Best Dispersed Camping near Perryville, MO
Dispersed camping around Perryville, Missouri is available at several wilderness areas in southern Illinois, approximately 30-45 minutes from Perryville. Trail of Tears State Forest near Jonesboro, Illinois offers primitive camping with basic amenities, while Panther Den Wilderness in Shawnee National Forest provides more remote, backcountry camping options. These areas allow campers to experience natural settings with varying levels of development and accessibility, though both require crossing the Mississippi River from Missouri into Illinois.
Access to Trail of Tears State Forest involves navigating forest roads that lead to designated camping areas with minimal facilities. The forest charges $8 per night for camping, contrary to typical dispersed camping which is often free. Sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and porta-potty facilities. Meanwhile, Panther Den Wilderness in Shawnee National Forest features free primitive camping with no amenities, accessible only by hiking in. No drinking water, toilets, or trash services are available at Panther Den, requiring complete self-sufficiency from campers. Trail of Tears does provide some basic amenities including portable toilets and picnic tables.
These areas attract campers seeking relative solitude in natural settings. Trail of Tears State Forest provides a balance of remoteness while maintaining basic comforts. "Excellent for tent camping when you want relatively easy access and still feel a bit of solitude," noted one visitor about Trail of Tears. The forest offers sites that are "remote from others" with unexpected amenities like porta potties at individual sites. While primitive compared to developed campgrounds, Trail of Tears provides more comforts than typical dispersed camping, including potable water (though occasionally under boil advisories) and raised fire rings. The forest's location provides reasonable access to nearby towns, with Cape Girardeau 30 minutes away and Anna just 15 minutes from the camping areas.
