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RV Parks In Bonne Terre, Missouri

37.9231° N, 90.5554° W

Quick Overview

Bonne Terre sits about an hour south of St. Louis in Missouri's Old Lead Belt, and for RVers it hits a sweet spot: one solid public state park, a handful of full-hookup private parks, and a genuinely one-of-a-kind attraction in the Bonne Terre Mine. We like it as a base for a few nights of Big River floating and easy day trips into the eastern Ozarks. Your public option is St. Francois State Park, about 2.5 miles north on US-67 along the Big River. Its electric loop takes rigs up to roughly 60 feet with 30-amp electric and water hookups, there are more basic sites back in the woods, and a sanitary dump station on-site. Reserve electric sites through the Missouri State Parks portal, especially for summer float weekends; the basic loop is often first-come midweek. For full hookups closer to town, Patt's Place RV Park runs 30/50-amp full-hookup sites on 15 acres along the Big River with pull-throughs, bathhouses, and laundry, booked nightly, weekly, or monthly. Stone Park Resort & Amphitheater has all pull-through full-hookup sites across 30 wooded acres with a stocked fishing pond, and Big Creek RV Park adds another 63 full-hookup sites with a pool and campground store. Between the public and private options you can find electric-only value or a full-hookup base with sewer at the site, and most parks here stay open year-round. The headline attraction is the mine itself: one of the world's largest man-made caverns, with walking tours, pontoon-boat rides across an underground lake, and the largest freshwater scuba venue anywhere. It holds a steady 58 degrees, so it's the move on a muggy summer afternoon or a cold, gray winter day. Add Big River floating, wooded hiking in the Coonville Creek Wild Area, and Farmington's services ten minutes south, and Bonne Terre earns a two- or three-night stop. Need to empty your tanks? See our guide to RV dump stations in Bonne Terre.

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Traveling to Bonne Terre by RV

Getting a big rig to Bonne Terre is easy. US-67 is a divided four-lane the whole way through St. Francois County, and it's the route we'd take from the St. Louis metro, roughly 60 miles north. From the interstate, hop onto US-67 south near Festus off I-55 and you're on smooth, RV-friendly road with no low bridges or weight traps to worry about. MO-32 crosses town east to west if you're coming from the Farmington or Ste. Genevieve directions. St. Francois State Park sits right on US-67 about 2.5 miles north of town, so the turn-in is simple even with a 40-foot trailer, and the electric loop is laid out for rigs to around 60 feet. The private parks (Patt's Place, Stone Park Resort, Big Creek RV Park) are all within a few minutes of the US-67 corridor. Farmington, ten minutes south, is your resupply hub with big-box groceries, fuel, propane, and RV parts. Fuel up there rather than counting on the smaller stations in town. St. Louis is close enough for a day trip if you want the Arch, the zoo, or a Cardinals game, but honestly most folks come here to slow down on the river.

Before You Go: RV Trip Essentials

Dump stations are only one piece of the trip puzzle. Before you set out for your trip to Bonne Terre, Missouri, it's worth taking thirty minutes to check that the basics are in place — the four areas below are where unprepared RVers most often get stung.

Check your RV insurance coverage

A standard auto policy rarely covers a Class A, Class C, or travel trailer the way a dedicated RV insurance policy does. If you're financing a motorhome, lenders typically require comprehensive and collision; full-timers should additionally price in vacation liability and personal belongings coverage. Rates vary widely by state and travel pattern — compare quotes from multiple RV-focused carriers before each season.

Know your roadside assistance options

RV-specific roadside plans tow motorhomes and trailers that regular AAA coverage won't touch — flat beds, mobile mechanics, tire service for duallies, and even emergency lockouts at remote campgrounds. Good plans cover your spouse and trailer even if you're driving a separate vehicle, and some include trip interruption reimbursement if a breakdown costs you a reservation.

Decide about an extended warranty early

Original manufacturer warranties on new RVs typically run 12–24 months — shorter than most buyers realize. An extended service contract (essentially a mechanical breakdown policy) covers the appliances, slides, levelling systems, and drivetrain components that can run $3,000–$10,000 to replace. The time to price one is before the factory coverage expires, not after something breaks.

Set up a travel rewards card for fuel and fees

A no-annual-fee travel or gas rewards card pays for itself on a single month of RV travel. Expect to spend $400–$800 per week combined on fuel, campgrounds, and propane — 3–5% cash back on gas alone covers the next oil change. For bigger trips, a sign-up bonus can offset campground fees for the whole season.

