Campground

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4.5

out of 5

11 Reviews

Reviewed Nov. 7, 2025

Blue Spring Fall Camping

Did a quick overnight here. Very quiet and peaceful. Campsites itself were very clean and nice, however quite small. The bathrooms were VERY clean, some of the cleanest I’ve been to in a NF. Had the entire campsite to myself. There were some nice campsites closer to the water, but i pulled in at night and couldn’t see too well. most of them had fire rings. Majority of these sites were walk-in tent sites.

Remember to pack out what you pack in at this site, no trash facilities!

Site1
Month of VisitNovember
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Haley L., November 7, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Haley L., November 7, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Haley L., November 7, 2025
  • gives you an idea of how big the site is for pulling a vehicle into i. t
Reviewed Oct. 29, 2025

Free during winter season; otherwise, $10

Camped for one night at site #7 on Oct 23, 2025. It turned out that this was the first night that camping fees were suspended for the winter season. This National Park Service campground has mostly walk-in tent sites - a few near the river were difficult to find. I parked my van in a small parking lot which serves sites 6 & 7 - just up the hill from the campground loop and vault toilet. The campsites include a table, metal fire ring and lantern pole. Sites 6 & 7 are close together, actually just one site with 2 tables and fire rings, good for a group campout. Except for a few fishermen who fished for a little while, I had the campground all to myself. Very quiet, peaceful night. I enjoyed fishing for smallmouth bass here. There is no potable water, and no hookups. Hammock camping and limited Starlink connectivity may be possible depending on the site. There is a his/hers vault toilet located in the center of the loop; it was clean and supplied with tp. Except for a small trash container in the vault toilet, there is no trash service at this campground; I took out the trash that I created as well as trash left by previous users. The gravel roads accessing this campground were in good condition during my visit. This is a beautiful location. There was some AT&T and T-Mobile service.

Site7
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Fred S., October 29, 2025
  • Beautiful Jacks Fork River - Ozark National Scenic Riverway.
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Reviewed Sep. 12, 2025

Great spot

Stayed at site 9 next to the river. No need to go find the scan and pay by the vault toilet all the sites have QR codes at the sites for scan and pay. East access to the water for swimming, paddle boarding etc.

Site9
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed May. 16, 2025

These are Paid Sites

There are a small number of sites and they are difficult to find. To reserve for $10 per night you have to leave your things at the site and drive down to find the QR code by the bathrooms and book the site. Then the online booking wasn't working and wouldn't allow me to book the site and I spent an hour on the phone with the forest ranger who also didn't know what to do. It's beautiful but overwhelmingly noisy and busy on the weekend. People in your site who are going down the river stop to fish and eat and occupy your space. Trying to launch from your camp site. If you can get a chill few days in th week it's really wonderful and peaceful.

Site9
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Adi , May 16, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Adi , May 16, 2025
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Adi , May 16, 2025
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Reviewed Jul. 7, 2019

Very beautiful

What an awesome place to see very cold water , camp sites are a little Ricky but manageable, does get to be a very busy spot in the summer

Reviewed Nov. 1, 2018

Blue, blue, blue, cold, cold, cold

Blue Spring is beautiful and cold! Aside from the over zealous teenagers jumping into the spring it was a nice visit.

This is a primitive camping area and there are a lot of partying people in and around this area plus frequent motorboat traffic. No amenities, many generators. Drive in, pick a spot and set up camp. There are so many areas to visit around the river this would be an excellent base camp or you could use it as a stop off on a float trip.

Eminence, MO is nearby and a good place to refuel and get stuff you need for your adventures. Make sure you get a paper map because phone signal can be iffy.

Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., November 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., November 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., November 1, 2018
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., November 1, 2018
  • Cold water
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  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., November 1, 2018
Reviewed Aug. 8, 2016

Love the Ozarks!!!

Absolutely love this place. We set up camp and paddled down river. We then got treated to a impromptu harmonica concert in a cave! Only in the Ozarks people. It was epic!

  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Ashley Y., August 8, 2016
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Ashley Y., August 8, 2016
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Ashley Y., August 8, 2016
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Ashley Y., August 8, 2016
Reviewed Jul. 25, 2016

Decisions, decisions

Primitive campsites in all the locations along Ozark National Waterway. They are well maintained and the staff you speak with is friendly and informative. Pound Mill is easier to drive into and a mile-ish hike to Blue Spring.take your water shoes, the river is awesome!!

  • Blue Spring
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  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., July 25, 2016
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., July 25, 2016
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., July 25, 2016
  • Panoramic
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  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., July 25, 2016
  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Shelly S., July 25, 2016
Reviewed Jun. 28, 2016

Blue Springs Lake

We visit this campground multiple times a year and it's always a positive experience. My parents have ano rv and they allow us to camp in a tent next to them! I love how close it is to the lake and the city.

  • Review photo of Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway by Crystal  M., June 28, 2016
Reviewed Jul. 28, 2015

Way too hot

This was the hottest campground I have ever been in my life. It was 109 and extremely humid. I've heard that in the winter, it's freezing cold. Perfect! The water was very warm to swim in, and is also a good place to fish for crappie and catfish.