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Roaring River State Park is unique on so many levels! With a deep, narrow valley surrounded by a striking and rugged landscape, Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s most popular state parks. Located in the southwest Ozark hills, Roaring River State Park is one of three state parks stocked with rainbow trout and is a great place for camping near Bentonville. Eager anglers flock to the park year round to try and catch their lunker trout. The scenic setting makes everything more fun. The park has seven hiking trails, a swimming pool for cooling off, picnic tables for a leisurely lunch and a nature center to learn about the park. For those wanting to spend the night, the park has many options. The campground has basic, electric and sewer/electric/water site. Rustic cabins are scattered throughout the park or guests may choose a modern room at the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center. The center also boasts a full-service restaurant.
Hawker Point Campground is a shady campground located on Stockton Lake in the scenic Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri. The lake and surrounding landscape offer countless recreational opportunities along its nearly 300 miles of shoreline, providing visitors with many ways to explore one of the most sought-after natural areas in the state.
Boating is always a popular pastime at the lake. Sail boating is especially popular and the lake hosts several races each year. The facility provides a boat ramp for easy access to the water. The waters of Stockton Lake are home to several species of fish including small and largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, catfish and sunfish, making it an ideal area for anglers. Several trails wind around the lake shore and through the landscape. The Stockton Lake Equestrian Trail continues approximately 15 miles between Hawker Point and Orleans Trail Campgrounds.
The land surrounding the lake contains hundreds of acres of native prairie grasses, rolling hills and thick forests that turn crimson in autumn. An abundance of wildlife lives both in and around the water, including wild turkey, great blue heron, deer and bald eagles. Visitors can learn about the lake's bald eagles by attending an annual eagle-watching event during the winter.
There are three full-service marinas located around the lake, which offer a wide range of services and supplies, including boat rentals, fuel, fishing tackle and restaurants.
$18 / night
Orleans Trail Campground is a shady campground located on Stockton Lake in the scenic Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri. The lake and surrounding landscape offer countless recreational opportunities along its nearly 300 miles of shoreline, providing visitors with many ways to explore one of the most sought-after natural areas in the state.
Boating is always a popular pastime at the lake. Sail boating is especially popular and the lake hosts several races each year. The facility provides a boat ramp for easy access to the water. The waters of Stockton Lake are home to several species of fish including small and largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, catfish and sunfish, making it an ideal area for anglers. Several trails wind around the lake shore and through the landscape. The Stockton Lake Equestrian Trail continues approximately 15 miles between Hawker Point and Orleans Trail Campgrounds.
The land surrounding the lake contains hundreds of acres of native prairie grasses, rolling hills and thick forests that turn crimson in autumn. An abundance of wildlife lives both in and around the water, including wild turkey, great blue heron, deer and bald eagles. Visitors can learn about the lake's bald eagles by attending an annual eagle-watching event during the winter.
The Orleans Trail Marina is located nearby with camping and full marina services available.
$160 / night
Scout
Campground was nice and maintained. Showers in campground 2 were dirty.
GuideWe had a family reunion here and rented out some cabins. It was a great time. Fishing is great. Listening to the river while falling asleep is also hard to beat.
GuideGreat place to fish. Nice open camp spots, easy access to hiking trails and great fishing!
GuideSpent a quick one night passing thru here. Sites just ok but surrounding area and hiking nice. If fly fishing is your thing then this place will do it.
GuideWe pulled in several hours early and were allowed to go immediately to our campsite, #121. The camp hosts were extremely nice. It was a back-in, across the road from the river, and next door to the bathrooms. The campsites around us were electrical only, but it just so happens that the water for our area was at site 121. This was a very shady site. It rained off and on all afternoon and evening. That didn't keep us from enjoying the beautiful Roaring River and pointing out all the trout visible in its waters. This is a fisherman's heaven.