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Dump Station Costs in Bonne Terre

Bonne Terre is an affordable stop by Missouri standards. St. Francois State Park is the value play: basic sites run at the low end of the state-park scale and 30-amp electric sites land in the mid-teens to high-$20s per night depending on season, with a dump station included. That's hard to beat for a riverside site. Private full-hookup parks run higher but stay reasonable: Stone Park Resort posts daily rates around $50, with weekly near $300 and monthly around $900, and parks like Patt's Place and Big Creek RV Park sit in a similar nightly band with 30/50-amp full hookups. If you're staying a week or a month, ask about the long-term rates; the monthly numbers here are a strong deal for snowbirds or work-campers passing through. Budget a little extra for the Bonne Terre Mine tours, which are the main paid attraction in town. Overall, plan on roughly $15 to $50 a night depending on whether you want electric-only value or full hookups with sewer at the site.

Free: 2 stations (67%)
Paid: 1 station (33%)

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Prices may vary. Always confirm with the station before visiting.

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Best Time to Visit Bonne Terre by RV

❄️

Winter

Nov - Feb

25F - 43F

Crowds: Low

Cold with lows in the 20s and occasional ice. Private full-hookup parks (Patt's Place, Stone Park, Big Creek) stay open; St. Francois State Park services thin out. Great time for the 58-degree mine tour and easy walk-up sites.

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Spring

Mar - May

46F - 68F

Crowds: Medium

Green-up and strong Big River flows make this prime floating season. Frequent rain, so check river conditions. Reserve state-park electric sites a few weeks ahead for weekends; weekdays are open.

☀️

Summer

Jun - Aug

68F - 88F

Crowds: High

Hot, muggy, and busy. Float and tubing season packs St. Francois electric sites on weekends, so book one to three months out. The mine tour is the best midday heat escape. Bring bug spray for riverside sites.

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Fall

Sep - Oct

46F - 69F

Crowds: Medium

Our favorite window: cool nights, good color in the wooded hills, and easy last-minute weekday bookings at both public and private parks. Comfortable hiking in the Coonville Creek Wild Area.

Explore the Bonne Terre Area

A few things we'd tell a friend heading to Bonne Terre. First, book the Bonne Terre Mine tour ahead in summer; the walking and boat tours sell out on weekends, and the 58-degree cavern is the best heat-wave escape in the region. Second, if you want an electric state-park site at St. Francois for a summer float weekend, reserve one to three months out through the Missouri State Parks portal. Midweek you can usually walk up to a basic loop site. Third, the Big River is the reason to linger, so pack the kayaks or line up a float outfitter; spring flows run strong and summer is prime tubing. Fourth, do your real grocery and fuel stops in Farmington, ten minutes south, where the big stores and cheaper diesel are. Fifth, if rain moves in, the mine, the small Space Museum, and a drive into the surrounding Ozark hills keep a wet day interesting. Finally, weekday nights at the private parks are quiet and easy to grab last-minute, so there's no need to overplan a shoulder-season visit.

National Parks Nearby

Frequently Asked Questions About Dump Stations in Bonne Terre

Where can I camp in an RV in Bonne Terre, Missouri?

You have both public and private options within a few minutes of town. The public choice is St. Francois State Park, about 2.5 miles north on US-67, with a 30-amp electric loop for rigs up to roughly 60 feet plus more basic wooded sites and a dump station. For full hookups, Patt's Place RV Park, Stone Park Resort & Amphitheater, and Big Creek RV Park all offer 30/50-amp full-hookup sites with pull-throughs. Between them you can find electric-only value or a full-hookup base with sewer at the site, and most parks here stay open year-round.

Does St. Francois State Park have full hookups?

Not full hookups, but it has a solid electric loop. Sites on the loop closest to the Big River come with 30-amp electric and water hookups and can take RVs up to about 60 feet. A second, more basic loop set back in the woods has grassy, spacious non-electric sites. There's a sanitary dump station on-site so you can empty tanks before you roll out. If you need sewer at the site, choose one of the private full-hookup parks in town instead, but for a riverside electric site at a low nightly rate, this park is the value pick in the area.

What full-hookup RV parks are near Bonne Terre?

Three private parks stand out. Patt's Place RV Park sits on 15 acres along the Big River with 30/50-amp full-hookup sites, pull-throughs, two bathhouses, and laundry, and it takes nightly, weekly, or monthly stays. Stone Park Resort & Amphitheater has all pull-through full-hookup sites across more than 30 wooded acres with a stocked fishing pond. Big Creek RV Park offers 63 full-hookup sites, including pull-throughs, plus a swimming pool, walking trails, and a campground store. All three are within a few minutes of the US-67 corridor through town, so access with a big rig is straightforward.

