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Best Campgrounds in Missouri

3,699 Reviews

Missouri's state parks and recreation areas provide a broad spectrum of cabin camping options for visitors seeking shelter beyond traditional tent and RV sites. Meramec State Park near Sullivan offers cabin accommodations with electric hookups, picnic tables, and showers within a year-round facility rated above 4.3 stars by visitors. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park in Lesterville similarly features cabin options alongside its popular water features, while Sam A. Baker State Park in Patterson combines cabin lodging with glamping alternatives. Most cabins in Missouri state parks include basic amenities such as electricity, beds, and nearby restroom facilities.

Reservations for Missouri's cabin accommodations are typically required well in advance, especially during summer months and holiday weekends. Many cabins remain open year-round, though amenities and services may be reduced in winter. Water access remains a significant attraction, with many cabins positioned near lakes, rivers or springs. Missouri's varied terrain means cabin locations range from riverside settings to forested hillsides, with some providing easy water access while others offer more secluded experiences. A visitor commented that "Loved the solitude of being by the water. We had another RV next to us for a few days, but with the privacy fence in between you would never know it."

Campers consistently rate cabin accommodations at Bennett Spring State Park and Crystal Springs highly, with multiple reviews mentioning friendly staff and clean facilities. Several visitors highlighted the proximity to water features, with one noting that "There is a little spring onsite and very friendly owners!" Some park cabins provide access to hiking trails, fishing opportunities, and nature centers, enhancing the overall experience. Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground receives positive reviews for its combination of water recreation and comfortable accommodations. The cabins at Cuivre River State Park near Troy include options for glamping and yurt stays, offering alternatives to traditional cabin camping. While most Missouri cabins provide basic amenities, visitors should verify specific features when booking as amenities vary significantly between locations.

Best Camping Sites in Missouri (901)

    1. Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park Campground

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

    $14 - $75 / 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."

    2. Meramec State Park Campground

    57 Reviews
    Stanton, MO
    Website
    +1 (573) 468-6072

    $14 - $65 / night

    "Miles upon miles of trails. Spacious campground, caves to explore, old time blast furnace to explore, fresh Missouri spring with exceptional fishing. Then theres a general store with a restaurant"

    "Growing up near here, this was the state park that my family always went to. Forty some years later, it is still my favorite park in Missouri. I enjoy camping here with my family and friends."

    3. Table Rock State Park Campground

    55 Reviews
    Hollister, MO
    Website
    +1 (417) 739-4627

    $16 - $159 / night

    "The campsite was large with an asphalt path and a nice spot for my tent. First weekend in May and the park was pretty much full. My campsite close to the facilities."

    "Nice campground with a paved walking/cycling trail from boat docks to the dam. Nice showers, fairly level campsites. Fishing within walking distance."

    4. Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground

    47 Reviews
    Kaiser, MO
    Website
    +1 (573) 348-2694

    $14 - $50 / night

    "Lake of the Ozarks State Park campground is located in Kaiser Missouri about 5 miles down highway 134 off of highway 42. This campground is about 1.5 hour from Columbia and Springfield Missouri."

    "We stayed close to the river in the primitive area and the deer were all over.  These deer were super friendly and didn't move at all as we walked right past them. "

    5. Sam A. Baker State Park Campground

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

    $14 - $46 / night

    "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."

    "The state of missouri does an amazing job providing opportunities for families to enjoy the beauty of nature. Nature programs for kids and parents to learn. Well kept facilities."

    6. Blue Springs Lake Campground

    46 Reviews
    Blue Springs, MO
    Website
    +1 (816) 503-4805

    $33 - $48 / night

    "The sites were well situated such that you felt you had plenty of privacy."

    "The original plan was to be in Blue Springs for an outdoor off-road RC event, camping in our pup with a generator at the track."

    7. Roaring River State Park Campground

    46 Reviews
    Eagle Rock, MO
    Website
    +1 (417) 847-2539

    $16 - $53 / night

    "Located in South Missouri it is an easy day trip into Branson Missouri or Eureka Springs Arkansas. Very well located and very well run by the state."

    "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."

    8. Cuivre River State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Troy, MO
    Website
    +1 (636) 528-7247

    $14 - $36 / night

    "Our site, though, was the smallest in the loop, tucked away in the weeds, and the only area to pitch our tent was on a slight slope."

    "It’s close to our house and there’s always something new to do each time. The bathrooms are well maintained and the campsites are fairly large and provide lots of shade."

    9. Bennett Spring State Park Campground

    40 Reviews
    Bennett Springs, MO
    Website
    +1 (417) 532-4338

    $15 - $48 / night

    "This state park is one worth a stop when near Springfield. I drove north toward this park to enjoy something a bit different and found it to be very peaceful during a weekday. "

    "A trout fisher dream, as one of Missouri’s 5 hacherys are here. Fun for this kids to see the amazing amount of fish."

    10. Onondaga Cave State Park Campground

    39 Reviews
    Leasburg, MO
    Website
    +1 (573) 245-6576

    $14 - $47 / night

    "Other than the water, Onondaga Cave SP has been one of my favorite places to camp in Missouri for more than 20 years."