While there is much to do at Roaring River, for us it was cut super short. The National WX service issued flood warnings, so at 10:15pm our camp host knocked on our door and said the Park Ranger advised us to leave. Even with the light rain, this particular site was already full of puddles. So we obediently packed up, with water up to our ankles as we headed for high ground. As the following day's forecast continued with rain and predictions of flood we bailed and headed for a different campground. The rest rooms were clean and there were plenty of individual showers, but we did not have a chance to check them out.
GuideOur yearly trip to Roaring River is one of our favorites. We stay in the duplex cabins on site and my wifes family stays next door. We fly fish for trout and have a blast!
GuideOur girls had a blast there! For first timers, this place is great! Quiet, relaxing, and a nice hatchery/hiking area!
ScoutWe tent camped in Campground 3 at lot 168. We are more of the hiker, woodsy, adventure type people. If I would have known better I would have chosen Campground 1 for tent camping, as it seemed less groomed. Campground 1 was tucked up in an inlet that went back into the valley. It dead ends at a wonderful trailhead. The west side on CG#1 is lined by a beautiful creek that runs into the rotating river. Lots 54-77 are close to the bathrooms and well shaded, and I have them noted in my phone for our next trip. Reservations required and easy to make (1-877-422-6766)
Campground 3 was very open and didn’t feel very “woodsy”. However it was still a very nice spot with a short walk to some awesome fishing spots. It is also near the two longer trail heads, which we enjoyed. If you have ATT you won’t have any cell service here. BUT.. there’s WiFi. Yes. In 2021, you can get WiFi at your campsite. I don’t really like this, but it was helpful for my partner who is a businessman and needs to be able to send emails. (This was only from CG#3 in my experience)
Campground 2 seemed like a nice in between of 1 and 3. It was a little more shaded, but seemed to have more traffic.
Every campground offered basic, electric, or all the fancy stuff. We like to rough it, so that wasn’t for us. We will be back for sure!
GuideNot my favorite of all parks but also not one to miss. Roaring river state park has a working trout fish hatchery. You can walk the holding tanks and feed the trout from baby to ready to be released into the river. There is also a cave you can walk in where you’ll find a pool of water that goes for miles underground. Roaring river has three different campgrounds. I prefer ground one and two...however the downside is the spots are not very spacious / far apart from those camping next to you. There are also several hiking trails through out the park, a visitors center, bath houses, a pool, and swimming holes (the water is very cold—great in the hot summer)
They are currently redoing the park in a multi million dollar project. The plan was to be completed already however due to COVID19 there have been some delays. I am excited to see the improvements once complete.
TravelerWe recently stayed here for thr first time and we can't wait to go back! Our camp attendants were amazing! The river is striking. Everyone is so friendly. We hiked, fished, swam, and enjoyed the nature center (2 kids 3 dogs). We are anxious to ckme back during different seasons to watch Natures beauty and wonder!
RangerI grew up 30 miles from RR.. over the years I have camped or visited here it has grown and in some cases gotten a little crowded, but with good reason, it’s a beautiful and fun site with lots to do in and around the park area. From wishing to ORV to hiking to lake access it’s an all around fun area. The Trout farm is a fun tour and the trails around the area are easy to access.. big sites in most areas, the upper area has full hookups while the river bottom is not.
Guide
Lake camping isn't my favorite because often times the sites are too close together for the privacy and quiet that I prefer that being said Hawker point is my favorite lake campground. Many sites are well spaced and shaded. Campground host is friendly
GuideJust got home from a weekend stay at site C19 at Hawker Point COE Park. This particular site was just up the hill from the lake and completely private. The walk to the lake was about 50 yards and a little steep but we managed to carry two kayaks down and up without too much trouble (and we are a middle-aged couple), and it was totally worth the effort because it was as if we had our own private cove.
The site is very spacious and shaded with plenty of trees for our hammocks and clothesline. Lots of level places for tents. The park attendants were very friendly and helpful.
C19 has no electricity or water and the closest vault toilet is a good walk down the road. The shower houses were driving distance away. We have a shower tent, so that wasn’t an issue for us.
