Montauk State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Montauk State Park is by the headwaters of the Current River in Salem, Missouri. Seven cold-water springs at Montauk State Park supply more than 40 million gallons of water every day to the river. The park offers interpretive programs, including live animal demonstrations, games and crafts, night hikes and educational hiking tours that focus on wildflowers, birds or history. Montauk State Park has a modern lodge, motel rooms, cabins, a campground and a store.
Spring 36–77 F
Summer 62–89 F
Fall 37–81 F
Winter 23–48 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Montauk State Park
Montauk State Park Campground offers basic and electric RV campsites with year-round access to frost-free water spigots. Loops 1, 2 and 4 have restrooms, showers and laundry facilities. A dump station is available in Loop 1 and 4. You can buy wood for campfires at the campground as well. The amphitheater, where the park sometimes holds events, is in Loop 4. ADA-accessible campsites are available in all of the campground loops. Loops 1, 3, and 4 accommodate RVs up to 65 feet long. If your RV is up to 73 feet, then you'll want to choose Loop 2. Some of the campsites in Loop 3 are close enough to the Current River that you can fish from your campsite.
What to Do at
Montauk State Park
There are two picnic shelters and additional picnic areas at Montauk State Park to enjoy lunch with a scenic view. Tour the gristmill that was built in 1896 to use the waters from Montauk Spring for grinding grains. Two other historic buildings to check out at the park are Montauk State Park Open Shelter and the Dam and Spillway in the Hatchery Area. The open shelter has an open stone fireplace, low stone dividing walls, heavy wooden posts, curved struts and two picnic areas. Another stone structure, Dam and Spillway in the Hatchery Area was used for a trout hatchery development project.
Fishing
At the junction between the Current River and Pigeon Creek, you have a good chance of catching trout. Rainbow trout and brown trout in particular are commonly caught in the springs. The trout season at Montauk State Park runs from March to the end of October. Fly fishing, live nightcrawlers and red wrigglers and spinners are the top three ways of catching trout.
Nature Watching
Birds to try spotting in Montauk State Park include pine warblers, bald eagles, great blue herons, barred owls, hairy woodpeckers, northern flickers, white-eyed vireos and golden-winged warblers. Other wildlife that you may see at Montauk State Park are beavers, otters, rabbits and ducks.
Flora and Fauna
Red maple, northern red oak and black oak are some of the trees that give Montauk State Park its natural beauty. Visit in spring to see the flowering dogwood, wild plum and redbud trees. Walk along the springs and river to observe native wildflowers. The Montauk Upland Forest Natural Area is a 40-acre section of the park with extra protection to preserve the flora. It features a dry upland forest, steep bluff exposures and dry-mesic ravines. Pine warblers are commonly heard here in the spring and summer.
Hiking
Pine Ridge Trail ascends a hill that provides an overhead view of the Current River and travels through an old-growth forest of pine, oak and hickory. It's a 3.1-mile out-and-back trail of moderate difficulty. An easy hike in Montauk State Park is Montauk Lake Trail. You get to see a junction where it appears as if water is boiling which makes for stunning pictures. Trout-rearing pools are also along the path. You might see rabbits, deer, armadillos, bald eagles, otters, ducks, minks or bobcats while hiking the trail.
Boating
You can float on the water in a raft or tube to experience the park on water. Some people like to float upriver and down to their campsite. Kayaks and canoes are also allowed at Montauk State Park. Boat rentals are available nearby.
Biking
On the paved biking trail at Montauk State Park, you can enjoy a bike ride through nature either during the day or at night. There are lights along the path to allow for safe bicycling at night. It starts at the Current River bridge and ends at Montauk Lodge.
How to Get to
Montauk State Park
From Salem, take MO-72 E for about 0.8 miles to turn right onto State Hwy 32 W. After 9.6 miles, turn left onto MO-119 S. You'll stay on the interstate for 7.9 miles before you need to turn left onto County Road 6600. Within 1.2 miles, you'll reach the state park.
Entering Montauk State Park
It's easy for RVs up to 73 feet long to navigate the park roads. You can find parking by some of the trails and at your campsite. The park grounds are open 24 hours, but the quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. As for the park office, it's open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays during the peak season and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays during the off-peak season. The off-season is from November to February. Park buildings are closed on certain holidays, including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln's Birthday and Presidents Day.
Montauk State Park Entry Fee : $0.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Montauk State Park
Spring and fall are the best times to visit Montauk State Park because fishing opportunities are at their peak in the spring, and the fall foliage is a must-see. Certain flora, such as dogwood trees, bloom in the spring as well.
More than 170 bird species are found in Montauk State Park, including pine warblers, hairy woodpeckers, golden-winged warblers, northern flickers, white-eyed vireos, barred owls, great blue herons and bald eagles. You can also find otters, beavers, minks, bobcats, deer, rabbits and ducks.
Yes, there are a mixture of basic and electric RV camping spots in Montauk State Park. Two dump stations are available in the campground as well.
You don't have to reserve a camping spot, but you probably want to with how popular the park is. If you have a large RV or require an electric campsite, then it becomes even more important to make a reservation. It costs $15 for a basic campsite and $25–$27 for an electric site.
Yes, you can bring a pet if you keep them restrained or on a leash up to 10 feet. Only up to two dogs are allowed at each campsite. You also need to bring your own supplies for cleaning up after your pet.