Are you planning a tent camping trip to Franklin? We've got you covered. You can find tent campsites by type, including drive-in, walk-in, and even hike-in for a backpacking adventure. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Just minutes from Columbia, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park gives visitors the chance to scramble, hike and bicycle through a scenic environment – and lets them peek into Missouri’s underworld. The park contains some of the most popular hiking trails in the state and also offers solitude while hiking in the Gans Creek Wild Area. Visitors can also see a large cave system with its rock bridge, sinkholes, a spring and underground stream at the Devil's Icebox. You can explore Connor's Cave in the light of the opening for a taste of the underground world.
Non-profit, educational or Scout groups can take advantage of the special-use area for overnight primitive camping. It features two fire rings, a vault toilet and several picnic tables. There is no water or electricity. The cost is $2 per person, per night. Reservations are required. For more information, call 573-449-7402.
Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website for more information.
Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website for more information.
Dry Fork Recreation Area, a campground and picnic area located at the equestrian trailhead of the 36-mile Cedar Creek Trail. This area, located in central Missouri near Fulton serves recreationists with or without horses. This campground is situated in a quiet mostly oak/cedar forest. It is comprised of 8 single primitive campsites that can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet in length, each with table, fire ring, and lantern post. Other amenities include drinking water, vault toilets, and hitching rails. There is a picnic area across the road with picnic tables that can accommodate small groups. There are currently no camping fees, but donations are encouraged. A printable brochure is available.
Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website for more information.
Hello there! We (Christina & Brian) are excited to share our 80 acres with you! At the moment we offer only dispersed camping. We want to keep it as "Organic" as possible! So, there will only be 1 main gravel road, that is mostly covered in gravel at the moment. NO concrete or asphalt areas. Heavy rains will in-hinder on how far you can travel in. Either way, we can assist you, unless you are an RV. If you like, we have a large metal wagon that you can hand pull or pull by our truck. You are welcome to bring your UTV, but only to move your equipment and guests back and forth to our site or your vehicle. We are willing to show you around before you set up camp. If you are coming in at dark, we can suggest a campsite, then you can move in the daylight if you like. FIREWOOD: We have more than you can handle as this land has been harvested for timber prior to our purchase. We also encourage you to take some as long you use it up while in Missouri. More info at website DontMoveFirewood dot org We do NOT have amenities on site as of yet. We will provide bottled water at no cost. We highly encourage that you unplug while you are here, but not required. We do want you to have your phone with you for safety and capturing moments while you are here. We do have cell service here! We are close to many places: * 1/2 mile to Casey's General Store * Mark Twain State Park: 30 min * Long Branch State Park: 40 min * Thomas Hill Reservoir: 40 min * Finger Lakes State Park OHV/ motorcross: 40 min * Amish Community (Clark): 30 min * Casey's Gas Station: 3 min * Dollar General: 4 min * Walmart Supercenter: 17 min
If you are bold and want to enjoy nature nudist style, that is welcomed, but ONLY at your campsite and maybe a larger area for an additional fee once you arrive. This place is NOT a nudist camp, but it is private enough that you can be comfortable in your area. We thank you for taking the time to read our post. If you have any questions, feel free to get hold of us at anytime.
$25 - $30 / night
Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website for more information.
Visit the Missouri Department of Conservation's website for more information.
A sophisticated kitchen situated near a babbling broke. Lots of shade and a few natural rock waterfalls. Plenty of maintained hiking trails full of wild native edible foliage. Find a flat spot pitch a tent and enjoy the amenities needed for a weekend in the wilderness
$35 - $245 / night
Guide
Heavily forested with a lake. Trails and camping areas in woods are setup for equestrian with good trails for hikers, bikers and horses. Camping at lake is open gravel or grass. Nice fishing lake with docks, boat ramp and vault toilet and the only one provided. Parked lakeside. Quite night with one fishing boat late morning. Get a brochure with park map at entrance as roads pass through park and private property.
