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Best Tent Camping near Koshkonong, MO

264 Reviews

Tent camping near Koshkonong, Missouri centers around the pristine Eleven Point River, with several established tent-only sites nestled in the Ozark region. Boze Mill Float Camp offers dedicated tent campsites accessible via a 2-mile gravel road or by kayak from the river. Turner's Mill provides a small collection of tent sites (3-4 total) with direct river access and proximity to clear springs and a historic mill structure. The Irish Wilderness area supports backcountry tent camping with hiking trails through remote forest terrain. Most campgrounds in this region are managed by the Mark Twain National Forest or Ozark National Scenic Riverways, providing primitive tent camping experiences with minimal development.

Most tent campgrounds near Koshkonong feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient campers. Vault toilets are available at Boze Mill, Turner's Mill, and Whitten River Access, but potable water is generally not provided. Campsites typically include fire rings and picnic tables at the established locations. Many sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservation system. Access roads to these primitive tent sites are often rough gravel, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. Seasonal considerations include hot, humid summers with mosquitoes and potential for flash flooding near waterways. Fall camping offers cooler temperatures and colorful foliage, while winter camping requires preparation for freezing conditions.

The tent camping experience in this region is characterized by solitude and natural immersion. According to reviews, Whitten River Access provides "several level, clear places to camp" with excellent kayaking and fishing opportunities on the "beautiful and cold" Eleven Point River. One camper noted that Turner's Mill features "river access and super close to stream/cave/waterfall area. Water from the cave is so fresh and clear!" Backcountry tent camping in the Irish Wilderness requires navigation skills, as one visitor advised: "BRING A GPS! The trail is very easy to lose." Walk-in tent sites at these locations offer greater privacy than drive-in options. McCormack Lake Recreation Area provides a different tent camping setting with lakeside sites that visitors describe as "peaceful and full of chirping birds and frogs," though water quality in the lake has received mixed reviews.

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Best Tent Sites Near Koshkonong, Missouri (24)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Koshkonong, MO

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Tent Camping Reviews near Koshkonong, MO

264 Reviews of 24 Koshkonong Campgrounds

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2021

    Big Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Memories of Days Gone By

    The people of Missouri gave a wonderful gift to the people of the United States.  A gift I did not know about or had never heard of till we made the decision to camp in Missouri.

    Big Springs was Missouri's first state park.  The CCC did a lot of construction on the park and so much of the buildings are still there.  In much need of repair and I do hope the federal government will restore.  Big Spring is off of Missouri Highway 160.  Turn onto State Route 103 to Big Spring.  The spring has a wheelchair accessible pathway that will lead right to the spring.

    The campground is large and open.  Tent sites along with with RV sites but the RV sites are small and very close together.  Some RV sites had electric but no water or sewer.  There is a dump site.  During the summer I think I would get a reservation for the RV sites if you need electric.  If you have the ability to generate your own electric stay in the open tent site area.  The tent site area is large and open to the sun.  Big Springs has flush toilets and hot showers.

    There are picnic areas with tables and grills scattered throughout the park along with two group shelters.

    The Ranger programs are well worth checking out.  Take advantage.

    The Current River makes a wonderful backdrop for nature lovers.  You have the options of hiking, biking, fishing, camping, floating, kayaking, and all sorts of boating with a ramp in the park.

    Have Fun - Stay Safe

    Leave No Trace

    Better Than When You Found It

  • Renee H.
    Mar. 26, 2024

    Dam - Quarry

    Clean campground, nice location

    Average space between sites. Level paved sites with gravel picnic area including picnic table, fire ring, lantern hanger. Some sites had covered picnic area. Limited shade, most sites don’t have trees. Good access to sites. Clean and private bathrooms. Each room had its own lockable bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Garbage cans were outside of bathrooms, as well as dumpsters near the registration building. Friendly staff upon check in. Campground was patrolled regularly. No laundry or recycling. Nearby road with little road noise. Verizon cell signal was excellent. There is a dump station and potable fill station. No store or food for purchase on site. No hiking in campground, but multiple trails nearby. Boat ramp at campground and lots of wading fly fishing in river. Fish hatchery across from campground.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2021

    Mark Twain National Forest Watercress Recreation Area

    Same - Same Watercress

    Watercress and this campground is the same.  Mark Twain National Forest in Van Buren, Missouri along the Ozark National Scenic Riverway. During the 2017 flood there was some damage to a group shelter so be careful walking. The ground is uneven and there are a lot of blocks. Watercress sits along side the Current River and the river is a beautiful emerald green where you can see the bottom. The river is prime float territory whether it be by kayak, boat, tubes, just whatever. On the weekend it will be very busy so prepare for full parking spots. What better way to see an untouched landscape as you float along the river. No need to paddle the river does all the work. 

