Camping in Missouri: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across Missouri's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from April to June and from September to October, with average highs of 67 to 85 F and lows of 46 to 65 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to April, most often in January, when they average 25.3 a month. State park sites are booked through Missouri State Parks camping reservation system, up to twelve months ahead.
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The best months for camping in Missouri
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in Missouri is mild April to June and September to October. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan41° / 23°Freezing nights
- Feb47° / 27°Freezing nights
- Mar57° / 36°Freezing nights
- Apr67° / 46°Freezing nights
- May76° / 56°Mild
- Jun85° / 65°Mild
- Jul89° / 69°Hot
- Aug88° / 67°Hot
- Sep80° / 59°Mild
- Oct69° / 47°Freezing nights
- Nov56° / 36°Freezing nights
- Dec45° / 27°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Kansas Cityelevation 1,005 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38 F | 20 F | 27.3 |
| February | 44 F | 24 F | 22 |
| March | 55 F | 34 F | 13.9 |
| April (mild) | 66 F | 44 F | 3.4 |
| May (mild) | 75 F | 54 F | 0 |
| June (mild) | 84 F | 64 F | 0 |
| July | 88 F | 68 F | 0 |
| August | 87 F | 66 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 79 F | 58 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 67 F | 46 F | 2.3 |
| November | 54 F | 34 F | 13.3 |
| December | 42 F | 24 F | 24.6 |
Springfieldelevation 1,278 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44 F | 24 F | 24.6 |
| February | 50 F | 28 F | 19.9 |
| March | 59 F | 36 F | 12 |
| April (mild) | 68 F | 46 F | 2.8 |
| May (mild) | 76 F | 56 F | 0.1 |
| June (mild) | 85 F | 65 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 69 F | 0 |
| August | 89 F | 67 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 81 F | 59 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 70 F | 47 F | 2.4 |
| November | 57 F | 36 F | 11.6 |
| December | 47 F | 28 F | 22 |
St. Louiselevation 531 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40 F | 24 F | 24.1 |
| February | 46 F | 28 F | 18.9 |
| March | 57 F | 37 F | 10.3 |
| April (mild) | 68 F | 47 F | 1.4 |
| May (mild) | 77 F | 58 F | 0 |
| June | 86 F | 67 F | 0 |
| July | 90 F | 71 F | 0 |
| August | 88 F | 69 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 81 F | 61 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 69 F | 49 F | 0.6 |
| November | 56 F | 37 F | 9.1 |
| December | 45 F | 29 F | 20.4 |
How to book a state park campsite in Missouri
Missouri State Parks (Department of Natural Resources) takes reservations through Missouri State Parks camping reservation system. The longest advance booking its page states is twelve months.
How far ahead you can book
You can make your reservation starting at 7 a.m. CT 12 months prior to the first day of your trip.Missouri State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
First come, first served sites
Campsites that are not reserved remain available for walk-up registration.Missouri State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
How many sites
Approximately 3,500 state park campsites are available for reservation at 39 different state parks and state historic sites.Missouri State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Cancellations
Online - 1-30 days prior to arrival incur a cancel fee, 31+ days prior to arrival do not incur a cancel fee.Missouri State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from Missouri State Parks (Department of Natural Resources) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Campfires when you camp in Missouri
Campfires in state parks and forests
Campfires are the responsibility of the camper and are restricted to the fire ring or grills provided. Large fires and the burning of trash are strictly prohibited. Campers must completely extinguish all fires before leaving.Missouri State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
Campfires and other fires used solely for recreational purposes, ceremonial occasions or outdoor noncommercial preparation of food are allowed in Missouri.Missouri DNR, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: no permit is required.
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Forest fires often start from campfires that were not put out. You can be held responsible for suppression costs if your campfire starts a wildfire. OBEY ALL CAMPFIRE BANS IN EFFECT .USFS, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
Ask your local fire department if there is a burn ban in place.Missouri Department of Conservation, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: Missouri Department of Conservation (burn bans are local).
Missouri camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in Missouri. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.