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Best Campgrounds near Columbia, MO

315 Reviews

Central Missouri has a surprise for outdoor enthusiasts: It’s home to some of the best camping in the state. Near Columbia, MO, there are a number of conservation areas along the Missouri River. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park is minutes from the city and offers a fun and educational experience for children and adults. There are plenty of scenic trails to hike, bike, or explore on horseback. The park is home to fascinating natural features, including a cave system, and is one of the many opportunities to explore the outdoors near Columbia. A number of campgrounds are located around the city with amenities and campsites to accommodate the type of camping you're looking for, whether you want to stay closer or farther from the city lights.

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Best Camping Sites Near Columbia, Missouri (75)

    1. Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground

    18 Reviews
    Columbia, MO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 474-2747

    $45 - $52 / night

    "Visited in March 2021, some pot holes in drive way, but manageable. Trees seemed to be trimmed back compared to other reviews. Nice facilities and great staff!"

    "The camp sites are very close to each other. But the campers around us were very nice. Only needed one night and it worked prayer for us."

    2. Finger Lakes State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Hallsville, MO
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 443-5315

    "A rainy weekend didn't deter campers from spending the holiday weekend here at Finger Lakes State Park. I was lucky enough to get a site for a single night when rain was in the forecast."

    "Finger Lakes is one of few places in Missouri for campers to also be able to enjoy riding their ATVs."

    3. Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

    18 Reviews
    Jamestown, MO
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 657-1299

    $10 - $60 / night

    "A beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise."

    "See beautiful scenery on the MO River & Katy Trail. You may get to see a paddleboat cruising the river."

    4. Cedar Creek Resort & RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Columbia, MO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 239-8340

    "Oh my as we drove in this place was amazing There were fishing ponds a retreat center and cabins Hiking trails Rv park w laundry Over 160 acres of land to explore on!!!"

    "We had family from Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, and everyone raved how this was their new favorite spot."

    5. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Educational Scout Camps

    5 Reviews
    Columbia, MO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 449-7402

    "In the month of August I took a solo trip out to Columbia, MO to spend the entire day immersed in the beautiful Columbia landscape. "

    "Great trails for biking and hiking and the creek is perfect for cooling off. However, this place can get really really busy."

    6. Three Creeks Conservation Area

    7 Reviews
    Ashland, MO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 815-7900

    "An easy and beautiful spot to camp for free near I-70. About 15 minutes of a stunning drive away from the interstate. Plenty of sites, lots, and places to rest for the night. All free and secluded!"

    7. Pine Ridge Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    New Bloomfield, MO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 364-4621

    "Close to Columbia but far enough away for a getaway. Easy to find from the road, even in the dark. Fire pits and picnic tables are there. Vault toilets and running water available."

    "However, it is also one of my favorites close to home to hike. The campsites are always clean, but you almost always find litter in the fire rings."

    8. Hanson Hills Campground

    10 Reviews
    Kingdom City, MO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 642-8600

    "Plenty of room to be camped away from others."

    "Kinda drive in and park anywhere you see a firepit. We had a rooftop tent on the truck and a tent. We camped near the smaller pond."

    9. Camp Takimina

    1 Review
    Columbia, MO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 445-7536

    $15 - $85 / night

    "There are no hookups, but water was right next to us near the parking lot, and the picnic tables near the lodge were shaded most of the day.  Portapotties were clean and well stocked. "

    10. Pine Grove Village Community

    1 Review
    Columbia, MO
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 474-4412
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Recent Camping Photos near Columbia, MO

60 Photos of 75 Columbia Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Columbia, MO

315 Reviews of 75 Columbia Campgrounds

  • J
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

    Mostly Scenery.

    I do Not like that the fire pits nearest to the river are 30 inches from a 30ft drop off!  Only 2 people can enjoy the campfire because of that.  

    Secondly, they do Not provide tables for the campers.  Kinda expensive to Not have tables.

    Not a good fishing place because it's a treacherous walk down.

    The evening band was awesome!

    Will Not be back because of the above.

  • Serge P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2025

    Vandalia Community Lake

    Perfect, quiet, peaceful

    Very nice place, I wouldn’t rely on facilities. Quiet at night and during the day some local fisherman come to fish lots of bugs in the afternoon and at night.

