Bennett Spring State Park – Lebanon, Missouri

Bennett Spring State Park located just minutes outside Lebanon, Missouri is one of the nation’s top rainbow trout fishing and camping destinations. With over 3,000 acres, this is a perfect place to bring the family or to go on a quiet nature walk in solitude. A large natural spring brings life to the park as it winds for miles throughout the area and campgrounds.

The park includes a beautiful rustic Dining Lodge, a Nature Center and Museum, an Olympic size swimming pool, dozens of hiking trails, a general store, fish hatchery open to the public, two large pavilions, several camp grounds and many rustic rental cabins. Nearby campgrounds and resorts also offer various float trips on canoes and rafts along with other various outdoor activities along the adjacent Niangua River.

Only fifteen minutes from Interstate 44, even people simply passing through would have plenty of time to grab a burger in Lebanon and head down to the park for a relaxing lunch or dinner.

If fishing for rainbow trout is one of your passions, then you will not find a better place to enjoy a cool summer morning. The season begins on March 1st and goes through October 31st. Daily permits are required, but can easily and inexpensively be obtained right there in the park. For more information, call 417-532-4307

The Bennett Spring State Park Dining Lodge offers both a dinner and a breakfast buffet, (call for times), as well as a large menu including sandwiches and full course entrees. They will even clean and cook your fish for you if you so desire. The Dining Lodge also has a spacious banquet room for special events and a gift shop.

Visiting the Nature Museum inside Bennett Spring State Park is like taking a walk through the forest, but with air conditioning. Professional exhibits depict the wildlife and natural resources that can be found there at the park. There are guides that will lead groups on educational nature walks pointing out flowers, trees and answering any questions that an inquisitive person may have about the area. All of this is at no charge to visitors.

There are twelve miles of hiking trails running throughout Bennett Spring State Park. One of these is a must see for anyone up to the seven and a half mile (round trip) hike to the Natural Tunnel. This natural tunnel stands fifteen feet high, fifty feet wide and over a hundred yards long. In other words, it is big enough to drive several semi trucks through side by side.

While walking along the trails is it very possible that you may see deer, wild turkey, squirrels, chipmunks, beaver, muskrats, mink, blue herons and of course hundreds of varieties of birds. During the cooler part of the seasons and during winter, bald eagles are a common sight as they fly over the streams enjoying their own free buffet of rainbow trout.

When it comes to lodging, you have the choice between camping areas with little to full hook ups as well as rental cabins and hotel rooms. The motel rooms come equipped with climate controls, showers, refrigerators, all linen and even satellite television. Many also include microwaves and coffee makers.

All of the cabins at Bennett Springs State Park include a kitchen, living room, one or two bedrooms, cooking utensils, (including pots and pans), toaster, coffee maker, linen, satellite television and climate controls.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call 417-532-4307 or 800-334-6946.

You just cannot come to Lebanon, Missouri without visiting Lebanon’s pride and joy, Bennett Spring State Park. Even the residents of Lebanon do not take this wonderful getaway spot for granted. Residents think of the park as their home away from home. Make sure you see what the people of Lebanon consider one of the top “Wonders of the World”.