Meramec River Float Trips – The Ultimate Planning Guide

Meramec River float trips are the perfect way to get outside and spend some time in nature. Most of the Outfitters on the Meramec River can be found in Steelville, Missouri which is only about an hour and a half outside of St. Louis. The beautiful scenery and the short drive from St. Louis make the Meramec River one of the most popular rivers to float in Missouri.

Jess and I have gone on a ton of Meramec River float trips and so we created this guide to help you plan your weekend at the Meramec River!

Want to know where to rent a tube or a kayak? How about when to plan your trip or the best time of year to go? Would you like to camp? Or how about all the comforts of a Meramec River cabin rental?

We’re going to cover all of that and then some!

So keep reading for all of the best, most up-to-date information that will make it super easy to plan your Meramec River float trip.

Keep Reading For Everything You Need To Know About Planning Meramec River Float Trips!

All About The Meramec River Missouri

The first step in planning Meramec River float trips is knowing the river. The Meramec River is 218 miles long which makes it one of the longest rivers in Missouri. It starts near Salem, Missouri, and flows north to Meramec Spring. Then it turns East just before Steelville, MO, and continues northeast towards St. Louis before eventually ending at the Mississippi River.

It’s divided into two sections, the Upper Meramec River and the Lower Meramec River. There isn’t an exact dividing line, but most people would agree that anything upriver from where the Meramec joins with the Bourbeuse River (near Union, Missouri) is the Upper Meramec and anything downriver from there is the Lower Meramec.

Since the Lower Meramec is closer to St. Louis and the Mississippi River; most of that section of the river is built up along the banks. But since the Upper Meramec is further away from the city it flows through some stunning bluffs and undisturbed nature!

Where To Go For Meramec River Float Trips

Most of the Outfitters that provide Meramec River float trips are found near Steelville, Missouri which is about an hour and a half from St. Louis. Since it’s so close to the city, the Meramec River is an extremely popular river for float trips.

If you’re coming from St. Louis, the easiest way to get there would be to head West out of the city on I-44 which will take you almost all the way there. You’ll get off of the Interstate in Cuba Missouri and then go south on Highway 19 for about 9 more miles until you hit Steelville.

Most Outfitters on the Meramec River provide float trips between Meramec Spring and Meramec State Park. The river depth changes a lot through this portion of the river and so it’s not uncommon to be floating through water that’s ankle-deep one minute, only to pass through sections of the river that are too deep to see the bottom a few moments later.

This area of the river is also Class I, meaning it’s very easy to navigate, which makes the Meramec River a great option for floaters of all ages and skill levels! If you have the time to drive out to Noel, Mo the Elk River is great for beginner floaters as well.

In fact, Missouri has a ton of great rivers for floating! Our article on the Best Float Trips in Missouri covers all 10 of the best rivers in Missouri for float trips. 

Many of the other rivers listed in that article have complete planning guides just like this one.

When To Go On Meramec River Float Trips

The river flows year-round, but most Outfitters are only open for Meramec River float trips between April and October. The busiest time of year is any weekend from May until the end of August when the weather is the nicest.

January -> March: Most Outfitters are Closed
March -> April: Float Trip Season Starts
May -> August: Busiest Time to Float the Meramec
September -> October: Crowds Start to Die Down
November -> December: Most Outfitters are Closed

Jess and I like going on Meramec River float trips in the spring because the river is far less crowded if you go earlier in the year. Missouri also gets warm pretty quick and so having a nice 80-degree day in April or May is not uncommon!

If you’re planning your Meramec River float trip for a weekend in the summer be prepared for the river to be pretty crowded.

Jess and I went on a Meramec float trip a few years ago on a Saturday and the river was so crowded we had to carry our tubes along the shore. There were so many people floating it created a traffic jam on the river that we had to walk around it!

If you’re looking to get away from the crowds, Jess and I recommend planning Meramec River float trips for weekdays, especially if you want to go anytime between May and August.

Or consider a float trip on the Current River. It’s only about an hour further but it’s often far less crowded. Check out our guide to planning a float trip on the Current River for more information.

Where To Stay For Meramec Float Trips

Now that you know where to go and when to go, the next step is figuring out where you’re going to stay while you do some Meramec River floating. The two best options will be either camping or a rental home.

Jess and I absolutely love camping, but we’ve found that sometimes (depending on who we’re going with) a rental home can be a better option and can actually end up being even cheaper than camping.

We’ve broken down everything you need to know about camping and rental home options in the area to help you narrow down what’s going to work best for you.

