|Updated on February 21, 2022(Originally published February 16, 2022)
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Meg Archer
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Meg Archer is an Editor & Newsletter Editor who has called Oregon home for nearly 30 years. She spent her childhood exploring the mountains, forests, and high desert of Central Oregon before relocating to Portland after a brief stint out-of-state for college. She holds an B.A. in English from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and a B.S. in Psychology from Portland State University. Meg has worked in writing, editing, and media-related fields for over 10 years and joined the team at OnlyInYourState in 2015. When she’s not writing or exploring the West Coast, Meg enjoys playing tabletop games, working on visual media projects, and can always be found in the front row at Portland Timbers matches.
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Missouri has stunning parks across the state, but St. Louis is pretty lucky to be so close to some of the best and most beautiful! These 10 amazing state parks are all less than 100 miles from St. Louis, which makes them perfect for both lovely day trips and excellent destinations for a weekend getaway! Plan to visit *all* of these amazing state parks near St. Louis sometime soon!
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Wow – we really are quite lucky to be surrounded by such amazing places! While there are hundreds of beautiful spots around the state, these are just a handful of highlights of state parks that are near to St. Louis and easy to visit, no matter what type of adventure you’re looking for!
Looking to visit more state parks near St. Louis? Here are nine totally underrated Show-Me State gems you’re sure to love!
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State parks to visit near St. Louis
Sarah M.|February 21, 2022
What is the best state park in Missouri?
With 91 beautiful state parks in Missouri, narrowing down *the best* is no easy task. So we were more than happy to when the folks at Travel and Leisure did it for us! Travel & Leisure's list of the best state park in each of the United States blew us away, and we wholeheartedly agreed with their choice of the absolutely breathtaking Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park earning the title of the single best state park in Missouri. Why do we adore this Show-Me State star? Well, consider its geography: nestled along the East Fork Black River in Middle Brook, Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park’s 8,781 acres of pure Midwest splendor. Within this expanse, there are endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventure, from waterfall chasing to incredible hikes. However, the most extraordinary feature of this Missouri state park is its shut-ins. Even if you’re just admiring the gushing water, as its surrounded by fall foliage or frozen in the winter, you’ll be bedazzled by the sheer natural beauty of this glorious state park. It's a little over an hour and a half drive to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park from St. Louis (right around 100 miles, depending on where in the state you're coming from), but we firmly believe this park is worth seeking out!
What are some hidden gem state parks to visit near St. Louis?
One of our favorite state parks to visit near St. Louis is a total treasure for covered bridge enthusiasts. Sandy Creek Covered Bridge State Historic Site is a historic site that's perfect for a romantic date or fun historical day trip. The kicker? There's a charming covered bridge, too! The Sandy Creek Bridge is one of only three remaining Howe Truss Bridges. It is completely restored and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.
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