  • J
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground

    Perfect for me

    The camp sites are very close to each other. But the campers around us were very nice. Only needed one night and it worked prayer for us.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Robert's Bluff

    This is not campsite- this overnight sleep parking situation

    It was a great camping spot until. At least 10-15 cars drove in out of the area to see if available and then at around 9:30 pm pitch black someone decided to camped. It’s not very quiet at all. You will wake up from cars driving almost evreytime. There’s people that live in that area that were driving and screaming at each other driving 4x4 little cars. I hate camping in the Midwest

  • Melina
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Robert's Bluff

    Easy access

    Its easy to find, snuggled between the corn crops and river! There are 2 camping spaces, that are good sized with a fire pit. Directly on the river with a boat ramp as an added perk!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 7, 2025

    Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

    Coopers Landing Missouri

    Rustic. You come down winding rolling roads then onto gravel to get here. Katy bike trail on one side Missouri River on other side site 2 completely level for our 31e RV. Boat dock. They have food trucks that come in and live entertainment. Very peaceful and we will be back. Katy trail is easy biking beautiful views, shaded.Blue birds, cardinals and also an indigo bunting were seen our first trip out. Watched the sunset by the river and it was beautiful. The river is wide and deep here. Current and undertows make it definitely not suitable for swimming. You can see the water swirling and churning.

  • J
    Aug. 4, 2025

    Cedar Creek Resort & RV Park

    Out new favorite place!

    Out new favorite place! this campground has everything for a perfect long weekend! The cabins are spectacular and right on the water! We just tooK 40+ family members and everyone fell in love with this campground. We had family from Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, and everyone raved how this was their new favorite spot. The fishing was great, amenities were fantastic, and the hosts were amazing. Free rentals on pontoon boats, kayaks, and paddle boats. We will be back again, especially since they just built more cabins!

  • Gary F.
    Aug. 1, 2025

    Thomas Hill Reservoir Conservation Area

    would not recommend

    Free camping but i left my rv there for two nights and it was broken into and ransacked.   they stole numerous items

  • Melody D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Robert's Bluff

    5 star! Easy to find.

    Great location! Parked 30ft travel trailer with no problems! Level ground for the most part! The corn field is really neat! We parked right beside it and all I kept thinking was children of the corn! But it added to the awesome location! We have cricket wireless full signal. A couple locals were camping beside us and were very friendly. I was told to check the weather just to make sure it's not going to flood. It's right beside a river. Used a generator..... So did everyone else. Still quiet enough. There was plenty of space

Guide to Columbia

Camping near Columbia, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or an adventure-filled trip, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Exploring: Many campgrounds, like Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground, have great hiking trails. One visitor mentioned, "Beautiful campgrounds. Hiking trails. Super showers & toilets. Clean. Friendly staff."
  • Fishing and Boating: Long Branch State Park Campground is perfect for fishing and boating. A camper shared, "We really enjoyed our time here and we'll definitely be coming back in the warmer months to enjoy some swimming and boating."
  • Visiting Historic Sites: Arrow Rock State Historic Site Campground is close to historic attractions. One reviewer noted, "The town of Arrow Rock is awesome, adds a great element to staying here."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Lazy Day Campground said, "Bathhouse was clean and well kept. Would recommend!"
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers mention the helpfulness of the staff. A reviewer at Graham Cave State Park Campground remarked, "The camp host was helpful and friendly."
  • Spacious Sites: Campers enjoy having enough space between sites. One camper at Ray Behrens mentioned, "Each site included a wooden picnic table and a fire pit. There was a large grass area between us and the next camper."

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Finger Lakes State Park Campground, may have fewer amenities. A camper noted, "The bathrooms and showers were clean, but some sites looked level, but some are a bit wacky."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Be prepared for wildlife, especially raccoons. A visitor at Indian Creek Campground advised, "Raccoons visited nightly so secure your food supply and trash."
  • Road Noise: Some campgrounds may have noise from nearby roads. A camper at Ray Behrens mentioned, "Some road noise in the distance."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places with activities for kids. One family at Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground said, "Great place to stay. Nice pool clean bathrooms and a really nice laundry."
  • Plan for Outdoor Fun: Many campgrounds have playgrounds or trails. A visitor at Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina shared, "The Katy trail runs through the edge of the property, offering quick access to trail walking, hiking, and bicycling."
  • Pack Snacks and Drinks: Having food on hand can save trips to the store. A camper at Lazy Day Campground mentioned, "The little details make it very homey."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site. A reviewer at Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground noted, "The utilities were in the middle of the pad and water pressure was decent."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer sites with full hookups. A camper at Long Branch State Park Campground said, "The sites are each very spacious with flat areas."
  • Be Prepared for Limited Dump Stations: Some campgrounds may not have dump stations. A visitor at Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina mentioned, "You will have water and electric but no sewer and no dump station on site."

Camping around Columbia, MO, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to check the campground details and reviews to find the best fit for your trip!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Columbia, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Columbia, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 75 campgrounds and RV parks near Columbia, MO and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Columbia, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Columbia, MO is Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Columbia, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Columbia, MO.

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