Best Tent Camping near Joplin, MO

Tent camping near Joplin, Missouri provides access to prairie landscapes and natural areas with several primitive options within driving distance. Prairie State Park Campground, located 45 minutes from Joplin in Liberal, Missouri, offers year-round tent camping with both drive-in and walk-in tent sites. For those seeking backcountry tent camping experiences, Gibson Spring Back Country Site in Fort Crowder Conservation Area provides a more secluded option with hike-in access. Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area also accommodates tent campers with walk-in sites, though access reliability varies according to visitor reports.

Prairie State Park features four primitive tent campsites with no electricity or water hookups at the sites themselves. Two sites have paved pads while two are gravel/dirt, with the latter backing up to a stream. All sites include picnic tables and fire rings. A vault toilet serves the campground, and water is available at the maintenance area up the hill. The campground entrance requires crossing a small stream, which may be impassable after heavy rain. Campers should prepare for ticks and poison ivy, particularly when venturing off maintained paths. Gibson Spring Back Country Site offers a more rustic experience, requiring water treatment from the spring itself and providing no toilet facilities. The trailhead is approximately a seven-minute hike from the camping area.

The tent camping experience near Joplin features unique wildlife encounters, particularly at Prairie State Park where free-roaming bison herds and coyotes create a distinctive prairie camping atmosphere. According to reviews, "The bison roam free here, although the small campground area has fences and/or cow grates to keep them out." Campers often report hearing coyotes howling throughout the night. The primitive nature of these tent campgrounds typically means fewer fellow campers, creating peaceful, secluded experiences. One visitor noted, "Since it's pretty primitive you will likely have the place to yourself." Star gazing opportunities are excellent at these locations due to minimal light pollution. Backcountry tent campers at Gibson Spring will find multiple trails to explore, with 11 miles of multi-use paths available for day hiking from camp.

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Best Tent Sites Near Joplin, Missouri (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Joplin, MO

2 Photos of 7 Joplin Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Joplin, MO

168 Reviews of 7 Joplin Campgrounds


  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Gopher Valley - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Pleasant RV/Tent campground

    Gopher Valley campground in on of several campground in the Twin Bridges area of Grand Lake State Park.  This campground is fully paved with both full hook up RV camping area, tent camping area and areas that work for both.  Campground have drive through and pull in sites.  Sites all have picnic tables and metal fire rings.  Campground has a large pavilion which can be rented.  The pavilion has a huge BBQ grill.  Campground has a small playground for the kids.  Small restroom with showers is available.  With the exception of the RV pull through sites all the other sites have plenty of grass to set up a tent.  Sites can be reserved.

  • H
    May. 31, 2022

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Primitive accomodations but beautiful land!

    The tiny campground is located in a wooded hollow at the edge of the prairie and has 4 primitive sites, no electric or water at sites, no showers and one vault toilet only. You can drive up the hill to the maintenance area to get water and there is a sign for this. 2 sites have paved pads and the others are gravel/dirt. The 2 outer gravel sites back up to a curved stream that runs along the perimeter of the campground but are lower and more shaded and more prone to hovering clouds of bugs. They are all have a picnic table and fire ring and are relatively private and well distanced. Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible. The center paved sites are more open and grassy and get more wind but also don’t have as much shade. I think I stayed in site 4 and it was great for my solar panel. I did have steady cell service with AT&T while here.

