Best Tent Camping near Manchester, MO
Tent campsites around Manchester, Missouri provide access to several established campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park offers tent camping with concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, while Klondike Park in Augusta features both drive-in and walk-in tent sites surrounding a former quarry turned lake. Little Lost Creek Conservation Area provides free primitive tent camping with no amenities but excellent hiking opportunities.
Most tent campgrounds in the area feature basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, though availability varies by season. Babler State Park provides concrete pads for tents with electric hookups available at some sites, though many tent campers prefer the more secluded, wooded sites in the 52-75 loop. Klondike Park offers walk-in tent sites that require carrying gear from parking areas, with some sites providing more privacy than others. Little Lost Creek Conservation Area has primitive tent sites with no water or toilets, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and dig cat holes for waste. Seasonal closures affect some areas, particularly during hunting seasons.
The tent camping experience near Manchester varies significantly by location. Babler State Park provides a wilderness feel despite proximity to St. Louis, with hiking trails and clean facilities, though raccoons can be problematic. A camper noted, "You would never know how close you are to a metropolis." Klondike Park offers scenic tent sites with views of a small lake and access to hiking and biking trails, including connections to the Katy Trail. Some walk-in sites provide more seclusion, with sites 19 and 20 described as "more secluded, offering more trees and privacy." Little Lost Creek Conservation Area delivers a more rugged backcountry tent camping experience with valley hiking and creek access, though the primitive nature means bringing everything needed, including waste disposal tools.
