Shady Beach
St Clair, Missouri · on Meramec River
Verified · 2 independent sources
- WATER
- river
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $10 per vehicle
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Shady Beach
Shady Beach is a privately operated, fee-based day-use swimming hole and campground on the Meramec River at 136 Shady Beach Lane near St. Clair, Missouri, roughly 5-6 miles southeast of downtown. Visitors pay to swim, sunbathe, and camp along a sandy stretch of river near where the Meramec meets Indian Creek, with on-site restrooms, showers, and a snack concession. For anyone after a river to swim in with facilities close at hand, it is a developed spot rather than a wild one.
The beach sits along a wooded, rural stretch of the Meramec River in Franklin County, described by one visitor as 'a beautiful section of river along the Meramec as well as Indian Creek.' It functions as a combined day-use swim beach and RV/tent campground rather than a wilderness access point.
Swimming at Shady Beach
A sandy river beach used for casual swimming and floating; one long-time visitor called it 'a great swimming area (assuming the river is at normal levels),' indicating the swimming experience varies with the Meramec's current flow and water level. It reads as a family- and group-friendly summer swim spot rather than a deep-water or adventure destination.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 136 Shady Beach Lane, St. Clair, MO 63077, roughly 5-6 miles southeast of downtown St. Clair, directly on the Meramec River.
Parking: On-site parking lot at the beach; day-use access is charged per vehicle rather than being a free public lot.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up sandy river beach with its own parking lot; visitors walk directly from their cars to the water, so no trail or hike is involved.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Sandy beach with an on-site playground, and campground reviewers describe it as 'good for kids,' but no lifeguards are mentioned, the beach sits on a stretch of the Meramec that sees active motorboat traffic, and swim conditions/current depend on the river's water level, so adult supervision is warranted.
Parking
Paid, $10 per vehicle
On-site parking lot at the beach; the $10/vehicle charge functions as a combined parking-plus-beach-access day-use fee rather than a separate parking cost.
Restrooms
Yes
On-site restrooms and showers are provided for day-use and camping visitors, per visitor reports; the exact building location on the property is not specified.
Hours
8am-7pm daily, per an unofficial listing; not confirmed on an official Shady Beach page.
On the water
Campground-review sources describe active motorboat traffic on this stretch of the Meramec ('boats race through' near the beach, one camper complaining of a '7am wake-up call' from racing boats) and confirm boat-launch/direct river access. Shady Beach also runs its own guided weekend river float trips (canoe/raft) launching from the beach. No source found confirms policy on privately brought kayaks, paddleboards, or tubes, or any no-wake/electric-only restriction, so those are left unlisted rather than assumed.
What regulars say
Visitor reports describe the beach as very sandy ('sand, sand, sand') with direct river access and call it good for kids given the on-site playground, but also flag active motorboat traffic that can start early ('boats race through for a 7am wake-up call'). One visitor separately cautioned it's 'a great swimming area, assuming the river is at normal levels,' implying the swim experience degrades when the Meramec runs high or low.
Backstory
Reportedly owned and operated by Kenny and Carrie Lang since 2006, though this is not independently confirmed on an official page.
Shady Beach: FAQ
Does Shady Beach charge a fee?
Day-use beach access reported at $10 per vehicle (2026 season); camping/RV hookup sites reported around $20 per night in aggregator listings (less certain).
Is Shady Beach kid friendly?
Sandy beach with an on-site playground, and campground reviewers describe it as 'good for kids,' but no lifeguards are mentioned, the beach sits on a stretch of the Meramec that sees active motorboat traffic, and swim conditions/current depend on the river's water level, so adult supervision is warranted.
Do I need to hike to reach Shady Beach?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Shady Beach?
On-site parking lot at the beach; the $10/vehicle charge functions as a combined parking-plus-beach-access day-use fee rather than a separate parking cost.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Shady Beach?
Campground-review sources describe active motorboat traffic on this stretch of the Meramec ('boats race through' near the beach, one camper complaining of a '7am wake-up call' from racing boats) and confirm boat-launch/direct river access. Shady Beach also runs its own guided weekend river float trips (canoe/raft) launching from the beach. No source found confirms policy on privately brought kayaks, paddleboards, or tubes, or any no-wake/electric-only restriction, so those are left unlisted rather than assumed.
When is the best time to visit Shady Beach?
Summer, roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day, with the season ending in late September.
What are the rules at Shady Beach?
Operates as private property with paid day-use and camping; seasonal, reportedly closing for the year in late September, and subject to closures during high water on the Meramec River.
What water body is Shady Beach on?
Shady Beach is on Meramec River, a natural river verified in USGS hydrography data.
