Black, MO is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Black is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Discover great camping spots near Black, reviewed by campers like you.
$11 - $32 / night
"Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is located on the Black River in Missouri, just south of St. Louis. This makes it a popular location on hot summer days, especially weekends."
"It is located on the Black River, and the water flowing through the shut-ins is crystal clear and cool."
"Also worth noting is that there is water faucet an a drinking fountain next to the restroom bldg, so you can get fresh water if needed."
". 😊 The sites are all walk in but it’s a short walk from your car to the site. Very rocky ground so be careful where you put your tent. Pit toilets are located at the entrance to the campground."
"I'd recommend something AWD or be comfortable with momentum style driving, don't need clearance just need the traction on some of the hills."
"The drive to the site from highway 32 is just over 6 miles on a forest service road (2363). There is a beautiful view of the valley to the south west and we were treated to an incredible sunset."
$10 - $40 / night
"This is a beautiful camp ground with electric sites right on the crystal clear Black River. The host is awesome and takes good care of the campground."
"This campground is definitely off the beaten path so make sure that you have the majority of your necessities before setting up camp."
"It's about a five hour drive if you don't have to stop, so we got to the trailhead for the Bell mountain loop at around 11pm."
"The Bell Mountain Wilderness Area is about a 2.5 hour drive from the St. Louis area - mostly highway until the winding country roads for the last 30 mins. There are two entrances to the mountain."
$10 - $15 / night
"Large primitive sites with plenty of space and access to community water pump in each area. Full RV hookup sites with room for tent camping friends. Trash pickup."
"It is a popular spot for people who are there to float the Black River.
We were hiking the OT from Taum Sauk to Johnson Shut-ins so we opted for a camping cabin to keep it simple."
$15 - $100 / night
"The Council Bluff campground is easy to navigate and has really easy access to trails. There are drop toilets close to the sites, and the beach is a fairly short walk (~1mi) to the farthest campsite."
"We went to a nearby convenience store to get water. Site 43's buried terracing railroad ties are rotted and should be replaced before someone gets hurt."
$12 / night
"Nice float on the Black River. Cool water and beach to sit and watch the floaters go by in as well! Group sites and were pretty large and mostly shady. This place is lit up fast after dark!"
"Black river access on site. Firewood included with site rental. Ice is only $2.50. No cell service"
"The camp sites in the #70’s are so close to the water and a short walk to the toilet/shower house! The bathrooms could have been cleaner and some of the lights were out but not the worst I have seen!"
"Access to the river is the best. They have float trips and canoes and kayaks for rent. River is crystal clear though it can get crowded. We found a nice secluded beach on the river and it was great."
"We stay here anytime we want to go to south east Missouri. The owners are absolutely awesome folks the park is immaculately kept the spots are level clean and well kept."
"A little too close to one another for my liking, but well put together and level. Camp Host very nice and helpful woman and prices were reasonable, especially for firewood and propane."
ScoutWent to go have a peaceful birthday dinner tonight with my family, and the lovely owners Tyler and Jennifer Juliette were so intoxicated that they kicked us off the property for being in a open public space without camping passes. My fiancé and some of the other guys were all hanging around the dumpster area(no sign saying you can’t be there), when a manager came over and was very rudely asking if they had day passes. When my fiancé calmly tried to explained we were there under a reservation, and we were only hanging around the public general store, the manager proceeded to get visibly angry and said she was informing the owner of our behaviour. After my fiancé came and told me of the situation, I went outside to see what the chaos was. Tyler and Jennifer proceed to come up to my fiancé and say“are you the one who was mouthy with my manger”. Mind you, they both were clearly intoxicated and had alcohol in hand and the manager had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth most of the interaction. After they came up I looked at Tyler and said“Sir we are here under reservation if I could just explain” and Tyler replied“I don’t care about a reservation and you’re going to let me talk.” They proceeded to say we needed to leave or they would call the cops. I told them obviously they had too much to drink and that we would leave. As we turned around to go inside and grab our belongings, they followed us the entire time. Tyler followed me so closely I was so scared he was going to grab me! Literally he was half an inch away from being chest to back with me, and I told him aggressively to back Up, get away from me and that I am a young woman. When we got inside, the owners told my family we were the most“disrespectful children” they’d ever met, mind you we are both legal adults. I grab my belongings, we left, and we surely will never ever be back! My family was left embarrassed, shocked, and disturbed by how poorly the owners handled the situation. If they had kindly asked us to see our passes or that we couldn’t hang by the dumpsters, there would have been 0 issue. If anyone there witnessed the interaction, I am highly sorry for the scene. However this was 100% poor business management and could’ve been handled 1000x better. So unfortunate that the owners are to entitled and money hungry to hear out the people who give them business.
