Ironton, MO is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. Camping, hiking, biking: however you want to spend your days near Ironton, you'll find great campgrounds with The Dyrt. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Ironton. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$11 - $32 / night
"It is located on the Black River, and the water flowing through the shut-ins is crystal clear and cool."
"Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is located on the Black River in Missouri, just south of St. Louis. This makes it a popular location on hot summer days, especially weekends."
"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."
". 😊 The sites are all walk in but it’s a short walk from your car to the site. Very rocky ground so be careful where you put your tent. Pit toilets are located at the entrance to the campground."
$15 - $100 / night
"This is a nice little campground located in the Mark Twain National Forest. The St."
"Our site was right next to the campground hosts who were very nice and very involved (they even found my parents who made the mistake of taking the first Silver Mines exit)."
"A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1."
"There’s a couple nice lakes with big beaches great swimming for the kids and you can rent a canoe or a kayak to paddle around on the lake."
$10 - $20 / night
"There is hiking, it is in a National Forest that allows Dispersed Camping outside designated areas and off roads."
"Site # 20 had a perfect path to the water, and a reasonable creek walk up to a swimming hole."
"State Park in Southeast Missouri along Big Creek. Well maintained campsites with electric hook ups. Water and dump stations, but no water hook up sites."
"Shower houses were conveniently located in camping area. Big River was just a small walk away from the campsite. I know they had been flooded, but I am still cleaning rocks and dirt from the camper."
"We stay here anytime we want to go to south east Missouri. The owners are absolutely awesome folks the park is immaculately kept the spots are level clean and well kept."
"A little too close to one another for my liking, but well put together and level. Camp Host very nice and helpful woman and prices were reasonable, especially for firewood and propane."
"The drive to the site from highway 32 is just over 6 miles on a forest service road (2363). There is a beautiful view of the valley to the south west and we were treated to an incredible sunset."
"If you like beautiful scenery and being away from people while camping this is a perfect spot for you. It’s dispersed so bring your supplies."
"It's about a five hour drive if you don't have to stop, so we got to the trailhead for the Bell mountain loop at around 11pm."
"The Bell Mountain Wilderness Area is about a 2.5 hour drive from the St. Louis area - mostly highway until the winding country roads for the last 30 mins. There are two entrances to the mountain."
$12 - $25 / night
"Hawn State park, located off of highway 32 near St. Genevieve, is a wonderful, must visit in southeast Missouri."
"There is 3 trails with the longest having two loop options with connectors from the other two trails. There are also walk in sites here and hike in sites. This park will not disappoint."
ScoutWent to go have a peaceful birthday dinner tonight with my family, and the lovely owners Tyler and Jennifer Juliette were so intoxicated that they kicked us off the property for being in a open public space without camping passes. My fiancé and some of the other guys were all hanging around the dumpster area(no sign saying you can’t be there), when a manager came over and was very rudely asking if they had day passes. When my fiancé calmly tried to explained we were there under a reservation, and we were only hanging around the public general store, the manager proceeded to get visibly angry and said she was informing the owner of our behaviour. After my fiancé came and told me of the situation, I went outside to see what the chaos was. Tyler and Jennifer proceed to come up to my fiancé and say“are you the one who was mouthy with my manger”. Mind you, they both were clearly intoxicated and had alcohol in hand and the manager had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth most of the interaction. After they came up I looked at Tyler and said“Sir we are here under reservation if I could just explain” and Tyler replied“I don’t care about a reservation and you’re going to let me talk.” They proceeded to say we needed to leave or they would call the cops. I told them obviously they had too much to drink and that we would leave. As we turned around to go inside and grab our belongings, they followed us the entire time. Tyler followed me so closely I was so scared he was going to grab me! Literally he was half an inch away from being chest to back with me, and I told him aggressively to back Up, get away from me and that I am a young woman. When we got inside, the owners told my family we were the most“disrespectful children” they’d ever met, mind you we are both legal adults. I grab my belongings, we left, and we surely will never ever be back! My family was left embarrassed, shocked, and disturbed by how poorly the owners handled the situation. If they had kindly asked us to see our passes or that we couldn’t hang by the dumpsters, there would have been 0 issue. If anyone there witnessed the interaction, I am highly sorry for the scene. However this was 100% poor business management and could’ve been handled 1000x better. So unfortunate that the owners are to entitled and money hungry to hear out the people who give them business.
