Kausalia V.
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ScoutBennett Spring State Park Campground
a quiet, clean and peaceful campaigning environment. clean amenities. love it
Tent Camping near Mansfield, MO
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Tent camping options in the Missouri Ozarks near Mansfield include primitive sites with varying levels of amenities and access. Swan Creek offers free dispersed camping with creek access, while Busiek provides reservable tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings approximately 45 minutes from Springfield. Rippee Conservation Area features a small collection of free campsites along Bryant Creek with basic amenities.
Most tent campsites in the Mansfield area are primitive with limited facilities. Rippee Conservation Area provides only four campsites but includes fire pits, grills, and access to fishing. Many locations like Swan Creek require walk-in or hike-in access rather than drive-up convenience. Conservation areas typically include vault toilets but lack drinking water, requiring campers to pack in their own supplies. Busiek camping requires permits that must be obtained in person at the Missouri Department of Conservation office. Seasonal conditions can affect accessibility, particularly after heavy rains when creek crossings may become difficult.
These tent campsites offer natural surroundings with minimal development, appealing to those seeking quiet outdoor experiences. The dispersed camping at Swan Creek provides good opportunities for creek access and equestrian camping in a less developed setting. Busiek features scenic hiking trails that provide access to more remote tent sites and swimming holes, though insect protection is essential during warmer months. Wildlife viewing opportunities are abundant across these conservation areas. A visitor commented, "It's a beautiful spot on Bryant creek, and it's about as nice as you can expect from a free campground." Campers report mixed experiences with cell service throughout the region, with some locations offering adequate connectivity while others provide a complete digital detox.
Best Tent Campgrounds near Mansfield (9)
1. Rippee Conservation Area
2. Swan Creek
3. Noblett Lake
"There is plenty of wildlife around and a lake not too far away from you. It is around 20 -25 dollars a night. I think this place is perfect for a wedding"
Check Availabilityfrom $50 / night
4. Busiek
"Busiek isn't to far of the beaten path. It has several trails and camping sites. There is plenty of wildlife available for viewing."
"Absolutely beautiful hiking trails and amazing off grid camping for family. Just make sure to bring the bug spray and tikis bc there are tons of bugs."
5. Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area
6. Sycamore Loop Dispersed
7. Drury-Mincy Conservation Area
"Lovely spot in Missouri. Passing through to Tennessee and found this gem of a spot with 2 vault toilets, trash and it’s free! Arrived at sunset in a Wednesday and only 2 other campers."
"This one had all the necessary items, picnic tables and fire rings along with pit toilets which were not in bad shape. "
8. Aufderklamm Farm
"Beautiful private campground with access to Bull Shoals Lake. The campsite is lake view, and I took my kayak into a private lake cove."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / night
9. Cedar Ridge Campground
Drive Time
- 44 min from Springfield, MO
- 1 hr 42 min from Joplin, MO
- 2 hrs 9 min from Jefferson City, MO
- 2 hrs 43 min from Fayetteville, AR
Recent Tent Camping Photos near Mansfield, MO
3 Photos of 9 Mansfield Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Tent Camping Reviews near Mansfield, MO
333 Reviews of 9 Mansfield Campgrounds
- SSherri B.
GuideB Berry Farms & Co.
Peaceful and playful
Host was not aware of our reservation with The Dyrt but was welcoming just the same. (even gave us fresh baked brownies as welcoming gift). We were just passing through and got a peaceful place to sleep. There's many play options like swimming hole, axe throwing, horseshoe throwing, dart throwing, pool table, etc.
- SSarah B.
TravelerUdall Park
Great primitive camping!
Great campground, kinda secluded. We woke up to the most beautiful sunrise over the lake from our pop up!
- Sara K.Guide
Bennett Spring State Park Campground
Well maintained
Good space between sites giving nice privacy. Very helpful staff. Great spot for anglers.
- Sara K.Guide
Riverfront Campground and Canoe
Beautiful Site
Beautiful place, has river float drop point and pick up with kayak and raft rentals. Only reason 4 stars is the very steep grade going down to the main camping area thats on a curve. They did atleast pave the uphill side but definitely need to make sure your brakes are good.
- KKelly K.Scout
Springfield - Route 66 KOA
Easy (but noisy) campspot for a long day of traveling
We are on a cross country road trip in our camper van, and we are finding KOA’s to be an easy way to drive long hours, and have a safe and reliable place to sleep at night. We make the reservations on the road, our site info is ready when we arrive after hours. The bathrooms at the KOA Holidays have been so nice, and clean. This particular KOA was very noisy. Trains passed close by all night, horns and all. Bugs were loud. We were also woken up by staff mowing the lawn and weed wacking before 8am. We were making coffee and breakfast on our table, when the mowers came right into our spot. Noise is probably less of an issue in an RV, but in a van with screens, or in a tent it will be a noisy night.
