Are fires allowed at Prairie State Park Campground?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Prairie State Park Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Is there cell phone reception at Prairie State Park Campground?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is good.

Photos
Location
Site Types
Features
Reviews

Camper submitted image from Prairie State Park Campground - 1

View Photos

Camper submitted image from Prairie State Park Campground - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Prairie State Park Campground - 3

Roads

Camper submitted image from Prairie State Park Campground - 4

Facilities

Camper submitted image from Prairie State Park Campground - 5

Animals

Unlock Planning Tools in App

Established Camping

Prairie State Park Campground

10 Reviews

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Air Quality at this campground may currently be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Prairie State Park Campground, near Liberal, Missouri, offers a unique camping experience surrounded by stunning natural beauty. This spot is perfect for those who appreciate a more primitive setup, with spacious sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, allowing for cozy evenings under the stars.

The campground is known for its breathtaking sunrises over the prairie and the chance to see bison roaming freely nearby. Visitors have noted the peaceful atmosphere, often enjoying the solitude that comes with fewer campers around. As one reviewer put it, “The land is stunning and open and takes you back to a bygone era of this country.”

While amenities are limited—no showers or electric hookups—there's a vault toilet and a water source a short drive away. The area is also home to several trails, perfect for hiking and exploring the local wildlife, including deer and coyotes. Just be mindful of ticks and poison ivy while you wander.

If you’re looking for a quiet retreat where you can connect with nature, Prairie State Park Campground is a solid choice. With its beautiful landscapes and the thrill of spotting bison, it’s a memorable spot for anyone wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Suggest an Edit

Location

Prairie State Park Campground is located in Missouri

Directions

The park is located 16 miles west of Lamar.

Address

128 NW 150th Lane
Liberal, MO 64762

Coordinates

37.53305272 N
94.57061028 W

Open in Google Maps

Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Available
Verizon
Good
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Good

Site Types

Tent Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

ADA Access
Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Pull-Through Sites
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Drive Time

42 min from Joplin
1 hr 33 min from Springfield
1 hr 55 min from Fayetteville
2 hrs 6 min from Lawrence

I W.

Traveler

Reviewed Oct. 26, 2024

Tent camping

Lots of ticks. Good clean campground. Bathroom. Bison roam the park. Ticks also roam the park. Found a burnt guitar. Wooden pole hit truck. Prarie walk had lots of ticks, but no tick dogs.

Month of VisitMay

(5) View All

Hanna T.

Scout

Reviewed May. 31, 2022

Primitive accomodations but beautiful land!

The tiny campground is located in a wooded hollow at the edge of the prairie and has 4 primitive sites, no electric or water at sites, no showers and one vault toilet only. You can drive up the hill to the maintenance area to get water and there is a sign for this. 2 sites have paved pads and the others are gravel/dirt. The 2 outer gravel sites back up to a curved stream that runs along the perimeter of the campground but are lower and more shaded and more prone to hovering clouds of bugs. They are all have a picnic table and fire ring and are relatively private and well distanced. Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible. The center paved sites are more open and grassy and get more wind but also don’t have as much shade. I think I stayed in site 4 and it was great for my solar panel. I did have steady cell service with AT&T while here.

Since it’s pretty primitive you will likely have the place to yourself, but be prepared to have guests of the state park driving through all day to check it out. Lots of deer around, beautiful to see but this also means ticks! There is also significant poison ivy along the roads but there are signs warning about that. Best to keep to the maintained roads and paths. As far as dogs, they are not allowed on any of the trails because of the bison but they can walk the entire main gravel road of the state park (no shade). Nature center was closed due to covid when I was there but looks interesting. There were a couple bison about 20 feet from the center when I was there. My parents visited once and ended up on the road for about an hour while an entire herd of bison meandered across the road around their vehicle! The bison roam free here, although the small campground area has fences and/or cow grates to keep them out. The land is stunning and open and takes you back to a bygone era of this country. The sunrises here over the prairie are gorgeous.

Site4

Month of VisitJune

Wendy M.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 25, 2020

Primitive fun

This campsite is not for those who want amenities. There are 4 SPACIOUS sites and they are what I would call primitive. No hookups/ no electricity/ no running water. Good for star gazing. Two sites have a paved pad and two do not...depends what you’re looking for. There are quite a few trails ranging from 1.5-4.5 miles—- total of 14 miles of trails. The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside. Speaking of bison and coyotes... you’ll hear the coyotes all night howling and barking...the bison are roaming around which you will be able to see where they’ve been by the scat droppings around the road and trail system. Definitely something to see if you’ve never seen the plains before.

(4) View All

Luke B.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 28, 2018

Buffalo without fences

Prairie state park isn’t very large but it is nice to see somewhere dedicated to preserving the native grassland that the Midwest used to be covered with. The main draw for me other than it being close to where I live is that you get to be around buffalo with out fences. It is a surreal experience and worth the time to locate the herd in the park.

Month of VisitJanuary

Deborah C.

Ranger

Reviewed Sep. 15, 2018

Bison are plenty, no showersor flush toilets

If you are interested in bison sightings, this is the park for you. If you need water, supplies, shower or a flush toilet, skip this one. The tent sites are VERY primitive, but you drive up to your camp. You really have to go out of the way to get to this camp, but we were rewarded with a scary but fun close encounter with a lone bull bison. We also got some ticks, so be careful!

Katie R.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 2, 2018

Stop and See!

I think it’s probably the most underrated park in the area. It’s absolutely beautiful. 45 minutes from Joplin, Missouri. Limited camp sites but the sites are spacious w/ tables, pit, bathroom facilIty a short walk away with a creek nearby. Peaceful as can be.

Michelle T.

Traveler

Reviewed May. 6, 2017

Love the prairie!

Limited camping spots available, but the times we've stayed there have rarely been others camping. So, it's peaceful! There is a nice pit toilet with hand sanitizer, tables, and fire rings. There is also a backpacking camping spot out on the prairie.

Dan N.

Ranger

Reviewed Aug. 31, 2016

Home home on the range

Bison herds, coyote calls, birding, and wide open spaces make this a memorable place to visit. It’s very basic, which we liked to give it a nice settlers on the prairie feel. There are only a few sites (5?) by the road and one more backcountry site about 3.5 miles down an easy trail (“backpacking”). You can’t have a fire at the backpacking site so if that’s a big part of your camping style stay in the front country and just hike the trail by day. It’s a nice spot and I’d return.

Chad K.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 20, 2016

Nice

Prairie State park has about 20 campsites and one walkin site. The facility is clean and water is available. The multiple hikes are fun and you get the true prairie experience.

Carrie J.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 21, 2016

Prairie State Park

Campsites accommodate up to 20 people. There are toilet facilities as well as a place to get water. Unfortunately, no pets are allowed. =[

Frequently Asked Questions

Are fires allowed at Prairie State Park Campground?
Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Prairie State Park Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.
Is there cell phone reception at Prairie State Park Campground?
According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is good.

Keep Exploring