Long Branch State Park Shelters

Open — The picnic shelters are currently open for reservations. Note that the campground at Long Branch State Park is closed for all of 2026 due to construction, but day-use facilities including shelters remain available.

About

Long Branch State Park encompasses 550 acres along the shores of 2,430-acre Long Branch Lake in Macon County, created through a lease agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The park offers two reservable picnic shelters that serve as covered gathering spaces for visitors enjoying the park's diverse recreational opportunities. The park is renowned for its excellent bass fishing and water recreation on Long Branch Lake, with three boat ramps providing access to the expansive reservoir. The swimming beach and day-use area are popular with families, while the marina store offers boating services and supplies. Hiking trails wind through the Chariton River Hills Natural Area, where visitors can observe prairie remnants, colorful wildflowers, and diverse bird species including red-headed woodpeckers, brown thrashers, and indigo buntings. The shelters complement the park's extensive picnic facilities scattered throughout the grounds. One shelter, the South Shelter, is ADA accessible and located near a playground. The park maintains playgrounds, picnic tables with scenic lake views, and an accessible fishing dock. While the campground is closed for construction during 2026, the day-use facilities including shelters remain available for reservation.

Directions

Long Branch State Park is located approximately two miles west of Macon, Missouri, on U.S. Highway 36. From Highway 36, take the exit for State Highway 156 and follow the signs to the park entrance.

Nearby Campgrounds