Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park ended up being the perfect home base for our Route 66 stretch near St. Louis. It’s just a little outside the city, but close enough to make it easy to explore some of the smaller Route 66 towns like Pacific and Eureka, while still feeling tucked away in the woods. We also found ourselves running into Chesterfield more than once, it’s a good-sized town nearby with pretty much anything you might need (groceries, errands, all of that real-life stuff that still has to happen on the road).
The park itself has a lot more going for it than just location. It started as an 88-acre donation in 1934 from Edmund Babler’s brother and has since grown to over 800 acres. Like a lot of Missouri state parks, it was shaped by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and you can still see that influence everywhere. Two CCC companies, around 200 men each, built out much of the park’s infrastructure, from roads and trails to bridges and shelters, and today 22 of those structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Add in an old-growth forest with 100-year-old oak trees, and it just has that classic, quiet Missouri feel that makes you want to slow down a bit.
Babler State Park Basics
Address: 800 Guy Park Dr, Wildwood, MO 63005
Website: https://mostateparks.com/park/dr-edmund-babler-memorial-state-park
Park Hours: Grounds are open 7am-9pm daily April-October and 7am-6pm daily November-March
Babler State Park Campground Overview
The campground is fully reservable and has a good mix of site types depending on how you like to camp. There are basic sites, 50-amp electric sites, and full hook-up sites (with 50-amp).
Camping Costs at Babler State Park
In Season:
- Basic: $25
- 50-amp electric: $29
- Full hook-up: $35
Off-Season:
- Basic: $14
- 50-amp electric: $25
- Full hook-up: $29
Campground Amenities & Things to Know
Amenities are pretty standard: there’s a showerhouse (seasonal), dump station, playground, firewood for sale, and direct access to trails from the campground, which we always appreciate.
A couple things to know before you book: the park gates close at 9pm during the main season and 6pm in the off-season, but campers are given a gate code so you’re not locked out. If you’re visiting in the off-season like we did, there’s no water at the individual sites, but there are two frost-free potable water spigots in the campground. Restrooms and showers are closed during that time as well, though vault toilets stay open.
Our Review of Babler State Park Campground (Off-Season)
We visited in February, which meant off-season camping. We booked a full hook-up site mainly so we’d have access to a sewer connection, even knowing there wouldn’t be water at the site. We ended up right next to one of the frost-free water spigots, which made it super easy to refill our tank- almost like having full hook-up anyway.
At one point, I’m pretty sure we were the only campers there. We were near the host site, but they seemed to be gone most of the time. If you’re into quiet, off-season camping, this is a great spot for it. The only downside: we couldn’t check out the showers or visitor center since both were closed for the season, but we knew that going in.
Missouri has clearly put a lot of effort into upgrading their state park campgrounds, and it shows here. We stayed in one of the newer full hook-up sites, and they all have large level parking pads, plenty of grass space, and conveniently placed hook-ups.
Things To Do at Babler State Park
Even if you’re just camping for a night or two, there’s plenty to do without ever leaving the park.
Trails
There’s a good mix of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails:
- Dogwood Trail – 2 miles (hiking)
- Hawthorn Trail – 1.2 miles (hiking)
- Virginia Day Memorial Nature Trail – 1.5 miles (hiking)
- Woodbine Trail – 1.8 miles (hiking)
- Equestrian Trail – 6.1 miles (equestrian + hiking)
- Paved Bicycle Trail – 1.7 miles (biking + hiking)
One of our favorite parts was being able to hop straight onto the paved bicycle trail right from the campground.
Visitor Center
The visitor center has exhibits about the park’s natural features and cultural history, plus brochures and a small gift shop. The park also regularly offers ranger-led programs, so be sure to check out the park calendar.
Hours (seasonal):
- April–October: Wed–Sun, 9am–4:30pm
- November & March: Sat–Sun, 9am–4pm
- December–February: Closed
We missed it since we were there in February, but it looks like a solid stop if you’re visiting in-season.
Picnic Areas & Playground
- Playground located in the day-use area at the Guy Park Trailhead
- Three reservable picnic shelters:
- Cochran Shelter (70 people) – $75/day
- Alta Shelter (130 people) – $90/day (fully accessible)
- Walnut Grove Shelter (56 people) – $75/day
During peak season (April 1–October 31), shelters can be reserved. Otherwise, they’re first-come, first-served.
Things to Do Near Babler State Park
Babler State Park is about 30 miles from downtown St. Louis, but is also a great hub for exploring Route 66 and some of the other smaller towns in the area. Be sure to check out our full trip recap:
