Bennett Spring State Park in Missouri, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-27. Check linked official notices before travel.

Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon, Missouri, pairs a trout stream with wooded hills and hiking trails. Fishing is the main attraction, but the difference between a short forest loop and the longer Natural Tunnel Trail also makes route choice important. Match your plans to the fishing season, campground unit, and facility schedule.

The spring and its wooded valley

• Bennett Spring: More than 100 million gallons of water emerge each day and feed the trout-stocked spring branch.
• Woodland walks: Bridge Trail offers a shorter loop; Natural Tunnel Trail reaches a larger geological feature on a much longer circuit.
• Historic park character: The arched bridge and dining lodge are among the Civilian Conservation Corps projects that shaped the park.

Seasons that change your visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Use the MDC fishing regulations for the current schedule, limits, and exemptions. Fishing hours are separate from the hours for walking around the park.

Trail surfaces and crossings

The hiking routes include rocky or slippery surfaces and unbridged stream crossings. Bridge Trail also has narrow sections, steps, and nearby drop-offs. Check trail conditions before committing to a route, especially after rain. Tick exposure is another consideration in the wooded areas.

Follow the rules for your part of the park

Keep pets supervised on a leash no longer than 10 feet. Do not let them enter waters reserved for fishing. Follow current firewood advisories before bringing wood to a campsite. Respect fishing-zone boundaries; permitted tackle changes along the spring branch.

Choose the campground before booking

Campsites can be reserved up to 12 months ahead through the official camping page or at 877-422-6766. Campground 1 operates year-round, but water at individual sites runs only April 15–October 15; its showerhouse is open year-round. Campgrounds 2 and 3 operate April 15–October 31, while 4 and 5 operate February 25–October 31. Check current service dates before booking. Reaching campgrounds 2–5 involves significant uphill travel.

Location west of Lebanon

The park's address is 26250 Highway 64A, Lebanon, MO 65536-6797. MDC places it about 12 miles west of Lebanon on Highway 64. Use the official trail list to select a route and open its map before arrival.

Other regional parks by road

Ha Ha Tonka State Park has its road destination at 1491 State Road D in Camdenton, near its castle ruins and spring. Pomme de Terre State Park has separate Hermitage and Pittsburg areas; its listed address is 23451 Park Entrance Road, Pittsburg. Select the intended area before navigating.

Fishing zones and two very different walks

During the regular trout season, Zone 1 permits flies, Zone 2 permits flies and artificial lures, and Zone 3 permits soft plastic, natural, and scented bait. Flies and artificial lures are prohibited in Zone 3. Ask staff about the appropriate zone when buying a tag. The MDC park report also explains hatchery work that affects a visit.

For hiking, orange-blazed Bridge Trail is a 0.7-mile moderate loop. The blue-blazed Natural Tunnel Trail is a 7.4-mile moderate loop, passing through woodland, glades, and stream valleys to a 296-foot-long dolomite tunnel. Choose by distance and terrain, not by the shared difficulty label alone.

Nature center and camping services

The nature center's published season is February 25–October 31, Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; it closes November 1–February 24. Camping options range from basic sites to sites with utility connections. Verify the particular unit and its seasonal water service rather than assuming every campground has the same facilities.

A spring that supported mills and recreation

Milling, state ownership, and the CCC

James Brice built a mill here in 1846. His son-in-law Peter Bennett operated a successful later mill and gave the spring its name. State purchases in 1924–1925 helped create one of Missouri's early state parks. During the 1930s, CCC work added roads, trails, buildings, and the arched crossing over the spring branch.

Trout and forest habitat

Rainbow trout are stocked in the spring branch. Away from the stream, Bridge Trail passes through oak and hickory woodland where deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and forest birds may be encountered. The longer tunnel route adds glades and streamside habitats to that woodland setting.

Contact Bennett Spring

Call the park office at 417-532-4338 or the nature center at 417-532-3925. The Missouri State Parks page provides current park links and notices.