unit include a covered porch with outdoor party lighting, furniture and fire pits.

Where: 783 Lost Hill Lake Road, St. Clair, Missouri

Prices: $125-$300 nightly

Open: All year

Spring Lake Ranch

Formally a bison ranch, this 700-acre property bordering the Mark Twain National Forest now caters to campers staying in luxury cabins, RV sites or tents. It is also a working ranch with herds of goats and cows and an arena where 30 horses are trained for barrel racing and cattle cutting competitions.

A 60-acre spring fed lake with a sand beach is available for swimming, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. The ranch also offers horseback riding, hiking trails, and mushroom and arrowhead hunting in the several creeks on the property.

Where: 11820 Sayersbrook Road, Potosi

Prices: Five luxury treehouse cabins ($200-$350,) four primitive cabins ($40-$80,) nine RV sites ($40-$60,) 30 tent sites ($15-$27)

Open: All year

Silver Dollar City Campground

Interested in a trip offering more exploring than “just” enjoying the outdoors? This campground is conveniently located just over a hilltop from Silver Dollar City theme park, and only three miles from downtown Branson. In addition to the plethora of attractions in Branson and being surrounded by the beauty of the Ozark scenery, the campground features campfire pits, a playground, swimming pool and a fully stocked Clubhouse.

Also on site is a village of hand-hewn log cabins built to mimic cabins in the 1880s. Each is uniquely different.

A shuttle to nearby Silver Dollar City is also offered.

The campground has been named “One of the Best Midwest Campgrounds” by Midwest Living Magazine.

Where: 5125 State Highway 265, Branson

Prices: Cabins from $135-$220, RV sites $38-$56, tent sites $25-$29.

Open: March 15 to December