Do I need reservations to camp in Bonne Terre?

For summer weekends, yes, especially at St. Francois State Park. Reserve electric sites through the Missouri State Parks portal one to three months ahead when float season peaks. The basic non-electric loop is often available first-come midweek. Private parks like Patt's Place, Stone Park Resort, and Big Creek RV Park usually have shorter lead times and you can often grab a full-hookup site last-minute on weeknights or in the shoulder seasons. If your trip is built around a specific weekend or the Bonne Terre Mine tour, book both the campsite and the tour ahead to avoid disappointment.

Can big rigs and 40-foot RVs stay near Bonne Terre?

Yes. St. Francois State Park's electric loop is laid out for RVs up to roughly 60 feet, and the private parks in town lean heavily on pull-through sites that handle 40-foot rigs and up. Stone Park Resort is all pull-through, Big Creek RV Park has 21 pull-throughs among its 63 sites, and Patt's Place offers both pull-through and back-in sites. Access is easy because US-67 is a divided four-lane through the county with no low bridges or weight restrictions to route around, so getting a big rig in and set up here is low-stress compared with many Ozark towns.

How much does it cost to camp in Bonne Terre?

It's an affordable stop. St. Francois State Park basic sites run at the low end of the Missouri state-park scale, and 30-amp electric sites land roughly in the mid-teens to high-$20s per night depending on season, with a dump station included. Private full-hookup parks run higher but stay reasonable: Stone Park Resort posts daily rates around $50, weekly near $300, and monthly around $900, and Patt's Place and Big Creek RV Park sit in a similar band. Plan on roughly $15 to $50 a night depending on whether you want electric-only value or full hookups with sewer at the site.

What is there to do in Bonne Terre for RVers?

The signature attraction is the Bonne Terre Mine, one of the world's largest man-made caverns, with guided walking tours, pontoon-boat rides across an underground lake, and the largest freshwater scuba venue in the world. Beyond the mine, the Big River is made for floating, canoeing, and tubing, and St. Francois State Park has hiking through the Coonville Creek Wild Area. The small Space Museum is a fun quirky stop, and St. Louis is close enough for a day trip if you want the Arch, the zoo, or a ballgame. Most RVers come here to slow down on the river and explore the eastern Ozarks.

When is the best time to bring an RV to Bonne Terre?

Fall is our favorite: cool nights, good color in the wooded hills, and easy last-minute weekday bookings at both public and private parks. Spring brings strong Big River flows for floating but frequent rain, so check conditions. Summer is peak season and the most crowded, with hot, muggy days and packed state-park electric sites on float weekends, so book well ahead. Winter is quiet and cold with lows in the 20s, but the private full-hookup parks stay open and the 58-degree mine tour is a perfect cold-weather activity. Any season works if you match your expectations to the weather.

Is there a dump station in Bonne Terre?

Yes. St. Francois State Park has a sanitary dump station on-site, which is handy even if you camp elsewhere in the area, and the private full-hookup parks let you dump at your site since they have sewer hookups. If you're passing through and just need to empty tanks, plan your route around the state park or a full-hookup park. For a full rundown of options, see our guide to RV dump stations in Bonne Terre, which covers the specific locations, hours, and any fees so you can dump and get back on US-67 without a detour.

How do I get to Bonne Terre with an RV?

US-67 is your road. It's a divided four-lane through St. Francois County with no low bridges or weight restrictions, and it connects to I-55 near Festus, making it the easy big-rig route from the St. Louis metro about 60 miles north. MO-32 crosses town east to west if you're arriving from Farmington or Ste. Genevieve. St. Francois State Park sits right on US-67 about 2.5 miles north of town, and the private parks are all a few minutes off the same corridor. Turn-ins are simple even with a 40-foot rig, so route planning here is refreshingly stress-free.

Are there first-come, first-served campsites near Bonne Terre?

Yes. The basic, non-electric loop at St. Francois State Park often has first-come sites available midweek, which is a nice fallback if you didn't reserve ahead. Weekends in float season fill up fast, though, so don't count on walking up to an electric site in summer. Private parks like Patt's Place, Stone Park Resort, and Big Creek RV Park generally take reservations but frequently have full-hookup sites open on weeknights and during the shoulder seasons. If flexibility matters, travel midweek or in fall and you'll rarely have trouble finding a spot in the Bonne Terre area.

Can I camp near Bonne Terre in winter?

