MO Missouri Porch

Off-roading

The riding areas

If you don't own rural land, these are the legal places to trailer your machine: two state-park riding areas and two national-forest trail systems. Each one sets its own permit, width limit, and rules — so read the right block before you load up.

Missouri has two state-park ORV areas, about 3,000 acres in all. Both require an ORV permit to ride (the parks are free to enter); buy online for up to 3 days or at the park, and carry it while you ride (nonrefundable, nontransferable).

Looking for the full map of every legal option, including private land and local roads? See Where can I ride?

State park · #1

St. Joe State Park

Where

St. Joe State Park, near Park Hills/Farmington, on old Lead Belt mine ground.

The riding

About 2,000 acres of riding in an 8,200-acre park — wooded trails, hill climbs, sand flats (mine tailings), and rocky flats.

The rules

DOT/ANSI helmets required for every rider and passenger; under-16 supervised; no alcohol. Working brakes and a muffler (≤86 dB), a spark arrester (motorcycles/ATVs), a safety flag on a mast at least 72 inches tall (except motorcycles), and seat belts where equipped. 5 mph in staging and parking. Dune buggies and 4×4 trucks ride only in the sand-flats/tailings area, not the wooded trails.

Camping

There's a year-round ORV campground (primitive plus full-hookup, with bathhouses and wash stations) and a trail to the riding area so you don't have to ride park roads. See the Camping hub for booking.

⚠ Safety advisory

Lead-tailings safety advisory: the sand flats are old lead-mine tailings. Limit dust and soil exposure — especially for children age 6 and under. Wash hands and faces before eating, and clean dust off clothes, gear, and machines before leaving.

State park · #2

Finger Lakes State Park

Where

Finger Lakes State Park, near Columbia, on reclaimed strip-mine land.

The riding

Steep hills, deep ravines, and about 70 miles of trails, plus a professionally designed motocross track that hosts races.

The rules

An ORV permit is required. Side-by-sides are limited to 64 inches maximum width and must have seat belts and certified rollover protection, and they're prohibited on the motocross track. ORVs are banned on the sand beach, beach-access trails, and on or along paved park roads. 5 mph in staging/track/pit/parking; 10 mph on the road between staging and the track.

A note on park fees: Fees differ by park and vehicle type — there is no single statewide ORV fee. Finger Lakes currently lists $6/day for ATVs and motorcycles and $10/day for UTVs; confirm current prices on each park's permit page.

National forest

Mark Twain National Forest

Mark Twain National Forest has two designated motorized trail systems — the only legal off-road trails on the forest.

Chadwick

Christian County, near Ava

Permits

$10/day, $20/2-day, $30/3-day, $60 annual (good through Dec. 31 of the year you buy it).

Sutton Bluff

Reynolds County, near Sutton Bluff Campground

Permits

$7/day, $14/2-day, $21/3-day, $45 annual.

Width limit

All ATVs and UTVs on these trails must be under 50 inches wide — so wide side-by-sides don't fit.

Equipment

A working muffler and spark arrester are required; helmets are required under 18; fill out the OHV registration form.

Mountain-bike permits

Mountain-bike permits are $3/day or $20 annual on both systems.

Where to buy

Buy at the Ava, Salem, or Rolla forest offices; on Recreation.gov (Chadwick); or from vendors (Casey's in Sparta for Chadwick; the Reynolds County Sheriff's Office for Sutton Bluff).

Off-trail riding

Off-trail riding is prohibited except at two designated spots at Chadwick: a ~3-acre Family Play Area and a ~5-acre Trials Bike Area.

A trail permit is not a road permit. Trail permits do NOT cover road riding. To ride open, numbered Forest Service or county roads (shown open on the free Motor Vehicle Use Map, which works in the Avenza app): you must follow Missouri law, be a licensed driver, and — for ATVs/UTVs — have a valid county road permit (county-owned roads only). Riding is banned on closed roads, service roads, powerline rights-of-way, state highways, gravel bars, beaches, and rivers (except approved crossings). Unlicensed dirt bikes can't ride county or Forest Service roads. Not all counties issue permits.

Private OHV parks

Beyond the public areas, private off-road parks operate around the state. Each one sets its own rules — machine types, width limits, fees, hours, and whether you need to sign a waiver — so call ahead before you haul out.

Check current status before you load the trailer

Trails and riding areas close with the season, the weather, and fire danger. Before you drive out, check:

  • Park or Forest Service closures and current trail conditions
  • Permit prices (they change by season and by trail system)
  • Fire danger and any burn restrictions
  • Vehicle and width restrictions for that specific area
  • Whether the area or campground is seasonal

Before you ride

Missouri Porch explains; the state, your county, and the land manager decide.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. ORV rules change and depend on where you ride and what you ride — always confirm with the Highway Patrol, your city or county, and the land manager before you ride.

This is a plain-English summary, not the law. This is legal information, not legal advice. Off-road rules depend on what you ride, where you ride, and which town or county you're in — always confirm with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, your city or county, and the land manager before you ride.

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