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Best Tent Camping near Maryville, MO

219 Reviews

Public lands surrounding Maryville, Missouri provide several tent camping options with varying amenities and accessibility. Mozingo Lake County Tent Campground stands out as a highly-rated established campground with dedicated tent sites surrounded by trees rather than open fields. This county-managed area offers walk-in tent sites along with drive-in access approximately 5 miles east of Maryville. For those seeking more primitive tent camping experiences, Hoot Owl Bend offers dispersed camping opportunities about 30 miles southwest of Maryville, while Ross County Park in Braddyville, Iowa provides free tent camping roughly 25 miles north.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities with varying levels of development. Mozingo Lake provides showers, toilets, drinking water, and trash disposal, making it suitable for campers seeking some conveniences while tent camping. Sites typically include picnic tables and fire rings with fires permitted. In contrast, primitive tent sites at Hoot Owl Bend lack facilities entirely, requiring campers to pack in water and pack out waste. Ross County Park offers a middle ground with trash disposal but no drinking water or other amenities beyond a shelter house. Seasonal considerations include potential for high insect activity near water during summer months, particularly at riverside locations.

Tent campers frequently note the quality of tree cover at established sites. According to reviews, Mozingo Lake's tent camping sites remain "not too busy" even on October weekends, with campsites that are "clean and well maintained." One visitor specifically appreciated that "tent camping sites were actually surrounded by trees" rather than being placed in open fields. The campground's proximity to walking paths, playgrounds, and an 18-hole disc golf course provides additional recreation options. At more primitive locations like Hoot Owl Bend, campers should be cautious about site selection, as one visitor warned against setting up under mulberry trees in July when berries drop. Ross County Park receives praise from backcountry tent camping enthusiasts for being a "nice out of the way location" with "no services of any kind" for those seeking solitude.

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Best Tent Sites Near Maryville, Missouri (7)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Maryville, MO

7 Photos of 7 Maryville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Maryville, MO

219 Reviews of 7 Maryville Campgrounds

  • Michelle V.
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Hackberry Hollow Campground — Indian Cave State Park

    Great for car camping

    Just car tent camped here with my fiancé and dog over the weekend. We had many camp sites to choose from because it’s back to school time in NE (timing, timing, timing)! Basic tent sights are first come, $15 a night. The park offered firewood ($6) and ice for sale. Lots of hiking trails with different levels of difficulty and elevation. Most drive up camp sites have outhouses nearby. We sometimes drove up to the group tent sites where they have clean bathrooms, running water and showers (need quarters for shower). We had a great time and enjoyed being surrounded by all the lovely trees. Staff were friendly and the park was clean. Only bummer is the steps to the “cave” is still closed.

  • Sarah H.
    Sep. 19, 2016

    Big Lake State Park Campground

    Clean and Friendly off I-29

    My husband and I tent camped one night at this park. We arrived around 8 pm and even though the office was getting ready to close, the woman behind the counter was very kind and helpful. She helped us with finding our spot and with getting firewood. Our basic tent site was lakeside and had a fire pit and picnic table. The site was so well maintained it was hard to find small sticks for kindling.

    The grounds have private bathrooms with toilets and showers. There are two nice playgrounds and a swimming pool. Most campers were enjoying fishing in the small lake. Kayaks were available to rent for a small fee. Kids enjoyed riding bikes around the flat roads.

    This is a great spot off I-29 to set up camp and have a rest. It's also a good spot to take young kids fishing.

  • Tarrah C.
    Apr. 5, 2023

    Waubonsie State Park Campground

    Nice Trails

    This is a great weekend spot not much to do around the park. The campsites are nice but close with not much space in between. There are 2 campgrounds, the one north of the highway is a horse campground but required. There are nice trails in this area. The campground on the south is more of a tent site. There are vault toliets, no showers. A lot of great trails o this side. All campsites include a picnic table and fire ring.

  • Whitney L.
    Jun. 6, 2022

    Bluffwoods Conservation Area

    lovely, quiet camping near St. Joe’s MO

    Love this little area for camping! It’s well maintained, quiet, easy to access, has lots of grass for the dogs to play and we always see wildlife. People often leave trash so be sure to leave no trace so it stays nice for all to enjoy <3

  • Lady Phyre ☆.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2025

    Pony Express Lake Conservation Area

    Pony Express is amazing!

