Big Lake State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily sunrise – sunset
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions10-ft leash
- Camping
- YesAlso cabins
- Official site
- mostateparks.com(660) 771-6341
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Big Lake State Park is a 399-acre park in Holt County, about 8 miles southwest of Mound City.
Popular activities here are boating, fishing, and picnicking. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites with full hookups and tent sites. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers cabins.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
| Office | Daily | 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | — |
| Park | 2025-2026 State Holidays: On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 28, 2025; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Washington's Birthday. | ||
Official wording
Park Grounds: Sunrise to sunset, year-round.
Park Office - Big Lake: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round
2025-2026 State Holidays: On the following days (actual or observed), staff will not be available and park buildings will be closed: Thanksgiving Day; Nov. 28, 2025; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day; New Year’s Eve; New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Lincoln’s Birthday; and Washington's Birthday.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Chicago).
Fees and passes
Fees apply to camping, lodging and some tours (e.g. cave tours).
Statewide fee rule from Missouri's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- Missouri State Parks reservation system (UseDirect / Tyler, 'ICampMO')
- Phone
- 877-422-6766 (877-ICampMO)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions · leash up to 10 feet
Not allowed in or on: any building that is not part of the cabins for canines program.
We recommend no more than two dogs per campsite. Pets must be supervised and kept on leashes no longer than 10 feet at all times. Pet waste bags are available in most locations. Other than service animals, pets are not allowed inside any building that is not part of the Cabins for Canines program, or in public swimming areas or waters reserved for fishing.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campground Season: Year-round Reservations: Apr 15-Oct 31 | — | Basic, Electric*, Sewer/Electric/Water*Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
The campground offers basic, electric, and sewer/electric/water campsites and is fully reservable.
A printable campground map is available for your reference by clicking the "Campground Map" link.
Campground Information
Available DatesShowers/Water AvailableReservationsTypes of Sites
Campground Map
Year-roundApr 15-Oct 31Apr 15-Oct 31Basic, Electric*, Sewer/Electric/Water*
- This campground is fully reservable.
- For weekend reservations, there is a required two-night minimum stay of Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday.
- During the off-season (Nov. 1 through April 14), potable water is available at the frost-free spigot at the dump station.
- Parking of watercraft or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) trailers off of the campsite pad (usually in the grass) is permitted at this facility.
- Wi-Fi is not available at Big Lake State Park.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Cabins and lodging
- Camper cabins: 8 units
Premium Camper Cabins
Enjoy the beauty of lakefront access at Big Lake State Park in one of eight premium camper cabins.
Big Lake State Park features eight premium camper cabins overlooking Big Lake. The log cabins provide accommodations for up to four adults and two children. These accommodations include a queen-size bed, a full-size futon and a carpeted loft for sleeping bags. Guests must provide their own towels, linens, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, coffee and filters, and toiletries.
All cabins have air conditioning/heating, bathroom with shower, kitchen with four-burner electric stove and oven, full-size refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and toaster. Kitchen pots and pans, cooking utensils, dining sets, and trash cans/trash bags are provided with cabin rental. There are no televisions, phones or Wi-Fi connections in the cabins.
Read more from the park
Exterior amenities include a covered deck with lake view, picnic table, barbecue grill, outdoor fire ring and lantern post. Parking is designated for each unit and can accommodate two vehicles.
The camper cabins are available for rent from April 15 through Oct. 31. The on-season rate is $90 plus tax per night. The holiday weekend rate is $95 per night. Rates are for one to six occupants (four adults and two children). Full payment for your stay will be due at the time you make the reservation. Weekends require a two-night minimum stay. Holiday weekends require a three-night minimum stay. No same-day registration is allowed for any lodging unit; advance reservations are required.
Cabins 4 and 5 are ADA accessible.
Dogs are allowed in cabins 5 and 6 for an additional fee. Click on the Cabins for Canines link to the right for more information.
Check-in is at 3 p.m. with checkout by 11 a.m. Guests should check in at the campground check station upon arrival.
Tents or other alternate lodging accommodations are not allowed in the rental area. There are no telephones or televisions in the cabins. Cleanup and trash removal is the responsibility of the lodging guest and should be completed before check out. Smoking is not allowed inside any lodging unit.
For temporary closures related to weather, stewardship activities and maintenance, as well as temporary trail closures, visit our Park and Site Status Map.
Things to do
CampingFishingBoatingPicnicking
Fishing
Commonly caught fish: bluegill, catfish, carp
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
Camping
- Tent camping
- Sewer hookups
Lodging
- Cabins
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Park Entrance
Just inside the park entrance is an accessible kiosk with park information. A level, paved pull-off area is provided.
Picnic Area
Two shady, individual picnic sites with extended-end tables and pedestal grills are accessed over a paved pathway from handicap parking. These sites have a great view of the lake and have an accessible water fountain.
Open Shelter
A pathway leads from two handicap parking spaces to the picnic shelter, which accommodates up to 75 people and includes lights, extended-end tables, two group grills and a fireplace.
An accessible restroom is located within driving distance of the picnic sites, shelter and campground. It has two handicap parking spaces and a paved pathway to the entrance. Inside are lever-handled faucets, side-transfer toilets and an electric hand dryer. This is the only accessible toilet for the picnic area.
Read more from the park
Campground
Two sewer/electric/water sites and one electric site each provide an extended-end table, a pedestal grill, a lantern shelf and a fire ring on a large, paved pad. Unmodified sites are of level, packed gravel with a table, a lantern post and a fire ring. Accessible water hydrants are conveniently located throughout the area.
Both showerhouses have handicap parking and are accessible. They offer easy entrance, lever-handled faucets and roll-in showers.
The dump station is mostly paved with a packed gravel area around the tower. Some users may have difficulty.
Lodging
There are eight premium camper cabins available. Cabins 4 and 5 are accessible.
Park Office
The park office, located at the south end of the park, offers a handicap parking space adjacent to a continuous path to the entrance.
Boat Launch
At the north end of the park, past the cabins, is the new two-lane boat launch. It has two handicap parking spaces and a courtesy dock with an accessible transfer station. An accessible vault toilet is located just across the road.
Big Lake State Park
204 Lake Shore Drive
Craig, MO 64437
660-771-6341
1-800-334-6946
1-800-379-2419 TDD
Last updated: March 2025
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 204 Lake Shore Drive
Craig, MO 64437-7181 - Nearest town
- Mound City — about 8 mi southwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 40.0836, -95.3658
- Phone
- (660) 771-6341
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Missouri State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Quick List of Parks and Historic Sites (HTML) + MoDNR ArcGIS boundary layer for coordinates
- Wikidata
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology