Gibson Spring Back Country Site is located in the Fort Crowder Conservation Area near Neosho, Missouri. The terrain consists of wooded areas and open fields, providing a natural setting for camping. Temperatures range from 30°F in winter to 90°F in summer, and nearby attractions include the Neosho National Fish Hatchery and the George Washington Carver National Monument.

ort Crowder Conservation Area, located in southern Newton County, was once part of the old, World War II Camp Crowder Army Base. The U.S. Army selected the Neosho site for the base because of its proximity to water, railroads, and highways. Visitors to the area can still see foundations, fruit trees, open fields and other remnants of many of the hundreds of small farms purchased by the federal government for the 60,000-acre base. Camp Crowder was named for Judge Advocate General and U.S. Ambassador to Cuba Enoch H. Crowder. Thousands of soldiers went through basic training here before the camp was decommissioned in the mid 1950s, including Mort Walker, who immortalized the Camp as Camp Swampy in his syndicated comic strip, Beetle Bailey. Fort Crowder Conservation Area, encompassing 2,362 acres, is approximately 60 percent forested. Primary species include white, black, post, blackjack and red oaks, hackberry, elm, black cherry, black walnut, and ash. The remainder of the area is open and includes 200 acres of native warm-season grasses, 100 acres of crop fields and 600 acres of fields maintained in an early successional stage. The area hosts various game species, including quail, rabbits and doves in the open areas and large numbers of deer and squirrels. Turkeys have been stocked here and are now present in good numbers. During your visit to Fort Crowder Conservation Area you may view various forest and wildlife improvement projects in progress from the 11 miles of multiuse trails that wind through the area. These trails are open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. 

Area map: https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/mo_nature/downloads/conservation-areas/6510map.pdf

Gibson Spring Back Country Site - Fort Crowder Conservation Area

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Neosho. There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Discover great camping spots near Neosho, reviewed by campers like you.

Neosho

The Best Camping Near Neosho, Missouri

Gibson Spring is a back country camp site and the only location in Fort Crowder Conservation Area where camping is allowed.  Located at Gibson Spring this camp area has plenty of room for numerous tents.  The site has several picnic tables, a trash can and a BBQ grill that someone left behind.  Your water source is the spring it self, remember to treat the water.  This site would be great for someone just getting in to backpacking as it is a short hike to the campsite from the closest trail head (took me only seven minutes).  No toilets at the site.  Trail head can be tricky to find as no signs on the road indicate the turn.  The conservation has 11 miles of multi-use trails to explore (foot, bike, horse).

Photos of Gibson Spring Back Country Site - Fort Crowder Conservation Area

Real photos from real campers