Horseshoe Lake State Recreation Area

We arrived after 8 pm saw one car of fisherman on the drive to the campsites. 3 other sites were occupied. We parked of the West side of the loop where no vault toilets are located. We submitted after hours registration outside the park office for $8. Could just see the top of the Gateway Arch from our site. Fine spot to park and rest our heads for the night.

Drove around the loops, whether you go to the right or left they dead end - stopped bye the office no one was there - a lot of vehicle activity and locals hanging out - come to find out it pretty much is a cruising spot / drug traffic - if you drive to the left and go all around you will end up at a once nice campground - very isolated, very rundown. no pads just grass - only one way in and out, wouldn't recommend until they get it together again....

This is a cheap primitive campground within easy driving distance of St. Louis. The sites are spread out and there's a good choice between shade or sun. There are a few water spigots scattered throughout the campground, vault toilets, and a dump station at the entrance. In the four days I was here there were never more than 3-4 other campers present, often less. Early mornings were particularly delightful, and at night you could hear crickets and frogs.

Based on all of the above, this place should be a paradise. I can't identify a single thing about it that is actually wrong, but... it feels wrong. More specifically, this place does not feel safe. Another camper was parked across from me for 3 nights and he mentioned feeling deeply unsettled as well. As far as I can tell this feeling comes from a combination of extreme seclusion and abundant street traffic. The campground is about a mile into the state park, across a causeway on an island where there is nothing but the campground. Despite this, cars drive slowly through the campground multiple times per hour, all day, even into the late evening hours. My neighbor mentioned it felt like we were being cased, except nothing bad ever happened to us. I only saw a ranger drive through twice in the time I was here, though he could have come when I was away. I paid for 6 nights but left after 4 due to the vibe. I think if you were with a larger group it would be a perfectly fine place to stay while visiting St. Louis. I would not recommend it to people traveling alone or in pairs.