    "We stayed one night on our way through Missouri. It’s only about ten minutes south of I-44. The campground was only about half full, so it was nice and quiet."

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  • Paul B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2026

    Port Of Kimberling Resort & Campground

    Convenient, affordable, and quiet

    We showed up without a reservation during a non-peak season and were able to get a premium back-in space for 4 nights. We didn’t bring an RV but instead a Tesla Model Y and a tent that attaches to the rear hatch, and they had no issues with that. We were able to plug into the NEMA 14-50 outlet and use our Tesla Mobile connector to charge at 240V/32A overnight, keeping our heat on all night in Camp Mode and still waking up to a full charge. Quiet hours are from 10p-8a and people are really good about respecting that. When we were setting up our tent behind the car, some other campers walked over to offer to help. We got to see lots of dogs as other campers walked theirs around over the course of our stay. Everyone was very friendly, and the main office is open 24/7. They have a market for some basics at the office, and there’s a grocery store as well as a Dollar General nearby too. The bath house is temperature controlled and has comfortably hot water. We were able to take hot showers every day. We enjoyed our stay very much and would recommend this place for anyone interested in visiting the Branson area. It’s a bit of a hike into town to see Branson, but it’s a scenic drive and not too far to be bothered by the distance for going into town once a day.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 18, 2026

    Hoot Owl Bend

    Beside the Missouri River

    Are you supposed to stay here? Probably not. There is a sign saying the lot is closed 10pm - 4am. Having said that I can’t imagine anyone being that worked up about it. There is some sort of long term RV place to the left but it doesn’t look used on the regular. We only stayed over night and we didn’t have any problems. Don’t be loud, trashy, disrespectful or move in for the summer and I think you’ll be fine.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 17, 2026

    Bluffwoods Conservation Area

    Easy access

    Easy to find and large parking area. Two fire pits in the grass to use but you can’t drive up to them. We were the only ones there and it was quiet. It was also 11° overnight so we hunkered down Isolde for the night and left in the morning.

  • David P.
    Mar. 15, 2026

    Ozark Outdoors-Riverfront Resort

    Bizzare, Aggressive, Threatening Behavior towards our Family

    Decided to visit with family(wife, teenage daughter, and 76 y.o. father) this Saturday afternoon, after completing a peaceful hike at Onandoga S.P., to consider camping later in the week. We politely, respectfully drove into the campground on the MAIN LOOP, around 5-10 mph, and checked the condition of the campsites. We noticed a few other campers present throughout the campground. Our windows were rolled down. Near the primitive campsites, a white vehicle rapidly, aggressively approached us from the left, rear of our car. Horn blaring. RECKLESSLY drove right up onto our rear bumper, then swerved to the left to try to force us over. The man rapidly approached us from his vehicle and accosted us with multiple, rapid fire questions what we were doing and why we were there. WHILE HE WAS AGGRESSIVELY INTERROGATING US, HE WAS CROUCHED FORWARD, POSTURING THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO DRAW ON US. I COULD CLEARLY SEE HIS LEFT HAND ON A FIREARM IN HIS LEFT POCKET- the handle of the firearm was clearly visible. The silhouette of the gun was clearly visible in his left pants pocket. Any reasonably intelligent person would have seen as we drove at a near walking pace on the main loop that we were not there to cause any problems. Any REMOTELY INTELLIGENT person would have instantly realized that we were just a family checking out potential campsites. Any reasonable person would have also considered this RECKLESS ACT OF AGGRESSION as a threat on their family. I was concerned for the safely of my family and myself. An embarrassing act of overreach. The"security guard" identified himself as"Dave." We will NEVER give this place our business again. I will NEVER risk taking my family here again. This place probably does not want your family here either...

  • Mindy The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 10, 2026

    Grand Trace State Forest

    Simple- no frills camping.

    Loved it here, stayed 2 nights. Well maintained gravel entrance splits off. Turn right and you’ll find a large parking/turn around area. Up from it are 4-5 gravel areas with fire rings (no picnic tables). Only other person I saw was a game warden, driving through. Had both AT&T and Verizon service.

  • jThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 9, 2026

    RJM One RV

    Nice overnight stop

    As the pictures on the Dyrt show, it’s a large area of white gravel. It’s clean, has very wide spaces for rv’s which are very level and has water and electricity. The Dyrt definitely doesn’t have the location correct, it’s about 4-5 miles north of 70 and your drive through some narrow winding roads to get here. Overall quiet though I heard some loud truck at night.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 9, 2026

    Love's RV Hookup-Charleston MO 981

    Ok spot

    It has full hookups if you want. 2pm checkin time. Noon checkout. Easy checkin on phone. Needed electric so nice to have this option

  • Ella C.
    Mar. 7, 2026

    Prairie Home Conservation

    Free, not far from I-70

    Good place to stop for the night, not crowded, single bathroom at the lake, bathroom could be cleaner. No camping near the lake but about 5 pull off areas down the road.

Guide to Missouri

Camping in Missouri offers a mix of beautiful landscapes, fun activities, and unique experiences. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there's something for everyone.