GuideThis is a beautiful campground. It is an older campground but very well maintained and very clean. The view from my camp is spectacular. I have electric, water, a covered picnic table, a fire ring and all for $8/night with my pass discount. Only negative thing I can say is the long hike to the bathrooms, but not really all that bad. Wonderful campground, will stay here again
RangerStopped for one night, but could have stayed more. Great campground with tons of trees and shade. Each site has a table and fire pit. Big, clean bathrooms and showers. Playgrounds for kids. Caves to explore. I’m
GuideThis is a very clean, well kept campground in Mark Twain National Forest. It has electric, vault toilets showers and a potable water spigot. Very reasonably priced. The water was cut off for repairs shortly after I arrived but, no problem, stuff happens. Been here 12 days and it has been very enjoyable. I did a field report and it tested my "cell" reception but I have no signal here so I am using Starlink and have a great connection so that will skew the test results. They need to ask if using Starlink before doing that test.
RangerWe arrived on a Saturday and the park was packed, but were able to have a spot with electric. Campground probably has well over 200 sites with electric, electric and water, and tent camping. Right on the Merrimack river where one could go hang out in the river or float or tube down the river. Cave that is situated in the park that one can pay for a tour Fisher cave. We actually went to the Meramec Caverns tour about 15 miles away. Road into park is fairly narrow and has a pretty good grade going up and down. Park is actually almost 3 miles from the visitor center. Even though the park was very full when we arrived, it emptied out to almost no one on Sunday afternoon. You are nicely spaced apart from other people for the most part. Showers were adequate.
GuideGreat park close to hwy 44 (5ish minutes + drive to campground) Lots of spots to choose from even though it was a Saturday in August. All are pretty flat and open with not much privacy. Showed up at 5pm and chose an open spot but had to call to reserve because I had no cell service (phone worked, internet didn’t). Phone reservation was super easy and efficient. Our spot (#86) had a lot of broken glass under the picnic table and the fire out was filthy. Convenient potable water and dump station areas. We just stopped for the night while driving through the area so didn’t use the park which seems to have tons to do.
TravelerStunning views. Multiple spots. All have a picnic table and fire ring. They have a QR code on each picnic table so you can book your site through the state and pay $10 to Camp but there's no service in that area so I'm not sure how they expect us to be able to do that. There's two camping sections. One is about halfway down the road. It's grass and trees and it's across from a vault toilet and a trash bin. If you go all the way to the end of the road it rocks and sand and you're right on the water but there's no toilets or trash.
The coordinates for this place just takes you to the start of the road not to the actual campsites. So once you get to the road just drive down it. It's not too far and car could make it.
The only annoying thing was that when I stayed with my tent on the rocks by the water, all the way at the end, I could still hear the person at the very first campsite with RV generator humming very loudly and it took away a lot of the ambiance of the place. So it's primitive but you may not be alone.
TravelerWe didn’t camp here but drove up the mountain to check out the look out. Took a trip through the campground, tent camping only and it looked like most sites had platforms and a picnic table. I seen one or two restrooms. Looked nice and wasn’t crowded. Several hiking trails, I think we’ll come back in the future to hike
TravelerVery nice campground, tons of shade! My site (206) was very level and was surrounded in trees like basically ever other site which made it comfortable to sit outside all day. We’ve been down here a couple times now and would highly recommend it.
Camping near Black, Missouri, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With beautiful parks and campgrounds, you can enjoy nature while making lasting memories with family and friends.
Camping near Black, Missouri, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find Black Canyon camping areas?
Several excellent Black Canyon camping areas can be found along the Black River in Missouri. Markham Springs offers beautiful sites right on or near the Black River with gorgeous surrounding forest, providing unique camping experiences and excellent fishing opportunities. Highway K campground is another option located directly on the Black River, made up of two different camping areas and conveniently within a couple hours' drive from St. Louis.
What are the amenities at Black Creek Campground?
While specific Black Creek Campground information is limited in the reviews, similar campgrounds in the Black River region offer comparable amenities. Twin Rivers Landing provides large primitive sites with community water pumps, clean bathrooms within walking distance, shower facilities near the main entrance, and laundry facilities. For more developed options, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park on the Black River features well-maintained facilities with crystal clear water access and is particularly popular during summer months.
When is the best season to visit Black Hills for camping?
The best season to visit the Black Hills region for camping is typically late spring through early fall (May through September), when weather conditions are most favorable. During summer months, campgrounds like St. Joe State Park Campground offer spacious sites with gravel tent pads, picnic tables, and fire pits. However, be aware that popular water destinations such as Marble Creek Rec Area get busy during hot summer weekends. Fall brings beautiful foliage and fewer crowds, making it an excellent time for a more peaceful camping experience.
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