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Great place to spend some time exploring. Nice lake, nice campgrounds, all of it kept clean and welcoming. Be sure to visit the Visitor Center for lots of good history. Nice gift shop. Take a few minutes to visit the garden behind the VC. A contingent of Missouri Master Gardeners are there every Tuesday morning March-October.
We've camped here years ago and the sites were good. So nice you can visit for the day for free! The 3.75 Mike loop around the lake is perfect for going kids to bike, a few spots at the bottom of a hill where the bridge has a spot that a training wheel could get stuck, there are warning signs for bumpy roads so doable. The changing rooms at the beach could have been cleaner. The bike trail doesn't take too long so great half day adventure to binge and then swim to cool off. No lifeguard but there are life saving tools available. Not much shade at the beach just a couple spots but in the grass up a ledge. The depth gets deeper pretty gradually so you won't suddenly not be able to touch it does get to about 6' at the yellow barrier. Kids were about to make a decent sand village.
Watkins Mill State Park is a fascinating and serene place to visit. I was impressed by the well-preserved Watkins Woolen Mill, which is a National Historic Landmark and a state historic site. The mill offers guided tours that showcase the original machinery and the history of the Watkins family and their workers. The park also has a six-acre lake where you can swim, fish, or boat. The lake has a paved bicycle path around it, which is perfect for a leisurely ride or a walk. The park also has four hiking trails that offer views of the rolling farmland, the wooded hills, and the wildlife. The park has a campground with both basic and electric sites, as well as modern restrooms and hot showers. The park staff was friendly and helpful, and the park was easy to find and access. Watkins Mill State Park is a great place to learn about the past and enjoy the present. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a historical and relaxing vacation.
Great experience for the kids and adults! We went there growing up and it was fun bringing our kids back!
We had a lot of fun. No one bothered us and the price we paid for the nights we stayed was amazing. I definitely recommend if you want to have a peaceful stay not to far from the city. Also, the amenities are free. Idk about the laundry facility but the showers are hot and u limited.