ScoutGreat quite and secluded camp sigh. But can muddy due to sessional flooding
Scout
Had a great stealth camping experience here. Road was gravelled all the way down and opened up to a big gravel lot. I could tell there were a few other paths I could take but the grass was a little overgrown and it was already dark out, so I just car camped in the gravel lot. Had no issues and didn’t see or hear anyone else!
Guide
Basic tent site, potable water was right near our site. Bathrooms were clean. There were some families staying nearby but overall was a quiet stay.
Scout
Great stop 5 minutes off of I-70! The site has three camp sites available with car pull ins and fire rings. Lots of mosquitoes due to the site being right on the water. Also two cats hang out around the site. No bathroom we could find.
Legend
Check-in was quick and easy and we proceeded to pull through site 83 with FHUs. The gravel pad was very long and we had plenty of room for our 40’ rig and F450. The utilities were in the middle of the pad and water pressure was decent at about 40 psi. As we were on the end of a row, we had a lot of front yard space. The sites here are very close together, but long-term guests kept their sites nice and well organized, and overall this CG was very clean. There are mature trees so satellite placement could be challenging. We were able to place our Starlink in the yard area for a good shot to the north sky. We got 4 bars on Verizon and their WiFi worked well for a campground of this size. At the office, they have a nice store and gift shop with one of the best selections of camping shirts etc. that we have seen.
RangerOnly 2 miles off of the highway and is perfect for someone just passing by. I’m on my way from St Louis to Denver and it was perfect for one night. Very quiet but still close enough to hear the hum of the interstate traffic. It looked like there were 3 sites with fire rings and all very nice.
Scout
Nice place, but just didn't care for how much the cops drove threw nonstop, we are camping to get away from people and doesn't make me feel at peace wondering why so many cops always drive thru.
ScoutBeautiful spot on the lake. Clean campground, full hook-ups. Tent and RV friendly. Will stop here again!
Scout
Don’t mistake this for the RV hookup site at Roberts Bluff. It’s a bit further down the road and called Roberts Bluff Access. You will eventually see signs for a Conservation site.
There were about 4/5 spots to pull/back into. Its a small space and really close to the river where you can see huge trout and turtles swimming. There is even a boat ramp.
TravelerEnjoyed a campfire before a thunderstorm rolled into the area. Ground away from the campsite was a bit muddy and made a mess. No surprises there! Established campfire ring at 2 spots. Another ring farther down in the turnaround beyond the boat launch.
TravelerSmall, quiet and out of the way. A few spots for camping. No restrooms, electricity or running water.
Scout
Stayed here overnight and the camphor was very friendly and helped us out. Bathrooms and showers were open, super clean. Peaceful and would definitely stay again to venture into the town
ScoutIf your camper has everything you need, it's a good campground. The website says it's 50 amp only, but it has 30 too. When we stayed there in March 2024, the shower/bathroom was locked. No park management came by our site, and when you call to get information, you get city hall telling you you need to call some other number...that they didn't have. So, everything's up to you.
GuideWe liked this place. It was a good place for an overnight camp on our travels. No restroom that we could find. No water or power. Camp is free. It has an old boat ramp so you can get down the the river easier, but water was way too low for a boat when I was there in September of 2023. Down a gravel road a few minutes off the highway in some corn field area. There are only a handful of spaces on the grass. So hopefully you get one or someone is willing to share. We had the place to ourselves.
ScoutGreat spot on my road trip west! Put in some miles and didn’t get in until about 2am and this was easy to find and great spots away from the highway but also didn’t have to trek far away
TravelerPark was full. We could only book a basic site (no hook-ups) through the website but the camp host easily upgraded us to a vacant electric site. Great park to bring your dogs! The walk or drive to the historic town literally park of the park was a surprise with a couple of hiking paths making each trip different from the first.
