Best Equestrian Camping near Ozark, MO

Ranger Review Big M Campground Table Rock Lake

As with most campgrounds this summer Big M was flooded. It didn’t detract from the beauty and fun this place has to offer. This is a Core run campground that sits nestled in the beautiful Ozarks/Arkansas border. It’s a little tricky getting there. Lot of curves and turns. A real nail biter! This campground has large grassy full hookup sites. The bath houses are clean and easy to get to. Anything you would want to do. Hiking, kayaking, swim beach, boating. Some of the best fishing around! Nice marina with a restaurant that you won’t leave hungry! Swim beach was flooded, but we used it anyway. Truest the gem of the Ozarks!

Fishermen will love Roaring River! If you don't fish it is okay. The area is situated in the Ozark Mountains with the campground next to the stream where they release trout. The campground we stayed at has very little shade and the spacing felt uncomfortable as it has no natural blocks from the other sites. The sirens at 7 am and in the evening are what ultimately turned me off. We awoke every morning to fishermen down by the stream waiting for the siren to tell them they could fish. The talking could be heard all the way up and down the valley.

Brendan and Teresa are an adotable young couple who are transforming a large area in the midst of Missouri farm country into a small black- and blueberry farm that includes a small RV camp. They also make and sell natural products (soaps, balms, etc.). They have constructed a cute rec house with darts, corn hole, even a little reading nook. There is a swing on the big tree in front of the rec house as well as horseshoe pits. Dispersed around the berry fields are hidden firepit areas for guests to enjoy. And you can pick berries for your breakfast!

They have built an exquisite shower room with cedar walls and river rock flooring, and there are bathrooms for guests as well.

Brendan and Teresa could not have been more accommodating. They presented us with a goody bag with s'mores fixings and a sample lip balm from their product line. And Brendan helped us with hose repair parts when our water hose jammed on the reel and we had to cut it off! First rate customer service.

The drawback for us is that (1) it is FAR from the main highway so not convenient for one-night stays and (2) the one site suitable for large RVs is not very level. We have a 40' Renegade Verona and it took 6 tries to find a place near the hookups where our auto-level would find a good position (no "excessive slope" error).

Also, we knew from the start there was only 30 amp service and no sewer, so we can't complain about that.

But for smaller RVs and boondockers, this is a charming getaway for families and anyone who enjoys getting away from it all.

No amenities other than composting toilets. There are a few tent sites along the road and there is plenty of grassy area near the creek for RVs/trailers. This is a horse camp with plenty of evidence, but it was only us and a couple of other tent campers.

The creek was obviously spring fed, crystal clear and had a gravelly bottom. There were plenty of places to get in the water...understanding that this is horse camp.

The place was well maintained and mowed and it was super peaceful and quiet. The main annoyance was some trash in fire pits along the creek.

If you consider this as a waypoint, two things:

1. There is about a mile of dusty, gravel road that is a little rough.

2. We had great T-Mobile 10 miles south, but it dropped to zero by the time we drove into camp.