St. Francois State Park
Also known as Saint Francois State Park
- Status
- Status not postedDaily 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Apr 1 – Oct 31)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions10-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- mostateparks.com(573) 358-2173
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
St. Francois State Park is a 2,580-acre park in St. Francois County, about 4 miles north of Bonne Terre.
Visitors come for rock climbing, horseback riding, boating, swimming, and ranger programs. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach. Camping is available: 2 camping areas, including RV sites with full hookups and 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 | 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. | Apr 1 – Oct 31 |
| Daily | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Nov 1 – Mar 31 | |
| Office | Daily | 11 a.m. – 2 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, April through October (On-Season): 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily The entrance gate closes at 10 p.m. November through March (Off-Season): 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily The entrance gate closes at 6 p.m.
Park Office - St. Francois: 11 a.m. to 2 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, Electric, FamilyShowers | — |
| Campground Season: Year-round Reservations: Year-round | — | Electric*, Sewer/Electric/Water*Showers | — |
Camping details from the park
St. Francois State Park offers basic, electric, and sewer/electric/water campsites, as well as a special-use camping area. For a little extra space, try the park's family campsite. There is a backpack camp for hikers on Pike Run Trail.
A printable campground map is available for your reference by clicking the "Campground Map" link.
Campground Information
Available DatesShowers/Water AvailableReservationsTypes of Sites
Sites 1-110 (Map)
Year-roundApr 1-Oct 31Year-roundBasic, Electric, Family
Sites 200-338Year-roundApr 1-Oct 31Year-roundElectric*, Sewer/Electric/Water*
- The campground is fully reservable.
- Water is not available in the park during the off-season (November through March).
- All campers must have an immediate means of motorized transportation in case of evacuation due to flooding. Campers participating in long-distance bicycle tours traveling without support are exempt.
Park Gate Information
Park gates close at 10 p.m. during the on-season and 6 p.m. during the off-season. Campers need to be sure to arrive prior to gate closure time.
Other Types of Camping Areas Available in the Park:
Special-use camping area
Backcountry camping
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingCampingHorseback ridingRanger and interpretive programsPicnickingFishingBoatingRock climbingSwimming
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mooner's Hollow Trail | — | — | — |
| Pike Run Trail | — | — | — |
| Swimming Deer Trail | — | — | — |
Trail descriptions from the park
Mooner's Hollow TrailPike Run TrailSwimming Deer Trail
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
- Trail Map
- Trail Information
Fishing
Commonly caught fish: bass, bluegill, catfish
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Playground
- Drinking water: not available (stated by the park)
Water
- Swimming beach
Camping
- Tent camping
- Sewer hookups
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ 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 Office
As you enter the park, the office is the second building on the right, following the signs. One handicap parking space is located adjacent to the entrance. The office provides plenty of maneuvering space.
Day-Use Area 1
Roadside picnic sites surround a sunny ball field with an accessible vault toilet at each end. At the far end, a shady paved picnic site provides a parking space, an extended-end table and a pedestal grill. An accessible playground is also located here for the enjoyment of all visitors. All parking in this area is level and paved.
Picnic Shelter 1
This shady area offers a shelter with extended-end tables, a pedestal grill and a group grill. The shelter accommodates up to 60 people. One handicap parking space is located adjacent to the shelter. An accessible vault toilet can be found just across the road next to the playground, which is not modified. All picnic sites in this area are accessed over natural turf.
Read more from the park
Day-Use Area 2
Located on the bank of the Big River, this area offers two accessible picnic sites under huge trees. Both provide paved parking and pathways, an extended-end table and a pedestal grill. Both have accessible vault toilets nearby. A water fountain is located at the second vault toilet.
Picnic Shelter 2
This shelter has 12 picnic tables and holds up to 72 people. There is a playground, a vault toilet and a group grill. Access to the shelter and vault toilet is over natural turf after using an accessible concrete walkway. There is currently no accessible path to the playground.
Campground
The campground offers three electric and three basic accessible sites. All sites provide a paved area, extended-end table, pedestal grill, fire ring and lantern shelf. Paved water hydrants are located throughout the area.
The showerhouse has a lot of maneuvering room with accessible lavatories, lowered mirrors, electric hand dryers, and side-transfer toilets. Individual shower compartments are roll-in style and have a bench and place for clothing. Showers are operated by push-button. One accessible parking space is located adjacent to a paved pathway to the entrance. An accessible water fountain is also located here.
The playground is accessible.
The check station has drive-up convenience, and the campground host will assist you with firewood.
The dump station is barrier-free in its design.
Trails
Trails are not modified and traverse rough terrain.
St. Francois State Park
8920 U.S. Highway 67 N.
Bonne Terre, MO 63628-3598
573-358-2173
1-800-334-6946
1-800-379-2419 TDD
Last updated: January 2017
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- 8920 U.S. Highway 67 N.
Bonne Terre, MO 63628-3598 - Nearest town
- Bonne Terre — about 4 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 37.9721, -90.5215
- Phone
- (573) 358-2173
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