© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Looking for state parks to visit in Missouri and Kansas? We've got you covered

Ways To Subscribe
Bennett Spring State Park is just one of the many state parks in Missouri that people can visit. This particular park is known for its fishing.
Missouri State Parks
Bennett Spring State Park is known for it fishing and is just one of the many in Missouri that people can visit.

No matter which kinds of outdoor activities you enjoy most, there are plenty of state parks to suit your needs on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas border.

With well over one hundred state parks between them, Missouri and Kansas each has an impressive list of state parks that people can visit.

David Kelly of Missouri State Parks and Linda Lanterman of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks both joined Up To Date to break down some of the best destinations to check out this summer.

Learn more about these parks by listening to this podcast or clicking on the links to each park below.

Near Kansas City

Kansas: Hillsdale State Park, Clinton State Park, Perry State Park
Missouri: Watkins Mill State Park, Weston Bend State Park, Lewis and Clark State Park

Most visited

Kansas: El Dorado State Park, Cheney State Park, Clinton State Park, Hillsdale State Park, Tuttle Creek State Park
Missouri: Katy Trail State Park, Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Bennett Spring State Park, Roaring River State Park

Camping

Kansas: Wilson State Park, Tuttle Creek State Park, Cedar Bluff State Park
Missouri: Big Lake State Park, Lewis and Clark State Park, Harry S Truman State Park

Hiking/biking

Kansas: Kanapolis State Park, Historic Lake Scott Park, Clinton State Park
Missouri: Katy Trail State Park, Table Rock State Park, Crowder State Park

Water activities/kayaking/boating

Kansas: Milford State Park, Cheney State Park, Elk City State Park
Missouri: Echo Bluff State Park, Finger Lakes State Park

Fishing

Kansas: Cedar Bluff State Park, Milford State Park, Cross Timbers State Park, Wilson State Park, Pomona State Park
Missouri: Bennett Spring State Park, Roaring River State Park, Lake of the Ozarks State Park

Stay Connected
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.