Pershing 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
- Yes
- Official site
- mostateparks.com(660) 963-2299
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Covering about 5,392 acres, Pershing State Park lies in Linn County, about 17 miles east of Chillicothe.
Things to do include boating, fishing, ranger programs, hiking, and picnicking. Camping is available: campsites, including tent sites.
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 | Park Office - Pershing: Staff are usually available in the park Monday through Friday. The office telephone is monitored for messages between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, year-round. | ||
| 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, daily, year-round.
Park Office - Pershing: Staff are usually available in the park Monday through Friday. The office telephone is monitored for messages between 9 a.m. and 3 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: Year-round | — | Basic, ElectricShowers | — |
Camping details from the park
Pershing State Park offers basic and electric campsites and a special-use camping area.
A printable campground map is available for your reference by clicking the "Campground Map" link.
Campground Information
CampgroundsAvailable DatesShowers/Water AvailableReservationsTypes of Sites
Campground Map
Year-roundApr 15-Oct 31Year-roundBasic, Electric
- The use of generators is prohibited in the campground, unless approved by the facility manager. Special consideration will be given for use of generators relating to customer health and safety.
Other Types of Camping Areas Available in the Park:
Special-use camping area
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingHikingFishingPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsBoating
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boardwalk Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-boardwalk-trail |
| Canfield Savanna Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-canfield-savanna |
| Locust Creek Riparian Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-locust-creek-riparian-trail |
| Oak Ridge Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-oak-ridge-trail |
| Scout Lake Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-scout-lake |
Trail descriptions from the park
Boardwalk TrailCanfield Savanna TrailLocust Creek Riparian TrailOak Ridge TrailScout Lake Trail
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
Fishing
Commonly caught fish: bass. bluegill, channel cat
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
Camping
- Tent camping
✓ 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
Birding
Visitors of all abilities can enjoy birding along Boardwalk Trail. This trail has manageable surfaces, trail information and signage, rest areas, and many other ADA considerations.
To find additional locations that are accessible, visit Birdability to view their accessible birding trails maps.
Park Office
The park office is located at the south end of the park. Parking around the office is level adjacent to the entrance.
Boardwalk Trail
The boardwalk's parking area provides one handicap space and is mostly level to the bridge nearby. The bridge crosses Locust Creek and is planked with some gaps as wide as 2 inches. The boardwalk, located across the bridge, is 4 feet wide and constructed to be accessible with benches at intervals for resting. This 1.5-mile long trail is wonderfully interpreted.
Read more from the park
Campground
One partly shady basic pull-through site and one mostly sunny electric site are accessible. Each site provides an extended-end table, lantern post and fire ring. Accessible water hydrants are conveniently located nearby, and the dump station has been modified for accessibility.
Showerhouse
The centrally located showerhouse offers mostly level, paved parking. Inside are side-transfer toilets and accessible lavatories. Two roomy showers offer grab bars, and one has a lower showerhead with a seat. The faucet handles are somewhat rounded, which may cause difficulty for some users.
The laundry has an accessible table and top-operating machines. Plenty of maneuvering room is provided.
Outside, an accessible information kiosk provides information and a shady place to sit.
The amphitheater is located near the showerhouse but access is across natural turf on an average slope of 4.8%.
Shelters
Enclosed Shelter
The enclosed shelter has one paved, handicap parking space adjacent to a pathway leading to an accessible picnic site, a group grill and the entrance. Inside you'll find an accessible restroom with a side-transfer toilet and lever-handled faucets. The shelter provides electrical outlets, lights, a range, refrigerators and extended-end tables and is heated.
Open Shelter
The open shelter also has one handicap parking space. A paved pathway leads past an information kiosk to the shelter, which has electrical outlets, lights, tables and a group grill. One half of the shelter is screened in. This area also offers a water fountain, a playground and a vault toilet, all of which are accessible and connected to the open shelter by a patio.
Day-Use Area
The day-use area consists of individual picnic sites, a playground and a vault toilet. No modifications have been made at this time, and all access is across natural turf.
Special-Use Area
This area is a primitive camp area with a paved parking lot. A vault toilet, water hydrant, picnic tables, pedestal grill and a fire ring are provided. All access is across natural turf and modifications have not been made.
Highway 130 Archery Area
This area is of natural turf and has had no modifications for accessibility at this time.
Pershing State Park
29277 Highway 130
Laclede, MO 64651-7124
660-963-2299
1-800-334-6946
1-800-379-2419 TDD
Last updated: April 2021
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 29277 Highway 130
Laclede, MO 64651-7124 - Nearest town
- Chillicothe — about 17 mi east (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.7629, -93.2309
- Phone
- (660) 963-2299
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