Best Tent Camping near Everton, MO

Tent campers searching for sites near Everton, Missouri have several public land options with varying amenities and regulations. Prairie State Park Campground offers primitive tent sites with basic facilities, while Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area provides free tent camping in a more rustic setting approximately 25 miles from Everton. Swan Creek, located within the Mark Twain National Forest, provides dispersed camping opportunities for those seeking a more secluded experience.

Most tent sites around Everton feature minimal improvements and limited services. Prairie State Park maintains four primitive tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings but no electricity or running water at the sites. Campers must obtain water from the maintenance area up the hill from the campground. Vault toilets serve as the only restroom facilities at most locations, with no showers available at primitive sites. Tent campers should prepare for self-sufficient stays by bringing adequate water supplies, food storage containers, and waste disposal bags since trash service is inconsistent across locations.

The tent camping experience varies significantly between established and dispersed sites. Prairie State Park offers unique wildlife viewing with free-roaming bison herds across the prairie landscape, though ticks are prevalent in warmer months. One camper noted the park "takes you back to a bygone era of this country" with stunning open views and gorgeous prairie sunrises. At Swan Creek, tent campers find free dispersed camping with creek access, though cellular service is limited or non-existent. Fort Crowder Conservation Area's Gibson Spring site provides a backcountry camping experience with picnic tables and trash cans, accessible via a short hike that one reviewer described as "great for someone just getting into backpacking" since it's only seven minutes from the trailhead.

Best Tent Sites Near Everton, Missouri (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Everton, MO

4 Photos of 10 Everton Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Everton, MO

263 Reviews of 10 Everton Campgrounds


  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2024

    Crabtree Cove

    Free Off Season Camping (review of Loop B only)

    Camped in Loop B on Oct 4, 2023. Camping was free at this Corp of Engineer campground since off season began on Oct 1st. The Loop B campground has several RV/tent sites arranged in sub-loops in an open field; some trees for shade. Sites are close to each other; no privacy between sites. Sites appear to be level. Each site has a metal fire ring, table and lamp pole. The loop road is paved and the sites were gravel. There were no hookups in Loop B. The water station was shut off, but the vault toilet, which wasn't very clean, was open. No camp host on duty during our stay. There is access to Stockton Lake from the loop road. There was nothing special about this campground, but has good lake access for boats.  Otherwise this campgrund is suitable for an overnight stay.

  • H
    May. 31, 2022

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Primitive accomodations but beautiful land!

    The tiny campground is located in a wooded hollow at the edge of the prairie and has 4 primitive sites, no electric or water at sites, no showers and one vault toilet only. You can drive up the hill to the maintenance area to get water and there is a sign for this. 2 sites have paved pads and the others are gravel/dirt. The 2 outer gravel sites back up to a curved stream that runs along the perimeter of the campground but are lower and more shaded and more prone to hovering clouds of bugs. They are all have a picnic table and fire ring and are relatively private and well distanced. Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible. The center paved sites are more open and grassy and get more wind but also don’t have as much shade. I think I stayed in site 4 and it was great for my solar panel. I did have steady cell service with AT&T while here.

    Since it’s pretty primitive you will likely have the place to yourself, but be prepared to have guests of the state park driving through all day to check it out. Lots of deer around, beautiful to see but this also means ticks! There is also significant poison ivy along the roads but there are signs warning about that. Best to keep to the maintained roads and paths. As far as dogs, they are not allowed on any of the trails because of the bison but they can walk the entire main gravel road of the state park (no shade). Nature center was closed due to covid when I was there but looks interesting. There were a couple bison about 20 feet from the center when I was there. My parents visited once and ended up on the road for about an hour while an entire herd of bison meandered across the road around their vehicle! The bison roam free here, although the small campground area has fences and/or cow grates to keep them out. The land is stunning and open and takes you back to a bygone era of this country. The sunrises here over the prairie are gorgeous.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 30, 2021

    Cobb Ridge

    Oasis in the Woods

    Open:  year round

    Reservations:  877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

                               Reservations must be made at least 3 days in advance

    Fees:  $15.00 single with electric

                $10.00 single no electric

                $45.00 group site

                Passes honored

    Bear Aware.  Beautiful fence around campground with the road and pads all paved.  Nice.  Complete campground is well maintained.  Camp host on duty, no gate house.  Sites are very large and spaced out well.  Some pull thrus.  Picnic table, fire ring, toilets, showers, water, trash.  There are nearly 80 miles of inter connected loops that go from easy to hard terrian, winding in and out of forested hollers and along ridge tops.  ATV must be 50 inches wide or less.

