Best Tent Camping near Columbia, MO

Recent Tent Reviews near Columbia, Missouri

267 Reviews of 21 Columbia Campgrounds

• c

  carla R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 13, 2024

  Danville Conservation Area

  Watch out for ticks

  Lovely wooded spot. There are about 6-8 sites. Can back in a camper. Outhouse building. Only had one other camper. Shaded, wooded. We had a lovely night but woke up covered in ticks! Lots of ticks here. We ride our motorcycles here to tent camp. Sites are close. Fire rings , no picnic tables.

• K

  Kari W.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 12, 2022

  Camp Takimina

  Beautiful quiet campground in Columbia MO!

  We stayed at Camp Takimina on our first shakedown trip with our Popup camper.  It was amazing.  It was about 5-10 minutes from I-70, super easy to get to. The camp was quiet, private, and peaceful.  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.  We brought our dog and two children and the had an absolutely fabulous time!  We hiked a lot in the woods, played in the creek, and had plenty of time and space to figure out our new to us popup camper.  There aren't actual spots for to park in, it is just a big gravel lot with a couple designated areas for campers if the lot is full (it wasn't full at all).  We reserved Arrow Hill also, which is a huge site right next to the parking lot, so we had a campfire ring to cook on.  Most of the firepits have benches that surround them, which was very handy not to have to move chairs around all the time.  The tent sites were huge- easily would fit multiple tents at each site, and we will absolutely be back to tent camp, and with the popup too!

• K

  Kris S.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 4, 2020

  Stump Island Park

  Needs more information

  Went to set up camp for the MR340 and it was very confusing on where the tent sites were. They have 6 RV sites at the top of the hill and 12 more river side. They say they have 10 tent sites hillside but not posts or map or anything that show its for tents. No website or phone number other then to the City. Even when you call that it never gives you an option for camping. Finally I just ended up taking an RV spot for my tent.

• 

  Savannah T.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 23, 2019

  Katy Roundhouse

  Very Nice

  Nice, Quiet full hookup campground and very secluded tent sites. Love this place!

• 

  Curtis M.

  Guide

  

  May. 17, 2018

  Binder Park Campground

  close to home

  137 acre lake with great fishing, offering rv hookups and basic tent sites with a pavilion and privys

• 

  Julia V.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 14, 2024

  Finger Lakes State Park Campground

  Had everything we needed

  Basic tent site, potable water was right near our site. Bathrooms were clean. There were some families staying nearby but overall was a quiet stay.

• 

  Toni S.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 27, 2023

  Lazy Day Campground

  Simply Fabulous

  We discovered this gym. On our way home. Just needed to stay overnight, but will definitely be back. The little details make it very homey. Sites are well laid out and easy to maneuver. Full hook ups or tent sites are available to meet the needs of the camper. Clean facility and family friendly.

• 

  Jon B.

  Guide

  

  May. 4, 2023

  Arrow Rock State Historic Site Campground — Arrow Rock State Historic Site

  Great Basic Campsites

  The largest camp area of Arrow Rock is definitely geared towards RVs, but there is a "basic loop" with twelve basic campsites for tent camping. There is a bathroom/shower house very close to the basic loop and the basic loop is well away from the RV area. Right up the road is Big Soldier Lake where you can fish as well. The camp host was helpful in providing firewood and was very attentive of the sites. The campsites are a bit crowded in with each other as there are 12 in the small basic loop, but a few campsites at the back end of the loop provide a lot of area to stretch and spread out into.

• 

  Jon B.

  Guide

  

  May. 4, 2023

  Lazy Day Campground

  Very Nice Campground

  There are five tent camp spots located at Lazy Day and we camped on T4 at the very back of the campground. The on site facilities were excellent and clean, and these include a shop (with souvenirs as well as basic necessities and other assorted items), showers, and bathrooms. The T4 spot is pretty well isolated near the back and is right next to the trail that goes to one of the two fishing ponds on site. In addition to the trail leading to the back pond, there is another short trail that cuts through the woods on the south side of the camp. Despite the large size of the campground (about 65 RV spots) the noise level was fine and we went undisturbed while sleeping.

• 

  Jayden K.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 20, 2022

  Lazy Day Campground

  Really cool, would stay again

  We stayed at one of the few tent sites. It was a shaded spot under some pine trees, and that came with the occasional tick. No big deal though. There are two “club houses”. We spent some time in the smaller one by the pool. There was a shelf for you to take a book leave a book. The other shelves where filled with hundreds of dvds to choose from to play on the tv. There was also a stove, sink, and fridge. Which was very nice since we had a tent. The bathrooms were very clean and the showers were free. The aesthetic of the camp was amazing and rustic. There’s a coin laundry room outside the bathrooms, which was also really nice but we didn’t end up using. We only stayed a night, but will definitely be back.

• 

  Kathy F.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 2, 2019

  Cedar Creek Resort & RV Park

  Retreat!!

