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Best Tent Camping near Cabool, MO

287 Reviews

Tent campsites in the Mark Twain National Forest near Cabool, Missouri offer primarily primitive experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Several backcountry options exist, including Rippee Conservation Area and McCormack Lake Recreation Area, both offering free tent camping in natural settings. These areas typically feature basic amenities suitable for self-sufficient campers seeking an authentic outdoor experience.

Most tent-specific campgrounds in this region provide fire rings and picnic tables, but limited additional services. Vault toilets are available at several locations including Noblett Lake and Rippee Conservation Area, while potable water is scarce across most sites. According to one visitor, "McCormack Lake Rec Area had the whole place to ourselves on a Thursday night, for the most part." Drive-in access is common, though some areas like Sycamore Loop Dispersed require consideration as one camper noted that "most spots no longer seemed camp friendly, as new tree growth has taken over."

Walk-in tent sites throughout the Ozark National Scenic Riverway provide direct water access, particularly at backcountry camping areas like Rymers and Cedar Grove. These locations offer fishing opportunities and swimming holes in crystal-clear water. The terrain typically consists of natural, ungraded surfaces with varying levels of shade. Summer months see higher usage, especially at riverside locations, while spring and fall provide more solitude. Sites generally accommodate standard tent setups without designated tent pads. A review mentioned that Rippee Conservation Area is "a beautiful spot on the Bryant creek" that offers "as nice as you can expect from a free campground." Most backcountry tent camping locations maintain a rustic character with natural surroundings and minimal development, preserving the wilderness experience.

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Best Tent Sites Near Cabool, Missouri (11)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Cabool, MO

4 Photos of 11 Cabool Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Cabool, MO

287 Reviews of 11 Cabool Campgrounds

  • Marissa H.
    Aug. 11, 2020

    Timbuktu Campground — Echo Bluff State Park

    Wonderful Swimming Hole

    This is a really nice spot for tent camping - even though it’s clearly geared towards RV camping. Make sure to book a walk-in campsite if you’re tent camping, otherwise you’ll be in the lot with the RVs (no trees, no privacy etc see first picture). You’ll have to carry your gear to your site, but not too far. Each walk in site is fairly isolated and separate from the other site by trees. Each site has a wood tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring with grate. If you want you could even go to the lodge (walking distance) for a meal and skip the cooking! Book your spot in advance as it seems like they fill up quickly.

  • b
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Mark Twain National Forest Loggers Lake Recreation Area

    WPA beauty!

    Loggers Lake, in the Mark Twain National Forest, is about 7 miles west of Bunker, Mo. Spring fed lake, no electric or water campsites. There is a maintained M/F restroom on the site, and a water spigot close to the restroom. All sites have a fire ring and a picnic table. GORGEOUS!

  • Kelsie L.
    Sep. 18, 2020

    Loggers Lake Campground

    Nice camping right on the lake

    Loggers Lake campground runs along the 22 acre Loggers Lake near Bunker, MO in the Mark Twain National Forest.

    Be prepared for a decent amount of driving on gravel county roads. The route from bunker itself has a bit less while the route to Salem is longer on gravel with a handful of water crossings.

    There are 14 sites which all have parking, picnic table, and fire ring. Most have lantern poles. Most back right up to the lake. Most have back in parking which can accommodate a vehicle with trailer. The first few sites have split parking, which can house your trailer in one spot and vehicle next to it, but not long enough to back in without disconnecting. At the beginning of the campground there is a swimming area with picnic tables, grills, and a vault toilet. After this, there are the sites mentioned above with split parking. Tent sites and tables are down a hill from the parking spots here. There is a small fork with a parking lot and a handful of sites - while we were here there was an RV in this area. I believe this would be the only place a full RV could park in the campground. Finally is the main campground loop. There is another vault toilet at the beginning of the loop. Both vault toilets were relatively clean. One had air fresheners in it. There is water access near the vault toilet. On the loop, all exterior sites back up to the lake. There are two sites on the center of the loop which would be very nice for a large group. The lake itself is beautiful and easy to access. There is a boat ramp at the campground loop and a spot at almost every site to put in a kayak or canoe.

    There is a 1.5 mile trail along the lake which begins at the campground loop. There is a spur to the spillway. The trail does not seem to be very heavily traveled, expect to walk through brush and spider webs!

  • A
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Alley Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Small sites with little privacy - campground fine, but not great

    I'd seen a lot of great reviews for this campground, so I had high expectations when we arrived for a night in early November. We reserved a spot in the 900 loop, just to be safe - a few of the camping loops allow reservations, and the rest are walk in. The loop was very open, spaces all fully visible to each other. The bathrooms were locked for the season after 10/15. 

