Summertime is picnic time! There are so many picturesque spots throughout St. Louis to spread a blanket and relax with a basket of goodies. Here are some of our favorite local picnic spots!
Bellerive Park
Sweeping views of the river heading southwards are really stunning. Nearly every bench faces out towards the Mighty Mississippi. The pavilion has a beautiful scenic overlook.
5570 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63111
Citygarden
Three acres in the heart of downtown featuring an urban oasis with modern and contemporary sculptures, lush landscape, reflecting pools, a cafe, and a playful spray area.
910 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102
Forest Park:
Art Hill
Between the St. Louis Art Museum and the Emerson Grand Basin, you’ll find picnic spots galore under the shady trees.
35-43 Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110
Emerson Grand Basin
The Emerson Grand Basin has eight beautifully lit fountains running year-round. Such a scenic spot, it’s often used for wedding and prom photos. Here you will find plenty of room to spread a blanket in the grass near the fountains.
Jewel Box
With an art deco vibe, the Jewel Box is the perfect backdrop for a picnic. Surrounded by beautiful floral arrangements and a peaceful water feature, it’s a perfect picnic spot.
Nature Playscape
This experiential play space with natural landscapes that include native and diverse species is a perfect family picnic spot. Spread out a blanket and let the kids work up an appetite as they play.
Pagoda Circle
Find a grassy spot in view of Pagoda Circle and the Nathan Frank Bandstand. Beautifully landscaped, it’s a gorgeous picnic spot.
Picnic Island
Picnic Island provides a perfect spot for an informal blanket-on-the-grass picnic. The suspension bridge in this peaceful spot is a favorite spot of local area photographers. Picnic Island sits between the Emerson Grand Basin and Post Dispatch Lake and is surrounded by a 1.1 mile loop.
World’s Fair Pavilion
Perched on a grassy hill, the World’s Fair Pavilion was built in 1909 with the proceeds from the World’s Fair. With a colorfully lit fountain and reflecting pool, it’s a scenic spot for a summer picnic.
1904 Concourse Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110
Francis Park
Nestled in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood, this pretty park is a perfect spot for a picnic. Francis Park has lots of flat, open green spaces and a lily pond, not to mention the recreational amenities: pickle ball and handball, racquetball, soccer fields, and tennis courts in addition to the playground.
Eichelberger Street + Donovan Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109
Gateway Arch Park
Picnic by the arch, with views of the Mighty Mississippi!
200 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63102
Lafayette Park
With over 30 acres, Lafayette Park is one of the larger parks in the city outside of Forest Park.
2023 Lafayette Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63104
Tower Grove Park
Tower Grove Park has many beautiful spots to spread a blanket or picnic at a pavilion.
4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110
Castlewood State Park
With picnic sites, tables, and charcoal grills, plus a playground and trails upon trails for family hikes!
1401 Kiefer Creek Road, Ballwin, MO 63021
Central Park Chesterfield
A perfect picnic spot! Central Park has a lake, stream walks, a playground, trails, and a giant sculpture that kids can climb on!
16365 Lydia Hill Drive, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Creve Coeur Lake Park
Lay your blanket on the sandy beach by the lake!
13725 Marine Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63146
Des Peres Park
This sprawling park in Des Peres has a beautifully landscaped lake, a gazebo, and picnic pavilions. It also has two playgrounds, trails, and lots of wide open green space.
12325 Manchester Road, Des Peres, MO 63131
Laumeier Sculpture Park
Enjoy the sculptures and hiking trails that Laumeier has to offer!
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127
Lone Elk Park
Most think of Lone Elk as a drive-through park, but there are picnic tables and pavilions aplenty throughout the park!
1 Lone Elk Park Road, Valley Park, MO 63088
Longview Farm Park
Offering a covered pavilion or flat grassy spots for a picnic blanket, Longview Farm Park is an ideal spot to picnic. The playground and walking trail down around the pond will keep your kids busy, as will visiting with the horses that live at the park!
13525 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63141
Oak Knoll Park
Oak Knoll Park has two picnic table areas. The first is near the playground, and the second is near a quiet pond with a lighted fountain, surrounded by beautiful gardens.
1 Oak Knoll Park, Clayton, MO 63105
Suson Park
Suson Park is also a working animal farm! See the various animals, play on the playground, fish in the lake, and then have a picnic!
6073 Wells Road, St. Louis, MO 63128
Tilles Park
With shelters, a lake with a beautiful fountain, trails, tennis courts, and two playgrounds, Tilles is a prime picnicking spot.
9551 Litzsinger Road, St. Louis, MO 63124
370 Lakeside Park
Bring the whole family out to St. Peters’ biggest park at 500 acres, complete with a 140-acre recreational lake for fishing and boating, RV park, group campground, sprayground, archery range, biking and hiking trails, dog parks, wildlife, beautiful sunsets and more!
