Best Tent Camping near Farmington, MO

Tent campsites around Farmington, Missouri range from primitive backcountry sites to more accessible walk-in locations within established state parks. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground offers 12 basic tent-only sites with picnic tables and fire rings, situated at Missouri's highest elevation point. Several primitive tent areas can be found along the Ozark Trail system, including designated areas at Ottery Creek, Peter Cave Hollow Creek, and Padfield Branch primitive campgrounds, all offering secluded backcountry camping experiences.

Most tent-only sites in the region operate on a first-come, first-served basis through an honor system payment method. Campsites at Taum Sauk Mountain feature designated tent pads, picnic tables, and fire rings, while the primitive Ozark Trail campsites provide minimal infrastructure. Vault toilets are available at Taum Sauk Mountain, but most backcountry tent areas require campers to practice Leave No Trace principles. Water access varies significantly - Taum Sauk offers a drinking fountain and spigot near the restrooms, while hikers at primitive sites must filter water from nearby creeks. During summer months, many tent campers report significant mosquito activity near water sources.

The region's tent campsites provide excellent access to hiking trails and natural features. The Mina Sauk Falls trail connects directly to several walk-in tent locations, offering hikers convenient access to Missouri's highest waterfall. Tent campgrounds at higher elevations typically experience cooler temperatures, even during summer months, with temperature drops of up to 20 degrees from day to night. Wildlife sightings are common at more remote tent sites, with one camper noting, "We had deer at our tent and the sites are all secluded from each other by trees." Primitive backcountry sites along the Ozark Trail offer the greatest solitude, though reaching these tent camping areas requires significant hiking and proper navigation skills.

Best Tent Sites Near Farmington, Missouri (17)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Farmington, MO

659 Reviews of 17 Farmington Campgrounds


  • Mike V.
    Aug. 3, 2016

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground

    Camping, hiking, sightseeing, & birding at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in Missouri

    Gave this campground a 5-star rating, but it probably should only be a 4 star. It only has about 12 basic tent campsites, no water or electrical at the sites. The campsites were nicely spaced, most have a lot of shade, each has a picnic table and a place to make a fire. No trailers allowed at camp sites, just tents. There is one or two special-use camping areas that can be used for groups such as boy scouts, etc. It appears you can pay in advance and reserve some campsites, so that you be sure to get one for your trip. I went in late May on the Mon-Tue of-after Memorial Day weekend and was able to find an available campsite even though I did not have a reservation. Camping fees/rates were posted on a board near the restroom building by the honor system camping fee pay station.
    The restroom bldg only has pit toilets, not flush toilets. But they were cleaned very well by the workers on the 2nd day I was there. Also worth noting is that there is water faucet an a drinking fountain next to the restroom bldg, so you can get fresh water if needed. OK, so this sounds normal to average, so why give this campground a good rating? Because of location to the great stuff near-by on this mountain.
    Missouri's High Point is here on this mountain. There is a very nice overlook w/ viewing platform w/ handrails very close to the campground. Some awesome hiking trails are worth checking out, although they are a bit rugged in places where you could twist an ankle. One of the trails will take you to a nice waterfall, which is Missouri's highest falls. Note that I would not call it MO's largest waterfall. Further to all of this great stuff is that the birds were plentiful and quite active when I was there. Easy to watch and listen to them at the camping area, and at the overlook viewing platform. Birds were pretty much everywhere. There is also a look-out tower up on the mountain, which is probably used as a fire watch tower. A few pictures attached.

  • Leah H.
    Jul. 18, 2017

    Silver Mines

    Great Camping Near the River

    This camp site has RV hook-ups and tent camping. There are trees throughout the campground if you're looking to set up a hammock. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table and is a mix of grass and light gravel. Pit toilets, no showers. Water spigots throughout the camp ground. Keep an eye out for snakes though! I nearly stepped on a copper head in the outhouse! Camp sites are a 2 minute walk to the St. Francois River. Great hiking along the river and good fishing, swimming and kayaking in the river! Also not to far from the Castor River Shut-ins if you're looking to pack two rivers into one trip. We just celebrated my husband's birthday here last weekend, though we have been a few times before. Always a blast!

  • R
    Nov. 22, 2021

    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    Late Fall Tent Camp

    We tent camped in loop 3 in late November for one night. The bathroom and showers were still on in this camping area. The spots are slightly close together but still very wooded. Not a lot of people camping at this time of the year even on a Saturday. Camp hosts were fabulous. The sites aren’t really set up for tents. More for Trailers. We had to get creative to find a spot to put up the tent in order to stake it down. Large parking pads, fire rings, and picnic tables at each camp site.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Reviews on Campground #1 & #2

    I’ve camped at both campgrounds offered at St. Joe. In the fall of 2018, we stayed at CG#1, the spot has a nice gravel tent pad with border, picnic table, and a fire pit. The spot also offered a concrete section for a camper and cars. We had a pop-up and one tent and it was very spacious. A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1.

