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Camping near Clearwater Lake

633 Reviews

Clearwater Lake in southeastern Missouri offers multiple camping options across a mix of public and private campgrounds. Piedmont Park and River Road Park serve as popular destinations for tent and RV camping with waterfront access to the lake. Bluff View Campground provides established campsites with electrical hookups, while several private resorts including Kempers Hideaway and Beaver Springs Campground offer cabin rentals alongside traditional camping. The region includes both Corps of Engineers managed sites and privately operated campgrounds that accommodate various camping styles.

Camping at Clearwater Lake operates primarily from April through October, with some facilities closing by mid-September. Most developed campgrounds provide electric hookups, potable water, and vault toilets, though amenities vary by location. Sites at Piedmont Park and River Road feature concrete picnic tables with pavilions, fire rings, and 30-amp electrical service. Several campgrounds offer boat ramps and swimming beaches, making water recreation readily accessible. Reservations are recommended for summer weekends and holiday periods. One camper noted, "We stayed right next to the beach in site A15. Spot was lacking shade but made up for it with the view."

The lake serves as the main attraction for most visitors, with swimming beaches and fishing opportunities frequently highlighted in reviews. Campgrounds on the southern side provide access to both Clearwater Lake and the Black River for diverse water recreation. Tent and RV sites are generally well-shaded, though waterfront locations may offer less tree cover. According to visitor feedback, "River Road is a quiet, safe little campground with amenities, fishing, boating, kayaking, easily accessible." Several campgrounds offer tall pines and cottonwood trees throughout their grounds. Facilities are generally well-maintained with clean bathhouses, though some campgrounds have limited shower facilities. Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, particularly at more remote camping locations.

Map showing campgrounds near Clearwater Lake, MissouriExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Clearwater Lake (153)

    1. Sam A. Baker State Park Campground

    48 Reviews
    Patterson, MO
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 856-4411

    "State Park in Southeast Missouri along Big Creek. Well maintained campsites with electric hook ups. Water and dump stations, but no water hook up sites."

    "Shower houses were conveniently located in camping area. Big River was just a small walk away from the campsite. I know they had been flooded, but I am still cleaning rocks and dirt from the camper."

    2. Big Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    26 Reviews
    Van Buren, MO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 323-4236

    $50 / night

    "It is still possible to enjoy the area and there are places to get away from the crowd. In 2017 the area had a major flood and renovations are slow."

    "Big Spring is a great, quiet spot to take in some hiking with access to the Current River."

    3. Piedmont Park

    6 Reviews
    Piedmont, MO
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 223-7777

    $14 - $50 / night

    "Despite living in this general area my entire life I’ve never been to Clearwater Lake, the trip was better than I expected. We got an amazing spot with 10/10 views."

    "We stayed right next to the beach in site A15. Spot was lacking shade but made up for it with the view."

    4. Pinewoods Lake Rec Area — Mark Twain National Forest

    16 Reviews
    Ellsinore, MO
    16 miles

    $15 - $25 / night

    "Stopped here while passing through Missouri on a Saturday on 4th of July weekend and there were only 3 other campers when we arrived late afternoon."

    "Just off highway, it is dispersed camping in a park that no longer charges, blacktop pad, lantern hook, picnic table, fire ring w cooking grate at ea site, vault toilets."

    5. River Road Park

    4 Reviews
    Piedmont, MO
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (573) 223-7777

    $14 - $110 / night

    "A friendly atmosphere with quick, over the hill, access to Clearwater Lake too. Shaded lots are plenty but get snatched up. Reservations (4 days in advance) and first come for available spots."

    "This campground is located at the southern side of Clearwater lake on the Black River. We were in spot R1 which apparently stands for remote. Electric was available and water was within 50 ft or so."

    6. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    56 Reviews
    Black, MO
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 546-2450

    $11 - $32 / night

    "It is located on the Black River, and the water flowing through the shut-ins is crystal clear and cool."

    "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."

    7. Bluff View(clearwater Lake)

    3 Reviews
    Piedmont, MO
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 223-7777

    $14 - $50 / night

    "Ggreat area to walk"

    8. Kempers Hideaway Resort

    2 Reviews
    Piedmont, MO
    1 mile
    +1 (573) 223-7324

    $70 - $80 / night

    9. Beaver Springs Campground

    1 Review
    Piedmont, MO
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 223-4217

    $18 - $85 / night

    "Bordered by a spring branch and just a mile from Clearwater lake access. Has several cabins and one RV for rent. Tall pines and cottonwood trees throughout."

    10. Four Creeks Ranch Campground

    3 Reviews
    Ellington, MO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (618) 444-2112

    $15 - $30 / night

    "this campground is totally off the beaten path. a great place to relax and unwind. this is also a good place if your new to off grid camping and want to test your gear before you say bye to society. the"

    "She just wasn't there when we arrived, and we had a hard time determining property boundaries, tent site locations, etc. on our own."