ScoutDecided to take my time heading from Southern WA to Southern IN and this is the best dispersed camping I’ve seen on this trip. I’ll definitely stop here again if I’m ever heading down I-70, and hopefully I’ll have my RV with me.
TravelerNot bad camp spots here, but there are a lot of drug deals going on here. Don't feel very safe at all. Sept 2023. Update... so I woke up to find out that the other campers we saw were actually homeless people. They're were people in the bathroom strung out on something also. Don't camp here!
ScoutThe security guy will just open the women bathroom door to yell at females instead of waiting at the camp site when there is an issue . Really really creepy
TravelerVery nice, clean and organized campsite. Sites are spaced further apart for great privacy. Host was pleasant and very friendly. Nice to see him driving through the site checking up on things.
ScoutNice free camping to overnight if you are travelling on your RV, close to the highway but without noise. No toillets. Verizon signal works good.
ScoutMy recent encounter with Cottonwoods RV Resort has left me utterly disappointed and disgusted, as their service was marred by deceptive policies, unprofessional behavior and childish behavior
It is disheartening to witness a company that prioritizes playing games and leaning on diplomatic responses over addressing the reality of their actions. From the outset, their reservation process raised concerns with their non-industry standard policy of requiring a 10-day notice for cancellations.
This policy, as I soon discovered, served as a warning sign of their intentions to hold onto customers' money while offering limited options for resolution. It became evident that their primary objective was not to provide a fair and transparent service but rather to maximize their own gains at the expense of customer satisfaction.
Adding insult to injury, when my wife attempted to discuss our concerns with their staff, they not only exhibited unprofessional behavior but also acted defensively, as if they were being attacked. Despite my wife maintaining her composure(while slightly elevating the pitch of her voice, but never yelling or personally attacking the person on the phone), they manipulated the situation by leaning on diplomatic responses that failed to address the reality of their actions. This tactic of deflecting and avoiding accountability only further erodes trust and demonstrates a lack of integrity on their part. It's truly sad to see this behavior come from a"business".
When I personally reached out to express my frustration(and also notify that I will post my factual experiences online), the"manager" absurdly claimed that my communication was threatening merely because I suggested the possibility of visiting their premises to discuss the matter in person. This response showcased a lack of professionalism and an unwillingness to engage in mature dialogue.
The"manager's" attempts to justify their cancellation policy under the guise of protecting customers are nothing more than smoke and mirrors. By allowing customers to reschedule their reservations while vehemently refusing any possibility of cancellation, they revealed their true motive: to retain customers' funds while offering a hollow option for rebooking. This self-serving approach contradicts their claims of protecting customers' interests and exposes their disregard for providing a genuinely satisfactory experience.
What troubles me even more is the realization that my experience is not an isolated incident. Other reviewers have expressed similar encounters, outlining the same deceptive policies, unprofessional behavior, and manipulative tactics employed by Cottonwoods RV Resort
It is disheartening to see a pattern of behavior that consistently prioritizes the company's interests over the well-being and satisfaction of their customers. In their attempts to deflect accountability, the company may try to argue that we were rude or difficult to deal with. However, it is essential to clarify that we were hung up on before any reasonable customer service was provided. When my wife, understandably exasperated, questioned whether an exception could be made in the event of a death in the family, their response was shockingly callous. It became evident that the company's priorities lay solely in financial matters, as they confirmed their lack of concern for any circumstances beyond securing their own profits. I fully anticipate their rebuttal to my reviews to show how holy they are, but again, a diplomatic response to smooth over their reviews and make them always look right.
What a terrible way to do business. If you look at the reviews left below, all are refuted to make the campsite look perfect while neglecting to remember they are in the customer service business.
