Camping options around Forest City, Missouri include several public lands within an hour's drive. This rural area along the Missouri River offers mixed terrain with both wooded areas and open prairie. Autumn temperatures range from 40-70°F with occasional rainfall, making September through October ideal for equestrian camping.
What to do
Fishing access: 3 miles from Highway 45 at Honey Creek Conservation Area, campers can fish in the river despite limited shoreline. "Good place for free camping just not a lot of things to do other than explore the woods or fish in the river which doesn't have great access. They say there's bike trails but it's more just access roads," notes Travis M.
Hiking trails: Multiple difficulty levels at Hackberry Hollow Campground with elevation changes. "If you live in the Midwest, I would suggest a visit. Lots of hiking and things to explore. For hiking - we went up loop 10 and down loop 9. It was a steep climb to the top but had great overlook views," explains Meaghan S.
Boat recreation: No rental facilities at nearby lakes, requiring personal watercraft. "Lake Mozingo is near the College Town of Maryville, Missouri. My experience is limited, but I'd say it's pretty nice here. And inexpensive. Concrete Pads with Power and Water at the Site but no Sewer dump, that's Centralized in the Camp. There's Lake access if you want," reports Rick K.
What campers like
Privacy: Limited interaction with others in certain areas. "A good spot if you are not interested in a busy campground. This is a beautiful wooded conservation area. Some of the sites to the front of the property are pretty standard and more open with some metal fire pits and tables. We stayed at camp area 3 which is way more wooded and deep inside the conservation area," shares Sayler O.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathrooms at Weston Bend State Park Campground impress visitors. "This place was fantastic all the way around please note it's July and they do have some construction going on in parts of the campground. These are the cleanest bathrooms and facilities that I have been to I think Mabye ever," writes Lauri J.
Affordable equestrian camping: Most sites under $25 in the region. When searching for horse campgrounds near Forest City, Missouri, consider that "Indian Cave State Park is a great place to go. There are a number of first come sites along with reserved sites. The showers are clean and there are camp hosts to help out," according to Chris C.
What you should know
Terrain challenges: GPS directions can be unreliable in conservation areas. "One problem I did find was that GPS directions wanted us to take access roads through the conservation area to get to the spot but some of them were closed so we had to take an alternate route in by going around the area," warns Sayler O.
Site spacing: Varies significantly between campgrounds with some offering more isolation. "While some of the other sites were very close to each other, this one is relatively isolated. It's big too. There's a vault toilet close by. It was clean and roomy," explains Barbie G. about site 26 at Weston Bend State Park.
Traveler
