Missouri [Refresh for 2024]

lakeside activities | camping spots | wine country | Agricultural bounty

Missouri

Chances are, you’re probably more familiar with Missouri than you might think. Mark Twain, author of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was a native of Hannibal. Laura Ingalls Wilder sat and wrote the Little House on the Prairie books in her Mansfield home. Route 66, one of the most iconic roads in America, runs about 280 miles across Missouri, including cities like St. Louis and Springfield. And at some point, while searching for a series to binge from your couch, you might have come across Ozark. Point being, Missouri has very much seeped into pop culture. What you might not know is that the Show-Me State has even more to show you, thanks to its abundance of natural resources. With 92 state parks totaling more than 150,000 acres as well as hundreds of ponds and lakes scattered throughout its terrain, Missouri has a wealth of outdoor activities that appeal to every interest. Read on to find out more, then come and have a look for yourself in 2024.

With all that water available, fishing is a popular pastime for residents and visitors alike. Daily fishing permits can be purchased online for a nominal fee; depending on the sort of fish you’re after, you may need an additional species permit. Lake of the Ozarks and Table Rock Lake have some of the state’s best fishing, even in winter. Nicknamed “The Magic Dragon” for its serpentine shape, Lake of the Ozarks is one of the largest man-made lakes in the U.S. and has a surface area of 54,000 acres. From October to December, look for catfish; March to May, crappie and catfish; and from June to September, fish for bass. Near Branson, Table Rock Lake is also man-made and covers 43,100 acres. Fish for bass from September to November and March to May, then move on to walleye and crappie from June through August.

It’s free to enter Stockton State Park, which overlooks Stockton Lake, a V-shaped body of water in southwestern Missouri near Springfield. Stockton Lake is a beacon for sailors, thanks to a steady breeze that keeps things moving. Sailboats, canoes and kayaks can all be rented here. If you prefer your adventures underwater, scuba diving and snorkelling in the clear water is also allowed from April through November.

Reel it in

Set sail

About a two-hour drive south of St. Louis, Clearwater Lake offers the usual daytime activities like fishing and boating, but it is positively spectacular in the evening thanks to its dark skies. Avoiding the light pollution of the cities means the lake grounds are perfect for stargazing on clear nights. In fact, this is a great spot to catch the annual summertime Perseid Meteor Show, with around 100 meteors per hour. There are many places in Missouri—outside the major cities—where you can easily see the stars put on a show, so be sure to keep looking up, wherever you may be.

Stargazing

will lure you in many ways

BACK TO THE TOP

On the shores of Table Rock Lake, Camp Long Creek provides family glamping units. Enclosed by a private wooden fence and featuring a stone courtyard, these units consist of an adults’ tent with king-sized bed and chandelier as well as a kids’ tent in the courtyard. There is a private bathroom with shower as well as an outdoor tub with firepit. Trade a lake for a 210-acre farm with a stay at Hawley Farm Glamping, near the town of Hamilton. Guests staying in the safari-style tents (or the one yurt) with a queen-size bed can expect s’mores ingredients and breakfast from the hosts.

Glamping

Yurts

Yurts trace back thousands of years in Central Asian history; supported by a wooden frame and covered with fabric, these circular structures were strong and weather tight for nomadic groups. Three Missouri state parks also provide this accommodation for any travelers passing through, though these yurts include windows, dome skylights and locking doors. At Lake of the Ozarks State Park and Pomme de Terre State Park, yurts are equipped with a futon, a futon bunk bed, a small refrigerator as well as air conditioning and heat. You do need to provide your own linens or sleeping bags as well as cooking and eating utensils. At Table Rock State Park, the premium yurts feel more like home with amenities like two bedrooms, a private bathroom, a full kitchen and a television.

Traditional

Shoreside camping is a peaceful way to spend the night (and one way to cook any fish you might have caught). That said, with more than 3,500 campsites around the state, there are campgrounds to match any preference. In addition to the state parks, Mark Twain National Forest lies southwest of St. Louis, encompassing 1.5 million acres and offers everything from cabin rentals to RV camping; dispersed camping, outside of designated campgrounds and without any facilities, is also allowed here. When camping in Missouri, follow the “Leave No Trace” program to minimize your impact on nature.

In addition to hiking its trails, a number of wineries also offer on-site activities or live music. Places like Augusta Winery, Lost Creek Vineyard in Marthasville and Riverwood Winery in Rushville offer yoga. Cave Hollow West Winery, located on the grounds of the Mark Twain Cave Complex in Hannibal, offers a full-service campground as well as the chance to tour two historic caves. The Gardens at St. James Winery gives visitors the chance to play bocce ball, a jumbo checkerboard and a giant game of Jenga.

Loosen up

Productive vines

Missouri might not come to mind immediately when listing wine regions, but a visit there will change your mind. In fact, not only does Missouri have a thriving wine scene just west of St. Louis, but Augusta became the first federally approved American Viticultural Area on June 20, 1980, eight months before California's Napa Valley. What started in the late 1740s with French settlers (and then expanded with German and Italian ones) became a booming industry, even surviving Prohibition a century ago. Today, the region boasts more than 130 wineries as well as 1,700 acres of vineyards, producing 1.25 million gallons of wine each year. Most of Missouri’s wineries are open in winter as well; in fact, if you love Norton wines, head to wine country in January when the state grape is celebrated with special tastings, events and wine releases.

