Looking for a rustic and comfortable horse camping experience near Diamond? Finding a place to camp in Missouri with your horse is easier than ever. These scenic and easy-to-reach Diamond campsites are perfect for equestrian campers.
Roaring River State Park is unique on so many levels! With a deep, narrow valley surrounded by a striking and rugged landscape, Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s most popular state parks. Located in the southwest Ozark hills, Roaring River State Park is one of three state parks stocked with rainbow trout and is a great place for camping near Bentonville. Eager anglers flock to the park year round to try and catch their lunker trout. The scenic setting makes everything more fun. The park has seven hiking trails, a swimming pool for cooling off, picnic tables for a leisurely lunch and a nature center to learn about the park. For those wanting to spend the night, the park has many options. The campground has basic, electric and sewer/electric/water site. Rustic cabins are scattered throughout the park or guests may choose a modern room at the Emory Melton Inn and Conference Center. The center also boasts a full-service restaurant.
Big M is a spacious and grassy campground that sits along the White River Arm of Table Rock Lake in the Missouri countryside. Big M provides plenty of sites with a panoramic view of the beautiful Table Rock Lake, surrounded by the scenic foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
Whether on water or land, Big M Campground offers visitors countless recreational activities. Picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing are all popular pastimes at the park. With a large marina located just a short walking distance from the campsites, boating and fishing enthusiasts will find they have everything they need to enjoy the deep, clear waters of Table Rock Lake. While the lake boasts an abundance of crappie, catfish, and bluegill, Table Rock is most famous for bass, and is acclaimed as one of the best bass fishing lakes in this hemisphere. Multiple fishing tournaments are hosted yearly and anglers will there is no shortage of Largemouth, Smallmouth, White or Spotted bass. For visitors interested in staying near shore, a designated swimming beach near the campground's volleyball court, offers a convenient way to cool off during warm summer months. Table Rock Lakeshore Trail, about 2 miles long, runs from the Dewey Short Visitor Center to the Table Rock State Park Marina. During the spring hikers will see dogwood, serviceberry and redbud trees in bloom as well as many wildflower species. During the autumn months, visitors are treated to nature's colorful fall foliage. The trail also offers beautiful views of Table Rock Lake. Other hiking and mountain biking opportunities are available at the Mark Twain National Forest, parts of which are easily accessible from the campground. Click here for more information.
Table Rock Lake is a beautiful body of water surrounded by a forest of oak and hickory trees. Its waters wind down through the valleys and hollows of the Ozark Mountains, from Branson, Missouri to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. More than five million visitors per year take advantage of this recreational oasis. Originally built for flood control, the Table Rock Dam has created a lake that boasts 779 miles of shoreline for the public to enjoy.
The Dewey Short Visitors Center is located at the south end of Table Rock Dam. It offers three educational films focused on the history of the dam, the story of Lewis and Clark and the history of eagles and their endangerment in the state of Missouri. The visitor center also contains exhibits on the natural history of the area. Those visitors arriving by boat can take advantage of the courtesy dock.
$28 / night
Scout
Campground was nice and maintained. Showers in campground 2 were dirty.
GuideWe had a family reunion here and rented out some cabins. It was a great time. Fishing is great. Listening to the river while falling asleep is also hard to beat.
Guide
We stayed at Big M in campsite 44 in mid-May. The campground was definitely lively and there was a lot of people and activity going on the whole time, though everyone was very pleasant. It was more college kids/large families than the quiet retired crowd. Our campsite had a lot of privacy on 3 sides and had a small creek running through a ways behind it, downhill. There really wasn't a good level spot for our tent due to where the firepit was placed so we had to sleep on an incline. And the drive for the spot was at a pretty decent incline so a camper would definitely need to be leveled. A smaller tent could probably squeeze in well. The marina had a decent restaurant where you could get a beer and dinner. It's not too far of a drive from Roaring River which has lots of hiking trails. The bathrooms were pretty outdated and you need to bring your own hand soap, but that's pretty normal. The showers were a ways away from our site so did not end up seeing them.
GuideGreat place to fish. Nice open camp spots, easy access to hiking trails and great fishing!
GuideSpent a quick one night passing thru here. Sites just ok but surrounding area and hiking nice. If fly fishing is your thing then this place will do it.