Yes. The private full-hookup parks around town, including Patt's Place RV Park, Stone Park Resort, and Big Creek RV Park, stay open year-round, so you can get 30/50-amp electric, water, and sewer even in January. Expect cold with lows in the 20s and occasional ice, so run your tank heaters and keep water hoses protected. State-park services thin out in winter, so confirm what's available before relying on St. Francois State Park in the cold months. The upside of a winter visit is the Bonne Terre Mine, which holds a steady 58 degrees and makes an ideal warm-up on a gray day.

Where do I get groceries, fuel, and propane near Bonne Terre?

Farmington, about ten minutes south on US-67, is the resupply hub for the area. It has big-box groceries, multiple fuel stations with diesel, propane refill, and RV parts and hardware. We'd do the real provisioning run there rather than counting on the smaller stations in Bonne Terre itself. Big Creek RV Park also carries propane, ice, firewood, and camp-store basics on-site, which is handy for a quick top-off. Fuel prices tend to be better in Farmington than in the smaller towns nearby, so fill the tank while you're there before heading deeper into the Ozarks.

Is Bonne Terre a good base for exploring the eastern Ozarks?

It works well. You're on US-67, so day trips are easy in several directions: the Big River and St. Francois State Park right here, Mark Twain National Forest country to the south and west, and St. Louis about an hour north for city days. The mix of a value-priced state park and several full-hookup private options means you can set up for a few nights without breaking the budget, then range out. Farmington's services are ten minutes away for resupply. For RVers wanting a quiet river-and-cavern stop with genuine Ozark character and simple big-rig access, Bonne Terre is a smart base.

Where can I camp in an RV in Bonne Terre, Missouri?

You have both public and private options within a few minutes of town. The public choice is St. Francois State Park, about 2.5 miles north on US-67, with a 30-amp electric loop for rigs up to roughly 60 feet plus more basic wooded sites and a dump station. For full hookups, Patt's Place RV Park, Stone Park Resort & Amphitheater, and Big Creek RV Park all offer 30/50-amp full-hookup sites with pull-throughs. Between them you can find electric-only value or a full-hookup base with sewer at the site, and most parks here stay open year-round.

Does St. Francois State Park have full hookups?

Not full hookups, but it has a solid electric loop. Sites on the loop closest to the Big River come with 30-amp electric and water hookups and can take RVs up to about 60 feet. A second, more basic loop set back in the woods has grassy, spacious non-electric sites. There's a sanitary dump station on-site so you can empty tanks before you roll out. If you need sewer at the site, choose one of the private full-hookup parks in town instead, but for a riverside electric site at a low nightly rate, this park is the value pick in the area.

What full-hookup RV parks are near Bonne Terre?

Three private parks stand out. Patt's Place RV Park sits on 15 acres along the Big River with 30/50-amp full-hookup sites, pull-throughs, two bathhouses, and laundry, and it takes nightly, weekly, or monthly stays. Stone Park Resort & Amphitheater has all pull-through full-hookup sites across more than 30 wooded acres with a stocked fishing pond. Big Creek RV Park offers 63 full-hookup sites, including pull-throughs, plus a swimming pool, walking trails, and a campground store. All three are within a few minutes of the US-67 corridor through town, so access with a big rig is straightforward.

Do I need reservations to camp in Bonne Terre?

For summer weekends, yes, especially at St. Francois State Park. Reserve electric sites through the Missouri State Parks portal one to three months ahead when float season peaks. The basic non-electric loop is often available first-come midweek. Private parks like Patt's Place, Stone Park Resort, and Big Creek RV Park usually have shorter lead times and you can often grab a full-hookup site last-minute on weeknights or in the shoulder seasons. If your trip is built around a specific weekend or the Bonne Terre Mine tour, book both the campsite and the tour ahead to avoid disappointment.

Can big rigs and 40-foot RVs stay near Bonne Terre?

Yes. St. Francois State Park's electric loop is laid out for RVs up to roughly 60 feet, and the private parks in town lean heavily on pull-through sites that handle 40-foot rigs and up. Stone Park Resort is all pull-through, Big Creek RV Park has 21 pull-throughs among its 63 sites, and Patt's Place offers both pull-through and back-in sites. Access is easy because US-67 is a divided four-lane through the county with no low bridges or weight restrictions to route around, so getting a big rig in and set up here is low-stress compared with many Ozark towns.

How much does it cost to camp in Bonne Terre?

It's an affordable stop. St. Francois State Park basic sites run at the low end of the Missouri state-park scale, and 30-amp electric sites land roughly in the mid-teens to high-$20s per night depending on season, with a dump station included. Private full-hookup parks run higher but stay reasonable: Stone Park Resort posts daily rates around $50, weekly near $300, and monthly around $900, and Patt's Place and Big Creek RV Park sit in a similar band. Plan on roughly $15 to $50 a night depending on whether you want electric-only value or full hookups with sewer at the site.

