Best Campgrounds near Jamestown, MO

Campgrounds near Jamestown, Missouri range from established facilities to dispersed camping areas across public lands. Cooper's Landing Campgrounds and Marina, located along the Missouri River, offers tent, RV, and glamping options with boat-in access. Pine Ridge Recreation Area provides free primitive camping with basic amenities like picnic tables and vault toilets. The region includes both state park campgrounds with full hookups and conservation areas with more rustic accommodations, typically within 30-45 minutes of Jamestown.

Road conditions and seasonal considerations affect camping experiences throughout the area. Many campgrounds remain open year-round, though services may be limited during winter months. "A rainy weekend didn't deter campers from spending the holiday weekend here at Finger Lakes State Park," noted one visitor, highlighting the resilience of the camping areas despite weather challenges. Travelers should be aware that some conservation areas like Three Creeks have limited facilities with no drinking water or toilets available. Cell service varies significantly across the region, with better coverage near established campgrounds and potentially spotty reception in more remote conservation areas.

Waterfront camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the area. Several campgrounds offer direct access to the Missouri River or smaller lakes, providing opportunities for fishing, boating, and scenic views. According to one camper at Cooper's Landing, the site features "beautiful scenery on the MO River & Katy Trail" with "spectacular sunsets" and "a very friendly atmosphere." Wildlife viewing is another highlight, particularly in the more secluded conservation areas. Campers report seeing deer, various bird species, and other wildlife. While some campground options provide modern amenities like showers and electric hookups, others appeal to those seeking a more primitive experience with greater solitude and natural surroundings.

Best Camping Sites Near Jamestown, Missouri (102)

    1. Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

    18 Reviews
    Jamestown, MO
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 657-1299

    $10 - $60 / night

    "A beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise."

    "See beautiful scenery on the MO River & Katy Trail. You may get to see a paddleboat cruising the river."

    2. Cottonwoods RV Park & Campground

    18 Reviews
    Columbia, MO
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 474-2747

    $45 - $52 / night

    "Visited in March 2021, some pot holes in drive way, but manageable. Trees seemed to be trimmed back compared to other reviews. Nice facilities and great staff!"

    "The camp sites are very close to each other. But the campers around us were very nice. Only needed one night and it worked prayer for us."

    3. Pine Ridge Recreation Area

    13 Reviews
    New Bloomfield, MO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 364-4621

    "Close to Columbia but far enough away for a getaway. Easy to find from the road, even in the dark. Fire pits and picnic tables are there. Vault toilets and running water available."

    "However, it is also one of my favorites close to home to hike. The campsites are always clean, but you almost always find litter in the fire rings."

    4. Three Creeks Conservation Area

    7 Reviews
    Ashland, MO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 815-7900

    "An easy and beautiful spot to camp for free near I-70. About 15 minutes of a stunning drive away from the interstate. Plenty of sites, lots, and places to rest for the night. All free and secluded!"

    5. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - Educational Scout Camps

    5 Reviews
    Columbia, MO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 449-7402

    "When I arrived, I noticed that there were a ton of beautiful primitive trails besides the well-constructed boardwalks. And I also learned that there were even more caves, such as Connor's Cave."

    "Great trails for biking and hiking and the creek is perfect for cooling off. However, this place can get really really busy."

    6. Binder Park Campground

    7 Reviews
    Lohman, MO
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 634-6482

    "A full disc golf course nearby and several ball fields. We love this park. The lake offers amazing fishing wether from boat or shore. Lots of bass crappie and catfish."

    "Trails are color coded and they do a great job of separating them by difficulty. The lake also has great fishing if you want to put in a canoe and do some paddling around."

    7. Finger Lakes State Park Campground

    23 Reviews
    Hallsville, MO
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 443-5315

    "A rainy weekend didn't deter campers from spending the holiday weekend here at Finger Lakes State Park. I was lucky enough to get a site for a single night when rain was in the forecast."

    "Finger Lakes is one of few places in Missouri for campers to also be able to enjoy riding their ATVs."

    8. Cedar Creek Resort & RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Columbia, MO
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 239-8340

    "We had family from Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri, and everyone raved how this was their new favorite spot."