    Since things were pretty empty, we moved to the 500 loop, which was more tree covered, near the river, and next to the shower house, which was the one park bath open for the winter. Bathrooms and showers were clean, though no camp host was present the night we stayed. 

    We were the only people on the 500 loop, so it was fine, but again - sites VERY close together. Some picnic tables were less than 20 feet apart. The 600 loop was the only heavily occupied loop when were there, filled with campers, presumably because of the electric access. 

    This is a NPS campground, so its amenities tend to be fewer than many MO state parks. I have other parks in this area that have more scenic and private tent camping. Just on the other side of the river is the Alley spring and mill, which are lovely - and ironically, some of the picnic sites are more spacious than these tent sites. I wish we could camp on that side!

  • Josh C.
    May. 20, 2019

    Paddy Creek Recreation Area

    Great for solitude

    $5 recommendation donation for the night. Stayed at this campground as a halfway point hiking the Big Piney Trail loop. Typical primitive campground with toilets, bear-proof trash cans, and camp sites with fire rings and picnic tables, but not much else. Didn’t see any water faucets near our site.

  • A
    Sep. 27, 2020

    Sinking Creek Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    A sweet little spot

    Easy to miss with a quick turn off but once you cross the bridge on the main road you will be curious about the creek below. A handful of primitive camp sites with a fire ring, picnic table & lantern hook. Quick access to the cool creek and the much cooler river—crystal clear waters. Would advise a pair of water shoes for walking the riverbed and water as they are very rocky (available at nearby store if needed).

    A peaceful and inexpensive site to rest your head and rejuvenate in the waters.

  • M
    May. 6, 2022

    Twin Bridges Canoe Campground

    Early season, limited services

    Tent camped here with a group of private boat paddlers from all over the country. Campground operations had not really started for the season. I arrived after dark and could not find the tent campsites. Nearly drove into deep mud on gravel road past RV sites. Fortunately had just enough cell signal to access their website. Found a campground map three layers deep on reservation page and located my group. 

    Tent sites were well-located along the river with basic tables and fire rings. I never found the store to be open so paid camping fee at bar and cafe at entrance. Great breakfast. $25/night for tents.  Grass had not been mowed and was deep in tent area. RV sites appear to be a work in progress with much erosion around the new pads and access road. What may have been a shower house had key code locks but there was never anyone to ask. Bathrooms near the entrance lacked tp in some stalls. All one afternoon and evening a group of kids with gas weed trimmers  noisely worked on a slope adjacent to the RV area. 

    This campground should improve over time a the management appears to be developing the grounds.

  • M
    May. 27, 2024

    Alley Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Needs tent pads

    Pretty campground with river access and accessible restrooms. Showers were a little far from our loop. I wish the sites had tent pads as it was hard to find a flat spot to place the tent and several holes in the terrain. There is NO cell signal, so I highly recommend you take a weather radio. I wish we had.

  • Joe J.
    Sep. 9, 2021

    Fishermans Paradise

    Off the beaten path

    For starters the RV park is about 1/4 down a 1 lane gravel road so if you’re pulling a big rig you better hope you don’t meet another vehicle. All the 50 amp full hookup sites seem to be in use by permanent residents. The 30 amp sites are not on level ground. No water or sewer connections for the 30 amp sites. The road also gets a little steep and winding to the 30 amp sites. Nice small lakes make for a nice view once you get into the valley.

Guide to Cabool

Tent camping near Cabool, Missouri offers a variety of scenic spots for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With options ranging from well-equipped sites to more rustic experiences, there's something for everyone.

Tips for tent camping near Cabool

  • Noblett Lake provides a lovely day-use area, perfect for picnics and enjoying the outdoors, though it's not a traditional campground.
  • Rippee Conservation Area is a great choice for families, featuring peaceful surroundings and opportunities for fishing, all at no cost.
  • Rymers Backcountry Camping offers stunning views along the North Fork River, ideal for those seeking a beautiful and serene camping experience.

Tent campers should check out McCormack Lake Rec Area

  • McCormack Lake Rec Area is known for its secluded spots and beautiful lake, making it a dreamy getaway for those who enjoy fishing and tranquility.
  • Cedar Grove/Dee Murray Backcountry Camping is a scenic location perfect for wading and trout fishing, providing a primitive camping experience close to nature.
  • Akers Group Campground features river access and spacious group sites, making it a popular choice for gatherings and family camping trips.

Some prices for tent camping range from $0 to $25

  • Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area offers a no-cost camping experience, though it lacks amenities like drinking water and trash disposal.
  • Noblett Lake has a fee of around $20 to $25 per night, providing basic facilities in a picturesque setting.
  • Mark Twain National Forest Loggers Lake Recreation Area is another well-reviewed option, with a maintained restroom and picnic tables, all for a reasonable fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cabool, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cabool, MO is Noblett Lake with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Cabool, MO?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Cabool, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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