    LNT

    BTYFI

    Travel safe

  • Rebecca L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 18, 2025

    Damsite

    Another amazing COE campground

    Another wonderful Corps of Engineers campground on Pomme De Terre Lake. There are basic campsites and campsites with full hookups. The campsites are spacious and overlook the lake. This is such a beautiful, well maintained campground. Every campsite is level and has a picnic table and fire ring. During the off season ( Oct 1 - Nov.30 & March 14th - Apr 14 ) all campsites ( electric and primitive ) are only $10. ( limited amenities) From Jan 5th - March 14th campsites are free at Damsite Park. However, there is no electric or water available at that time.
    Please check the Pomme De Terre USACE website for changes and regular season rates. 50% off all rates with America the beautiful/senior access pass at all Corps of Engineers campgrounds.
    I highly recommend this campground. 4g LTE and great cell signal.

  • Joe J.
    Sep. 9, 2021

    Fishermans Paradise

    Off the beaten path

    For starters the RV park is about 1/4 down a 1 lane gravel road so if you’re pulling a big rig you better hope you don’t meet another vehicle. All the 50 amp full hookup sites seem to be in use by permanent residents. The 30 amp sites are not on level ground. No water or sewer connections for the 30 amp sites. The road also gets a little steep and winding to the 30 amp sites. Nice small lakes make for a nice view once you get into the valley.

  • Lea B.
    Aug. 16, 2020

    COE Stockton Lake Hawker Point

    Private and Nearly Perfect

    Just got home from a weekend stay at site C19 at Hawker Point COE Park. This particular site was just up the hill from the lake and completely private. The walk to the lake was about 50 yards and a little steep but we managed to carry two kayaks down and up without too much trouble (and we are a middle-aged couple), and it was totally worth the effort because it was as if we had our own private cove.

    The site is very spacious and shaded with plenty of trees for our hammocks and clothesline. Lots of level places for tents. The park attendants were very friendly and helpful.

    C19 has no electricity or water and the closest vault toilet is a good walk down the road. The shower houses were driving distance away. We have a shower tent, so that wasn’t an issue for us.

    We drove through the rest of this park to check out A and B campground loops. A loop consists of full hookup sites and many sit right on the water. Little shade and crowded, but if you like to play on the lake all day these might be for you. B loop had pretty wooded sites but many were not close to the water. C loop is where it’s at!

  • Abby H.
    May. 18, 2023

    Pittsburg Area Campground — Pomme de Terre State Park

    First Weekend

    My boyfriend and I stayed here for one night at the beginning of may for our first camping trip together. It was at one of 2 basic tent sites. Ours was just a short walk on a (likely camper-made trail) down to the water. The water seemed clean enough to swim but there was a lot of floating moss and seaweed right along the shore. So we opted to just fish even though we were unsuccessful. There were plenty of trees to hang out hammock, a grill grate over the fire, and a decent amount of shade. There were two flat sites for a tent. We chose one that was slightly more on a slope because it was less rocky. Spotted a few poison ivy plants and 2-3 brown recluses but we’re in their habitat so that is to be expected. Not ideal but not unexpected lol we definitely plan to return!

  • Wendy M.
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Primitive fun

    This campsite is not for those who want amenities. There are 4 SPACIOUS sites and they are what I would call primitive. No hookups/ no electricity/ no running water. Good for star gazing. Two sites have a paved pad and two do not...depends what you’re looking for. There are quite a few trails ranging from 1.5-4.5 miles—- total of 14 miles of trails. The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside. Speaking of bison and coyotes... you’ll hear the coyotes all night howling and barking...the bison are roaming around which you will be able to see where they’ve been by the scat droppings around the road and trail system. Definitely something to see if you’ve never seen the plains before.

  • Hayley G.
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Orleans Trail

    Private, wooded campground near the lake!

    We stayed in the D loop at site D37. All of the sites in the D loop are more spaced out and wooded than in the other loops. They also don't have electric and the bathroom is a vault toilet. 

    Site D37 was able to fit our two tents comfortably but I don't think there was a flat space to fit a third. It was also pretty overgrown and unkept. So bring lots of bug spray. Site D39 is pretty close and it would work well for a group needing multiple spots. We had a view of the lake across the road. The bathroom was a several minute walk. 

    Site D37 across from us had water access and looked really nice. Other nearby spots D40 was also quite heavily wooded and didn't look like it had much more than one semi-flat spot for a tent. But it was definitely very private! 

