All 93 Missouri state parks and historic sites are free to enter. The Missouri Division of Tourism says every one has day-use areas and none charges admission; camping, cabins and some tours cost extra. Dogs are welcome on a leash of 10 feet or less. Checked against official state pages on 2026-10-19.
What is free and what costs money
| Item | What we found |
|---|---|
| Entry and day use | Free at all 93 state parks and historic sites. |
| Camping and lodging | 41 parks and sites offer more than 3,500 campsites, plus yurts, cabins and lodge rooms at some. These are reserved and charged separately; prices are on each park’s own page. |
| Hours | Generally sunrise to sunset for day visitors. |
| Tours and cave visits | Some sites run tours with their own prices, which we have not listed because the state pages we read do not show them. |
Source: Missouri State Parks: A Visitor’s Guide, Missouri Division of Tourism, dated 2026-05-19, read 2026-10-19.
Dog rules
Missouri State Parks says pets must be on a leash no longer than 10 feet and under control and quiet at all times. Dogs are not allowed inside any state park or historic site building, or in public swimming areas and beaches. The recommended limit is two dogs per campsite, and you must clean up after your dog. Portable fences and shock collars do not count as a leash. Some lodging units take dogs under the “Cabins for Canines” program.
Source: Enjoying Missouri State Parks with Your Pet, read 2026-10-19.
15 parks and sites to start with
The state tourism guide profiles these parks and historic sites. For the other parks, use the state’s Find Your Park tool, which filters by region, camping, trails, fishing and more.
Central Missouri
| Park or site | What the state tourism guide says |
|---|---|
| Lake of the Ozarks State Park | The largest of Missouri's state parks; two swimming beaches, boat rentals, campsites, outpost cabins and yurts. |
| Harry S Truman State Park | On Truman Lake near Warsaw; fishing, a sand swim beach and basic and electric campsites. |
| Rock Bridge Memorial State Park | Five miles south of Columbia; Devil's Icebox cave system, Connor's Cave and the Gans Creek Wild Area. |
| Missouri State Museum | Inside the state Capitol in Jefferson City; museum staff give Capitol tours. |
Northwest Missouri
| Park or site | What the state tourism guide says |
|---|---|
| Weston Bend State Park | A short drive from Kansas City; a paved trail and an accessible Missouri River overlook. |
| Watkins Mill State Park | Near Excelsior Springs; a 100-acre lake, a paved bicycle path and a sand swimming beach. |
| Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site | Next to Watkins Mill State Park; a National Historic Landmark with tours of the mill and the family house. |
Northeast Missouri
| Park or site | What the state tourism guide says |
|---|---|
| Cuivre River State Park | More than 6,000 acres north of St. Louis; 38 miles of trails and a stocked 55-acre lake. |
| Thousand Hills State Park | Near Kirksville; an Urban Night Sky Place designated by DarkSky International, with petroglyphs. |
| Deutschheim State Historic Site | In Hermann; tours of the Pommer-Gentner and Strehly houses. |
Southwest Missouri
| Park or site | What the state tourism guide says |
|---|---|
| Prairie State Park | South of Lamar; Missouri's largest remaining tallgrass prairie, with a resident bison herd. |
| Stockton State Park | On Stockton Lake; sailing, kayaking, a marina and hiking trails. |
Southeast Missouri
| Park or site | What the state tourism guide says |
|---|---|
| Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park | In the St. Francois Mountains; backcountry, basic and full-hookup camping and cabins. |
| Grand Gulf State Park | West of Thayer near the Arkansas border; a collapsed cave system called Missouri's "Little Grand Canyon". |
| Dillard Mill State Historic Site | A gristmill completed in 1908 on Huzzah Creek, with a 1.6-mile Mill View Trail. |
Are Missouri state parks free?
Yes. Entry is free at every state park and historic site. Camping, lodging and some tours cost extra.
Can I bring my dog to a Missouri state park?
Yes, on a leash of 10 feet or less. Dogs are not allowed in park buildings or on swimming beaches.
What are the hours?
Generally sunrise to sunset for people not camping or staying in park lodging. Individual sites, such as museums and mills, set their own hours.
Do you list stroller rules?
The state pages we read do not state stroller rules, so we have not listed any. Check the park page or call the park office before you go.
Looking for something to do nearby? Browse Missouri events by region.
Sources: Missouri Division of Tourism and Missouri State Parks, read 2026-10-19. See our editorial standards.
Cite this page: It's Missouri, “Missouri State Parks: Free Entry and Dog Rules”, itsmissouri.com/missouri-state-parks/ (updated ). By the It's Missouri editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.