    CG#2 is located about 2-3 away from the main campground, this includes the shower house and main bathrooms. There is no shower house at CG#2. I stayed at CG#2 about a week ago. Very similar in design to the sites at CG#1, it also offers amenities for those with horses. We had a spot with electric and no water, water is located close by the vault toilets. The site has a gravel parking area rather than the concrete one at CG#1. We had two tents, two cars, and five people, just as spacious. If you want more seclusion and don’t really care about being right next to the showers, I would suggest CG#2.

    Also, there was a trail located right by our spot at CG#2, it’s a good hike!!

    Two clean and well kept swimming areas, great trails, good camp sites, and great bathrooms/showers!

  • Staci R.
    Oct. 24, 2017

    Brazil Creek

    No man's land

    No cell signal, and as the other reviewer has said, have your map to get there, because it's easy if you do. Your phone will not get you there. Beautiful clear water creek runs directly behind this "pull off" campground. There is only one actual fire ring & picnic table, but folks have built other rock fire rings dispersed throughout the campground. Just off a main trail to Meramac river and horse and hiking trails. No water, amenities (not even a vault toilet) or cell service.

  • Hannah W.
    Apr. 2, 2019

    Berryman Trail & Campgrounds - Mark Twain National Forest

    No fees, no water, plenty of beauty and space

    This 8 site campground has well kept vault toilets and no other services, but is fee-less to match. There is a pavilion near the access points to the Berryman and Ozark trails. We camped the night before heading out on a one night backpacking trip on the Berryman and were pleasantly surprised - it had rained the past 2 days and just finished when we arrived, but the ground was not soggy at the campsite or really much on the trail at all. The sites are well spaced apart, short pads so we saw one couple park their camper on one and their truck on another (the sites were not anywhere near full). Downside to that was, they ran their loud generator all night. However the experience overall was a positive one, with friendly neighbors but plenty of distance between so we didn't cross paths or hear each other's conversations unless we wanted to, a nice fire ring - check before selecting a site as ours was missing a grate; we didn't need one anyhow, a sturdy picnic table and plenty of down wood around to collect for a fire. We will be back!!

  • Matt S.
    Sep. 4, 2016

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground

    Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest point in Missouri, and a good campground

    I had a great time at Taum Sauk Mountain. I came down to check out the area to see if it would be a good place to do a Boy Scout High Adventure for my son's troop. It is only tent sites, no RV's, campers or pop ups. I prefer setting up my tent and sleeping under the stars so I loved camping here.

    There are not a lot of campsites and they are reserved on a first come first served basis. There are only pit toilets and no showers but if you are in a pinch you can power your phones from the outlet outside of the pit toilets and there is a water fountain with a spigot right next to the pit toilets as well.

    Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest point in Missouri with a beautiful overlook. It also has a tower if you are not afraid of heights and can make it up the 91 steps to the top. There is a lot of wildlife. I saw several deer myself and my neighbors had a pack of raccoons who terrorized the food they left out on their picnic table. Be sure to keep your food and belongings in your car or hung up in a tree or on one of the posts set up in the camp site.

    This is a great park for scenery, wildlife, and solitude.

  • D
    May. 18, 2022

    Brazil Creek

    Great free camping spot

    Stayed here a few nights in May. This camp site is along the berryman trail so you can stay here if youre backpacking said trail. There is only one table and one metal fire ring but people have made various fire rings out of rocks and there is plenty of room for a lot of people. The camp is right by the creek which is ice cold and good for sticking sore feet in :). There are also a few fish in there. In recent years they put in a single vaulted bathroom but thats it! No showers or drinking water if you cant filter the stream water. They also have several hitching posts for horses here since you can ride horses on berryman trail. I have at&t and ive been getting 1 to 3 bars. But the other person im camping withuisnt grtting anything with their provider. Over all I think its a great little spot if youre ok with no electricity, light or just wanna get away from it all for a while.