What is there to do in Bonne Terre for RVers?

The signature attraction is the Bonne Terre Mine, one of the world's largest man-made caverns, with guided walking tours, pontoon-boat rides across an underground lake, and the largest freshwater scuba venue in the world. Beyond the mine, the Big River is made for floating, canoeing, and tubing, and St. Francois State Park has hiking through the Coonville Creek Wild Area. The small Space Museum is a fun quirky stop, and St. Louis is close enough for a day trip if you want the Arch, the zoo, or a ballgame. Most RVers come here to slow down on the river and explore the eastern Ozarks.

When is the best time to bring an RV to Bonne Terre?

Fall is our favorite: cool nights, good color in the wooded hills, and easy last-minute weekday bookings at both public and private parks. Spring brings strong Big River flows for floating but frequent rain, so check conditions. Summer is peak season and the most crowded, with hot, muggy days and packed state-park electric sites on float weekends, so book well ahead. Winter is quiet and cold with lows in the 20s, but the private full-hookup parks stay open and the 58-degree mine tour is a perfect cold-weather activity. Any season works if you match your expectations to the weather.

Is there a dump station in Bonne Terre?

Yes. St. Francois State Park has a sanitary dump station on-site, which is handy even if you camp elsewhere in the area, and the private full-hookup parks let you dump at your site since they have sewer hookups. If you're passing through and just need to empty tanks, plan your route around the state park or a full-hookup park. For a full rundown of options, see our guide to RV dump stations in Bonne Terre, which covers the specific locations, hours, and any fees so you can dump and get back on US-67 without a detour.

How do I get to Bonne Terre with an RV?

US-67 is your road. It's a divided four-lane through St. Francois County with no low bridges or weight restrictions, and it connects to I-55 near Festus, making it the easy big-rig route from the St. Louis metro about 60 miles north. MO-32 crosses town east to west if you're arriving from Farmington or Ste. Genevieve. St. Francois State Park sits right on US-67 about 2.5 miles north of town, and the private parks are all a few minutes off the same corridor. Turn-ins are simple even with a 40-foot rig, so route planning here is refreshingly stress-free.

Are there first-come, first-served campsites near Bonne Terre?

Yes. The basic, non-electric loop at St. Francois State Park often has first-come sites available midweek, which is a nice fallback if you didn't reserve ahead. Weekends in float season fill up fast, though, so don't count on walking up to an electric site in summer. Private parks like Patt's Place, Stone Park Resort, and Big Creek RV Park generally take reservations but frequently have full-hookup sites open on weeknights and during the shoulder seasons. If flexibility matters, travel midweek or in fall and you'll rarely have trouble finding a spot in the Bonne Terre area.

Can I camp near Bonne Terre in winter?

Yes. The private full-hookup parks around town, including Patt's Place RV Park, Stone Park Resort, and Big Creek RV Park, stay open year-round, so you can get 30/50-amp electric, water, and sewer even in January. Expect cold with lows in the 20s and occasional ice, so run your tank heaters and keep water hoses protected. State-park services thin out in winter, so confirm what's available before relying on St. Francois State Park in the cold months. The upside of a winter visit is the Bonne Terre Mine, which holds a steady 58 degrees and makes an ideal warm-up on a gray day.

Where do I get groceries, fuel, and propane near Bonne Terre?

Farmington, about ten minutes south on US-67, is the resupply hub for the area. It has big-box groceries, multiple fuel stations with diesel, propane refill, and RV parts and hardware. We'd do the real provisioning run there rather than counting on the smaller stations in Bonne Terre itself. Big Creek RV Park also carries propane, ice, firewood, and camp-store basics on-site, which is handy for a quick top-off. Fuel prices tend to be better in Farmington than in the smaller towns nearby, so fill the tank while you're there before heading deeper into the Ozarks.

Is Bonne Terre a good base for exploring the eastern Ozarks?

It works well. You're on US-67, so day trips are easy in several directions: the Big River and St. Francois State Park right here, Mark Twain National Forest country to the south and west, and St. Louis about an hour north for city days. The mix of a value-priced state park and several full-hookup private options means you can set up for a few nights without breaking the budget, then range out. Farmington's services are ten minutes away for resupply. For RVers wanting a quiet river-and-cavern stop with genuine Ozark character and simple big-rig access, Bonne Terre is a smart base.

Are there free dump stations in Bonne Terre?

Yes — there are free RV waste disposal options available near Bonne Terre.