    "We didn’t explore the grounds much but apparently we could’ve walked and seen the horses by the resort. The only thing I didn’t love was the gravel road all the way in."

    9. Dry Fork Recreation Area

    4 Reviews
    New Bloomfield, MO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (573) 438-5427

    "Others had left some trash around. we picked up what we could. please pack it out if You pack it in.."

    "Great primitive campground with old homestead foundation along the trail. Perfect stop during you back packing trekk"

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Recent Reviews near Jamestown, MO

330 Reviews of 102 Jamestown Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Blackwater Bluffs RV Park

    Nice overnight

    Pull through FHU. Everything worked as it should host is super friendly .

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2025

    Graham Cave State Park Campground

    A Nice little campground

    A little rough on the way in, but the campground itself had nice spaces in the trees, picnic tables had covers, and we had electrical hookups. Some spaces might require some leveling. Camp host was very friendly.

  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2025

    Roberts Bluff Access

    Nice Little Overnight Spot

    Super convenient overnight spot, about 5 min from I70. Pulled in at about 6:00 in the evening and 2 spots were already taken. We just pulled in for a quick stop for the night. The spot was big enough for our truck and pop-up camper. Quiet area and clean.

  • Cindy C.
    Oct. 1, 2025

    Lakeview Park - Mexico

    Nice campground

    It's $20 if you're a non-resident (of Mexico MO) unless you're here for an event, then you get a discount. Nice flat cement pads. Everything worked well and not too busy. No tent camping sign posted on the way in.

  • Kevin M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Arrow Rock State Historic Site Campground — Arrow Rock State Historic Site

    Quiet and clean

    We stayed 2 weekend nights in late summer/early Fall. Every site was occupied but still it was pretty quiet. The bathrooms/showers are clean, but maybe could use a few more given the number of sites.

    Nice ~2 mile walking trail through the woods was shady and cool despite the heat.

    We were in site 019, which was at the end of a loop and had only one neighbor. It backs up to the little lake, so we did hear some noise from the people fishing.

    We occasionally got 1 bar on T-mobile.

  • Sean
    Sep. 27, 2025

    Cross Creek RV Park

    DONT STAY HERE

    The road to get in and out of this place is absolutely ridiculous. You can try to go 1mph to avoid potholes or washed out area just to hit the next pothole and washed out area. Dont make the mistake we made! Read all the Google reviews (including the 5 star ones which also complain about the road)  i stopped counting after 25.. that explains alot about how much the owners care. The road was so bad we took a loss on the money and stayed elsewhere. Id rather loose out on a few hundred then damage my vehicle getting in and out of this place multiple times during my stay.

  • L
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Graham Cave State Park Campground

    Not Impressed

    If I were you I would not waste any time going here it's not worth getting off of the interstate. The campsites are decent I would have to say... Don't try to put a kayak in the Loutre though. and Do Not Stop ANYWHERE along the route if You do BOSS MAN will Harass You until You hate this place. Too Many Restrictions and its really just a waste of time...the Cave is Once You've seen it blah blah blah

  • L
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area

    Its Nice

    Ben Branch is a Nice Place. It is nothing special. The camping Spots DO fill up quickly as there are only like 5-7 spots. On a weekend, Its gonna be loud! Lots of ATVs up and down the Gravel Road. The bathrooms just say if you know You Know. 🫩

  • J
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina

    Mostly Scenery.

    I do Not like that the fire pits nearest to the river are 30 inches from a 30ft drop off!  Only 2 people can enjoy the campfire because of that.  

    Secondly, they do Not provide tables for the campers.  Kinda expensive to Not have tables.

    Not a good fishing place because it's a treacherous walk down.

    The evening band was awesome!

    Will Not be back because of the above.


Guide to Jamestown

Camping around Jamestown, Missouri offers varied terrain across the Ozark Highland region, with elevations between 700-900 feet. Located in the transition zone between prairie and forest ecosystems, campers encounter seasonal temperature fluctuations that impact camping conditions year-round. Primitive sites in conservation areas provide secluded options while established campgrounds offer amenities within a 30-mile radius of Jamestown.

What to do

Hiking diverse terrain: Pine Ridge Recreation Area offers hiking trails through mature pine forests with multiple primitive campsites. "Great primitive campground with old homestead foundation along the trail. Perfect stop during your backpacking trek," notes one visitor to Dry Fork Recreation Area.

