Conservation areas surrounding Lohman, Missouri provide several primitive tent camping options with river access and basic amenities. Scrivner Road Conservation Area in nearby Russellville offers first-come, first-served tent campsites along the river with fire rings and vault toilets. Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area and Osage-Tavern Access provide similar tent-only camping experiences with basic facilities. Pikes Camp in Wardsville features shaded grassy areas ideal for tent camping near water access points.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature level, grassy surfaces with minimal site development. Fire rings are common at established sites, though picnic tables are rare. Vault toilets are available at most locations, but campers should bring their own water and supplies as no potable water sources exist on-site. Cell service varies significantly between locations, with some areas requiring a drive of several miles to regain signal. The town of Linn, approximately 20-30 minutes from most campsites, offers basic supplies including firewood and ice. Primitive tent camping areas follow pack-in, pack-out principles with no trash collection facilities.
Tent campers report peaceful experiences with good spacing between sites at most conservation areas. According to reviews, Fredericksburg Access offers "grassy coverage with a mix of gravel or grass pull-ins" and "ground is very level and not super rocky," making it particularly suitable for tent camping. One visitor noted that Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area provides "a very peaceful experience" despite occasional issues with litter from previous campers. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting deer, armadillos, and various bird species. Many backcountry tent camping areas feature hammock-friendly trees and access to fishing spots. Walk-in tent sites at Water Mountain provide more seclusion than drive-up locations, with opportunities for hiking and river activities nearby.
"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."
"Has a shaded grassy area for camping. No power vault toilets. Be prepared for some neighbors and young visitors through the night."
"Tent camping late Oct '26. Fire rings, trash bins, toilet. RV and tent but No water or electric. No picnic tables. About 24 sites with fire rings, a few more without. Best to avoid using Old St."
"Has 1 bathroom and place for trash. Right along the river so nice if your looking for water. I arrived at 6 on a Saturday (post labor day) and plenty of sites available."
"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."
"Vault toilets available. Quiet. No water, hook ups or picnic tables, but fire rings. Wish people would understand pack in pack out and not leave trash! Otherwise very peaceful experience."
"It was during deer hunting season and we only had one neighbor that looked to be there for quite a while hunting."
"Other than that the restrooms were well kept up and it was free. I just pulled right up to an established fire pit and pitched my tent."
"Well maintained path. Not much area to camp, but works great for tent camping right up next to the river."
"Lots of open space to camp and plenty of area to hike or use an ATV. Also it’s on the river which is nice!"
from $20 - $40 / night
TravelerOctober 2026 - only a drive by to ck things out. Nine sites for tent or RV with fire rings. No water, electric, or picnic tabes. No shade. Lack of shade is why we gave it only 3 stars. Toilet. Camping area well mowed. Area clean. Nice if looking for a more secluded area. No cell signal or 1 bar (T-Mobile) in camping area itself.
TravelerPretty area. Tent camping late Oct '26. Fire rings, trash bins, toilet. RV and tent but No water or electric. No picnic tables. About 24 sites with fire rings, a few more without. Best to avoid using Old St. Thomas Rd, esp if pulling RV. 10+ miles narrow gravel road. Best to come through St Elizabeth. Sites a little close but still plenty of privacy this time of year. Most sites have some shade. Quiet for the most part. Farm road passes behind one side of camping area but wasn't that active. Small amt of noise from farm equip. Some noise from boat traffic but not bad. Not sure how it will be in the summer. Had 4-5 bars with T-Mobile. Plan to use often.
GuideGraham Cave State Park could be a lovely campground but is in dire need of updating everything. The campsites are very uneven and the bathhouses are partially working. The campground host, however, was very friendly and diligent. The trails were well kept but unfortunately it was so dry the river was very low.
ScoutStaff is great and the location is nice for lake activities although its not on the lake with lake views. Lots of fun campground activities throughout the spring, summer and fall with bands and pot lucks.
GuideHardly anyone here. On a Tuesday in October. Took a primitive site. Reasonable. Fairly quiet. Some ambient noise from i70
GuideConvenient off I70, quiet, nice sites right along the river.