Farm tours

Markets

Whether you’re hankering for some fresh produce or you’re just curious what sort of wares are on offer, Missouri has lots of farmers markets around the state. Driving around, you’ll most likely see roadside stands for seasonal produce. Some of the biggest organized ones include City Market in Kansas City (year-round), Soulard Farmers Market in St. Louis (year-round), Greater Springfield Farmers Market (year-round), Kirkwood Farmers Market (April-October) and Tower Grove Farmers Market in St. Louis (May-October).

Dig in

Supporting the local economy and eating fresh food is a well-oiled sustainable concept in Missouri. At Mozingo Lake Recreation Park near Maryville, amenities include golf (18-hole and 9-hole courses), a public beach, equestrian and hiking trails, rustic cabins for camping and farm-to-table restaurant William Coy’s. Serving American cuisine with a French twist, William Coy’s utilizes ingredients sourced within 45 miles of the restaurant. The Chive Simply Good Café & Market in Grandview, led by mother and son owners, not only present farm-to-table food, but also craft beer. Anywhere from 75%-95% of their food is sourced all year round from approximately 20 local farmers and suppliers.

Table Rock Lake

Lakeside activities

Camping spots

Wine country

Agricultural bounty

Plan your trip

Tasty trails

Getting out in nature is always a treat for the senses, but a wine trail has that additional perk of a tasting or two at some point. Chaumette Vineyards & Winery is nestled amid the rolling hills of Ste. Genevieve and its Chaumette Hiking Center is the fairy godmother you didn’t know you needed. Call to reserve a private dining spot on Chaumette’s two-mile loop trail which winds through the property and savor a gourmet meal and a bottle (or more) of its dry, semi-dry or sweet wine.

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Table Rock Lake

Lake of the Ozarks

The owners of Keltoi Winery in Oronogo encourage visitors to bring a picnic lunch and—after purchasing a bottle of white, red or fruit wine—head to one of the estate’s scenic spots, such as in the woods, by a large pond or even in the vineyard itself. There’s a one-mile hiking trail around the property. Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery in Platte City has many sustainable practices on its seven-acre vineyard. The winery is certified through the Missouri Agricultural Stewardship Assurance Program in five categories: specialty crops, farmstead, grassland, energy and livestock. In addition to eight different wines (ranging from dry to sweet), the winery offers a self-guided eco tour throughout the property, so visitors can see everything from the green-waste composting bin and the chickens roaming around eating bugs to the sheep grazing and the electric vehicle charging station.

Missouri’s soil is not only good for growing grapes, but also other crops (soybeans, corn) as well as raising animals like cattle, hogs and turkeys. The Show-Me State is home to 95,000 farms, and if you’re willing, you can visit some of them as long as you plan in advance. At Shatto Milk Company in Osborn, a family-owned and -operated dairy farm, you’ll learn how milk gets from the cow to the table via a tour of the milk-processing plant and bottling process; of course, you’ll also get to meet the cows and have the opportunity to milk one.

Head to Green Dirt Farm in Weston instead if you prefer meeting sheep and tasting their cheese. If goats are more your spirit animal, Baetje Farms has you covered. Pronounced Bay-G, this farm keeps their goats happy with local and organic foods, which in turn helps them produce cheese that has won more than 70 national and international awards. At Battlefield Lavender, you can feed the chickens, but the real reason for visiting Missouri’s largest lavender farm is to see the 1.3 miles of lavender plants (more than 2,400 of them). The field tends to be in bloom in June and late August with 16 different varieties growing. When the bloom ends, the scent remains, since lavender doesn’t need the flowers to emit its fragrance.

At The Ozark Mill Restaurant, the executive chef works with the on-site, resident farmers at Finley Farms to learn what’s ready to harvest and what is in the next crop rotation for planning future menus; the market menu features ingredients grown on the property. (As of publish, market menu items included double cut pork chops as well as raw, grilled and pickled farm vegetables.) The waterfront restaurant’s staple menu features fire-baked sourdough pizza, hearty entrees as well as a signature green tomato cake that has a “trust us, it’s amazing” note. Curiosity about that one might be worth a visit alone.

If your sweet tooth sets the tone, s’mores ingredients are also provided at Magic Tipi Retreat, which is nestled in the woods near Park Hills. And if you really don’t like being far away from a city when camping, head to Glamping St. Louis, just minutes away in St. Charles. Located at the River Island Marina—a channel leading to the Mississippi River—here, safari-style tents “float” on private docks and each features a king-size bed, a fire ring and a deck.

Smithville Lake

Gary's Gay Parita, Route 66

TerraVox Winery

Bennett Spring State Park

The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum

Stockton Lake

Stargazing in the Ozarks

Current River

Table Rock State Park

Camp Long Creek

Magic Tipi Retreat

Augusta Winery

Chaumette Vineyards & Winery

Bocce ball at The Gardens

LOREM IPSUM

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Shatto Milk Company

Green Dirt Farm

City Market, Kansas City

Mozingo Lake

The Workshop at Finley Farms

The Ozark Mill Restaurant

Battlefield Lavender

Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery

Keltoi Winery

lakeside activities | camping spots | wine country | Agricultural bounty

Lake of the Ozarks

Table Rock Lake