    You can camp in one of several little inlets and nooks. It's a Fish & Game preserve with camping and fishing spots all around the lake. Many with picnic tables and most with vault toilets. It's on my top 10 list of best primitive/dispersed camping locations. Only con is the vault toilet at the inlet I camped in. It was unusable with fetus nearly to the top. I think some unscrupulous person put trash in it then other used it probably without knowing. Very bad etiquette! Be sure to bring your own camping toilet and/or check the vault toilet before setting up. I didn't see very many RVs but several vans, trucks, and cars were there. The wildlife is predominantly water fowl.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Waubonsie State Park Campground

    Really good hiking trails

    Stayed one night on Sept 4. Camped at site 35 in the non-equestrian campground; non-electric fee $15. Parked van on the grass at this site. Like nearly all of the sites in this campground, this site was close to the campground road. Overall, I felt that the campsites were all bunched together - offering no privacy and spacing between sites. The shower house was closed during our visit. Water was also turned off at the wayer pumps in the campground. There was one single vault toilet available for all of the campers; it was reasonably clean. Wayne, the campground host, was nice & helpful. There is a self-serve firewood station in the campground; cost is either $5 or $10, depending on the amount of wood you purchase. The campsites have a picnic table & metal fire ring. I wasn't too pleased with this campground, but I was very happy with the nearby hiking trails within the park. It's a pretty state park with hills & lush forest. The day use areas looked great. I recommend those traveling along I-29 to stop at this park - not necessarily for the camping, but for the hiking. Had some T-Mobile 4G service.

  • P
    Oct. 23, 2018

    Pony Express Lake Conservation Area

    Small campground, free, on the lake.

    It's in the Conservation Area of Missouri on Pony Express Lake. Easy to get to. Gravel road to the camp areas. Very small. Only 7 or 8 sites. We had a van. There was an RV there and a tenter. Picnic table and fire ring. There is a boat landing further down the gravel road past the campground, different finger of the lake. Fishing. Pit toilet, no water or hook ups for RVs. Very quiet place and of course, you can't beat free!

  • Danni A.
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Brownville Riverside Park

    Needs quite a bit of improvement

    We stayed here so that we would be within walking distance of Brownville. It took a while to figure out how to make a reservation (you call the River Inn Resort). When I made the reservation, I was told there is no electricity, which is fine since we have solar. However, we were not told there are no tables, or fire rings... there pretty much isn't anything other than land. The land that is there is pretty rough as well. There were very large burs of some sort throughout the grassy areas, which made it difficult for our dog to go anywhere during our trip. There were also an unbelievable amount of gnats, but that is probably due to the proximity to the river. The people at the River Inn Resort, where you check in, were friendly and helpful. However, we would not stay here again.

  • r
    Jul. 28, 2022

    Mozingo Lake County RV Park

    Nice and Quiet

    Lake Mozingo is near the College Town of Maryville, Missouri. My experience is limited, but I’d say it’s pretty nice here. And inexpensive. Concrete Pads with Power and Water at the Site but no Sewer dump, that’s Centralized in the Camp. There’s Lake access if you want. I like it here.

Guide to Maryville

Tent camping near Maryville, Missouri offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from serene lakes to remote parks, there's something for every camping enthusiast.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Explore these local attractions

  • Visit the charming town of Brownville, close to Brownville Riverside Park, which offers a unique blend of history and nature.
  • Discover the beauty of the surrounding landscapes while camping at Hoot Owl Bend, where birdwatching opportunities abound.
  • Take a day trip to nearby attractions while enjoying the peaceful setting of Ross County Park, ideal for those who appreciate a more secluded experience.

Campgrounds with essential amenities

  • Mozingo Lake County Tent Campground provides drinking water, showers, and clean restrooms, making it a comfortable choice for families.
  • For a more rustic experience, Brownville Riverside Park offers basic amenities, including picnic tables and toilets, perfect for those who enjoy a simpler camping style.
  • Hoot Owl Bend features a natural clearing for tent setup, allowing campers to immerse themselves in the wilderness without distractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Maryville, MO is Mozingo Lake County Tent Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 7 tent camping locations near Maryville, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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