Best Tent Camping near Russellville, MO

Several free, primitive tent camping areas dot the landscape around Russellville, Missouri, primarily on public conservation lands. Scrivner Road Conservation Area offers basic tent campsites along a river with a single fire ring in a gravel turnaround area. Other nearby options include Pikes Camp in Wardsville, Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area, and Osage-Tavern Access, all offering similar primitive tent camping experiences within 20-30 minutes of Russellville.

Most tent campsites in the Russellville region provide vault toilets but lack amenities like drinking water, electric hookups, or trash service. Campers should bring their own water and pack out all trash, as many sites have issues with litter. Fire rings are available at most locations, with some sites also featuring concrete picnic tables. The gravel roads leading to many conservation areas can become challenging after rain, with Fiery Fork Conservation Area requiring navigation through high water areas along 2 miles of gravel road. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most camping locations.

The tent camping experience in these conservation areas offers peaceful surroundings with good access to rivers and lakes. According to one visitor, "It had just rained but wasn't too mucky. Drive was safe in our heavy converted camper van. No off road vehicle or AWD needed." Many sites feature level ground suitable for tent setup with shade trees abundant throughout. Several campsites provide direct river access for fishing, wading, or boat launching. Wildlife sightings are common, with reviews mentioning deer, armadillos, and various birds. While weekdays tend to be quiet, some areas become crowded on summer weekends, particularly at river access points where day visitors and campers share facilities.

Best Tent Sites Near Russellville, Missouri (20)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Russellville, MO

7 Photos of 20 Russellville Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Russellville, MO

260 Reviews of 20 Russellville Campgrounds


  • Pamela B.
    Aug. 1, 2023

    Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area

    Primitive Free Camping

    Vault toilets available. Quiet. No water, hook ups or picnic tables, but fire rings. Wish people would understand pack in pack out and not leave trash! Otherwise very peaceful experience. Had service of at least 2-3 bars entire time. Town of Linn a 20 minute drive to get supplies.

  • K
    Aug. 12, 2022

    Camp Takimina

    Beautiful quiet campground in Columbia MO!

    We stayed at Camp Takimina on our first shakedown trip with our Popup camper.  It was amazing.  It was about 5-10 minutes from I-70, super easy to get to. The camp was quiet, private, and peaceful.  There are no hookups, but water was right next to us near the parking lot, and the picnic tables near the lodge were shaded most of the day.  Portapotties were clean and well stocked.  We brought our dog and two children and the had an absolutely fabulous time!  We hiked a lot in the woods, played in the creek, and had plenty of time and space to figure out our new to us popup camper.  There aren't actual spots for to park in, it is just a big gravel lot with a couple designated areas for campers if the lot is full (it wasn't full at all).  We reserved Arrow Hill also, which is a huge site right next to the parking lot, so we had a campfire ring to cook on.  Most of the firepits have benches that surround them, which was very handy not to have to move chairs around all the time.  The tent sites were huge- easily would fit multiple tents at each site, and we will absolutely be back to tent camp, and with the popup too!

  • Julia V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2024

    Finger Lakes State Park Campground

    Had everything we needed

    Basic tent site, potable water was right near our site. Bathrooms were clean. There were some families staying nearby but overall was a quiet stay.

  • Jaxsen B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 31, 2023

    Fredericksburg Ferry Access

    Beautiful River Access & Grassy Grounds

    Fredericksburg Access is a free campground with about 10 primitive sites. Grassy coverage with a mix of gravel or grass pull-ins. Lots of trees but still great stargazing at night. We even saw a few meteors!

    We went on a late July weekend and only 1 other small group was there. It had just rained but wasn't too mucky. Drive was safe in our heavy converted camper van. No off road vehicle or AWD needed.

    Ground is very level and not super rocky so this is a great site for tents. There are vault toilets but no sinks nor dumpsters, so plan ahead for hygiene and waste. Toilets are on flat ground, handicap accessible, and gender neutral. Likely to be a much tougher trip if you used to full hook-up RV camping/glamping, or require showers, but perfect for primitive camping!

    The region: 45m to nearest Walmart or tractor supply, so plan ahead. Food, fire starter logs, and lighter fuel available at Thriftway (about 30 min), firewood and ice at Casey's, and McDonald's all in Linn (all 30m) if you need anything.

    About water access: Sites are all within about a 5 min walk from the boat ramp on the Gasconade. Sign reads "no swimming" but there's a nice gravel bar just downstream from the ramp. If you enter the water, be mindful that boats may pass as you try to cross.

    The swim there requires crossing a moderately sized river that is relatively swift. This is fine for people who swim well but not recommended for young children or weak swimmers especially without flotation devices. It is swift enough to carry you downstream of your target even for good swimmers, so plan for this, especially for your swim back upstream (recommend walking upstream past dock then floating back across to dock). It's also deep in the center so you're not going to be able to cross with dry items unless you have a container that is waterproof.

    Again, it's a wider and quick river, so we had to help our dog across. Took 5-7 min there and 15 to get back (with dog. Mind the rocky/brush areas just downstream of the dock, saw some snakes.

  • B
    Jun. 3, 2025

    Lazy Liz Katy Trail Horse and RV Campground

    Great place

    We stayed in our rv while riding the Katy trail easy check in process. Free use of washer and dryer. Shower was great. Felt super safe here. Nice and quiet. Would definitely recommend to anyone. I noticed bicycle tent campers here and on a rainy night they were able to set up tent in barn to stay dry.

