Prairie State Park
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Daily 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(417) 843-6711
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Alert Pet Rules - Prairie State ParkDue to the unique and rare diversity of life preserved at Prairie State Park, pets are not allowed on park trails, EXCEPT for Path of the Earth… (more)
Due to the unique and rare diversity of life preserved at Prairie State Park, pets are not allowed on park trails, EXCEPT for Path of the Earth People and Path of the Sky People. Bison graze freely in the park, and ...
Posted by the park 2025-01-13T12:00:00Z. Official alert
Overview
Prairie State Park is a 3,971-acre park in Barton County, about 11 miles northeast of Pittsburg.
Things to do include ranger programs, hiking, and picnicking. For overnight stays there are campsites (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 | — |
| Visitor center — Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center | Wed–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 |
| Sun–Tue | Closed | — | |
| Thu–Sat | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Nov 1 – Mar 31 | |
| Sun–Wed | Closed | — | |
| 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.
Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center, April through October (on-season): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday Closed Sunday through Tuesday and holidays November through March (off-season): 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Saturday Closed Sunday through Wednesday and holidays
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 | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Prairie State Park offers a small number of basic campsites and a backpack camp. These basic campsites will accommodate groups of up to 20 people. A printable campground map is available for your reference by clicking the "Campground Map" link. 2026 Camping Rates | 2027 Camping Rates Campground Information CampgroundAvailable DatesShowers/Water AvailableTypes of Sites Campground Map Year-roundSee information belowBasic • Campsites at Prairie State Park are not reservable. They are available only on a walk-up registration basis. • Potable water is available on the south side of the shop building before you enter the camping area. • A vault toilet is the only amenity that serves the campground and backpack camp. • Campfires are prohibited at the backpack camp. Backpack stoves are permitted. • Please contact park staff at 417-843-6711 for more information.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingRanger and interpretive programsPicnickingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-coyote |
| Drover's Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-drovers |
| Gayfeather Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-gayfeather |
| Nature Center Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-nature-center |
| Path of the Earth People | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-path-earth-people |
| Path of the Sky People | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-path-sky-people |
| Sandstone Trail | — | — | Trail information: https://mostateparks.com/media/pdf/trail-details-sandstone-trail |
Trail descriptions from the park
Coyote TrailDrover's TrailGayfeather TrailNature Center TrailPath of the Earth PeoplePath of the Sky PeopleSandstone Trail • Trail Map • Trail Information • Trail Map • Trail Information • Trail Map • Trail Information • Trail Map • Trail Information • Trail Map • Trail Information • Trail Map • Trail Information • Trail Map • Trail Information
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
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
Nature Center The nature center offers a paved accessible space with an adjacent pathway leading to its entrance. The ramp to the entrance is an average 6.2% with a railing and is level before the doors. Inside is a spacious lobby with information and helpful staff to answer your questions. A water fountain and public restrooms with front-transfer toilets are available. The nature center has three steps, each with a 6-inch riser and two 4 feet by 7 feet landings that lead down to a lower level. This level has interpretation activities, a panoramic view of the prairie, a wonderful diorama of prairie life and a museum. The view of the prairie and the diorama may also be viewed from the upper level. Picnic Area The picnic area is located near a stream under shady trees. The parking lot is compacted gravel. At this time, a hardened dirt path with a steep incline leads to the tables. One site has an accessible pad. All sites have pedestal grills. The vault toilet has a paved parking pad in front of it. Some users may need assistance, as the clearance in front of the doors is only 4 feet wide. Inside, transfer bars are provided. An information kiosk provides park brochures and information. Camping Four primitive campsites in a wooded area are available at this time. Two of the sites are accessible. Nature Center Trail If you want to get a taste of the prairie, the Nature Center Trail is located behind the Regal Tallgrass Prairie nature center. This 0.4 mile trail is relatively level with mowed prairie grass as a base. During wet weather, the ground may be too soft. Some users may need assistance. Prairie State Park 128 NW 150th Lane Mindenmines, MO 64769 417-843-6711 800-334-6946 800-379-2419 TDD Last updated: January 2017
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 128 NW 150th Lane
Mindenmines, MO 64769 - Nearest town
- Pittsburg — about 11 mi northeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.5192, -94.5529
- Phone
- (417) 843-6711
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