  • Jon L.
    Aug. 4, 2020

    Piedmont Park

    Family weekend

    My family and I had a fun time at Piedmont Park. The swimming beach was the main attraction for us. The beach has a designated swimming area that boats can’t access. Due to the water level the beach had a bit of an incline. The water was a great temperature and the sand was clean. No alcohol allowed on the beach. We stayed right next to the beach in site A15. Spot was lacking shade but made up for it with the view. Site includes concrete picnic table, pavilion over said table, fire pit, 30 amp electric, and paved pad (very roomy). Only one shower house for all 3 loops. 4 shower stalls (one ADA) and 2 flush toilets. There are latrine style toilets throughout the park but they smelled like they needed to be pumped.


Guide to Farmington

Tent camping near Farmington, Missouri ranges from primitive backcountry sites along the Ozark Trail to more accessible designated areas within Mark Twain National Forest. Winter camping brings temperature variations that can catch unprepared campers off guard, with one visitor noting temperatures "in the 50's to 60's and ended up getting snowed on several days." The region's rocky terrain presents challenges for tent placement, with many campers reporting the need for careful site selection due to the prevalence of rocks and uneven ground.

What to do

Explore Missouri's highest point: Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground offers a short trail to the highest elevation in Missouri. "Taum Sauk Mountain is known for being the highest point trail is not a long hike, just a little under 2 miles and rated moderate," notes one visitor. The overlook provides panoramic valley views, particularly at sunrise.

Fish in local creeks: Courtois Creek Dispersed provides excellent fishing opportunities in crystal-clear water. A camper reported, "The water is amazing. Great for fly fishing and cast fishing." Many creek-side camping areas throughout the region allow for easy access to fishing spots without long hikes.

Search for historic structures: Some backcountry sites contain remnants of abandoned dwellings. At Padfield Branch Primitive Campground, campers can find "old remnants of what used to be a living quarters for someone who lived in the woods. It has been long abandoned and is falling over but it offers some fun exploring."

What campers like

Natural water features: Many campers appreciate the streams and falls near tent sites. At Peter Cave Hollow Creek, "It was nice having a solid water source next to the campsite and someone hauled in some chairs which made it nice as well." After rainfall, seasonal waterfalls become active throughout the region.

Wildlife encounters: The secluded nature of many sites increases chances for wildlife observation. One camper at Brazil Creek noted seeing "a big ol mudbug" during their stay. Many sites report deer sightings, and some backcountry campers have observed black bear tracks in more remote areas.

Stargazing opportunities: The lack of light pollution makes most tent camping areas excellent for night sky viewing. Sites at higher elevations offer particularly good star visibility when skies are clear. A camper at Courtois Creek described "soaking up the stars and the moon and the sound of running water" as a highlight of their experience.

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Most backcountry and primitive sites have no phone reception. A Brazil Creek visitor warns, "No cell signal, and as the other reviewer has said, have your map to get there, because it's easy if you do. Your phone will not get you there."

Access challenges: Many tent camping areas require navigation of difficult roads or trails. At Courtois Creek Dispersed, a visitor described the access as "barely a road. It's a trail of moguls for your tires. Fallen trees and branches that narrow the lane and threaten to scrape the sides of your vehicle."

Water purification needs: Surface water requires treatment before drinking. A backpacker on the Ozark Trail advised, "Make sure you bring a water purifier. It is some of the best tasting water I have ever had." Most primitive sites have no potable water sources.

Winter facility closures: Some parks turn off water during colder months. A camper at Taum Sauk noted, "The water was turned off at the time of year we were there and the pit toilets were pretty full, but otherwise still clean."

Tips for camping with families

Short hike options: Several sites offer kid-friendly trails under 2 miles. At Taum Sauk, families can access "three trails that are within Taum Sauk Mountain and you don't want to miss out on these views!" The shortest trail leads to the highest point marker in Missouri.

Rocky terrain awareness: The ground at many sites presents tent placement challenges. At Tom Sauk Mountain State Park, one visitor observed that "most sites had platforms and a picnic table," which helps with the rocky terrain that characterizes much of the region.

Tree coverage benefits: Many tent sites feature significant shade. One family group at Taum Sauk appreciated that "the ground was covered in moss. That made for very soft sleeping, except for the few large rocks spread over the area. We had room for two portable canopies and about 35 cub scouts and family members."

Tips from RVers

Tent-only restrictions: Many campgrounds near Farmington prohibit RVs entirely. A Taum Sauk visitor emphasized: "TENT CAMPING ONLY!!! My friend had been turned away on a previous trip! (There are some other parks nearby if you are in an RV.)"

Clearance limitations: Forest roads often have low-hanging branches. One visitor warned about "one tree overhead barely cleared my car" when accessing a remote site. RV travelers should research alternative campgrounds with suitable access before arrival.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Farmington, MO is Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 17 tent camping locations near Farmington, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.