Kay D.TravelerCobb Ridge
Beautiful campground in the forest
This is a beautiful campground in Mark Twain National forest. There are flush toilets and showers with hot water that are clean. I was here the first week of July. It was humid and there were a lot of mosquitos so bring your bug spray. There is access to a trail that allows dirt bikes and atvs so you may experience some noise from them but it really wasn’t too bad. The camp hosts are great. They are very friendly. I was delayed a couple days in arriving and I received a phone call verifying I was coming before he marked it as a no show. I appreciated that. I would definitely recommend it.
- SSean J.Guide
Paddy Creek Recreation Area
Backwoods Tent Camping
This is a USFS campground that is perfect if you want a secluded spot to disconnect for awhile. No water, electricity, or cell service, but the views are amazing and Paddy Creek is beautiful. Campground requires a six mile drive on somewhat rough gravel roads and and a paved creek crossing if you are are coming from the Licking, MO side of the forest.
There are about two dozen campsites, each with a narrow and short concrete pad to back a vehicle into. A small popup camper or travel trailer may fit, but anything medium or larger is not going to work. All sites have good shade from tall trees and include a picnic table and fire ring. The single vault toilet was clean and stocked.
Cost is $15 a night and is paid for in the iron ranger nearby. The campground appears to close in late fall and open again in the spring at different dates each year, so be sure to check the USFS website before planning a trip.
- OOrrin F.Traveler
Silver Springs RV Park
Friendly clean campground
We stayed here in June of 2026. The Campground Managers were friendly and helpful. The facilities were clean. It was nice and easy-going campground. We would stay here again.
Guide to Mansfield
Tent campsites near Mansfield, Missouri offer rustic experiences in the heart of the Ozarks with varying levels of accessibility. The region features elevations between 1,300 and 1,700 feet, creating significant changes in terrain across relatively short distances. Many campsites become difficult to access after spring rains when creeks rise and unpaved roads deteriorate.
What to do
Creek swimming opportunities: At Busiek, trails lead to several swimming holes ideal during summer months. A camper noted, "Be wary of the water level, this can impact any hiking you might be looking to do, so be ready."
Target practice: Busiek features a designated shooting range approximately 0.5 miles from the camping area. One visitor mentioned, "Decent place to shoot and walk the pupps."
Paddling access: Drury-Mincy Conservation Area provides access points for kayaking and canoeing. According to a visitor, "About 2 miles down Gunnison road and just past the conservation department buildings is a road that leads along a stream with several swimming holes."
What campers like
Solitude and quiet: Aufderklamm Farm offers secluded sites with lake views. One camper shared, "The campsite is lake view, and I took my kayak into a private lake cove. Spaces are huge."
Affordability: Many conservation areas provide free or low-cost camping options. A reviewer at Drury-Mincy noted, "I always love a good FREE campground and when I stumbled upon this one I was very happy."
Cell service availability: Some areas maintain surprising connectivity despite remote locations. A camper at Drury-Mincy reported, "I have Google Fi and Verizon and both had pretty decent signal and fully supported streaming a movie."
What you should know
Access challenges: Road conditions can significantly impact campsite accessibility. At Sycamore Loop Dispersed, a camper warned, "The gate to go down towards this campsite was locked."
Permit requirements: Some areas require permits obtained in person. For Busiek, a reviewer clarified, "Camping is by permit only, and permits can not be obtained online or by phone, you have to go in person to the Missouri department of conservation office."
Site conditions: Many primitive campsites change seasonally. At Sycamore Loop, a camper observed, "Ok place to camp, pretty secluded, old campground but most spots no longer seemed camp friendly, as new tree growth has taken over."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly locations: Rippee Conservation Area provides a manageable camping experience for children. A visitor stated, "A very great family friendly campground. A really quit and nice place."
Bring insect protection: Warmer months require thorough preparation for insects. At Busiek, a camper advised, "Absolutely beautiful hiking trails and amazing off grid camping for family. Just make sure to bring the bug spray and tikis bc there are tons of bugs."
Limited facilities: Most camping areas have minimal amenities. At Rippee Conservation Area, a camper noted, "Has great fishing, nice and peaceful and not well known not many campsites, I believe only four but it does have firepits and grills."
Tips from RVers
Access roads: Many conservation area roads aren't suitable for larger vehicles. At Drury-Mincy Conservation Area, a camper observed, "The short 'road' from the street to the campground is pretty steep and graveled and several cars have struggled to make it up though I haven't seen any fail yet."
Limited designated sites: RV-suitable spaces are scarce at primitive tent campsites near Mansfield. A visitor to Drury-Mincy noted, "There's about 6 spots to pull in with a camper/RV then at least 6 tent spots. Most spots have a fire ring and picnic table."
Self-sufficiency required: No hookups exist at most conservation areas. A camper at Drury-Mincy advised, "No electric or water so come prepared. Closest town for supplies is around 25 minutes."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent
campsite near Mansfield, MO?
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Mansfield, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Mansfield, MO is Rippee Conservation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find
tent camping near
Mansfield, MO?
What is the best site to find tent camping near Mansfield, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Mansfield, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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