    We used the shower houses(which we had to drive to get to) and they were okay. The water wouldn't get hot, but we didn't take ice cold showers. The swim beach was the highlight of this location and very nice!


Guide to Everton

Tent camping near Everton, Missouri offers several dispersed camping options within conservation areas and public lands across the region. Located in the southwestern Ozarks, the area features elevations ranging from 900 to 1,200 feet with mixed hardwood forests and prairie landscapes. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F with high humidity, while nighttime temperatures can drop significantly even in warmer months.

What to do

Bison viewing: At Prairie State Park Campground, campers can observe free-roaming bison herds across the prairie. "Prairie state park isn't very large but it is nice to see somewhere dedicated to preserving the native grassland that the Midwest used to be covered with. The main draw for me other than it being close to where I live is that you get to be around buffalo without fences," notes Luke B.

Target practice: The Busiek conservation area features a gun range alongside multiple hiking trails. "Gun range, Horse Riding Trails, Camping and a water source. The scenery is so breathtaking and you never want to leave!" reports Brandon M. Note that a camping permit is required and must be obtained in person at a Missouri Department of Conservation office.

Creek exploration: Multiple camping areas provide water access for swimming and fishing during warmer months. David L. describes Swan Creek: "Has great dispersed camping, free, creek is accessible, has equestrian area to camp with horses, bout 45 minutes to a hour from Springfield."

What campers like

Spacious primitive sites: Campers appreciate the room to spread out at several locations. At Prairie State Park, Wendy M. notes, "This campsite is not for those who want amenities. There are 4 SPACIOUS sites and they are what I would call primitive. No hookups/no electricity/no running water."

Wildlife encounters: Beyond bison, the region offers diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. "You'll hear the coyotes all night howling and barking...the bison are roaming around which you will be able to see where they've been by the scat droppings around the road and trail system," reports Wendy M. about Prairie State Park.

Stargazing: Limited light pollution makes this area excellent for night sky viewing. Wendy M. notes Prairie State Park is "Good for star gazing. Two sites have a paved pad and two do not...depends what you're looking for."

Backcountry accessibility: Gibson Spring offers an entry-level backcountry experience. Dexter I. explains, "This site would be great for someone just getting in to backpacking as it is a short hike to the campsite from the closest trail head (took me only seven minutes)."

What you should know

Limited amenities: Most tent camping sites near Everton are primitive with minimal facilities. At Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area, campers should be prepared for self-sufficient camping. One camper, Eric O., cautions: "This posting looked good to us, and we put it in our itinerary for a boondock stop. When we got there we found a locked gate across the entrance to the conservation area!"

Weather preparedness: The region experiences rapid weather changes. While camping in Prairie State Park, some visitors have encountered sudden thunderstorms and temperature shifts requiring appropriate gear and clothing layers.

Tick protection: Insect protection is essential, especially during warm months. One camper at Prairie State Park simply states: "Lots of ticks. Good clean campground. Bathroom. Bison roam the park. Ticks also roam the park."

Cellular coverage: Connectivity varies significantly across camping areas. David L. notes about Swan Creek: "No service for ATT." Plan communications accordingly.

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: Some sites offer easier access for families with young children. Katie R. recommends Prairie State Park: "I think it's probably the most underrated park in the area. It's absolutely beautiful. 45 minutes from Joplin, Missouri. Limited camp sites but the sites are spacious w/ tables, pit, bathroom facility a short walk away with a creek nearby."

Educational opportunities: Several conservation areas provide learning experiences about local ecology. Regarding Prairie State Park, a visitor notes: "The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside."

Trail difficulty considerations: Assess trail difficulty before hiking with children. Josh S. says about Busiek: "Be wary of the water level, this can impact any hiking you might be looking to do, so be ready."

Tips from RVers

Site surface variations: At Prairie State Park Campground, Hanna T. advises: "2 sites have paved pads and the others are gravel/dirt. The 2 outer gravel sites back up to a curved stream that runs along the perimeter of the campground but are lower and more shaded and more prone to hovering clouds of bugs."

Water crossing awareness: Some camping areas require navigating water features. "Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible," warns Hanna T. about Prairie State Park.

Solar charging options: For RVers using solar power, site selection matters. "I think I stayed in site 4 and it was great for my solar panel," mentions Hanna T. about Prairie State Park's more open sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Everton, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Everton, MO is Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area with a 2.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Everton, MO?

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Everton, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.