    Since it’s pretty primitive you will likely have the place to yourself, but be prepared to have guests of the state park driving through all day to check it out. Lots of deer around, beautiful to see but this also means ticks! There is also significant poison ivy along the roads but there are signs warning about that. Best to keep to the maintained roads and paths. As far as dogs, they are not allowed on any of the trails because of the bison but they can walk the entire main gravel road of the state park (no shade). Nature center was closed due to covid when I was there but looks interesting. There were a couple bison about 20 feet from the center when I was there. My parents visited once and ended up on the road for about an hour while an entire herd of bison meandered across the road around their vehicle! The bison roam free here, although the small campground area has fences and/or cow grates to keep them out. The land is stunning and open and takes you back to a bygone era of this country. The sunrises here over the prairie are gorgeous.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Eagle Bluff - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Tent camping with covered picnic tables

    Eagle Bluff campground has both RV and tent camping spots.  Drive in sites have electrical, picnic tables, metal fire rings, BBQ grills and paved parking pads.  The nice part of this campground is the undeveloped camping area for those tent campers, the sites while close together have Shelters over most of the sites picnic tables as well as BBQ grills.  Sites with electricity have plenty of room for setting up tents.  Campground has a new playground for the kids.  Rest room has showers as well.  Horseshoe pits and a basketball hoop are also available.  Sites can be reserved.  A Pavilion is available.

  • Katie R.
    Jun. 2, 2018

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Stop and See!

    I think it’s probably the most underrated park in the area. It’s absolutely beautiful. 45 minutes from Joplin, Missouri. Limited camp sites but the sites are spacious w/ tables, pit, bathroom facilIty a short walk away with a creek nearby. Peaceful as can be.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 29, 2021

    Angler's Paradise - Twin Bridges — Grand Lake State Park

    Camp between two rivers

    Angler's Paradise campground is a 20 site campground in the Twin Bridges area of Grand Lake State Park.  The campground sits between the Neosho and Spring rivers.

    17 of the sites are RV sites with hook ups, the last three are primitive tent sites.  All sites have Picnic tables and BBQ Grills.  Some sites have hooks for lanterns.  Restrooms are on site as well as water and trash service.  Most of the RV sites are right up against each other with little room between.  It appears that this will be a busy site due to the very large boat launch at the campground.  The campground is also just off of U.S. Highway 60 so expect some road noise.  The campground does have a shelter as well that can be rented for $51.

  • Wendy M.
    Oct. 26, 2020

    Blowing Springs RV Park & Campsites

    Ozark Gem

    I’ll start my review by saying I’ve never pitched my tent in this park but have visited many times. They added tent sites in 2019- they appear to be primitive and include a fire ring. The nice thing is the tent sites are far from the RV sites so no unwanted noises for tenters in the night.

    Trails abound in and around blowing springs which connect into the back 40 trail system...you can hike the B40 but remember this is a shared trail and you will come across many mountain bikers enjoying the trails system. There is also a arbortrarium in the park towards the back, a couple caves, and a creek.

    If you are in need of snacks etc it’s a quick 2 minute drive to the grocery store / sonic/ Pizza Hut.

  • J
    Oct. 24, 2020

    Downstream RV Park

    Great overnight resting place

    Clean. Safe. Great for an overnight on our way from Joplin to OK City. $30 for electricity and water. Easy check in and plenty of spots. Also, near the casino if you’re interested. Nothing fancy, but we didn’t need fancy.

  • Wendy M.
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Primitive fun

    This campsite is not for those who want amenities. There are 4 SPACIOUS sites and they are what I would call primitive. No hookups/ no electricity/ no running water. Good for star gazing. Two sites have a paved pad and two do not...depends what you’re looking for. There are quite a few trails ranging from 1.5-4.5 miles—- total of 14 miles of trails. The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside. Speaking of bison and coyotes... you’ll hear the coyotes all night howling and barking...the bison are roaming around which you will be able to see where they’ve been by the scat droppings around the road and trail system. Definitely something to see if you’ve never seen the plains before.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2022

    Bernice Area — Grand Lake State Park

    Grand Lake

    Nice quiet campground on Grand Lake. Spots are spacious on back-in concrete pads. Each spot has 50/30/20 power, bbq grill, fire ring, picnic table and light on the power pole. There are flush toilets and hot showers in the bathrooms. Reservations are easily made online. We had a spot near the water with a nice view of the lake. I had good 5G cell reception with Verizon.


