Best Tent Camping near Doniphan, MO
Tent campsites near Doniphan, Missouri offer primitive camping along rivers and within Mark Twain National Forest. Float Camp Recreation Area provides dedicated tent sites from May to October, with electric hookups available at some locations. Turner's Mill and Boze Mill Float Camp feature riverside tent camping with direct water access for swimming and fishing in clear, cold Ozark streams.
Most primitive tent areas require campers to bring their own water, as drinking water is scarce at these sites. The Eleven Point River corridor offers several designated tent camping locations with minimal facilities. Fire rings are available at many sites, including Boze Mill Float Camp where each campsite includes a fire ring, shepherd's hook, and picnic table. Vault toilets are present at some locations like Turner's Mill and Whitten River Access, though they may be a short walk from actual tent sites. Access roads to these primitive tent campgrounds often involve gravel routes that may be challenging for low-clearance vehicles.
Areas along the Eleven Point River provide excellent bases for kayaking and fishing trips. A camper wrote, "The Eleven Point River is beautiful and cold. Some of the best outdoor fun for adventurous people." Many of these tent-focused sites remain uncrowded even during peak seasons, with campers frequently reporting having entire areas to themselves. Turner's Mill offers particularly scenic tent camping with three to four sites directly beside the river, providing easy access to freshwater springs and cave features. Several primitive tent areas allow fishing directly from camp, with trout being a common target in the cold, clear Ozark waters. Boze Mill Float Camp, accessible by a two-mile gravel road, offers secluded tent camping with beautiful water features including a blue spring emerging from a former mill pool.