Best RV Parks & Resorts near Hartshorn, MO

Location is great. The campground is on the basic side, with gravel and dirt everywhere. Not an issue, if that's what you're expecting.

We were in site 45 and our friends in site 46. These are both 30 amp sites, no sewer, and we both have 50 amp service. This shouldn't be a problem, assuming we're pulling less than 30 amps. With 1 AC running, were only pulling less than 15 amps, but still having multiple electrical issues the whole weekend. Both sites ended up having to run our generators most of the time we were here. The staff did come out and take a look at the pedestals, and even replaced the breaker on ours. We were told that because we were at the end of the line, and we had big rigs, that it was causing issues. However, it shouldn't be causing an issue if we weren't pulling more than 30 amps, which we weren't. (On a normal 30 amp service, our rig will run 2 ac units without issue.) Multiple times, we were receiving less than 100 volts, which shut our Bulldog EPO off.

We went to check at the office as we left for the dump station location. I was told that they could dump for you for $20 or, you could back into a full hook up site and dump for a $5 fee. We have been full time since November and this is the 1st time I've encountered needing to pay to dump when full hokkups weren't available. I double checked the website and couldn't find anything that mentioned a fee to dump.

The staff did credit us 1 night stay and we didn't end up having to pay to dump.

Long story short, definitely paid for the location to the river. We backed up onto the water and let down our ramp/patio for a nice view.

This place is much more like private property (with the bonus of full hookups), than an “RV park”. Everything about this place is A+. Roomy, level, and clean lots. Organized & friendly owners. Great lot amenities (fire pits, picnic tables with umbrellas, well maintained hookups). Beautiful views in very direction (open fields, tree lines, greenery, pond, clear views of sky). Very well maintained & marked grass walking trails throughout the property. Easy to find. Not too far interstate. Easy to back in site. This place was perfect for us & our dogs & our large 36’ fifth wheel while we explored and traveled Route 66.

Stayed here for a weekend during the hottest part of the summer. Most sites have decent shade.

Sites are back-in with a coarse gravel pad. Current bathhouse is adequate, but a new one is being built. New one looks to be about four times the size of the old one.

There is a raised fire-ring and a picnic table at each site. There is firewood available for purchase.

Grounds sit next to a state numbered highway, so access is easy. Don't expect a remote setting. The highway traffic can be distracting if you're used to camping in the woods.

We have stayed here a few times over the past couple of years and really enjoy that it’s it’s right on the Black River and that it is still within a couple of our drive from St. Louis. The campground is actually made up of two different campgrounds, East and West. The East is the older campground while the West campground is newer and geared more towards larger RVs and features bigger sites. Although we have camped at both with our 40 foot fifth wheel and as long as you pay attention to the trees you can still get around the East campground without any problems. The newer campground does not have as many trees so most of the sites are out in the open. The campground is just a few minutes away from Annapolis which has just about any of the basic needs that you might want. And again the proximity to river access is wonderful for enjoying a day at the river. Great campground!

Positives: Tranquil little campground with beautiful spring and cave. Quiet, shady, has two points of river access, group sites, and steaming hot showers.  Close to Echo Bluff State Park, Current River State Park, and Eminence, MO.  

Negatives:  Test sites are hit or miss. Sites 1-18 are fairly small and not very level. Sites 19-29 have larger, more level areas. 30-39 are kind of mixed.  Many sites have steps up of down to the site from the road.  There is no cell service available, so make sure you have made reservations before you get here. Closest cell service is up the road at Echo Bluff State Park. 

Other info: You may get lucky and see otters on your way to the spring, or some of the wild horses in the area. Go in the early morning to the spring trail to watch the mist roll off the water and enjoy the wildlife - so otherworldly. 

Cave tours are available June - Oct., but even if you visit is outside of this window, the walk to the cave is kind of magical.  

If you walk to the spring overlook, you'll also encounter a portion of the Ozark Trail. About a half a mile down the Ozark Trail you can cross the Current River on a pedestrian bridge which is a pretty cool experience.  

Bathrooms available on the upper camping loop, but the showers are located on the bottom loop (three family style showers).  Fantastic water pressure. 

Host was friendly even when he had to tell us we couldn't hang hammocks in National Park campgrounds. 

While you're there drive down to Alley Spring for a nice hike, another beautiful spring and historic mill, and at the camp store you can get a National Parks Passport stamp (located in the screened in porch) for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 

We stayed in site 13 which is located directly behind the bathrooms. Good if you have to go all the time, bad if you don't like to hear loud toilet flushes.  Very shady site.