What to Do

  • Hiking and Trails: Many campgrounds, like Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground, have great hiking trails. One camper mentioned, “Beautiful campgrounds. Hiking trails. Super showers & toilets. Clean. Friendly staff.”
  • Fishing: If you enjoy fishing, check out Bennett Spring State Park Campground. A reviewer said, “The Niangua River was gorgeous and so fun to swim in (clear all the way to the bottom).”
  • Water Activities: Campgrounds near lakes, like Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina, are perfect for kayaking and swimming. One visitor noted, “You will have water and electric but no sewer and no dump station on site.”

What Campers Like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Maramec Spring Park stated, “Great and clean shower house. Well taken care of.”
  • Friendly Staff: Many visitors mention the helpfulness of campground staff. At B Berry Farms & Co., a camper said, “The whole B Berry family are great people. They helped us get in and told us all the fun & exciting things around the farm to do.”
  • Scenic Views: Campgrounds like Raccoon Ridge offer stunning views. One camper shared, “Heavy wooded with shared paths to lake or cove. Marina is within 1 mile by water or 15 minutes by car.”

What You Should Know

  • Reservation Policies: Some campgrounds have strict cancellation policies. A visitor at Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground expressed frustration, saying, “Their reservation process raised concerns with their non-industry standard policy of requiring a 10-day notice for cancellations.”
  • Wildlife: Be prepared for wildlife encounters. A camper at Raccoon Ridge warned, “Keep food and bait inside as raccoons rule at night.”
  • Ticks and Bugs: Some areas have ticks, so bring bug spray. A review for Pine Ridge Recreation Area mentioned, “Only bummer was lots of ticks.”

Tips for Camping with Families

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids. At Boiling Springs Campground, a camper noted, “This camp area is very clean and family friendly! The river was pretty!”
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals or snacks. A family at Bennett Spring State Park Campground enjoyed cooking fresh food over the fire.
  • Safety First: Always supervise kids near water. A reviewer at Lake of the Ozarks State Park Campground mentioned, “They have both showers and running water restrooms.”

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground said, “The utilities were in the middle of the pad and water pressure was decent.”
  • Look for Amenities: Choose campgrounds with electric hookups. A visitor at Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina appreciated, “The general store has many options including a wide variety of food and drinks.”
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A reviewer at Pittsburg Area Campground noted, “Really quiet during the week. However, fishing boat traffic increases through the week.”

Camping in Missouri has its perks and quirks, so be ready for a memorable experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any free or low-cost camping options in Missouri state parks?

Missouri's state parks and conservation areas offer several budget-friendly camping options. Indian Hills Conservation Area provides low-cost camping with basic amenities amid beautiful scenery. Similarly, Union Ridge Conservation Area offers primitive camping at minimal or no cost. Missouri Conservation Areas generally have fewer amenities but provide affordable options for those comfortable with basic facilities. State parks like Lake of the Ozarks and Long Branch charge standard Missouri State Park rates, which are relatively affordable compared to private campgrounds. For completely free camping, Mark Twain National Forest allows dispersed camping outside designated areas and away from roads, though you'll need to bring all supplies and follow Leave No Trace principles.

What recreational activities are available at Missouri campgrounds?

Missouri campgrounds offer diverse recreational activities for all interests. Onondaga Cave State Park Campground features cave tours with impressive lighting displays and river activities perfect for families with children. Long Branch State Park Campground provides swimming beaches, boat ramps, and excellent fishing opportunities. Throughout Missouri's campgrounds, visitors can enjoy hiking trails, wildlife viewing, photography, and stargazing. Water enthusiasts will find swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing at many locations, particularly at Lake of the Ozarks and along the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Several parks also offer interpretive programs, nature centers, and historical sites from Civilian Conservation Corps construction. Mountain biking trails, horseback riding areas, and bird watching opportunities round out the recreational options.

What are the best campgrounds in Missouri for tent camping?

Missouri offers excellent tent camping options across the state. Marble Creek Rec Area in Mark Twain National Forest provides a natural experience shaped around the creek, with sites that lead to water in every direction. The area offers hiking and dispersed camping options for those seeking solitude. Table Rock State Park Campground features spacious tent sites with asphalt paths and close proximity to facilities. For nature enthusiasts, conservation areas like Indian Hills provide lovely scenery with minimal amenities. Other top tent camping destinations include Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park with its natural water features and Meramec State Park, known for its riverside sites and cave tours.

When is the best season for camping in southern Missouri?

The optimal camping season in southern Missouri runs from late spring through early fall, with specific advantages to each period. Table Rock State Park Campground sees high visitation by early May, suggesting spring's popularity. For more solitude, Asher Creek Campground at Lake Wappapello State Park can be nearly empty on weeknights and during off-season periods. Late spring (April-May) offers comfortable temperatures and blooming wildflowers, while fall (September-October) brings colorful foliage and cooler temperatures. Summer provides the fullest access to water activities, though humidity can be high. Winter camping is possible but requires preparation for potential freezing temperatures. Avoid November during deer hunting season if you're not participating.

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