    First getting to the Watercress was a bit confusing to us. We drove pass the Forest sign and had to come back and start over. On Highway 60 turn onto Business 60 through Van Buren. When you see the National Park Service sign on the left had side of the road you will turn onto Watercress Road. That road will take you right into the park. The day use area will be on the left side and the campground will be on the right. Van Buren is a small town and worth the very short drive to the courthouse. If you love ice cream and amazing burgers stop by the Jolly Cone. It was established in 1953 and still going strong. Our chocolate malt was so thick we had to lick it off the straw. Can't wait to go back. YUM!!! The day we were there the Jolly Cone had sponsored a car show held around the courthouse square. These small towns offer so much history. Stop in. Watercress has 17 campsites for RV and tents. This is a First Come- First Serve. Watercress offers each site with a picnic table and campfire ring. No electrical or water at the sites. Campground is open May 1- October 1. A trash dumpster is located on site during that time frame. Vault toilets and drinking water available. Fees are$10-$20 depending on site or type of pass you have. There is a fee station. The group shelters are not open at this time. The Current River is a beautiful river to boat or float. Great for kayaks or tubes. While on the river drop a line to try your hand at fishing. Catfish, sunfish, bass and walleye. You will find the Songbird Trail for hiking 1.2 miles long to the Watercress Spring. You will even run across a Civil War earthworks on the trail. Boat launch is open and offers vault toilets and trash dumpster.   Sites are large and paved.

    Check out Big Spring while in the area. It is Missouri's largest spring. There are three springs in the United States that lay claim to being the largest in the US and at different times of the year I am sure that each one is the largest. Beautiful spring. 

    Have Fun- Stay Safe 

    Leave No Trace 

    Better Than When You Found It.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2021

    Watercress

    Joy on the Twain

    Mark Twain National Forest in Van Buren, Missouri along the Ozark National Scenic Riverway.  During the 2017 flood there was some damage to a group shelter so be careful walking.  The ground is uneven and there are a lot of blocks.

    Watercress sits along side the Current River and the river is a beautiful emerald green where you can see the bottom.  The river is prime float territory whether it be by kayak, boat, tubes, just whatever.  On the weekend it will be very busy so prepare for full parking spots.  What better way to see an untouched landscape as you float along the river.  No need to paddle the river does all the work.

    First getting to the Watercress was a bit confusing to us.  We drove pass the Forest sign and had to come back and start over.  On Highway 60 turn onto Business 60 through Van Buren.  When you see the National Park Service sign on the left had side of the road you will turn onto Watercress Road.  That road will take you right into the park.  The day use area will be on the left side and the campground will be on the right.

    Van Buren is a small town and worth the very short drive to the courthouse.  If you love ice cream and amazing burgers stop by the Jolly Cone.  It was established in 1953 and still going strong.  Our chocolate malt was so thick we had to lick it off the straw.  Can't wait to go back.  YUM!!!  The day we were there the Jolly Cone had sponsored a car show held around the courthouse square.  These small towns offer so much history.  Stop in.

    Watercress has 17 campsites for RV and tents.  This is a First Come - First Serve.  Watercress offers each site with a picnic table and campfire ring.  No electrical or water at the sites.  Campground is open May 1 - October 1.  A trash dumpster is located on site during that time frame.  Vault toilets and drinking water available.  Fees are $10 - $20 depending on site  or type of pass you have.  There is a fee station.  The group shelters are not open at this time.  Sites are large and paved.

    The Current River is a beautiful river to boat or float.  Great for kayaks or tubes.  While on the river drop a line to try your hand at fishing.  Catfish, sunfish, bass and walleye.

    You will find the Songbird Trail for hiking 1.2 miles long to the Watercress Spring.  You will even run across a Civil War earthworks on the trail.  Boat launch is open and offers vault toilets and trash dumpster.

    Check out Big Spring while in the area.  It is Missouri's largest spring.  There are three springs in the United States that lay claim to being the largest in the US and at different times of the year I am sure that each one is the largest.  Beautiful spring.

    Have Fun - Stay Safe

    Leave No Trace

    Better Than When You Found It.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2021

    Deer Leap

    Leaping Lizards, it's Free

    Five miles north of Doniphan, MO on State Hwy 160 Hwy Y head north for about five miles take a left on Forest Road 4349.  Continue down and veer to the left to go to the boat ramp and day use area.  Go right to the Deer Leap Campground.

