St. Francois State Park opens 63-site campground expansion

St. Francois State Park has opened a new campground loop with 63 sites near Bonne Terre, broadening the range of hookups available for overnight stays. Missouri's Department of Natural Resources announced the opening October 2 and later held a ribbon-cutting at the new campground October 10.

The expansion includes 20 sites with 50-amp electric service and 43 full-service sites with 50-amp electric, water and sewer. Missouri State Parks lists more than 150 sites across the expanded campground, ranging from basic spaces without individual utilities to full-hookup sites. The state identifies the work as a completed revenue-bond project that also added a small showerhouse.

Travelers can reserve campsites up to 12 months in advance online or through the state call center. Both the older sites numbered 1 through 110 and the expanded section numbered 200 through 338 are listed as available and reservable year-round. A vacant site may be assigned on a walk-up basis, but only after a camper checks with park staff or follows the registration instructions posted at the site.

Year-round camping does not mean year-round water service. Missouri State Parks says showers and water are available April 1 through October 31 and that water is unavailable throughout the park from November through March. The entrance gate also closes earlier in that off-season, so a winter booking requires a different arrival and supply plan than an on-season stay.