GuideGreat place very secluded 15 miles from I 70 No wifi If you want no distractions this is your place Camp host was great helped me switch my site to something nicer and very friendly
GuideWe stayed in a 36' pusher with a toad
ScoutHad some storms and some annoying campers somewhere, but overall, it was nice.
Conservation areas within driving distance of Lohman, Missouri offer primitive tent camping opportunities on public land managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Most sites have minimal amenities and follow first-come, first-served availability patterns. Several locations feature river access points with designated camping areas in grassy clearings. Seasonal considerations include high tick populations in summer months and occasional river flooding during spring.
Hiking and nature photography: Fiery Fork Conservation Area includes access to River Glade trailhead, though visitors should prepare for seasonal trail conditions. One camper noted: "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, river access, and creek beds to play in."
Wildlife observation: Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area provides opportunities to spot local wildlife in natural settings. Campers regularly see deer and armadillos throughout the conservation area, particularly during early morning and evening hours.
River activities: Pikes Camp offers direct access to river recreation including fishing, wading and paddling. A reviewer states it's a "Great little river access. Has a shaded grassy area for camping. No power vault toilets."
Natural solitude: Many conservation areas provide significant space between camping areas. At Fiery Fork Conservation Area, campers appreciate the "peace and tranquil" atmosphere, with one visitor noting it's a "Nice area to camp not crowded, plenty of space between camp sites, and peaceful. A nice place if your on a budget and just need a get away."
Free camping access: Conservation areas near Lohman typically don't charge camping fees. One camper at Fiery Fork described it as "exactly what we wanted since it was free and not crowded down close to Lake of the Ozarks."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple access points allow for both bank and wade fishing. A visitor to Fiery Fork observed: "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. Fly fishing can be done easily from the bank or just by wading in a bit."
Cell service limitations: Most conservation areas have limited or no cellular coverage. At Fiery Fork, a camper reported: "We had AT&T for our cell service and there was absolutely NO service there which was good to get away, but bad in an emergency. We were able to drive a couple of miles for a signal."
Unpredictable access during wet seasons: Roads to camping areas may become impassable after heavy rain. Jenny D. warns about Fiery Fork: "If the waters too high, there's a bridge into the site that could be flooded so watch the weather."
Limited site availability: Osage-Tavern Access has approximately "12-15 sites, small, just fire pits" according to one reviewer. Ben Branch Lake similarly offers only "5-7 spots" that "DO fill up quickly" especially on weekends.
River play areas: Several sites feature shallow water access ideal for children. At Fiery Fork, a camper mentioned: "We decided 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."
Open play spaces: Some conservation areas maintain mowed fields suitable for recreation. According to Whitney L., Fiery Fork had "shade, grass for dogs to play frisbee, parking right beside your spot, trails, access to the river, good hammock trees, flat-level surface!"
Pack for self-sufficiency: No potable water exists at most sites. A visitor to Water Mountain advises: "Lots of open space to camp and plenty of area to hike or use an ATV. Also it's on the river which is nice!" However, all water must be packed in for drinking and cooking.
Access road considerations: Gravel roads present challenges for larger vehicles. At Fiery Fork, Chrischelle N. recommends: "I don't recommend taking it until it gets some maintenance. It is overgrown and HIGH tick contact probability. I recommend smaller RVs due to the 2 miles of gravel and high water areas you go through to get there."
Limited hookup availability: Most conservation area tent camping near Lohman lacks any hookups. Standard RV utilities are not available, though some private campgrounds nearby offer limited electric service.
Site surface quality: Terrain varies significantly between locations. Ry M. described Fiery Fork access roads as "very sketchy for my 2008 Mazda 3" while Pamela B. noted Ben Branch Lake offers "Primitive Free Camping" with "fire rings" but "No water, hook ups or picnic tables."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lohman, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lohman, MO is Scrivner Road Conservation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Lohman, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 22 tent camping locations near Lohman, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
