Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Van Buren, MO is in the midst of to the Ozark National Scenic Riverway. This whole area is party central for water lovers that spend their vacation time either motoring, floating or sitting along the Current River and the several natural springs that feed into it. 

Big Spring State Park is nearby with plenty of camping options. The campground is still under renovation due to the 2017 flood. There is a showerhouse used by all that is a bit cryptic and bug infested. There is one flush toilet in the first campground loop, the other two loops have porta pots. Picnic table, fire ring and lantern hook on semi-private, mostly level sites. Some have more shade then others. Also a group site is available. 

Skyline Drive is the scenic roadway through the Mark Twain National Forest in this area of the state. There are several areas that people camp on the Current River sand bars. If your looking to commune with nature it is possible even with the crowd, they stick mostly to the river.

Eminence, MO is the crossroads to several of the springs and Current River areas. Food , fuel and shopping.

Definitely a destination camping area.

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!

Alley Spring near Eminence, in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways of MO is in my opinion one of the best areas in this region.

There was a flood in 2017 which is a good and bad thing. Unfortunately MO has cut funding to the parks so prior to the flood the maintenance had dropped off considerably, many facilities had been closed and are no longer used due to the neglect. Since the flood there has been and is a lot of renovations going on. It’s not there yet. Some areas are still closed.

Alley Spring is somewhere in the midst of renovation. Still excellent area to camp in with mostly private sites. There are a few that aren’t so great but if you reserve ahead and stay out of the inner area you should be pretty happy with your location.

The nearby rental place for the river will come to you for pickup, there are some nice trails to explore and supposedly wild horses in the area. I’ve not seen them yet.

The spring is beautiful! Tranquility comes to mind when you see it. The trail that climbs above the spring to the overlook is moderate and unfortunately the overlook itself is damaged so you don’t get quite the same view as before. The trail also meanders around the mill and spring, if your lucky you will see the adorable muskrat that resides in the area.

There are pavilions for get together sand a small store with interesting things to see and a cold drink at the end of your journey.

Positives: Tranquil little campground with beautiful spring and cave. Quiet, shady, has two points of river access, group sites, and steaming hot showers.  Close to Echo Bluff State Park, Current River State Park, and Eminence, MO.  

Negatives:  Test sites are hit or miss. Sites 1-18 are fairly small and not very level. Sites 19-29 have larger, more level areas. 30-39 are kind of mixed.  Many sites have steps up of down to the site from the road.  There is no cell service available, so make sure you have made reservations before you get here. Closest cell service is up the road at Echo Bluff State Park. 

Other info: You may get lucky and see otters on your way to the spring, or some of the wild horses in the area. Go in the early morning to the spring trail to watch the mist roll off the water and enjoy the wildlife - so otherworldly. 

Cave tours are available June - Oct., but even if you visit is outside of this window, the walk to the cave is kind of magical.  

If you walk to the spring overlook, you'll also encounter a portion of the Ozark Trail. About a half a mile down the Ozark Trail you can cross the Current River on a pedestrian bridge which is a pretty cool experience.  

Bathrooms available on the upper camping loop, but the showers are located on the bottom loop (three family style showers).  Fantastic water pressure. 

Host was friendly even when he had to tell us we couldn't hang hammocks in National Park campgrounds. 

While you're there drive down to Alley Spring for a nice hike, another beautiful spring and historic mill, and at the camp store you can get a National Parks Passport stamp (located in the screened in porch) for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 

We stayed in site 13 which is located directly behind the bathrooms. Good if you have to go all the time, bad if you don't like to hear loud toilet flushes.  Very shady site.

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.

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.

This is where my love of camping started. I spent many summers as a child camping at Montauk State Park with my grandparents. After those early years of riding my bike as a child around the campground loops, I now take my child there every year with the hope that he appreciates it as much as I do.

Montauk State Park is one of the Missouri Conservations four trout parks, and is located at the headwaters of the beautiful Current River. The Current along with the Jack’s Fork River make up the Ozark National Scenic Riverways National Park. Since it is one of Missouri’s trout parks you will find a majority of campers are there to fish. You can purchase a trout tag at the lodge for $3.00, and it will allow you to keep 4 trout per day with a possession limit of 8. The conservation will stock the Current on a nightly basis, based on number of tags sold the day before. The stretch of river from spring to the falls are some of my favorite fishing anywhere. I have a group of guys that get together every spring and fall for a trout fishing trip.

As the Current River winds its way through the valley, it creates one of the campground boundaries. This allows you to be near the river at all times, or even next to it, if you grab one of the spots on its banks. The campground is broken down into 4 separate loops, with loop 1 being the only basic section, all the others have electricity. I have spent more time recently camping in the basic section with the guys. We have used sites 115 for the space and 119 for the seclusion. Our family did camp on Mother’s Day on site 418, in loop 4. I would not recommend this site because you only have a small space between you and your neighbors.

There are two bathroom/shower houses with laundry facilities located in the campground, along with three campground host. You are able to purchase firewood and ice in the campground as well. Sites do go quickly so you will need to book months in advance.

The lodge has a full restaurant, as well as a diner style counter. My son love’s to go and sit at the counter to get ice cream. You will find menu item such as burgers, sandwiches, and salads, as well as a buffet on certain days. You can even order a sack lunch to take out to the river bank. The lodge also has a store stocked with camp essentials, souvenir items, and fishing supplies. If you do not have your own fishing poles, they have some for rent. You will also find the lunker board located here, so if you are lucky enough to catch a three pound trout bring it to have it weighed for your lunker patch.

If you decide not to fish, there are things to do such as take a tour of the mill when the naturalist does one of their demonstrations, hike the quarter mile trial to the springs (one of my son’s favorites, he likes to search for the water bubbling out of the ground), hike the longer 1.5 mile pine ridge trail, feed the fish at the hatchery, or take in one of the nature programs at the amphitheater. Also if you head out of the park on YY you will find Tan Vat Access located right outside the park on the Current. This is a great place to take young ones for a dip in its cool waters. Also you can take a gravel road out of the park to a funky little place called Bo’s Hollow. A family has built a small town in a field, where you can buy a bbq sandwich lunch, and take a model A ride to Ashley creek for swimming and a picnic.

I hope you get a chance to check out Montauk State Park. It is one of our family favorite destinations.