Is Cuivre River State Park Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Cuivre River State Park Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

What is the best time to visit Cuivre River State Park Campground?

Cuivre River State Park Campground is open On-season: Apr 1 - Oct 31; Off-season: Nov 1 - Mar 31. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Cuivre River State Park Campground?

Yes, Cuivre River State Park Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

Are dogs allowed at Cuivre River State Park Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Cuivre River State Park Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Cuivre River State Park Campground?

Cuivre River State Park Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Potable Water, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups, Sewer Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Cuivre River State Park Campground?

Popular activities at Cuivre River State Park Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Cuivre River State Park Campground

4.22

156 reviews

678 State Route 147, Troy, MO 63379-5350, United States

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

630 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

On-season: Apr 1 - O...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Full HookupsShowers

Book on Missouri State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

630 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

On-season: Apr 1 - O...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Full HookupsShowers

Book on Missouri State Parks Official Website

Get Directions

Cuivre River State Park Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Nightly camping rates vary by facility and season; see the Missouri State Parks Camping Rates page for details. On-season typically runs April 1...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Missouri State Parks

Provider

636-528-7247

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

678 State Route 147, Troy, MO 63379-5350, United States

Cuivre River State Park Campground

678 State Route 147, Troy, MO 63379-5350, United States

Weather at Cuivre River State Park Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cuivre River State Park Campground

Summer is the best time to enjoy Lake Lincoln. Water temperatures and the beach are at their warmest, with daytime highs commonly in the 80s–90s°F and nights in the 60s°F. Swimming, boating, and lakeside recreation are the main draw. Trails provide shaded hiking and mountain biking through dense hardwoods, while fishing for bass and catfish is at its peak. Expect higher visitation on weekends and holidays, so reserve sites early. Weekdays are noticeably quieter. Spring brings flowering dogwood and pleasant hiking weather. Fall offers vibrant foliage. The main season runs April through October. Check beach access and facility availability before visiting.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: On-season: Apr 1 - Oct 31; Off-season: Nov 1 - Mar 31

About Cuivre River State Park Campground

Cuivre River State Park Campground sits in the Ozark-influenced hills of northern Missouri at 630 feet elevation, offering tent sites, RV loops with full hookups, and primitive options across wooded, rolling terrain. The campground is a gateway to 13 trails, Lake Lincoln's beach and boat access, and dense hardwood forests carved by creeks. Campers consistently praise the scenic, wooded sites and direct trail access, though ticks are abundant and some loops lack shower facilities.

The park offers a range of campsite types from primitive sites to modern sites with hookups; there is also equestrian camping and organized group camp opportunities.

Weather and SeasonsSummer is the best time to enjoy Lake Lincoln. Water temperatures and the beach are at their warmest, with daytime highs commonly in the 80s–90s°F and nights in the 60s°F. Swimming, boating, and lakeside recreation are the main draw. Trails provide shaded hiking and mountain biking through dense hardwoods, while fishing for bass and catfish is at its peak. Expect higher visitation on weekends and holidays, so reserve sites early. Weekdays are noticeably quieter. Spring brings flowering dogwood and pleasant hiking weather. Fall offers vibrant foliage. The main season runs April through October. Check beach access and facility availability before visiting.

Natural Features and SceneryDense hardwood forests blanket the park's ridges and valleys, where creeks cut through the landscape toward Lake Lincoln. White dogwood blooms appear in spring, while autumn transforms the canopy into reds, oranges, and golds. Trails wind through grasses and narrow paths near lakes and creeks, with scenic overlooks offering views of the water and surrounding woods. The terrain is rugged and hilly, typical of northern Missouri's Ozarkian character. Campsites are wooded, with natural surroundings on multiple sides at choice spots like site 100.

Geological RegionOzarks (Ozarkian landscape in northern Missouri)

Scenic ViewsScenic views include wooded valleys, lakeside vistas at Lake Lincoln, and seasonal displays of flowering dogwood in spring and vivid autumn colors along the trails.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Check-in

Contactless self-check-in: campers receive an email with instructions before arrival and may check in online or by scanning a QR code posted at the campsite
park staff are available for assistance.

Stay Limit

Camping limited to any 15 days within a 30-consecutive-day period at any one park.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Best CampsitesSite 100 in the full hookup loop stands out as an end site with electric, water, and sewer. It's wooded on two sides, quiet, and steps from trails. The full hookup loop offers proximity to trails and natural surroundings, though it lacks showers and only has restrooms.