Meramec River Cabins And Rental Homes

Most Meramec River float trips are between Meramec Springs and Meramec State Park, and so the area North of Steelville has a ton of great rental home options. Many of them are only a few miles away from the Outfitters and finding a rental home or a cabin that’s right on the river is actually pretty easy!

Jess and I have stayed in a few of them before while out on Meramec River float trips and so we’ve put together some of our favorites so you can stay at them too!

This rental house is by far one of our favorites! We like to stay here when we’re going on float trips with a group and camping isn’t going to work for everyone. We really like that it has a washer and dryer. When you spend an entire day out enjoying the river it’s great to be able to stick your wet towels in the dryer.

Float trips on the Meramec are so much fun with a big group! Jess and I like Heron’s Landing because it’s really close to the River and Steelville and it sleeps up to 13 so you can have your entire group in one place.

On the morning of your float, it’s always really hard to get everyone together and over to the Outfitter on time for your launch. It’s a lot easier if everyone is staying together in one place.

If you’re not planning on going in a big group then this little cottage with a hot tub is the way to go! It’s absolutely perfect for just one or two couples and has arguably one of the best views in the area.

It sleeps four and has a lot of great amenities. It comes with its own private picnic table, fire pit, and horseshoe pits! If you’re looking for a great rental with some of the best views around then Sunrise Cabin is the way to go.

Meramec River Camping

Camping is a great option for Meramec River float trips. Many of the private campgrounds are also Outfitters, which is super convenient. If you decide to go with a rental house you’ll have to gather everyone and drive to your Outfitter and then drive back at the end of the day when you’re done.

If you’re staying at a campground and you booked your float trip with them as well then all you have to do is walk from your tent/RV over to the office and you’re ready to go on your float trip!

And even if you aren’t going to book your float with your campground, or can’t, it’s still nice to spend more of the weekend in nature.

Part of the fun of going on float trips is getting away from the modern world for a bit and just enjoying the beauty of nature. Why end that with going back to another house with a TV and WIFI?

Pro Tip: If you’re buying your first tent (or a new tent) buy one size up. 
For example: If you have a family or group of 4 people then buy a 6-person tent.  This will make sure it’s large enough for your stuff. Manufacturers don’t design their tents to account for anything other than the people. And so a 4-person tent is actually far too small for 4 people. And this applies to any size tent. Check out our guide to buying the best 6-person tent for more information on how to pick the right size.

Meramec State Park

Missouri is known for not only having lots of state parks but also for how nice the state parks are. Meramec State Park is no exception and certainly a great camping option when planning a float trip on the Meramec.

They have everything from primitive tent camping sites all the way up to full hookup RV sites and so you’re sure to find something that works well for you. And if you’re looking to float the Meramec with a big group they even have group sites for anything from 15-50 people!

You can now reserve sites at Meramec State Park up to 12 months in advance and since it’s such a nice park it normally books up quickly and so we recommend making a reservation as soon as you possibly can.

Maramec Spring Park

Maramec Spring Park is another one of our favorite places to camp. It’s a little further upriver and a great option if you would like to see the Maramec Spring! They also offer primitive camping sites, water and electric sites, and even RV sites with 30 or 50-amp hookups.

Like most of Missouri’s wonderful parks, they book up pretty far in advance. And while they do have about 60 campsites we still recommend making a reservation as soon as you can.

Onondaga Cave State Park

Onondaga is about 20 minutes downriver from Steelville in the Huzzah Conservation Area, but it’s well worth the drive to your Outfitter because it’s not only a great place to camp, it’s also a great opportunity to see one of Missouri’s beautiful caves!

Onondaga is still right on the Meramec River and like all the other parks they have primitive tent sites, water and electric sites, and some RV sites with 50 amp service. They have about 70 campsites, but they book up quickly just like the other parks, so make a reservation as soon as you can.

Lucky Clover Lakeside River Resort

Lucky Clover Lakeside River Resort is a great private campground option for Meramec River float trips. They do also provide float trip services and so you can book everything directly through them if you would like.

They have tons of camping options with everything from tent sites to RV sites. They’re also not only on the Meramec River but they have a lake on-site as well and all of their camping sites have a view of the lake!

There are also a ton of other private campgrounds in the area. Lucky Clover Lakeside River Resort is one of our favorites but you may find another one that you like better.

Just make sure that you are checking reviews and looking at the most recent reviews when you do. Some of the campgrounds are very well taken care of and the staff is very helpful and friendly. Other campgrounds…not so much.

Outfitters For Meramec River Float Trips

Picking just the right Outfitter for you is a key part of planning Meramec River float trips. They’ll be providing your equipment as well as your transportation to and from the river. But more importantly, they’re also going to decide exactly which part of the river you’re going to float.