GuideWe pulled in several hours early and were allowed to go immediately to our campsite, #121. The camp hosts were extremely nice. It was a back-in, across the road from the river, and next door to the bathrooms. The campsites around us were electrical only, but it just so happens that the water for our area was at site 121. This was a very shady site. It rained off and on all afternoon and evening. That didn't keep us from enjoying the beautiful Roaring River and pointing out all the trout visible in its waters. This is a fisherman's heaven.
While there is much to do at Roaring River, for us it was cut super short. The National WX service issued flood warnings, so at 10:15pm our camp host knocked on our door and said the Park Ranger advised us to leave. Even with the light rain, this particular site was already full of puddles. So we obediently packed up, with water up to our ankles as we headed for high ground. As the following day's forecast continued with rain and predictions of flood we bailed and headed for a different campground. The rest rooms were clean and there were plenty of individual showers, but we did not have a chance to check them out.
GuideOur yearly trip to Roaring River is one of our favorites. We stay in the duplex cabins on site and my wifes family stays next door. We fly fish for trout and have a blast!
GuideOur girls had a blast there! For first timers, this place is great! Quiet, relaxing, and a nice hatchery/hiking area!
ScoutWe tent camped in Campground 3 at lot 168. We are more of the hiker, woodsy, adventure type people. If I would have known better I would have chosen Campground 1 for tent camping, as it seemed less groomed. 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. Lots 54-77 are close to the bathrooms and well shaded, and I have them noted in my phone for our next trip. Reservations required and easy to make (1-877-422-6766)
Campground 3 was very open and didn’t feel very “woodsy”. However it was still a very nice spot with a short walk to some awesome fishing spots. It is also near the two longer trail heads, which we enjoyed. If you have ATT you won’t have any cell service here. BUT.. there’s WiFi. Yes. In 2021, you can get WiFi at your campsite. I don’t really like this, but it was helpful for my partner who is a businessman and needs to be able to send emails. (This was only from CG#3 in my experience)
Campground 2 seemed like a nice in between of 1 and 3. It was a little more shaded, but seemed to have more traffic.
Every campground offered basic, electric, or all the fancy stuff. We like to rough it, so that wasn’t for us. We will be back for sure!
GuideNot my favorite of all parks but also not one to miss. Roaring river state park has a working trout fish hatchery. You can walk the holding tanks and feed the trout from baby to ready to be released into the river. There is also a cave you can walk in where you’ll find a pool of water that goes for miles underground. Roaring river has three different campgrounds. I prefer ground one and two...however the downside is the spots are not very spacious / far apart from those camping next to you. There are also several hiking trails through out the park, a visitors center, bath houses, a pool, and swimming holes (the water is very cold—great in the hot summer)
They are currently redoing the park in a multi million dollar project. The plan was to be completed already however due to COVID19 there have been some delays. I am excited to see the improvements once complete.
GuideThis is a COE facility. Pads are generally good and pretty level. Sites are spaced out nicely. There is a marina here with a restaurant that is open during the season. It had just closed on Labor Day when we were here. I would definitely recommend it and I would stay here again. There is not a lot to do though if you are not going out on the lake. We drove over and spent the afternoon at Roaring River State Park, which is very near by.
TravelerWe recently stayed here for thr first time and we can't wait to go back! Our camp attendants were amazing! The river is striking. Everyone is so friendly. We hiked, fished, swam, and enjoyed the nature center (2 kids 3 dogs). We are anxious to ckme back during different seasons to watch Natures beauty and wonder!
RangerI grew up 30 miles from RR.. over the years I have camped or visited here it has grown and in some cases gotten a little crowded, but with good reason, it’s a beautiful and fun site with lots to do in and around the park area. From wishing to ORV to hiking to lake access it’s an all around fun area. The Trout farm is a fun tour and the trails around the area are easy to access.. big sites in most areas, the upper area has full hookups while the river bottom is not.
TravelerWe've enjoyed a week here and have had a blast!
ScoutI’ve been going here every year since I can remember. The camping trip to roaring river state park is the one thing I look forward to every year.
GuideAll the campsites are fairly level and the entire park is nicely maintained. There is not water hookup at each site, but fresh water fill stations are easily accessible throughout the park. Great layout for family walks or kids to ride their bikes throughout. The bathhouses are nice and taken care of. The river is stocked with trout daily. There a few hiking trails.