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When to Book

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Amenities available

Campground and park facilities include picnic sites and shelters and a playground. Visitors report campsites with picnic tables and fire rings, a bathhouse with showers and flush toilets, and potable water; some sites provide full hookups (electric/water/sewer).

Showers

Potable water

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Sewer hookups

Flush toilets

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Cuivre River State Park offers a mix of water- and land-based recreation centered on Lake Lincoln and an extensive trail system. The park supports hiking and backpacking, wildlife viewing and photography, plus lake activities such as swimming, boating and fishing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsVisitors have reported ticks and raccoons; some shoreline areas and lake bottom can be muddy. Trail conditions may include downed trees or natural obstacles—exercise typical backcountry caution.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.2

156 reviews

Satisfactory

Cuivre River State Park Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors generally praise Cuivre River State Park for its scenic, wooded campsites, well-maintained trails and access to Lake Lincoln for swimming and boating. Reviews also note a mix of site types including full-hookup loops and wooded tent sites.

Review Summaries

Based on 156 reviews

What Campers Love

Scenic, wooded sites; direct trail access and many hiking options; lake with beach and boating; campsites equipped with picnic tables and fire rings; some sites with full electric/water/sewer...

Based on 156 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Pick up a park map at the visitor center and follow trail color codes; bring insect repellent and long socks for ticks; expect seasonal beach crowds and check beach/parking reservation rules; note...

Based on 156 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Trails are great and well maintained.”; “Clean and well-maintained sites with picnic tables and fire rings.”; “Bring bug spray — lots of ticks.”; “Full-hookup loop exists but lacks showers.”

Based on 156 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

Hikers and lake-day campers who want full hookups AND wooded sites will find both here; site 100 gets called out specifically for natural surroundings, and bass fishing on Lake Lincoln runs strong through summer.

Skip if

Ticks are relentless, so if that's a hard no, this park's dense hardwood terrain will wear you down fast; also, restroom cleanliness is inconsistent and weekend beach parking gets genuinely chaotic.

Nearby Campgrounds

Highly Popular

4.2

(156)

Equestrian Campground

678 State Route 147, Troy, MO 63379-5350, United States

The Equestrian Campground at Cuivre River State Park offers horse owners a base for exploring one of northern Missouri's most rugged landscapes. Nestled in the Lincoln Hills uplift, the campground provides full hookups (electric, water, sewer) and sits close to miles of equestrian trails that wind through oak-hickory forest, limestone bluffs, and karst terrain. It's quieter and more wooded than the main lakeside campground.

Campground (Sites 1-68)

678 State Route 147, Troy, MO 63379-5350, United States

Campground (sites 1-68) sits in Cuivre River State Park, a rugged 6,394-acre park 60 miles northwest of St. Louis near Troy, Missouri. The 68-site campground offers a mix of primitive and full-hookup sites with access to Lake Lincoln's swimming beach, 33 miles of hiking trails, and heavily wooded, Ozark-like terrain. Campers praise the scenic ridges, clean bathhouses, and friendly hosts, though ticks, raccoons, and variable cell service are common.

Campground (Sites 69-100)

678 State Route 147, Troy, MO 63379, United States

Sites 69-100 sit in one of the modern electric loops at Cuivre River State Park, a 6,251-acre preserve that surprises visitors with terrain more rugged and wooded than typical northern Missouri. The 32 sites offer full hookups (electric, water, sewer) under a shaded hardwood canopy, with restrooms and showers nearby. Lake Lincoln and its swim beach are a short walk or drive from camp.

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Campgrounds

Cuivre River State Park

Cuivre River State Park Campground

About Los Banos Reservoir

Context for the broader area surrounding Cuivre River State Park Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

The <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10167.htm">Los Banos Dam</A> and Reservoir are on Los Banos Creek above the San Luis Canal, near Los Banos, California. The dam and reservoir are features on the <A HREF="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/casanluis.html">Central Valley Project - San Luis Unit</A>. The reservoir has 620 water surface acres and 12 miles of shoreline. The recreation area offers trails following the Path of the Padres, a boat and hiking trail. The Path leads to the baths used by the padres of early California. During the spring, guided interpretive tours are provided on the trail. The reservoir offers day use facilities for picnic and family activities. Fishing opportunities are available, and the reservoir is stocked during the fall and winter months with trout. A horse camp is available and there are equestrian trails for the horse enthusiast.

Directions

Site is about 6 miles south of the town of Los Banos on State Highway 165.