While most Outfitters will have several floats to choose from, the biggest difference between the floats will be how long they are. Most float trips on the Meramec River will range from 4 to 13 miles.

But Outfitters will have a general area of the river that they float based on where they have access to the river to be either dropping you off or picking you back up.

If you’ve never been on a Meramec River float trip then we would recommend picking your Outfitter based on reviews. There are a ton of Outfitters in the area and so the easiest option is to start typing their names into Google Maps and looking at their reviews.

Make sure that when you look at the reviews on Google that you click the button at the top that says “Sort” and select “Newest” so you know you’re seeing the most recent reviews.

Here is a list of all of the Outfitters that provide float trips on the upper Meramec River. We’ve also included links to all of their websites where you can find what equipment they have (rafts, tubes, kayaks, canoes) as well as contact information for making a reservation.

Just like the campgrounds, the Outfitters do generally speaking book up pretty far in advance, especially between May and August and so we recommend making a reservation as soon as you can.

Adventure Outdoors
Bass River Resort
Blue Springs Ranch Resort
Indian Springs
Bird’s Nest Lodge
Kick’n K
Cobblestone Lodge
Garrison’s River Resort
Huzzah Valley Resort
Meramec River Resort
Old Cove Canoe & Kayak
Ozark Outdoors Riverfront Resort
The Rafting Co
Three Bridges Raft Rental

Planning Your Own Meramec River Float Trip

If you have your own float trip equipment you may decide to give it a try without an Outfitter! Here are some important things to consider when deciding if going on a float trip without an Outfitter is a good choice for you.

Pros

You won’t need to worry about making a reservation. This makes it far easier to go on a float trip on a popular weekend because you don’t need to worry about all of the good Outfitters being booked up because you don’t need an Outfitter.

You get to decide exactly what part of the river you would like to float. Keep in mind that you will need to make sure that you can find a public access point to launch and another public access point to stop at, but other than that it’s completely up to you!

Check out this Meramec River Map for a mile-by-mile description of the river to help you decide exactly where you would like to float!

Cons

It can actually be more expensive. While an Outfitter is going to charge you anywhere from $30-$80 per person (depending on what you would like to rent, tubes are cheaper than kayaks or rafts) If you decide to go on your own you will need to buy all of your own equipment.

If you’re interested in buying your own equipment Jess and I recommend starting with a kayak. They’re far less likely to tip over than a canoe. We also wrote an article on how to pick the best beginner kayak to help get you started.

If you already have your own equipment then this doesn’t matter. But if you don’t, then you’ll need to invest quite a lot of money in buying equipment before your first trip, and then you’ll need to go on several float trips with your new equipment before it starts to become cheaper.

You will also need to be responsible for your own safety. An Outfitter will know the current river conditions and would never take you out on a float trip if the water levels are currently too high or if there is any danger that you might run into.

If you decide to go on your own always be sure to check the river conditions and be safe! Here is a link to the USGS Water Level Monitoring Station in Steelville so you can track the Meramec River levels before your trip.

What To Pack For Meramec River Float Trips

Packing for Meramec River float trips is more or less the same as packing for any float trip. If this is your very first float trip just remember that you will be out in the sun all day. Make sure that you bring a good hat as well as pair of sunglasses (these are my favorite sunglasses for float trips) and some sunscreen.

Jess and I also really like to wear water shoes because most of the good places to stop along the Meramec and swim or hang out are gravel bars and so they can be really hard on your feet to walk around on.

Pro Tip: Don’t make the mistake of bringing flip-flops for this! The little rocks get stuck between your foot and the flip-flop and you end up basically still walking on rocks. Jess and I really love our Chacos (this is the pair that I have), but I have a pair of these water shoes as well and they work great!

Jess and I have been on more float trips than I could possibly count and so if you’re interested in reading a full list of exactly what we pack each time we head out for a float trip you can read our article on Float Trip Packing Essentials. It includes a PDF packing list of exactly what we recommend bringing and links to the things we find work best for us.

Go Plan Your Meramec River Float Trips!

So now you have everything you need to know for planning Meramec River float trips! Start with familiarizing yourself with the Meramec River. Are you going to camp or will you be staying in a rental home?

After that, it’s time to find the perfect Outfitter and finally make sure you have everything packed and ready to go!

Don’t forget that the Meramec River is one of the most popular rivers in Missouri to float and so as soon as you know when you would like to go start making those reservations as quickly as you can so you don’t miss out!

And don’t forget to check out some of Missouri’s other great rivers for your next float trip.

Or if you would like to go a little further, check out our article on the best float trips in Arkansas. They have some absolutely beautiful rivers for floating!

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