  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!!! A must stop if you are in Columbia MO

• R

  Rebecca M.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 19, 2020

  Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

  Loved it

  Campsites were right on the Missouri River. Had great views and a stunning sunset. Staff was super friendly and helpful. We set up our tent and enos for the night on the way to Colorado. Even had phone service. Everything we could have asked for!

• 

  Ashley F.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 20, 2017

  Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Educational Scout Camps

  Caves, Boardwalks, and Turtles - Oh my!

  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. I first heard about the cave systems, especially the infamous Devil's Icebox. And I had seen pictures of these beautiful wooden boardwalks that meander through the trees. When I arrived, I noticed that there were a ton of beautiful primitive trails besides the well-constructed boardwalks. And I also learned that there were even more caves, such as Connor's Cave. A number of families with little children ran around enjoying the boardwalks, ascending and descending the stairs built into the hills. I found the Devil's Icebox and was rejoiced by how remarkably cool it was (56 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact!) compared to the thick, humid summer air. I explored some of the extensive primitive trails, first by hiking and then by trail running. There are beautiful sights along the way, from wildlife to old, abandoned silos. The trails were marked by distance and difficulty, ranging from easy to challenging. I have yet to take on any camping out here. I had read that they charge non-profit groups and scouts a very small fee per person. I will have to go back and set up camp in these woods. I highly recommend exploring this park for the adventurous as well as the next family outing!

• 

  Adam W.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 7, 2023

  Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground

  Disappointing Experience at Cottonwoods RV Resort: Deceptive and Rude

  My recent encounter with Cottonwoods RV Resort has left me utterly disappointed and disgusted, as their service was marred by deceptive policies, unprofessional behavior and childish behavior

   It is disheartening to witness a company that prioritizes playing games and leaning on diplomatic responses over addressing the reality of their actions. From the outset, their reservation process raised concerns with their non-industry standard policy of requiring a 10-day notice for cancellations.

  This policy, as I soon discovered, served as a warning sign of their intentions to hold onto customers' money while offering limited options for resolution. It became evident that their primary objective was not to provide a fair and transparent service but rather to maximize their own gains at the expense of customer satisfaction.

  Adding insult to injury, when my wife attempted to discuss our concerns with their staff, they not only exhibited unprofessional behavior but also acted defensively, as if they were being attacked. Despite my wife maintaining her composure(while slightly elevating the pitch of her voice, but never yelling or personally attacking the person on the phone), they manipulated the situation by leaning on diplomatic responses that failed to address the reality of their actions. This tactic of deflecting and avoiding accountability only further erodes trust and demonstrates a lack of integrity on their part. It's truly sad to see this behavior come from a"business".

  When I personally reached out to express my frustration(and also notify that I will post my factual experiences online), the"manager" absurdly claimed that my communication was threatening merely because I suggested the possibility of visiting their premises to discuss the matter in person. This response showcased a lack of professionalism and an unwillingness to engage in mature dialogue.

  The"manager's" attempts to justify their cancellation policy under the guise of protecting customers are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. By allowing customers to reschedule their reservations while vehemently refusing any possibility of cancellation, they revealed their true motive: to retain customers' funds while offering a hollow option for rebooking. This self-serving approach contradicts their claims of protecting customers' interests and exposes their disregard for providing a genuinely satisfactory experience.

  What troubles me even more is the realization that my experience is not an isolated incident. Other reviewers have expressed similar encounters, outlining the same deceptive policies, unprofessional behavior, and manipulative tactics employed by Cottonwoods RV Resort

  It is disheartening to see a pattern of behavior that consistently prioritizes the company's interests over the well-being and satisfaction of their customers. In their attempts to deflect accountability, the company may try to argue that we were rude or difficult to deal with. However, it is essential to clarify that we were hung up on before any reasonable customer service was provided. When my wife, understandably exasperated, questioned whether an exception could be made in the event of a death in the family, their response was shockingly callous. It became evident that the company's priorities lay solely in financial matters, as they confirmed their lack of concern for any circumstances beyond securing their own profits. I fully anticipate their rebuttal to my reviews to show how holy they are, but again, a diplomatic response to smooth over their reviews and make them always look right.

  What a terrible way to do business. If you look at the reviews left below, all are refuted to make the campsite look perfect while neglecting to remember they are in the customer service business.

  In conclusion, our unfortunate experience with Cottonwoods RV Resort was tainted by their deceptive policies, unprofessional and childish behavior. Their inclination to play games, lean on diplomatic responses, and avoid taking responsibility for their actions only served to exacerbate my disappointment. I strongly advise prospective customers to carefully consider the consistent feedback provided by other reviewers and approach this establishment with caution. It is regrettable that a company entrusted with providing enjoyable experiences would prioritize such practices, leaving customers feeling frustrated and undervalued.

  Here's a list of reviews you should take into consideration:- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=VEyZyAFwGWP1jVoM1e8Ecw- Terri G- Kicked out for using a generator because of an issue with their power cord- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=KQVPvdggSdgW16By2HS\_4g- Examples of lying to customers, kicking them out when there is room- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=KN7D9ews6MEGzIdaT2fWnA- Bad experience- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=\_NeYWolU-KZYvJQqbSM7eg- Indicating a good experience unitl they get mad with you then they call the police and get defensive- what a great place to stay!- https://www.roverpass.com/c/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia-mo/- Trying to kick out people who are on Cancer treatments, again they reply to everything thats negative with a rebuttal that frames them as perfect-"Surprised they didn't charge us for breathing..."