We drove through the rest of this park to check out A and B campground loops. A loop consists of full hookup sites and many sit right on the water. Little shade and crowded, but if you like to play on the lake all day these might be for you. B loop had pretty wooded sites but many were not close to the water. C loop is where it’s at!
TravelerWe've enjoyed a week here and have had a blast!
TravelerI enjoy camping here because the sites are spacious. The lake is clear and has good fishing. The bath houses leave a little to be desired. You have drive half a mile to get to them.
ScoutI’ve been going here every year since I can remember. The camping trip to roaring river state park is the one thing I look forward to every year.
GuideAll the campsites are fairly level and the entire park is nicely maintained. There is not water hookup at each site, but fresh water fill stations are easily accessible throughout the park. Great layout for family walks or kids to ride their bikes throughout. The bathhouses are nice and taken care of. The river is stocked with trout daily. There a few hiking trails.
ScoutCheap full hook ups at a nice lakeside campground, they also have a hotel and cabins that are nice getaways. The food at the restaurant is pretty good as well.
TravelerWent tent camping with the family (6 of us ages 1-33) during the offseason. Just a beautiful place. Kids had a blast.
TravelerThis was our first time family camping..... with 10 people! Unable to reserve an electric site because the place was packed! Our basic family site was spacious and near the river. All of us ( ages 1-40) enjoyed fishing and playing in the river by Campground 3 and exploring the trails and dry creek bed by Campground 1. The bathrooms and shower house at Campground 3 were completely decent, and are tidied up through out the day. The office staff are helpful and friendly, and the store is full of necessities, snacks, fishing gear, etc. You can even rent fishing poles by the day.
RangerAbsolutely beautiful! It’s the only way to describe Roaring River! It was also packed! If you like fishing neck to neck with other trout fishermen this is your place. Camp sites were tight and well used. Part of that feeling could have come from it being flooded just a short time before our stay. GreAt Access to a creek to play in. Nice camp store. Large nice pool. Large private campground in back. Shower and bathrooms were pretty good. Not my favorite for camping.
TravelerWe had a great time fishing, hiking and camping there over the weekend. The River is so clear that you can see the trout. The kids had a great time fishing and then wading/swimming in it. There is a fish hatchery to tour and many paths to hike. Also there is a very nice camp store and large inn to eat at if you don’t want to cook. We stayed in camp ground 2 and had electric hook up but water had to use a few hose to get it to the camper.
ScoutAwesome lake, fishing is decent, the food at the Marina is great
RangerSeveral spots near the river most are basic sites. They have three loops each with there own shower houses. Loop one is out away frin the river tucked in a narrow cannon really cool fealing. Loop two and three are on the river. Loop two has electric and lots of trees. Loop three has unreserved with trees, and resevered basic more in the open and not as crowded.
GuideNice and clean. The 3 campgrounds are next to the river and few trails are really close around
TravelerMy family has been camping here in October- after winterization, thus no water- for decades. In season, there are nearby showers and running water. Sites are large and heavily shaded. The sandy swim beach is clean and fun, even off-season. Lots of places to hike and fish. Great place for boating. The bathrooms are generally kept clean. I have little experience here during season, but highly recommend it if you are looking for a quiet place to camp off-season... unless you come the same weekend as my large family. :)
TravelerLots of river-side campsites, choice between wooded or open areas, pit latrines or flushies, and standard or electric sites. There are groop camping and cabins. Heated bathroom is available. On-site showers and laundry, RV Dump stations, and a store that offers fishing and camping gear, souveniers and a small selection of food. During the summer, swimming pool is open. Roaring River State Park is home to a Trout hatchery and the river is stocked each evening with trout for fishing the next morning. Sites have fire pits and picnic tables. Handicapped campers will find an accessible site with a large, flat concrete pad, accessible restrooms, and an accessible fishing area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Carthage, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Carthage, MO is Roaring River State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 44 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Carthage, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Carthage, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