    ON the east bank of the Current River you will find dispersed camping.  There are seven campsites with fire ring, table and lantern post.  No trash service but there is a pit toilet and water.  Campsites are First Come, First Served.  No fireworks allowed.

    The campground and boat launch is located in the Mark Twain National Forest under the Eleven Point Ranger District.  The district is named after the Eleven Point River which was designated a National Scenic River in 1968.  The Eleven Point District provides a plethora of fishing, tubing and all kinds of boating options.

    Take the time to float some of the rivers for a vision of rocky bluffs, springs, birds, wildlife and local vegetation.  You are permitted to camp on the gravel bars found along the rivers and there are several primitive float camps while you are floating.

    There are so many activities that go hand in hand with fishing and tubing such as horseback riding, hiking, hunting, mountain biking and just gazing at the stars.

    At the launch site there is limited parking for floaters.  You can launch tubes, motorized and non motorized boats here.  There is also a pit toilet.  Be very careful because on the fourth the area was very crowded.  There is a vendor in the area to rent tubes and kayaks and provide shuttle service.

    The water is so beautiful, clear and moving along.  The clear, green water has the power to entice just about anyone to dip their toes in.  Remember that during the summer this river will be very crowded but even with the crowds there was more than enough room.  During the spring or fall this would be a great to kayak.  Floater access in the campground is from 4/1 - 10/1.  Boat ramp is open all year.

    Have Fun - Stay Safe

    Leave No Trace

    Better Than When You Found It

  • A
    Nov. 4, 2024

    Alley Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Small sites with little privacy - campground fine, but not great

    I'd seen a lot of great reviews for this campground, so I had high expectations when we arrived for a night in early November. We reserved a spot in the 900 loop, just to be safe - a few of the camping loops allow reservations, and the rest are walk in. The loop was very open, spaces all fully visible to each other. The bathrooms were locked for the season after 10/15. 

    Since things were pretty empty, we moved to the 500 loop, which was more tree covered, near the river, and next to the shower house, which was the one park bath open for the winter. Bathrooms and showers were clean, though no camp host was present the night we stayed. 

    We were the only people on the 500 loop, so it was fine, but again - sites VERY close together. Some picnic tables were less than 20 feet apart. The 600 loop was the only heavily occupied loop when were there, filled with campers, presumably because of the electric access. 

    This is a NPS campground, so its amenities tend to be fewer than many MO state parks. I have other parks in this area that have more scenic and private tent camping. Just on the other side of the river is the Alley spring and mill, which are lovely - and ironically, some of the picnic sites are more spacious than these tent sites. I wish we could camp on that side!

  • Shelly S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 24, 2018

    Big Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Needs some State government love

    For Labor Day we stayed at Big Spring State Park CG, near Van Buren, Missouri which is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 

    We arrived Friday afternoon and set up camp in the 100 loop, which are primitive campsites with fire ring, picnic table and lantern hook. Nice shady outer ring with plenty of room to set up your area. The inner ring is less private and lacking in shade. There are trails from the back sites to the river and the wading/swimming was nice. Where your hiking shoes to get there, and pack your water shoes you’ll probably want them for the rocky river bottom. 

     In May 2017 the area had major flooding. ( A Park Ranger put on a very informative slide show about it Friday evening) The park is still in the process of rebuilding many of its structures. That being said there are porta pots in two of the campground loops and some of the trails are closed still. The actual showerhouse was extremely busy and not well maintained. Spiders galore, three claustrophobic shower stalls (one was inoperable) with questionable cleanliness and the configuration is just weird. I’ve said it before , it’s unfortunate that the state does not keep these awesome areas maintained. 

    The campground was full but we still had privacy and the noise was never intrusive on our activities. 

    Big Spring is pretty awesome. There is a trail that circles up around the spring to the far side and several areas to take pictures from. It’s worth the visit to see the spring. We will visit again but I think I will take my field shower!

  • M
    May. 6, 2022

    Twin Bridges Canoe Campground

    Early season, limited services

    Tent camped here with a group of private boat paddlers from all over the country. Campground operations had not really started for the season. I arrived after dark and could not find the tent campsites. Nearly drove into deep mud on gravel road past RV sites. Fortunately had just enough cell signal to access their website. Found a campground map three layers deep on reservation page and located my group. 

