Best Tent Camping near Kaiser, MO

Tent campsites near Kaiser, Missouri provide rustic camping experiences along rivers and conservation areas. Fiery Fork Conservation Area offers free tent camping with fire rings, picnic tables, and river access. Several campgrounds in the area, including Osage-Tavern Access and Scrivner Road Conservation Area, provide primitive tent camping options with basic amenities and proximity to waterways.

Most tent camping areas feature dirt or grassy surfaces with minimal site development. Fiery Fork has concrete picnic tables and established fire pits, but campers should bring their own drinking water as none is available on site. Vault toilets are common at these conservation area campgrounds, though cleanliness varies seasonally. Many sites lack trash collection, requiring visitors to pack out all waste. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most locations, particularly at Fiery Fork Conservation Area where AT&T users report no signal.

The tent campsites in this region offer excellent river access for fishing, wading, and boating. Shaded sites with hammock-friendly trees are available at several locations, particularly at Fiery Fork. A review mentioned that "the river access is really amazing though. It's a great place to launch a boat from or just to wade in a bit and fish." Primitive tent sites throughout the area provide opportunities to see wildlife including deer, armadillos, and various bird species. Campers should be prepared for ticks, especially during warmer months, and occasional weekend crowds at the more accessible locations. Most campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with no reservation systems in place. The tent camping areas near Kaiser offer budget-friendly options for those seeking basic accommodations close to natural attractions in central Missouri.

Best Tent Sites Near Kaiser, Missouri (18)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Kaiser, MO

4 Photos of 18 Kaiser Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Kaiser, MO

369 Reviews of 18 Kaiser Campgrounds


  • Rebecca L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 18, 2025

    Damsite

    Another amazing COE campground

    Another wonderful Corps of Engineers campground on Pomme De Terre Lake. There are basic campsites and campsites with full hookups. The campsites are spacious and overlook the lake. This is such a beautiful, well maintained campground. Every campsite is level and has a picnic table and fire ring. During the off season ( Oct 1 - Nov.30 & March 14th - Apr 14 ) all campsites ( electric and primitive ) are only $10. ( limited amenities) From Jan 5th - March 14th campsites are free at Damsite Park. However, there is no electric or water available at that time.
    Please check the Pomme De Terre USACE website for changes and regular season rates. 50% off all rates with America the beautiful/senior access pass at all Corps of Engineers campgrounds.
    I highly recommend this campground. 4g LTE and great cell signal.

  • Josh C.
    May. 20, 2019

    Paddy Creek Recreation Area

    Great for solitude

    $5 recommendation donation for the night. Stayed at this campground as a halfway point hiking the Big Piney Trail loop. Typical primitive campground with toilets, bear-proof trash cans, and camp sites with fire rings and picnic tables, but not much else. Didn’t see any water faucets near our site.

  • D
    Jul. 1, 2022

    Raccoon Ridge — Harry S Truman State Park

    Shaded, Quiet and close to the lake!

    Site 36 with 30A & 120V. Public Water Spigot about 50’ away. No Sewer or Water connections at Raccoon Ridge. Plenty of dead kindling and wood around to burn. Asphalt drive with concrete pad. Picnic table, fire/grill ring, hook post w/ recycle bag attached. BEST Site is 38 which puts trailer door parallel with a 180 lake view. Heavy wooded with shared paths to lake or cove. Marina is within 1 mile by water or 15 minutes by car. Ice, Beer and necessities at Puddle Jumpers Bait Store about 10 minute drive. Hosts were great and did cleaning daily. Showers and Dump Station at top of hill few hundred yards away. Let shower water run about 3 minutes before the warm water kicks in. Swim beach is on other side of cove or about a 5 min drive. Dump Station has 4 Waste Holes, two Non-potable water spigots/hoses and one Fresh Potable Water hose and both sides have slight incline on dump tank side. Downtown Warsaw is about 15 minutes away with tourist antique shoppes, bars, ice cream shoppes and the historic Joe Dice Suspension Bridge. The Truman Dam is about same distance away. T-Mobile service with 2-3 bars, no WIFI; but HotSpot worked for ROKU. Keep food and bait inside as raccoons rule at night. Be CAUTIOUS of Red Ticks that are VERY tiny… you’ll want plenty of DEET! Flies were biting like crazy, some mosquitoes and LOTS of May Flies. You’ll see Bald Eagles, raccoons. deer, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, turtles and FISHING near wooded edge of cove is Bass and Crappie haven!!! Also Geocaching near by!!!