GuideThis is a beautiful campground. It is an older campground but very well maintained and very clean. The view from my camp is spectacular. I have electric, water, a covered picnic table, a fire ring and all for $8/night with my pass discount. Only negative thing I can say is the long hike to the bathrooms, but not really all that bad. Wonderful campground, will stay here again
RangerStopped for one night, but could have stayed more. Great campground with tons of trees and shade. Each site has a table and fire pit. Big, clean bathrooms and showers. Playgrounds for kids. Caves to explore. I’m
GuideThis is a very clean, well kept campground in Mark Twain National Forest. It has electric, vault toilets showers and a potable water spigot. Very reasonably priced. The water was cut off for repairs shortly after I arrived but, no problem, stuff happens. Been here 12 days and it has been very enjoyable. I did a field report and it tested my "cell" reception but I have no signal here so I am using Starlink and have a great connection so that will skew the test results. They need to ask if using Starlink before doing that test.
RangerWe arrived on a Saturday and the park was packed, but were able to have a spot with electric. Campground probably has well over 200 sites with electric, electric and water, and tent camping. Right on the Merrimack river where one could go hang out in the river or float or tube down the river. Cave that is situated in the park that one can pay for a tour Fisher cave. We actually went to the Meramec Caverns tour about 15 miles away. Road into park is fairly narrow and has a pretty good grade going up and down. Park is actually almost 3 miles from the visitor center. Even though the park was very full when we arrived, it emptied out to almost no one on Sunday afternoon. You are nicely spaced apart from other people for the most part. Showers were adequate.
GuideGreat park close to hwy 44 (5ish minutes + drive to campground) Lots of spots to choose from even though it was a Saturday in August. All are pretty flat and open with not much privacy. Showed up at 5pm and chose an open spot but had to call to reserve because I had no cell service (phone worked, internet didn’t). Phone reservation was super easy and efficient. Our spot (#86) had a lot of broken glass under the picnic table and the fire out was filthy. Convenient potable water and dump station areas. We just stopped for the night while driving through the area so didn’t use the park which seems to have tons to do.
TravelerStunning views. Multiple spots. All have a picnic table and fire ring. They have a QR code on each picnic table so you can book your site through the state and pay $10 to Camp but there's no service in that area so I'm not sure how they expect us to be able to do that. There's two camping sections. One is about halfway down the road. It's grass and trees and it's across from a vault toilet and a trash bin. If you go all the way to the end of the road it rocks and sand and you're right on the water but there's no toilets or trash.
The coordinates for this place just takes you to the start of the road not to the actual campsites. So once you get to the road just drive down it. It's not too far and car could make it.
The only annoying thing was that when I stayed with my tent on the rocks by the water, all the way at the end, I could still hear the person at the very first campsite with RV generator humming very loudly and it took away a lot of the ambiance of the place. So it's primitive but you may not be alone.
TravelerWe didn’t camp here but drove up the mountain to check out the look out. Took a trip through the campground, tent camping only and it looked like most sites had platforms and a picnic table. I seen one or two restrooms. Looked nice and wasn’t crowded. Several hiking trails, I think we’ll come back in the future to hike
TravelerCamp host were very friendly, park is very clean and neat. Nice amenities through the campground; pool, small playground, basketball court and volley ball. Would most definitely stay again.
Camping near Ironton, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities that are perfect for families and adventurers alike. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the right spot to enjoy nature and make lasting memories.
Camping near Ironton, Missouri, has something for everyone, whether you're looking for adventure or a peaceful retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best camping sites near Ironton, Missouri?
The Ironton area offers exceptional camping opportunities in the scenic Ozarks. Marble Creek Rec Area stands out as a top choice with its unique creek-shaped layout where every direction leads to water, perfect for nature lovers seeking a natural setting with hiking access. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground provides camping at Missouri's highest point. For those seeking other nearby options, St. Francois State Park and St. Joe State Park both offer well-maintained facilities within an hour's drive of Ironton, making them convenient base camps for exploring the region's natural attractions.
What amenities are available at Ironton campgrounds?
Campgrounds around Ironton offer varying levels of amenities. St. Joe State Park Campground provides gravel tent pads with borders, picnic tables, fire pits, and concrete sections for campers and vehicles. Hawn State Park Campground features consistently clean and organized facilities with helpful staff. For those seeking more comfort, Echo Bluff State Park offers full hookup RV sites with 30/50 amp electric, water, and sewer on perfectly level concrete pads. Many area campgrounds provide basic amenities like restrooms, while state parks typically include shower facilities. For primitive camping experiences, the surrounding Mark Twain National Forest offers more rustic options with minimal facilities.
When is the best season for camping in Ironton, MO?
The optimal camping season near Ironton runs from spring through fall, with each season offering unique experiences. Late spring (April-May) brings wildflowers and comfortable temperatures, while summer offers access to swimming and water activities. Asher Creek Campground — Lake Wappapello State Park is particularly enjoyable during weeknights in July when you can have the ridge largely to yourself despite summer being peak season. Fall (September-October) is spectacular with Round Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway offering tranquil camping among colorful foliage. Winter camping is possible at several year-round sites but prepare for cold temperatures. Spring and fall generally provide the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
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