1000 Lakeside Park Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376
Busch Memorial Conservation Area
Over 6950 acres of land, you can surely find a quiet spot for a picnic. Enjoy fishing ponds and lakes, hiking trails, and plenty of wildlife.
2360 Hwy D, St. Charles, MO 63304
City Centre Park
City Centre Park offers over 78 acres of natural beauty and recreation opportunities. Park visitors can relax and enjoy the serene pond with its lush landscaping, mature shade trees, and decorative waterfall. The gazebo is set against this gorgeous background.
1 City Centre Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376
Fort Zumwalt Park
Enjoy picnicking, playing on the playground, teeing off on “The Fort” disc golf course, and walking through this shady, 48-acre park. Enjoy fishing in Lake Whetsel.
1000 Jesus Drive W, O’Fallon, MO 63366
Frontier Park
Katy Trail runs through Frontier Park. There is also an outdoor stage, two picnic shelters, and paved trails.
500 S. Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
Jaycee Park
Jaycee Park is famous for Discovery Playground which opened in 2012. A paved trail provided access through the park from north to south connecting all the major components and providing multiple access points. The north end of the park includes the City of St. Charles fire station and a piece of public art, but overall is passive open space with open lawn areas, wooded creeks and swales. It also includes a popular sledding hill on the west side of the park. Jaycee Park also has a trail and picnic shelter.
2805 Elm Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
Veteran’s Tribute Park
This park boasts a Veteran’s Memorial Garden, trails, fishing lakes, and a destination playground with a water play area.
1031 Kisker Road, Weldon Spring, MO 63304
Bicentennial Park
Enjoy the ADA fishing pier, fountains, a gazebo, nature trails, a playground, sculptures, and pavilions and picnic tables.
4811 Belleville Crossing, Belleville, IL 62220
Cahokia Mounds
The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico are preserved at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Picnic lunches are permitted only at the picnic grounds, which are ½ mile West of the Interpretive Center. Snacks and beverages are sold on site.
Edwardsville Township Park
Plenty of shelters and picnic tables greet you at Township Park! You can even use their barbecue grills. Here you’ll also find horseshoe pits, a playground, tennis courts, and a soccer field.
6368 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Horseshoe Lake State Park
Five shelters are provided for group picnicking, while small areas with convenient parking for a family outing are scattered throughout Horseshoe Lake State Park. Two playgrounds are located within the park.
Also enjoy fishing and boating, camping, and hiking.
3321 Highway 111, Granite City, IL 62040
Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park
Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park is a passive public space situated directly across from the Gateway Arch. The park is home to the Gateway Geyser (the tallest water fountain in the U.S.) and the Mississippi River Overlook (a viewing tower that offers unprecedented views of the Gateway Arch and downtown St. Louis).
185 W. Trendley Avenue, East St. Louis, IL 62201
Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area
Imagine an area that includes 15 wildlife management areas and 13 public access areas spanning more than 24,000 acres and scattered along 75 miles of two major rivers. Add to this awe-inspiring bluffs that tower over the river valley, providing breathtaking views, and you begin to get some idea of what awaits you at the Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area.
Picnickers will appreciate the pristine beauty of the area at picnic areas scattered throughout the area.
17836 State Hwy 100 N, Grafton, IL 62037
O’Fallon Family Sports Park
Walking trail, splash pad, sports fields galore … unpack your picnic basket in one of the pavilions, or enjoy a picnic in the grass!
301 Obernuefemann Road, O’Fallon, IL 62269
Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette State Park is a nature lover’s paradise. In addition to enjoying the spectacular views of the Illinois River and its backwaters from several points atop the bluffs, visitors can take advantage of a variety of year-round recreational opportunities, including horseback riding, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and boating.
Plenty of picnic areas are available throughout the park, with tables, grills and trash containers provided. Three picnic shelters are available, and may be reserved.
13112 Visitor Center Lane, Grafton, IL 62037
Riverfront Park
Riverfront Park has walking/biking trails, a summer splash pad for kids, is a docking location for passing riverboat cruises, and is a great location to watch fireworks over the river, take photos of wildlife, and see the Clark Bridge. The walking trails through Riverfront Park connect two Madison County Transit trails including one that traverses the Great River Road and another that leads all the way to Granite City and the old Chain of Rocks Bridge.
Watershed Nature Center
1591 Tower Avenue, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Woodland Park
Hours of fun await at Woodland Park. Feed the ducks, fish in the lake, play at the playground, hit the walking and biking trails or engage in a game of disc golf. The park has an 18-hole 1,645 yard course with concrete tees and DISCatcher targets.
Shaw Nature Reserve
With 14 miles of hiking trails through a diversity of Ozark Border landscapes, including floodplain forest, upland woods, dolomite glades, tall grass prairie, oak-hickory woodlands and savannas, and wetlands … spend the day hiking as you work up an appetite for that picnic!
307 Pinetum Loop Road, Gray Summit, MO 63039