• B

  Blake M.

  Guide

  

  May. 18, 2023

  Hanson Hills Campground

  Fun night!

  Very relaxed place. 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. The spot was fine and there wasn’t a ton of tent campers so we had the place to ourselves. The portapotties were gnarly but the toilets/showers behind the office were clean and had hot water. Staff was friendly when we checked in and we bought an armfull of fire wood and they even dropped it off where we parked in their sidebyside but it was damp so we had to scavage some smaller sticks to get the fire hot enough to self sustain. There was a lot of burned cans and some trash in our fire pit when we showed up so we threw it all away before we started our fire. Would stay again but it definitely isn’t a 5 star clean place. Think Ruth from Ozark show.

• k

  keith

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 25, 2021

  Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

  River side

  Nice view. Right on Missouri River. On Katy trail. Bathrooms are port a johns. Live music some nights.

• 

  Misty F.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 9, 2021

  Lakeview Park - Mexico

  Clean and friendly

  It was a nice 5 day stay posts of room for your tent and parking. Play ground was very clean and pavilion had lots of outlets and picnic tables.

• 

  Shawn A.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 27, 2020

  Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

  Happening time

  On my road trip out west I stumbled upon this little oasis. Good people and a fun time. Food truck set up and beer was being sold. Gorgeous lookout onto the Missouri River. They have a stage for live music.

• C

  Caycy E.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 9, 2018

  Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

  Everything I could ask for

  A beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise. A bathroom (in addition to portapotties) as well as indoor shower. Very kind people all around

• 

  Ashley F.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 12, 2017

  Finger Lakes State Park Campground

  Serene paddling

  This park is one of my favorite nearby spots to take the kayak out and just float. Paddling through these channels is such a dreamy experience. Kayaks and canoes are available to rent as well. I have yet to camp out here but I'd love to crawl out of my tent and spend dawn out on these waters.

• 

  Naomi I.

  Scout

  

  May. 9, 2021

  Danville Conservation Area

  Simple campground off I-70

  Nice simple campsite with a relatively clean pit toilet. Easy to find flat ground to pitch a tent. Just far enough from 70 to be quiet and there was only one other campsite taken.

• J

  Jennifer C.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 4, 2020

  Lazy Day Campground

  Super Nice Hosts- squeaky clean!

  Nancy was a great person to check us in- we had a lovely spot to set up our tent- they even offered us electric accessvif we wanted! Nice site/ would recommend this for a lazy day!

• 

  Jose B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 1, 2023

  Graham Cave State Park Campground

  Great place quiet clean

  I was on my way to St. Louis MO. And need a place for the night. This is just few miles from hwy 70 east to reserve and pay on the phone. I t was nice they I put my tent instead of sleeping on the car. Recommended

• H

  Hailey W.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 6, 2021

  Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground

  Friendly staff

  We got here later in the day and the staff was very helpful and got us settled right away. The campground was near full and most, if not all, the sites are pull through. A lot of long Coach RVs. I saw an area for tents and there is a bathhouse with showers. Also a pool. $50 for the night for electric and water and additional costs for fire wood and portable fire pit.

• 

  Bethany S.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 29, 2022

  Coyote — Mark Twain State Park

  Clean, lush

  Well-maintained. Lush but neat. Good privacy. Twain Shrine has very limited hours. Only RVs and families here at present. Most sites and entire Coyote loop open, on a Tuesday end of June. Some of the basic sites in the Coyote Loop are more suited to small pop-up trailers than tents—eg, site 45 does not have much room for a tent unless you want to set it up on gravel, while site 43 does. Site 43 looks the best imo. The sites on outside of loop in the Coyote loop are better in general. They have no view of lake though, just glimmers. Two raccoons popped out at me (site 45) from a hollow tree. Apparently ticks and chiggers are bad here. I did not hike because of this. There is a fishing cleaning station. Periodic vault toilets throughout sites though they do not show up on map. Shower houses with flush toilets and sinks. Nice.

• 

  William S.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 20, 2021

  Danville Conservation Area

  Small, rustic site

  There’s a small, rustic campsite at the head of a long gravel road (very hilly, good for a hearty hike) that leads down to a forest trail/hunting ground.

  The camping area itself has about eight designated tent/car sites each with a fire pit. There’s a pit toilet (single person capacity) on-site.

• S

  Sharon

  Guide

  

  Jul. 24, 2022

  Finger Lakes State Park Campground

  Overnight Stop

  We pulled in at the end of a long day, hoping only for a place to sleep, and were happily able to secure a quiet spot for the night. The camp host was helpful and friendly. The bathrooms and showers were clean. We camped in a van. Other campsites contained small RVs and tents. Probably not a good location for larger RVs. This looks to be a good place for families to fish, ride mountain bikes, and enjoy the ATV trails.