Meramec Caverns Natural Campground

Visited late August this year 2021, I don't suggest staying here. We booked 3 nights here and instantly regretted it, sure the caverns were fun but it was a knock off Branson feel. It was a big camping lot, and sand flees on the road/paths amongst the campsites.

This place is made for giant weekend parties with at least 5 different music genres playing all at once. There are giant no swimming signs everywhere but they are "just for show" according to security and there to keep them from being liable for people's stupidity.

The bathrooms are top 5 of worst campground bathrooms I've ever seen. You have to constantly push a button to have water come out for both the showers and sinks. There are no mirrors and the toilet paper is literally pad locked so it won't get stolen 😂.

Did I mention there is only one single bath house for the entire site. Try sharing that with a bunch of party goers, with a flimsy curtain that is sheer on top, if they are 5'4 or taller they can see your top half.

Also the entire place is in a valley so everything echoes, we could hear conversations from several spots down, and security is constantly driving around doing nothing and slamming car doors. The motel on the premises makes the place even more trashy. Pretty sure there were several drug deals happening over there, we could smell it.

Wonderful 6-mile float experience. Staff were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and they were flexible with us when we had to push back our start time. Road construction ultimately delayed our start time, but the road looks great now, and we had plenty of time to spend on the river. Great looking campgrounds, most with bbq pit, clean, functional shower house with warm water and plenty of shopping amenities close-by. Plenty of beautiful spots along the river to stop and refresh during your float.