Bennett Spring State Park

The motel, cabins, dining lodge and park store are operated by your concession hosts, Jim and Carmen Rogers. Let Jim and Carmen or a member of their staff make your visit to Bennett Spring State Park special. Ask about the fly fishing school or stop by the store for last-minute items.

Smoking is not allowed inside any lodging unit. Dogs are allowed in a limited number of the cabins for an additional fee. Click on the Cabins for Canines link to the right for more information.

Images of the Bennett Spring's Lodges

For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, visit our Park and Site Status Map.

Park Office

Originally built in 1937, the park office is located across from the dining lodge. The asphalt parking lot is level, but accessible parking is not available at this time.

Nature Center

The nature center, located at the park's south end, provides modern visual displays of the various ecosystems in this park. A park naturalist is available to answer questions and conduct various scheduled programs, which can be held inside or on the outside plaza. An accessible restroom and water fountain are available.

The large asphalt parking lot has two accessible parking spaces with a lighted, concrete pathway connecting the parking with picnicking, the outside plaza and the center's entrance.

Stream Shelter Area – Shelter B

Located midway down the stream corridor is an accessible shelter that can be reserved. The area is picturesque with the earthiness of the shelter surrounded by grass and trees. This area provides an accessible flush restroom, water fountain and four accessible parking spaces (two at the restroom) all connected by concrete pathways. The shelter has electricity, extended-end tables and a group grill and can accommodate 100 people. A playground is close enough for children to be watched from the shelter. This shelter may be reserved.

Individual picnicking is also available in this area with some being accessed across the existing level turf.

Spring Shelter Area - Shelter A

This rustic shelter overlooking the spring was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The shelter is built of stone and large timber with a flagstone floor. Concrete pathways lead to a water fountain and an asphalt parking lot with one accessible space. A shady concrete patio with a fire pit has been added to create more outdoor space. This shelter can accommodate 50 people and can be reserved. New vault toilets are conveniently located in this area.

The area also contains individual picnicking and a grass-surrounded horseshoe pit. The playground is not accessible.

Picnic Areas

Scattered throughout the park are picnic sites accommodating the mobility impaired. These sites have a concrete pad with an extended-end table and a grill. Some have concrete paths and others are accessed over the existing turf.

Campgrounds

Bennett Spring has five campgrounds to choose from. All five have accessible water hydrants with concrete pathways.

• Campground 1 (sewer/electric/water sites), located at the base of the hill, provides RV campers with an asphalt paved, shady, neighborhood-type setting. Two of these sites are fully accessible.
• Campgrounds 2 through 5, on top of the hill, offer woodland settings for electric and basic camping. There are a total of one basic and seven electric accessible campsites.
• Campgrounds 2 and 3 have asphalt and gravel-based sites with one basic and three electric accessible concrete-paved sites. The showerhouse in these loops is not accessible.
• Campground 4 has asphalt-paved sites with two accessible concrete-paved electric sites and an accessible showerhouse/restroom. An accessible water fountain and a telephone with volume control are located here.
• Campground 5 has asphalt-paved sites with two accessible concrete-paved electrical sites. The shower and restroom buildings may limit some users. All loops have accessible water hydrants with concrete pathways.

Lodging

Roads and accessible parking to the various lodging unit areas are asphalt paved and for lodging guests only. A combination of 40 two-bedroom housekeeping units and 22 single-bedroom sleeping units is available.

Spring Area Cabins

• Four duplexes are set in a meadow at the south end of the park. Accessibility modifications have not been made to these cabins.

Central Cabin Area

• A variety of one and two-story housekeeping units, duplexes and sleeping rooms are centrally located off the main road. A duplex located in a shady hollow has been modified to provide two accessible units in this area.

River Area Cabins

• Three duplexes are set in a grassy area and overlook the Niangua River at the north end of the park. Unit 51 is a fully accessible housekeeping unit with a kitchen and a shady porch.

Motel

• A 10-unit motel is located just up the hill from the sewer/electric/water campground. Two units in this motel are fully accessible with two accessible parking spaces.

Fishing

The banks along the stream vary from level and grassy to 15 feet deep and gravel. Much of the stream corridor is shaded. Five accessible fishing sites have been developed at this time.

• The first three, found in Zone 1 (flies) at the south end of the park, are asphalt-paved piers connected to accessible parking by paved pathways. There is a new, accessible restroom within 500 feet of the piers. This facility has a water fountain and an asphalt parking lot with two reserved spaces and is open year-round.
• The fourth access is from the newly remodeled Whistle Bridge, which now has lane demarcations and railings. The upper side of the bridge is Zone 2 (selected artificial lures) and the lower side of the bridge is Zone 3 (natural bait and other lures). The closest restroom facilities are at the end of the cul de sac in the shelter area approximately 500 feet away.
• The fifth access is just down from the Whistle Bridge, called the Suzy Hole. This is centrally located with accessible parking and a concrete path. This area is also Zone 3. An accessible restroom can be found within a short drive, either across the stream or at the store complex.

Canoe Launch

At the confluence of the spring branch and the Niangua River is a concrete canoe launch accessing the river. There is an asphalt parking area with two concrete-paved accessible parking spaces. A continuous concrete path goes from the parking to an accessible vault toilet and the canoe launch. Due to the excessive slope of the boat launch, use of the launch may require assistance.

Trails

There are no accessible trails at this time.

Bennett Spring State Park

26250 Highway 64A

Lebanon, MO 65536

417-532-4338

1-800-334-6946

1-800-379-2419 TDD

Last updated: February 2017