    We will return and hopefully get site 38!

  • Napunani
    Dec. 1, 2023

    Bennett Spring State Park Campground

    Fishing Paradise

    PROS 

    Senior discount 

    Check-in via text was easy and fast 

    Beautifully maintained state park 

    Quiet during week 

    Pull-thru Site 102 level, concrete pad surrounded by grass 

    Site sufficient length for trailer and tow vehicle 

    Metal frame plastic plank picnic table metal fire ring with cooking grate 

    Dark sky friendly except for campsites 101-106 

    Trash dumpsters throughout campground 1 

    Firewood for sale $5 at entrance gate house 

    Huge park store! 

    CONS. 

    1 toilet and 1 shower for 48 campsites in Campground 1. Both door locks did not work. There were lines for the one toilet most of the time!!!

    $6.50 Reservation Fee 

    Site 102 had a wonderful view of the entrance gatehouse that had blaring lights all night, the one lane dump station and a dumpster 

    Campground 101-106 sites slammed together; our campfire ring was 15 feet from neighbors sewer outlet 

    Site 102 campfire ring was 2 feet from site unmovable picnic table 

    No privacy from any other sites 

    No security overnight gate closures 

    Would not recommend Park restaurant

  • Joe G.
    Jun. 29, 2022

    COE Harry S Truman Reservoir Long Shoal Park

    Great Place

    Just got back after 2 days there.  Sites are spaced a good distance apart, nice clean lots with fire ring, picnic table and 30 amp.  The flush restrooms are cleaned everyday and very nice.  I picked site 69 which overlooks the lake and was less than 30 yards from water edge.  Site very from 100% sun to 100% shade so you have a lot to choose from.  Highly recommend it to anyone will will be back soon.

  • Curtis M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2018

    Binder Park Campground

    close to home

    137 acre lake with great fishing, offering rv hookups and basic tent sites with a pavilion and privys

  • Abby H.
    May. 18, 2023

    Pittsburg Area Campground — Pomme de Terre State Park

    First Weekend

    My boyfriend and I stayed here for one night at the beginning of may for our first camping trip together. It was at one of 2 basic tent sites. Ours was just a short walk on a (likely camper-made trail) down to the water. The water seemed clean enough to swim but there was a lot of floating moss and seaweed right along the shore. So we opted to just fish even though we were unsuccessful. There were plenty of trees to hang out hammock, a grill grate over the fire, and a decent amount of shade. There were two flat sites for a tent. We chose one that was slightly more on a slope because it was less rocky. Spotted a few poison ivy plants and 2-3 brown recluses but we’re in their habitat so that is to be expected. Not ideal but not unexpected lol we definitely plan to return!

  • Kura O.
    Jul. 14, 2020

    Paddy Creek Recreation Area

    Quiet, easy camping

    Nice long weekend in a relatively primitive campsite. Vault toilets were a plus, but no water source that we saw. Access to swimming, fishing, and hiking trails. We were surprised with how many sites were taken up, but there were still quite a few available. Arrive early for a good spot (We stayed in spot 20 which had its own path to the river). Would definitely camp here again.

    There isn't much in the 20 miles before you get to the campgrounds, but there is firewood for sale (self-serve) 10-15 minutes before.

  • Josh S.
    May. 30, 2019

    Scrivner Road Conservation Area

    A hidden gem tucked away in rural Cole County

    First off there is camping here!!!! This Missouri Conservation area is a Swiss Army knife of rugged of the path camping. Rivers, Lakes, Gun range, Horses and hiking can all be enjoyed here. First come first serve basic camp area on the river. It has 1 fire ring in a gravel turnaround. Don’t let this fool you. This area has an abundance of wildlife equestrian trails and hiking. Getting too hot paddle on the lake located on the left Forck after entering. The area has a handgun, and rifle range with vault toilets. The pictures speak for themselves. Love this spot and will be planning another trip soon.


