Wappapello Lake

About Wappapello Lake

Wappapello Lake, MO is a 45,000-acre project nestled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains on the St. Francis River in Southeast Missouri. Completed in 1941, Wapppapello Lake annually provides an estimated $3.9 million in flood protection to agricultural lands and developed areas along the St. Francis River. In 1996, the mascot Ranger Willie B. Safe was created at Wapppapello Lake as part of a water safety awareness campaign. Selected as the 1999 Natural Resources Project of the Year, Wappapello Lake averages nearly 2.5 million visitors per year.

How to Get There

Southeast Missouri. From St. Louis, travel south 32 miles on I-55 to U.S. 67. Continue south 88 miles to Greenville. Turn left on Highway D, travel south 20 miles.

Plan Your Visit to Wappapello Lake

Heading to Wappapello Lake? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)