    Tent sites were well-located along the river with basic tables and fire rings. I never found the store to be open so paid camping fee at bar and cafe at entrance. Great breakfast. $25/night for tents.  Grass had not been mowed and was deep in tent area. RV sites appear to be a work in progress with much erosion around the new pads and access road. What may have been a shower house had key code locks but there was never anyone to ask. Bathrooms near the entrance lacked tp in some stalls. All one afternoon and evening a group of kids with gas weed trimmers  noisely worked on a slope adjacent to the RV area. 

    This campground should improve over time a the management appears to be developing the grounds.

  • M
    May. 27, 2024

    Alley Spring Campground — Ozark National Scenic Riverway

    Needs tent pads

    Pretty campground with river access and accessible restrooms. Showers were a little far from our loop. I wish the sites had tent pads as it was hard to find a flat spot to place the tent and several holes in the terrain. There is NO cell signal, so I highly recommend you take a weather radio. I wish we had.

Guide to Koshkonong

Tent camping in Koshkonong, Missouri centers around the Mark Twain National Forest and Ozark National Scenic Riverways, where elevations range from 500 to 1,000 feet above sea level. The region features karst topography with numerous springs, caves, and clear-flowing streams. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing from December through February, while summer highs consistently reach the upper 80s with humidity levels above 70%.

What to do

Float trips year-round: The Eleven Point River maintains a consistent temperature and flow even in summer months. "Need to visit.. easy kayak access right off the 11 point river," notes a visitor to Boze Mill Float Camp.

Winter fishing opportunities: Trout fishing remains productive even in colder months. A camper at Whitten River Access reported, "Arrived after dark. Found a level spot by the river, ground was frozen or it would have been muddy. No one around on this 5 degrees F night."

Spring exploration: Multiple campgrounds offer access to geological features. At McCormack Lake, campers can find "a gorgeous lake" according to visitors, while one camper at Rymers mentioned the "blue green crystal clear water" perfect for swimming.

What campers like

Solitude and isolation: Many sites offer complete privacy during certain seasons. "Spent 3 nights here and the area is beautiful! The mill and springs are soothing and crystal clear. The river is shallow enough to wade across and cool off in. Great spot if you are in the area. A few people on the river fishing and kayaking but no other campers that we saw while there," reports a visitor to Turner's mill.

Natural swimming areas: Multiple sites feature safe water access for cooling off. "A nice place to just get away, a great swimming hole and beautiful scenery with nice tall cliffs it has a couple big rocks out in the water you can swim to and jump off of," explains a camper at Rymers Backcountry Camping.

Wildlife viewing: The areas around Koshkonong provide excellent opportunities for spotting native species. A visitor to McCormack Lake Recreation Area shared that "the spot was peaceful and full of chirping birds and frogs."

What you should know

Road conditions vary seasonally: Many access roads become challenging after rain. "The road in is rough gravel and a big rv will be slow going," cautions a camper at Whitten River Access.

Limited site availability: Most locations have very few designated camping spots. For instance, Turner's Mill has "only 3 or 4 sites" according to visitors.

Navigation challenges: Many trails lack clear markers. A visitor to Irish Wilderness warns, "The trail is very easy to lose and after 20+ miles you'll want the comfort of knowing where you have been/are going!"

Water availability concerns: Some campsites require bringing all water. At Irish Wilderness, hikers must "Plan around hitting the two springs on both legs of the 20 mile loop."

Tips for camping with families

Spring-fed swimming holes: Natural pools provide safer swimming options for children. At Turner's mill, families appreciate the "stream/cave/waterfall area" where "water from the cave is so fresh and clear."

Plan for insects: Mosquitoes can be intense during summer months. As one camper at Boze Mill Float Camp advises, "I do suggest lots of bug spray. For some reason, I always get eaten up by mosquitos in this area."

Consider lakeside alternatives: For easier access with children, try McCormack Lake Rec Area where one visitor found a "Secluded Dreamy Lake" and noted they were "Totally alone with a gorgeous lake."

Pack extra water: None of the tent camping sites near Koshkonong provide reliable potable water sources, requiring families to bring adequate supplies for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

Tips from RVers

Size restrictions: Large RVs face significant challenges at most sites. A visitor to Rymers noted, "Long beautiful drive in, narrow road would not reccomend for motorhome over 20' or any large camper as there is no backing up or turn arounds."

Consider tent camping instead: Given the primitive nature of most sites, RV campers often find tent camping more practical. At Whitten River Access, a camper observed, "There are several level, clear places to camp with enough room for rv's" but cautioned about rough access roads.

Off-season advantages: Winter camping offers more site availability. "In October after closing can be solo camping," notes a Rymers visitor, adding that camping is "Free in off season."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Koshkonong, MO is Boze Mill Float Camp with a 4.7-star rating from 6 reviews.

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