  • Curtis M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 17, 2018

    Binder Park Campground

    close to home

    137 acre lake with great fishing, offering rv hookups and basic tent sites with a pavilion and privys

  • Abby M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 8, 2021

    Roberts Bluff Access

    Good overnight spot

    Arrived Wednesday evening and had the spot to myself. There’s a stocked vault toilet, 2 camping spots with fire rings and a boat ramp. very simple but works! No other amenities available. It’s about 2 miles off the interstate and very peaceful. You’re surrounded by farm lane and wildlife. There’s a river at the site but didn’t explore it any. I came after a day of rain so the fire areas were flooded but the actual pull in spot was nice and dry!

  • Josh S.
    May. 30, 2019

    Scrivner Road Conservation Area

    A hidden gem tucked away in rural Cole County

    First off there is camping here!!!! This Missouri Conservation area is a Swiss Army knife of rugged of the path camping. Rivers, Lakes, Gun range, Horses and hiking can all be enjoyed here. First come first serve basic camp area on the river. It has 1 fire ring in a gravel turnaround. Don’t let this fool you. This area has an abundance of wildlife equestrian trails and hiking. Getting too hot paddle on the lake located on the left Forck after entering. The area has a handgun, and rifle range with vault toilets. The pictures speak for themselves. Love this spot and will be planning another trip soon.

  • Whitney L.
    Jun. 3, 2022

    Fiery Fork Conservation Area

    open and easy to access camping spot

    We camped at Firey Fork in the autumn of 2021. It was during deer hunting season and we only had one neighbor that looked to be there for quite a while hunting. We could see them with our eyeballs but they were perfect neighbors and we didn’t hear a peep other than their generator for a bit. The area was mowed, had a rock fire place, concrete picnic tables (which were handy), a vault toilet, shade, grass for dogs to play frisbee, parking right beside your spot, trails, access to the river, good hammock trees, flat-level surface!


Guide to Russellville

Dispersed camping options near Russellville, Missouri provide free overnight stays across several conservation areas within a 30-minute drive. These public lands offer primitive camping experiences with varying terrain and access conditions. Most sites require self-sufficiency with limited facilities and seasonal considerations affecting accessibility, especially after rainfall when gravel roads become challenging to navigate.

What to do

Fishing access points: Fiery Fork Conservation Area provides direct river access for fishing enthusiasts. According to a visitor: "The river access is really amazing. It's a great place to launch a boat from or just to wade in a bit and fish. Fly fishing can be done easily from the bank or just by wading in a bit."

Wildlife observation: The conservation areas around Russellville support diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. A camper at Fiery Fork Conservation Area noted: "We were able to see some wildlife while staying there as well. Armadillos, deer, and a few different bird types could be found easily."

Equestrian trails: Beyond standard camping and fishing, some areas offer additional recreational opportunities. One visitor described Scrivner Road Conservation Area as "a Swiss Army knife of rugged of the path camping. Rivers, Lakes, Gun range, Horses and hiking can all be enjoyed here."

What campers like

Quiet weekday camping: Primitive camping areas provide peaceful experiences, particularly during weekdays. A camper at Fiery Fork noted: "We camped at Firey Fork in the autumn of 2021. It was during deer hunting season and we only had one neighbor that looked to be there for quite a while hunting."

Budget-friendly option: The free camping available at conservation areas makes them attractive for cost-conscious campers. A reviewer at Fiery Fork Conservation Area shared: "Nice area to camp not crowded, plenty of space between camp sites, and peaceful. A nice place if your on a budget and just need a get away."

River recreation: The Osage River access points provide swimming and boating opportunities. A camper at Osage-Tavern Access reported: "Right along the river so nice if your looking for water. I arrived at 6 on a Saturday (post labor day) and plenty of sites available."

What you should know

Limited amenities: Most tent camping areas near Russellville lack modern conveniences. A camper at Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area explained: "Vault toilets available. Quiet. No water, hook ups or picnic tables, but fire rings. Wish people would understand pack in pack out and not leave trash!"

Seasonal flooding: Low-lying areas experience periodic flooding that affects camping conditions. A visitor to Franklin Island noted: "Great quite and secluded camp sigh. But can muddy due to sessional flooding."

Variable cell service: Connectivity ranges from moderate to nonexistent depending on location. One camper at Fiery Fork reported: "We had AT&T for our cell service and there was absolutely NO service there which was good to get away, but bad in an emergency."

Tips for camping with families

River beaches: Some river access points feature natural beach areas suitable for children. A camper at Fiery Fork Conservation Area shared: "We decided it would be a nice place to bring our kids since there is quite a bit of 'beach' at the river access for them to play and see nature."

Site competition: Families should arrive early for weekend camping, especially during summer. A camper at Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area warned: "The camping Spots DO fill up quickly as there are only like 5-7 spots. On a weekend, Its gonna be loud!"

Traffic considerations: Some camping areas experience recreational vehicle traffic on nearby roads. One camper noted: "Lots of ATVs up and down the Gravel Road" at Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area, which might be a concern for families with small children.

Tips from RVers

Road conditions: RVers should carefully assess access routes before attempting to reach more remote camping areas. A camper at Fiery Fork Conservation Area advised: "I recommend smaller RVs due to the 2 miles of gravel and high water areas you go through to get there."

Level camping spots: Despite primitive conditions, some areas offer reasonable surfaces for vehicle-based camping. A reviewer noted: "It had mowed, had a rock fire place, concrete picnic tables, a vault toilet, shade, grass for dogs to play frisbee, parking right beside your spot, flat-level surface!"

Accessibility after rain: Weather significantly impacts road conditions in the region. One camper reported: "The road down was very sketchy for my 2008 Mazda 3. It's a very simple campground but in a great location near the ozarks."

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Russellville, MO is Scrivner Road Conservation Area with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 20 tent camping locations near Russellville, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.