Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
Whether you’re exploring the local area or hanging out at the campground, KOA Holidays are an ideal place to relax and play. There’s plenty to do, with amenities and services to make your stay memorable. Plus, you’ll enjoy the outdoor experience with upgraded RV Sites with KOA Patio® and Deluxe Cabins with full baths for camping in comfort. Bring your family, bring your friends, or bring the whole group – there’s plenty of ways to stay and explore.
From US-67, take the Hwy 34 exit and head west towards Piedmont for about 3.8 miles and turn right onto Hwy 143 towards Sam A. Baker State Park for about 6.4 miles. Drive through the state park, staying on Hwy 143 and cross the bridge over Big Creek. Turn right on County Road Wayne 318, about half a mile after crossing Big Creek Bridge. Follow the county road for about 1 mile and we will be on the right.
Get Google DirectionsLooking for a place to stay near Missouri’s best state parks? Otahki Lake KOA is a convenient base camp in southeast Missouri, located less than a mile from Sam A. Baker State Park and within about an hour’s drive of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, Elephant Rocks State Park, Taum Sauk Mountain State Park, Hawn State Park, and St. Joe State Park. Stay at Otahki Lake KOA in a cabin, RV site, or covered wagon while you explore the scenic landscapes of the Missouri Ozarks.
Located right next door to Otahki Lake KOA, less than a mile away, Sam A. Baker State Park offers guests the unique opportunity to experience nature in its unspoiled beauty. With the ancient St. Francois Mountains, the unspoiled natural landscape and the cool waters of the St. Francis River and the Big Creek, Sam A. Baker State Park has something for everyone. Several miles of hiking, backpacking, bicycling, and equestrian trails provide glimpses of the area as the earlier settlers found it. Exhibits in the park's nature center interpret the natural and cultural history of the park.
5580 MO-143
Patterson, MO 63956
Just under an hour drive from Otahki Lake KOA, Elephant Rocks State Park is the perfect place for families looking for a unique and fun adventure. The elephant-shaped boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park may not be the stars of a circus, but these giant granite boulders are the stars of this unusual park in southeast Missouri.The elephant rocks, which were formed from 1.5-billion-year-old granite, are giant boulders that stand end-to-end like a train of circus elephants. The rocks have created formations that intrigue geologists, are popular with history buffs interested in the past quarrying, rock climbers looking for some of the best bouldering in the state, and fascinate children who love to climb and explore between the boulders.
7406 Highway 21
Belleview, MO 63623
Just under an hour drive from Otahki Lake KOA. Millstream Gardens has been a favorite spot for outdoorsmen and families alike. The Missouri whitewater championships are held here every spring, and Millstreams has been a favorite for rock climbers with large granite boulders that are a true sight to behold. Families enjoy Millstream for its great picnic areas and paved walking trails that wind through tall timbering pines and rocky granite boulders.
Otahki Lake KOA is conveniently located near multiple sections of the Ozark Trail, including the nearby Lake Wappapello Section and Marble Creek Section. The Ozark Trail is a must-do for thru-hikers, backpackers, and anyone looking to experience the rugged beauty of the Missouri Ozarks. After a long few days on the trail, treat yourself to a comfortable cabin stay, a hot shower, and a relaxing soak in a private hot tub to rest tired muscles before heading back out on your next adventure.
The Ozarks are known for their mountain biking trails, and you'll be hard-pressed to find any better than Shepherd Mountain Bike Park in Ironton. Just an hour drive from Otahki Lake KOA, Shepherd Mountain Bike Park features some of the steepest, most technical, and gnarliest riding this side of the Appalachian mountains.
1462 MO-21
Ironton, MO 63650
Buford Mountain Conservation Area is located east of Missouri's beautiful Belleview Valley. The areas namesake feature presents a majestic view from Highway 21. This heavily forested area is very wilderness-like and Buford Mountains 1,740-feet makes it just shy of the highest in the state. Most of the mountain is hardened by granite known as Rhyolite, which serves as a testament to the area's volcanic past. A steep and challenging trail takes hikers and backpackers up the mountain and through several glades. The climb is rewarded at Bald Knob with a stunning view of the valley below. This attraction is nearby Caledonia, MO just a few mile up the road- Caledonia is a charming village with antiquing, history, and restaurants to refuel you from your hiking and adventures. Buford Mountain is approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes from Otahki Lake KOA.
From Ironton, take Highway 21 north 8 miles, then Route U northeast approximatley 4 miles until you reach the parking lot and Area sign.
Climb to the top of Taum Sauk Mountain State Park and be on top of Missouri – literally. The park's 7,500 acres include the highest point in the state. Located in the St. Francois Mountains, the park's wooded areas and rocky glades provide a beautiful, solitary experience for hikers. A series of trails, including a portion of the Ozark Trail, wind through the park's picturesque setting and provide awesome views of the surrounding countryside. Otahki Lake KOA is roughly 50 minutes from this attraction.
Hwy CC
Ironton, MO 63656
Otahki Lake KOA is just an hour drive from Johnson's Shut-ins State Park. This must-see state park is known for its ancient volcanic rock formations, clear water, and natural swimming areas carved into the East Fork of the Black River. Visitors can spend the day splashing in the shut-ins, hiking scenic trails, picnicking, or taking in the rugged beauty of the St. Francois Mountains. It's a must-see stop for families, hikers, and anyone looking to experience one of the Missouri Ozarks' most famous outdoor destinations.
148 Taum Sauk Trail
Middlebrook, MO 63656
The Space Museum and Grissom Center is a nonprofit space history museum located in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Occupying a 5,000 square foot facility named in honor of Mercury 7 Astronaut Gus Grissom, the museum displays a world-class collection of aerospace artifacts spanning from the dawn of space travel to the spacecraft of today. Housing hundreds of significant relics of the Space Race, The Space Museum and Grissom Center began as the brainchild of Museum President Earl Mullins. Open to the public Fri-Sun.
This attraction is located 1 hour and 15 minutes from Otahki Lake KOA in Bonne Terre, MO.
118 East School Street
Bonne Terre, MO 63628
Big Spring was one of Missouri's first state parks. It was a state park from 1924 until 1969 when the people of Missouri donated it, along with Alley and Round Spring State Parks to the National Park Service to become a part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. It is easily located four miles south of Van Buren at the end of State Route 103.The spring can be seen from the parking area, and a wheelchair accessible walkway leads right to it. The accessible Slough Trail is nearby, along with several other trails that are not suitable for wheelchairs. This attraction is roughly 1 hour and 10 min. from Otahki Lake KOA.
Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site preserves Fort Davidson and the battlefield where so many Confederate and Union soldiers lost their lives. A visitor center and museum interprets the conflict with exhibits, audiovisual presentations and a fiber optics diorama of the battle. The site's playground, picnic area and hiking trail provide relaxing ways to spend the afternoon. This attraction is approx. 1 hour from Otahki Lake KOA.
118 Maple St
Pilot Knob, MO 63663
The Margaret Harwell Art Museum in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, owes its existence to the generosity of its namesake and benefactor, the late Margaret Harwell -- an amateur artist, businesswoman and civic leader. When Mrs. Harwell died in 1977, she left a part of her estate to the City of Poplar Bluff to establish a center for art classes and exhibits. In 1978, an Arts and Museum Advisory Board was formed to take on the task. In 1980, the city purchased the J.L. Dalton home, itself rich in local history and architecture, to house the museum. The Margaret Harwell Art Museum opened to the public in November 1981 and has remained open to the public ever since. This attraction is located 1 hour south of Otahki Lake KOA in Poplar Bluff, MO.
421 N Main St.
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
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