TravelerWent tent camping with the family (6 of us ages 1-33) during the offseason. Just a beautiful place. Kids had a blast.
TravelerThis was our first time family camping..... with 10 people! Unable to reserve an electric site because the place was packed! Our basic family site was spacious and near the river. All of us ( ages 1-40) enjoyed fishing and playing in the river by Campground 3 and exploring the trails and dry creek bed by Campground 1. The bathrooms and shower house at Campground 3 were completely decent, and are tidied up through out the day. The office staff are helpful and friendly, and the store is full of necessities, snacks, fishing gear, etc. You can even rent fishing poles by the day.
RangerAbsolutely beautiful! It’s the only way to describe Roaring River! It was also packed! If you like fishing neck to neck with other trout fishermen this is your place. Camp sites were tight and well used. Part of that feeling could have come from it being flooded just a short time before our stay. GreAt Access to a creek to play in. Nice camp store. Large nice pool. Large private campground in back. Shower and bathrooms were pretty good. Not my favorite for camping.
RangerBig M Marina and campground is absolutely awesome! Nestled snug on the Missouri Arkansas border is a gem of a campground. Large grassy sites some most with electricity and water, and some with sewer. Sites are paved and pretty level. Great play area for kids. Well kept bathrooms and showers. Marina has a great restaurant that you will not be leaving hungry. Nice marina store. Boat rentals as well as slips. The swim area was very clean and accessible even though it was flooded. Only inconvenience were the roads in. Be prewar warned. It is a nail biter. All in all definitely a 9 out of 10!
TravelerRanger Review Big M Campground Table Rock Lake
As with most campgrounds this summer Big M was flooded. It didn’t detract from the beauty and fun this place has to offer. This is a Core run campground that sits nestled in the beautiful Ozarks/Arkansas border. It’s a little tricky getting there. Lot of curves and turns. A real nail biter! This campground has large grassy full hookup sites. The bath houses are clean and easy to get to. Anything you would want to do. Hiking, kayaking, swim beach, boating. Some of the best fishing around! Nice marina with a restaurant that you won’t leave hungry! Swim beach was flooded, but we used it anyway. Truest the gem of the Ozarks!
TravelerWe had a great time fishing, hiking and camping there over the weekend. The River is so clear that you can see the trout. The kids had a great time fishing and then wading/swimming in it. There is a fish hatchery to tour and many paths to hike. Also there is a very nice camp store and large inn to eat at if you don’t want to cook. We stayed in camp ground 2 and had electric hook up but water had to use a few hose to get it to the camper.
RangerSeveral spots near the river most are basic sites. They have three loops each with there own shower houses. Loop one is out away frin the river tucked in a narrow cannon really cool fealing. Loop two and three are on the river. Loop two has electric and lots of trees. Loop three has unreserved with trees, and resevered basic more in the open and not as crowded.
GuideNice and clean. The 3 campgrounds are next to the river and few trails are really close around
TravelerLots of river-side campsites, choice between wooded or open areas, pit latrines or flushies, and standard or electric sites. There are groop camping and cabins. Heated bathroom is available. On-site showers and laundry, RV Dump stations, and a store that offers fishing and camping gear, souveniers and a small selection of food. During the summer, swimming pool is open. Roaring River State Park is home to a Trout hatchery and the river is stocked each evening with trout for fishing the next morning. Sites have fire pits and picnic tables. Handicapped campers will find an accessible site with a large, flat concrete pad, accessible restrooms, and an accessible fishing area.
ScoutDownsides: Huge streetlight shining in our tent all night instead of illuminating the actual road through campground making it too scary for late note forays to the restroom. Also, camp cop was overattentive to unaccompanied women but didnt seem to bother louder groups of guys drinking. Beautiful park made it a great place to return.
TravelerThis campground offers a lot of options. Including trout fishing, hiking, and swimming. 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. They offer a pretty well equipped camp store along with the lodge and restaurant. This state park is gorgeous and one of my favorite places to go. They also have a nature center and trout hatchery. Park is open year round, trout tags must be purchased at the camp Store. All campgrounds have nice bathrooms and showers. Just a heads up though if you are looking for a quiet relaxing weekend make sure you avoid kids free fishing weekend! It’s a ZOO that weekend!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Diamond, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Diamond, MO is Roaring River State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 44 reviews.