Paddling waterways: The area's waterways provide excellent kayaking and canoeing opportunities. A visitor at Finger Lakes State Park reported, "This park is one of my favorite nearby spots to take the kayak out and just float. Paddling through these channels is such a dreamy experience."

Wildlife viewing: The conservation areas allow for natural wildlife encounters. At Three Creeks Conservation Area, trails lead through diverse ecosystems. While exploring, one camper observed, "Quiet peaceful place for our overnight stop, would like to have extended stay to enjoy all the amenities."

Disc golf: Several parks near Jamestown feature disc golf courses. "Great park. A full disc golf course nearby and several ball fields. We love this park," mentions a camper at Binder Park Campground.

What campers like

River views: Waterfront campsites rank highly among the best places to camp near Jamestown, Missouri. One Cooper's Landing visitor shared, "Rustic. You come down winding rolling roads then onto gravel to get here. Katy bike trail on one side Missouri River on other side site 2 completely level for our 31e RV."

Cave exploration: The limestone geology creates unique cave systems to explore. A visitor to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park noted, "I found the Devil's Icebox and was rejoiced by how remarkably cool it was (56 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact!) compared to the thick, humid summer air."

Fishing access: Multiple lakes and ponds offer fishing opportunities. A camper at Binder Park commented, "The lake offers amazing fishing whether from boat or shore. Lots of bass, crappie and catfish. Lake has a motor restriction and a bait shop."

Trail connectivity: The region connects to larger trail systems. "Katy trail is easy biking beautiful views, shaded. Blue birds, cardinals and also an indigo bunting were seen our first trip out," explains a Cooper's Landing camper.

What you should know

Seasonal closure: Check operating schedules as some areas close seasonally. A Pine Ridge visitor noted, "Park was closed but had parking in the lot outside of the gate. Good enough to crash overnight. Did a daylight walk through and discovered a well maintained camp site."

Road conditions: Access to many campsites requires travel on gravel roads. A Cedar Creek Resort reviewer mentioned, "The only thing I didn't love was the gravel road all the way in. Our truck and camper was covered with gravel dust."

Tick prevention: Multiple campers report ticks as a concern, especially in warmer months. "We encountered A LOT of ticks on the overgrown trail. BEWARE of ticks and check yourselves and your pets if staying here," warns a Dry Fork camper.

Campsite spacing: Many established campgrounds place sites close together. A visitor to Cottonwoods RV Park observed, "The camp sites are very close to each other. But the campers around us were very nice."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: For families new to camping, choose sites with amenities. "Perfect place for us to learn the ins and outs as it had full hook-ups. Staff was really friendly, and had the cutest store!" shared a Cottonwoods RV Park visitor.

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. A camper noted, "Great playground. Several large rigs in our row, we still fit. Decorated wonderfully for Halloween. Kids are happy!"

Trail difficulty levels: Some areas mark trails by difficulty for family planning. "Trails are color coded and they do a great job of separating them by difficulty," explains a Binder Park visitor.

Water activities: Multiple locations offer safe water recreation. At Finger Lakes, a visitor recommended, "The beach usually is not crowded, which is really nice."

Tips from RVers

Site length variations: Research sites that accommodate your specific rig length. At Pine Ridge Recreation Area Mark Twain National Forest, "most campsites have great trees for hanging a hammock! There's also running water. Campsites are first come first served."

Utility limitations: Many conservation areas lack hookups or have limited options. At Cooper's Landing, a camper advised, "You will have water and electric but no sewer and no dump station on site. Plan your length of stay accordingly."

Leveling requirements: Be prepared for uneven terrain. A Cedar Creek visitor noted, "Sites are pretty level and WiFi is good. Contactless checkin is a bit confusing from map provided."

Reservation systems: Many campgrounds near Jamestown accept advance bookings. A visitor to Cottonwoods shared, "The registration online was seamless. We submitted an inquiry online, they replied within a day with the invoice to confirm our site."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Jamestown, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Jamestown, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 102 campgrounds and RV parks near Jamestown, MO and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Jamestown, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jamestown, MO is Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jamestown, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Jamestown, MO.