Trail of Tears State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Located in southeastern Missouri and right along the Mississippi River northeast of Cape Girardeau, Trail of Tears State Park recognizes the forced migration of Cherokee Native Americans on the Trail of Tears. From 1836 through 1839, government officials forced nearly 16,000 Cherokee to move from their established homelands to what is now the state of Oklahoma. Part of the Trail of Tears goes through the area of what later became the state park. Learn more about this unfortunate part of American history at the exhibits at the park's visitor center. Other activities at the park include hiking, fishing, swimming, and horseback riding. This part of the state gets cold in the winter and hot and humid in the summer, so the best times to visit the park are spring and fall.
Spring 55-79 F
Summer 64-88 F
Fall 37-57 F
Winter 28-49 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Trail of Tears State Park
Trail of Tears State Park has two campgrounds: the Mississippi River Campground, open year-round, and the Lake Boutin Campground, open from May 1st through October 31st. The Mississippi River Campground has 17 sites available for RVs. Ten of these sites feature electrical hookups, while seven spots have electrical, sewer, and water hookups. This campground also has a dump station, a boat launch vault toilets, one handicap-accessible site, restrooms, and showers. Note that although this campground stays open all year, water and showers are available only from May 1st through October 31st. The Lake Boutin Campground has 54 basic sites. None of the sites have hookups, although 11 are pull-through spots. Amenities at this campground include showers, water, a dump station, vault toilets, restrooms, and trailhead access.
What to Do at
Trail of Tears State Park
While visiting the park, stop by the visitor center to check out the exhibits on the Trail of Tears, a sobering reminder of what the Cherokee people had to go through while being forced to relocate from their homes. The park also offers plenty of opportunities for enjoying the outdoors. You can take a boat out on both Lake Boutin and the Mississippi River. The park has four trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. There's also in-season swimming available on Lake Boutin. During the summer, rangers offer interpretive programs on topics ranging from nature to history.
Fishing
Trail of Tears State Park gives you the chance to fish in one of the country's mightiest rivers. Try catching sturgeon, catfish, and freshwater drum in the Mississippi. You can fish on Lake Boutin for sunfish, catfish, crappie, and bass.
Nature Watching
The park is a great place for bird-watching. Just some of the nearly 200 species that inhabit the region include peregrine falcons, mallards, warblers, wrens, thrashers, robins, sparrows, finches, and bald eagles.
Flora and Fauna
The area surrounding the park consists of forests. Tree species include oaks, willows, and hickory, while plants include cucumber magnolia, American beech, and ferns. Animals you might see include white-tailed deer, rabbits, and box turtles.
Hiking
Of the four trails in the park, the Peewah Trail is the longest at 8 miles. This is also the toughest trail due to steep drop-offs, rugged terrain, and some water crossings without bridges. At 2.2 miles, the Lake Trail loops partially along Lake Boutin. The Shepard Point Trail takes you into a woodland area for 1.5 miles and then up to the top of a ridge from which you'll get great river views. The shortest hike in the park is the 0.7-mile Nature Trail, located behind the visitor center.
Boating
Take a boat with an electric motor or a canoe out on the lake. Y There are two boat ramps in the park, one on the lake and one on the river.
Swimming
The lake has a swimming beach as well as a restroom. Note that there are no lifeguards on duty here and that the beach is only open in season.
How to Get to
Trail of Tears State Park
To get to the park from Cape Girardeau, head northeast on MO-177 for 8.7 miles. The entrance will be on your right.
Entering Trail of Tears State Park
Park grounds stay open all year. From April through October, the grounds are open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and from November through March, they are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Both the visitor center and park office have varied operating hours. In general, both are open from April through September. The visitor center is also open from October 1st through November 1st but then closes on November 2nd and doesn't reopen until March 20th of the following year. The park office stays open from October through March but has limited staff availability.
Trail of Tears State Park Entry Fee : $0.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Trail of Tears State Park
Visit Trail of Tears State Park in the early spring and autumn for pleasantly mild temperatures and tolerable humidity levels.
Trail of Tears State Park is a great place for bird-watching; some of the numerous species you could spot here include hawks, bald eagles, vireos, and flycatchers. Mammals you can spot include deer and foxes.
The park has RV spots in both of their campgrounds. The Mississippi River Campground has some electric-only sites and other spots with electrical, sewer, and water hookups. The Lake Boutin Campground has primitive RV sites with no hookups.
You can reserve a camping spot up to 12 months in advance, but this is not required; spots may be available on a walk-up basis. During the peak travel season of April through October, primitive sites cost $15 a night, electric-only sites cost $25 a night, and full-hookup sites cost $30. During the offseason of November through March, the prices are slightly lower.
Your pets are welcome at this park and are allowed on most hiking trails and in the campgrounds. However, they must be on a leash, and you are expected to clean up after your four-legged companions.