In conclusion, our unfortunate experience with Cottonwoods RV Resort was tainted by their deceptive policies, unprofessional and childish behavior. Their inclination to play games, lean on diplomatic responses, and avoid taking responsibility for their actions only served to exacerbate my disappointment. I strongly advise prospective customers to carefully consider the consistent feedback provided by other reviewers and approach this establishment with caution. It is regrettable that a company entrusted with providing enjoyable experiences would prioritize such practices, leaving customers feeling frustrated and undervalued.
Here's a list of reviews you should take into consideration:- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=VEyZyAFwGWP1jVoM1e8Ecw- Terri G- Kicked out for using a generator because of an issue with their power cord- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=KQVPvdggSdgW16By2HS\_4g- Examples of lying to customers, kicking them out when there is room- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=KN7D9ews6MEGzIdaT2fWnA- Bad experience- https://www.yelp.com/biz/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia?hrid=\_NeYWolU-KZYvJQqbSM7eg- Indicating a good experience unitl they get mad with you then they call the police and get defensive- what a great place to stay!- https://www.roverpass.com/c/cottonwoods-rv-park-columbia-mo/- Trying to kick out people who are on Cancer treatments, again they reply to everything thats negative with a rebuttal that frames them as perfect-"Surprised they didn't charge us for breathing..."
Ranger
We camped out here for the weekend.
The campground is one circular lot with I think around 18 spots. Some are basic just for tents and some have water and or electric.
The ones on the inside of the circle have more space and are more open but you don't have any privacy. Most spots on the outside of the circle, especially on the north and west sides have more privacy but not as much space.
The grounds are well kept with grass while maintained.
I hiked on most of the trails in one day. I missed the memorial trail and boardwalk. Home that I walked on will maintained. Some of them are more difficult than others but none of them too strenuous.
Note about the lake - Once you get to the parking lot for the lake you'll see nothing but trees. On the east side of the parking lot (next to the state park signage/billboard) there are two trail heads. Take the one on the left. There's a quarter mile hike down to the lake. The way back is mostly uphill. Not too steep, but steep enough you might feel it if you don't do much hiking/walking.
Playground It had a nice playground for small kids including a little play area and some swing sets.
Restrooms There were two bathrooms present. One was a traditional drop toilet. It had a solar fan so surprisingly it did not have any smell. The other bathroom has a shower and the women's had two toilets and the men's had one toilet and a urinal. Everything was clean.
Dog-friendliness We did not take any dogs but we saw plenty of people who had dogs.
Guide
Very relaxed place. Kinda drive in and park anywhere you see a firepit. We had a rooftop tent on the truck and a tent. We camped near the smaller pond. The spot was fine and there wasn’t a ton of tent campers so we had the place to ourselves. The portapotties were gnarly but the toilets/showers behind the office were clean and had hot water. Staff was friendly when we checked in and we bought an armfull of fire wood and they even dropped it off where we parked in their sidebyside but it was damp so we had to scavage some smaller sticks to get the fire hot enough to self sustain. There was a lot of burned cans and some trash in our fire pit when we showed up so we threw it all away before we started our fire. Would stay again but it definitely isn’t a 5 star clean place. Think Ruth from Ozark show.
GuideThe largest camp area of Arrow Rock is definitely geared towards RVs, but there is a "basic loop" with twelve basic campsites for tent camping. There is a bathroom/shower house very close to the basic loop and the basic loop is well away from the RV area. Right up the road is Big Soldier Lake where you can fish as well. The camp host was helpful in providing firewood and was very attentive of the sites. The campsites are a bit crowded in with each other as there are 12 in the small basic loop, but a few campsites at the back end of the loop provide a lot of area to stretch and spread out into.
Traveler
Great campground with electric and water just minutes west of downtown Jefferson City. No cable or wifi but good tv reception. Although too cold to use, the picnic tables have a pavilion style roof over them at each site! Only downside is that they have only 17 sites and several have seasonals on them. Hosts are good people and easy to speak with, providing much information regarding their community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Franklin, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Franklin, MO is Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Educational Scout Camps with a 3.6-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Franklin, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Franklin, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