Guide to Kaiser

Tent camping near Kaiser, Missouri centers on riverside conservation areas with primitive facilities. Most campsites feature natural surroundings along the Osage River watershed, approximately 15 miles from Lake of the Ozarks. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 90°F with high humidity, making spring and fall the preferred camping seasons. Sites typically remain open year-round but winter camping requires preparation for freezing temperatures.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Pikes Camp, campers find excellent river access for fishing. "Great little river access. Has a shaded grassy area for camping," notes one visitor who recommends being prepared for occasional nighttime visitors.

Water activities: The conservation areas provide multiple river entry points for kayaking and canoeing. Osage-Tavern Access offers water access with approximately 12-15 small sites with fire pits. "Right along the river so nice if your looking for water," explains a camper who visited after Labor Day.

Hiking trails: Several conservation areas feature walking paths through woodland habitat. The River Glade trailhead at Fiery Fork Conservation Area requires caution as one camper warns it "is overgrown and HIGH tick contact probability."

Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk hours provide optimal wildlife sighting opportunities. Conservation areas harbor deer, armadillos, and various bird species. Watch for ticks during warmer months, particularly when exploring tall grass areas or unmaintained trails.

What campers like

Natural surroundings: Fiery Fork Conservation Area receives praise for its natural setting. "Far from any city noise or roadway, there's two camp areas with many sites that are mowed/maintained with fire pits (and some concrete tables). Lots of beautiful hammock friendly trees," writes one visitor.

Affordability: Free camping makes these conservation areas attractive to budget-conscious travelers. One camper notes Fiery Fork is "A nice place if your on a budget and just need a get away."

Solitude: Many sites provide relative privacy outside peak seasons. "We were the only ones camping out which was nice," writes a visitor about their experience at Fiery Fork, mentioning that they found wildlife including armadillos, deer, and various bird species during their stay.

Camping areas: Sites often feature grassy surfaces with established fire rings. At Fiery Fork, a camper described, "The area was mowed, had a rock fire place, concrete picnic tables, a vault toilet, shade, grass for dogs to play frisbee, parking right beside your spot, trails, access to the river, good hammock trees, flat-level surface!"

What you should know

Access challenges: Many conservation areas require traveling on gravel roads. At Fiery Fork, "2 miles of gravel and high water areas you go through to get there" can present difficulties, especially for low-clearance vehicles. One visitor called the road "very sketchy for my 2008 Mazda 3."

No amenities: Scrivner Road Conservation Area and similar sites provide minimal facilities. "First come first serve basic camp area on the river. It has 1 fire ring in a gravel turnaround," explains a camper.

Cellular service: Expect limited or nonexistent connectivity at most locations. At Fiery Fork, a camper reported, "be prepared to have no cell signal...had to drive a couple of miles for a signal."

Trash management: No trash collection exists at most sites. A visitor to Fiery Fork advised bringing "extra trash bags" as "much of the area was covered in trash" and recommended preparing "to take your trash with you."

Water conditions: River access points may become inaccessible during high water. "If the waters too high, there's a bridge into the site that could be flooded so watch the weather," cautions one camper about Fiery Fork.

Tips for camping with families

Beach areas: Some river access points feature sandy areas suitable for children. A family camper at Fiery Fork noted it would be "a nice place to bring our kids since there is quite a bit of 'beach' at the river access for them to play and see nature."

Weekend planning: Arrive early on weekends to secure preferred sites. "Be prepared to have neighbors," warns a camper who stayed at Paydown Access, noting that while secluded during off-seasons, some locations see increased weekend traffic.

Safety considerations: Conservation areas typically lack emergency services. Prepare a first aid kit and know the nearest medical facilities, approximately 20-30 minutes away in most cases.

Activity supplies: Bring equipment for water and land recreation as no rental services exist nearby. Pack extra clothing for children as river play often results in wet garments.

Tips from RVers

Size limitations: Only smaller RVs can navigate the access roads to most conservation areas. For Fiery Fork, a camper recommends "smaller RVs due to the 2 miles of gravel and high water areas you go through to get there."

Limited hookups: No conservation areas offer electrical, water, or sewer connections. Self-contained units with adequate freshwater and waste capacity fare best at these primitive sites.

Ground conditions: Prepare for potentially soft ground during wet seasons. Some camping areas have turnarounds that can accommodate small trailers but may present challenges after rainfall.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Kaiser, MO is Fiery Fork Conservation Area with a 3.9-star rating from 9 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 18 tent camping locations near Kaiser, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.