Sam A. Baker State Park - Patterson, Missouri

Jer Graul

Highly recommend Sam A Baker state park for a great family getaway.
We always stay in campground 1, and with all the recent rain, it did flood some. But thats to be expected with the amount of rain we had. Be warned.... all the handicap sites will stand with water on the concrete after a heavy rain.

Campsites are NOT right on top of each other and I LOVE that there is zero cell service. This may not be ideal for those working from their RV, but it works perfect for us. Also (can't speak for campground 2 cell service).

I love that you can get a site in the middle of campground 2, and be able to see your kids riding bikes just about everywhere.

We also floated St. Francois river and it was a great time. We rented 2 rafts and it was about $350 for them which I find pretty reasonable.

The Mudlick Mountain store has some AMAZING ice cream and you get a hefty scoop/cone for $5. Plenty of stuff to buy inside the store too.

The visitor center has a lot of history on the campground and the CCC. Taxidermy animals and live snakes are on display too for those eager for something to do on the rainy days!

I would highly recommend Sam A Baker if you want a nice family oriented getaway! 10 out of 10 would recommend and will definitely be going again!

Samantha Duzinskas

First time camping in Missouri so it was hard to choose a campground but im glad we choose Sam A Baker. Staff was friendly. Camp store has basic supplies. Restaurant had weird hours so we didnt get to try it out. Love the layout of the park. It has trails , water access, fishing, swimming, camping. Bike rentals... will visit again.

Christine B

Very beautiful state park with tons of great campsites with a lot of space! A beautiful creek runs behind many of the campsites and that was our kids favorite! The hike to the shut-in cabins was fun and the leaves were changing for fall.

J. W.

Nice park. Sandy soil. Big River is a clear water and lot of fish. Some nice shallow sections.

Mark Johnson

I camped here for one night. It’s a good spot near the Wappapello section of the Ozark Trail. Camping sites were typical for MO state park. We were the only campers since it was January.

There is a parking lot for Ozark Trail conveniently nearby, tho we had to backtrack back to the lot due to flooding at the water crossing. Be aware that this section of the OT is wet and susceptible to flooding.

Tip: don’t leave any food out when you go to bed. My buddy had a skunk in his tent vestibule! Thankfully he only tore into our trash.

Amanda

Quiet get away. I rented cabin 13 (Lil skeeter) for a week and have no complaints. It was a clean usable space with easy access to everything in the park. Cabins are near each other but feel private. I had my dog with me and all dogs I encountered were well behaved and quiet. Playground and basketball court were across from my cabbin but I didn't often hear it.

Wander America

Fun park with some nice trails. Some of the signs were outdated. They stated the trail heads were closed for an event. We visited a week or so after holloween, so we think that might have been the event the trail heads were closed for.

Leslie McConachie

Love this park. My Dad and grandfather before him came here annually, and now my brother too. Had a wonderful time with all the family, hiking, fishing, walking Big Creek, and kayaking the St Francis.

SAB needs some TLC, eg. broken bat house (?), laundry facilities and water fountain not working. Window frames/trim rotting on cabins. Otherwise, well-cared for, natural area, just like 55 years ago.

Our cabin also needed some better supplies, and all needs/requests were fulfilled (coffee maker replaced, fresh towels provided). The store is well-stocked with great t-shirts, mugs, etc. All the staff has been very professional and efficient.