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Recent Camping Photos near Clearwater Lake

225 Photos of 153 Clearwater Lake Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Clearwater Lake

633 Reviews of 153 Clearwater Lake Campgrounds

  • Heidi H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2025

    Council Bluff Recreation Area

    Nice and Private

    Stayed for a night and I think there were only like 4 campsites filled in the whole campground? Pit toilets in pretty bad shape but did we expect any different😂 loved our visit, went down to the lake to swim and found a walking trail by the water just down from our campsite. Bugs were bad but that’s to be expected, can’t really get away from it in Missouri in June.

  • Haley L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 7, 2025

    Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    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!

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2025

    Blue Spring Backcountry Camping — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    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.

  • Jeffrey H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 24, 2025

    Rockin’ Bell River Resort

    Very Nice Campground

    We called to spend one night as we were passing through the area. Amanda & Dusty were very friendly & helpful. The facilities are very clean and in a beautiful setting. We definitely would come back here when in the area

  • Overland 1.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 12, 2025

    Piedmont Park

    Beautiful Place

    This 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

Guide to Clearwater Lake

Camping near Clearwater Lake, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful retreat or an action-packed adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the trails at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. One visitor mentioned, "The Scour Trail was also close and really neat to see," making it a great spot for nature lovers.
  • Swimming: Enjoy the refreshing waters at Sam A. Baker State Park Campground. A reviewer shared, "The water is slow and shallow enough in tons of places for littles and deep and cold enough for the older kids and adults to cool off too."
  • Fishing: Cast your line at Big Spring Campground. One camper noted, "The campground offers 29 electric sites and many more with level pads, picnic tables, lantern hooks, and fire pits," perfect for a fishing trip.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at Sam A. Baker State Park Campground. A visitor said, "Bathrooms were clean, roads were well maintained, and the signs were very clear."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the roomy campsites at Echo Bluff State Park. One reviewer remarked, "Sites were spacious and there’s not a 'bad' site in the whole park."
  • Friendly Staff: The welcoming atmosphere at Round Spring Campground is a highlight. A camper mentioned, "The host was great and did a nice show at the amphitheater about the local area."

What you should know:

  • Limited Cell Service: Be prepared for spotty cell service at Alley Spring Campground. A visitor advised, "There is NO cell signal, so I highly recommend you take a weather radio."
  • Reservations Recommended: Popular spots like Huzzah Valley can fill up quickly. One camper noted, "Reservations recommended, especially on weekends."
  • No Showers at Some Sites: If you’re staying at Silver Mines, keep in mind that there are no showers available. A reviewer mentioned, "There are not hookups at each campsite."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Kid-Friendly Campgrounds: Sam A. Baker State Park Campground is great for families. One parent said, "There is something for everyone here!"
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: The camp store at Echo Bluff State Park has good food options. A camper mentioned, "The food is surprisingly really good (I’m craving those loaded nachos!)."
  • Plan for Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities. A visitor at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park said, "The shut-ins were right down the road or you could walk or bike the paved path all the way there."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: If you’re bringing an RV to Big Spring Campground, be aware of site sizes. A camper noted, "Nice paved site a bit on the small side."
  • Bring Extra Water: At Pinewoods Lake Rec Area, water hookups are limited. One visitor said, "No water or electricity that we seen."
  • Use the Dump Station: Make sure to utilize the dump station at Round Spring Campground. A camper shared, "The dump station is at the entrance to the campground."

Camping near Clearwater Lake, Missouri, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any established campgrounds at Clearwater Lake in Missouri?

Yes, Clearwater Lake offers several established campgrounds. River Road Park is a quiet campground located on the southern side of the lake along the Black River. It features electric hookups, water access, showers, bathrooms, and a dump station. The campground offers both standard sites and more remote options with good spacing between sites. Bluff View is another established option at Clearwater Lake with reservable sites, water, toilets, and is big-rig friendly. These campgrounds provide excellent access to fishing, boating, and kayaking opportunities on the lake.

What camping options are available near Piedmont, MO at Clearwater Lake?

Near Piedmont at Clearwater Lake, campers can enjoy Piedmont Park, which offers excellent waterfront sites with scenic lake views. The park provides easy access to the water for swimming and boating activities. Beaver Springs Campground is another option just a mile from Clearwater Lake access. This privately owned campground features amenities including a pool, clean bathhouse, ice and firewood sales, and is nestled among tall pines and cottonwood trees. The campground borders a spring branch and offers several cabins and an RV for rent, making it a convenient base for exploring the Piedmont area.

Are there resorts with accommodations available at Clearwater Lake?

Yes, Clearwater Lake offers resort accommodations for visitors seeking alternatives to traditional camping. Kempers Hideaway Resort near Piedmont provides drive-in access with reservable sites, water, and toilet facilities. For those wanting a private campground experience with resort-style amenities, several options exist around the lake area. Beaver Springs Campground has several rental cabins and an RV available for guests who prefer not to bring their own accommodations. These resorts provide convenient access to Clearwater Lake's recreational opportunities while offering more comfortable lodging options than tent camping.

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