Guide to Joplin

Tent camping near Joplin, Missouri offers year-round options with temperatures ranging from winter lows in the 20s to summer highs in the 90s. The area features a mix of prairie and woodland environments with elevation changes of 800-1200 feet above sea level across camping locations. Access to many camping areas requires driving on unpaved roads that can become challenging during wet conditions.

What to do

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Prairie State Park Campground provides exceptional opportunities to observe native wildlife. "If you are interested in bison sightings, this is the park for you," notes Deborah C. The park maintains herds of bison that roam freely throughout the grounds, creating a unique prairie experience.

Hiking trail exploration: Multiple trail systems accommodate various skill levels and interests. "The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside," reports Wendy M. about Prairie State Park Campground. The park features 14 miles of trails ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 miles.

Stargazing: Limited light pollution creates excellent nighttime viewing conditions. "Good for star gazing," mentions Wendy M. about Prairie State Park. The primitive nature of the campgrounds means fewer artificial lights, allowing for clear views of constellations and celestial events.

What campers like

Bison encounters: The opportunity to see free-roaming bison remains a major attraction. "Prairie state park isn't very large but it is nice to see somewhere dedicated to preserving the native grassland that the Midwest used to be covered with. The main draw for me other than it being close to where I live is that you get to be around buffalo with out fences," explains Luke B. about Prairie State Park Campground.

Natural soundscapes: Campers appreciate the authentic prairie sounds. "You'll hear the coyotes all night howling and barking," reports Wendy M. This creates an immersive wilderness experience despite being relatively close to urban areas.

Privacy and solitude: Many locations offer secluded camping spots with minimal crowds. "Limited camping spots available, but the times we've stayed there have rarely been others camping. So, it's peaceful!" shares Michelle T. The primitive nature of these campgrounds naturally limits visitation.

What you should know

Road access challenges: Some locations have potential entry issues during wet weather. "Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible," advises Hanna T. about Prairie State Park Campground.

Pest awareness: Ticks are prevalent in the area, especially during warmer months. "Lots of ticks. Good clean campground. Bathroom. Bison roam the park. Ticks also roam the park," warns I.W. from a recent visit to Prairie State Park.

Limited facilities: Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area provides very basic accommodations without amenities. "We were tired from a long drive with a bunch of rain near the end, and we ended up just sleeping in the parking lot. It was actually comfortable and level enough," reports Eric O. after finding access issues.

Tips for camping with families

Choose established sites: For families with children, select locations with more consistent access and facilities. "I think it's probably the most underrated park in the area. It's absolutely beautiful. 45 minutes from Joplin, Missouri. Limited camp sites but the sites are spacious w/ tables, pit, bathroom facilIty a short walk away with a creek nearby," recommends Katie R. about Prairie State Park Campground.

Pack extra water: Many primitive sites have limited or no water access. "If you need water, supplies, shower or a flush toilet, skip this one," advises Deborah C. about Prairie State Park. Families should bring sufficient water for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene.

Allow extra travel time: Access roads to camping areas can be challenging to navigate. "When we got there we found a locked gate across the entrance to the conservation area!" reports Eric O. about Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area. Always check current access conditions before departing, especially with children.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup options: Most tent camping areas near Joplin lack RV amenities. "There are 4 SPACIOUS sites and they are what I would call primitive. No hookups/ no electricity/ no running water," explains Wendy M. about Prairie State Park Campground. RVers should prepare for dry camping conditions.

Road clearance considerations: Access roads can present challenges for larger vehicles. "Im From ohio that's were i stop to go out west the first time there google maps were wrong! So I drove around the block and found it," shares Steve K. about Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area, highlighting navigation challenges.

Campsite dimensions: Determine if your RV will fit at primitive sites. "The tent sites are VERY primitive, but you drive up to your camp," notes Deborah C. about Prairie State Park, indicating that while sites are accessible by vehicle, they may not accommodate larger RVs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Joplin, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Joplin, MO is Schifferdecker Park with a 3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Joplin, MO?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Joplin, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.