Best Tent Camping near Laclede, MO
Tent campgrounds near Laclede, Missouri provide rustic camping experiences with varying amenities and access types. Union Ridge Conservation Area offers free primitive tent camping with 8,000 acres of land to explore, while Backpack Campsites at Long Branch State Park features hike-in locations on a peninsula. Hamilton City Lake provides lakeside dispersed tent camping in a more secluded setting.
Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities with limited facilities. Union Ridge Conservation Area has primitive restrooms with toilets but no showers or running water. Campfires are permitted at most locations including Union Ridge and Bonanza Conservation Area, though Long Branch State Park prohibits fires at its backpacking sites despite some camper-made fire rings being present. Campers should verify current regulations before visiting. Several locations require tent camping only in designated areas or parking lots, as one camper at Bonanza Conservation Area reported receiving a citation for setting up camp away from the gravelly parking areas.
The tent camping experience varies across these locations with different levels of seclusion and natural features. Backpack Campsites at Long Branch State Park sits at the tip of a peninsula with good hammock-hanging options and lake views, though boaters can see the campsite from the water. Union Ridge provides a quieter experience with limited visitors. "It is quiet, beautiful, and one of our favorite primitive places to visit if you truly want to get away from it all," noted one camper about Union Ridge. Hamilton City Lake offers shaded tent sites right next to the water with good fishing opportunities, though some road noise from nearby Highway 36 is present. Most locations have mature shade trees that help keep camping areas cool during summer months.
