Whether you're a tent camper, an RVer, or just passing through, Salem, MO has a lot to offer. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Salem and user-submitted reviews.
"The water right next to the site was taped up, probably turned off for winter, but we were able to fill our fresh tank at the campground entrance before parking."
"It is just South of Salem, MO. The park has a fish hatchery and is noted for trout fishing! The campground is very large, with 3 or 4 loops. The sites are mostly level but close together."
"This is really the gem of Missouri state parks. Rv sites are all full 30/50 amp with water and sewer. All spots have plenty of room but are back in. The pads are perfectly level and are concrete."
"Echo Bluff State Park is nestled in the heart of Missouri's Ozarks. This natural haven offers a perfect retreat for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers."
"About every thing you want to do is near by, I recommend you to give this place a try first before going anywhere else. They are Open all year round!"
$16 - $36 / night
"Nestled in Mid Missouri this place is a jam! Popular with locals there are trails, historic iron works and a fish hatchery…very cool place. Close to highway, good overnight spot!"
"Maramec Spring Park is a great place for camping and fishing in Missouri. The Park contains the fifth largest spring in the state."
$20 - $140 / night
"You also have a trail that leads down to a little private beach area on the river but this past year the campground was so full, people were camping right on the beach."
"There is a very nice trail with the trailhead near the group sites. It goes through different terrains, including along the river bank."
$15 - $50 / night
"For our annual cousin campout in our ancestral home of Davisville we reserved site 24 and the group site (2) directly behind it."
"Shaded, grassy, and very private except for the occasional visitors who drive up the road to see the overlook near these two campsites."
"Although the old rv park across the water is nice and level, we ended up wanting to be closer to the water and there happened to be a trail."
"Wasn’t a bad drive in. Decent amount of wild life hanging around. Will probably hear the beaver if you stay at one of the two sites by the pond. Only saw one other group camping here while we did."
$11 - $32 / night
"It is located on the Black River, and the water flowing through the shut-ins is crystal clear and cool."
"Johnson Shut-Ins State Park is located on the Black River in Missouri, just south of St. Louis. This makes it a popular location on hot summer days, especially weekends."
$30 / night
"Supplies close by in Rolla.
WiFi wasn't very good and cell was spotty even with the booster.
No showers or toilets on site so you need to be self-contained."
"When you make your reservation they will confirm the length of your rig and put you in the appropriate site as there’s a small berm behind the sites that allow you to back further in on some sites than"
$20 - $140 / night
"There is a herd of wild horses that frequents the area (as evidenced by mounds of horse poop in an adjacent field!) and you can easily walk over to the beautiful round spring."
"There's a sign to keep car tires on pavement, but I wasn't able to and parked the Jeep on the grass next to the trailer."
ScoutWent to go have a peaceful birthday dinner tonight with my family, and the lovely owners Tyler and Jennifer Juliette were so intoxicated that they kicked us off the property for being in a open public space without camping passes. My fiancé and some of the other guys were all hanging around the dumpster area(no sign saying you can’t be there), when a manager came over and was very rudely asking if they had day passes. When my fiancé calmly tried to explained we were there under a reservation, and we were only hanging around the public general store, the manager proceeded to get visibly angry and said she was informing the owner of our behaviour. After my fiancé came and told me of the situation, I went outside to see what the chaos was. Tyler and Jennifer proceed to come up to my fiancé and say“are you the one who was mouthy with my manger”. Mind you, they both were clearly intoxicated and had alcohol in hand and the manager had a cigarette hanging out of her mouth most of the interaction. After they came up I looked at Tyler and said“Sir we are here under reservation if I could just explain” and Tyler replied“I don’t care about a reservation and you’re going to let me talk.” They proceeded to say we needed to leave or they would call the cops. I told them obviously they had too much to drink and that we would leave. As we turned around to go inside and grab our belongings, they followed us the entire time. Tyler followed me so closely I was so scared he was going to grab me! Literally he was half an inch away from being chest to back with me, and I told him aggressively to back Up, get away from me and that I am a young woman. When we got inside, the owners told my family we were the most“disrespectful children” they’d ever met, mind you we are both legal adults. I grab my belongings, we left, and we surely will never ever be back! My family was left embarrassed, shocked, and disturbed by how poorly the owners handled the situation. If they had kindly asked us to see our passes or that we couldn’t hang by the dumpsters, there would have been 0 issue. If anyone there witnessed the interaction, I am highly sorry for the scene. However this was 100% poor business management and could’ve been handled 1000x better. So unfortunate that the owners are to entitled and money hungry to hear out the people who give them business.
TravelerStayed at site 9 next to the river. No need to go find the scan and pay by the vault toilet all the sites have QR codes at the sites for scan and pay. East access to the water for swimming, paddle boarding etc.
RangerStopped for one night, but could have stayed more. Great campground with tons of trees and shade. Each site has a table and fire pit. Big, clean bathrooms and showers. Playgrounds for kids. Caves to explore. I’m
ScoutThis "resort" is just a basic campground. There's no place to dump your camper's tank, which you'd expect at the prices they charge. The owner is in some sort of a feud with the residents that live around the campground, so now one of them fires a shotgun off every half hour, and another one blasts revelry early in the morning. Nothing scary, but I didn't like knowing that we were right next to residents...certainly wouldn't want a campground in my back yard.
Otherwise, it's mediocre. Depending on the time of year, the river can be quite low, so be sure to check the forecast before planning a stay. It was only about 6 inches deep when I was there. The Gasconade Hills campground is just down the road and was a much better experience.
ScoutDrove 4 hours and spent 300 dollars on a cabin. We placed a small Bluetooth speaker in front of our cabin and relaxed with a drink. After playing music for 20 mins the owner storms over and screams at me to turn it down. Its 8 pm and the music isn't turned up I tell him he said it's his place and his prerogative if it's too loud. I asked him to show me where it said I can't play music. He said quiet time is 10 pm. I said it's 8. He told me not to argue with him as if im his kid or his employee or something. He told me he was going to eject me if I continued to argue. I would never recommend this place to anyone. Save your money and go somewhere the owners respect you. Lots of places who appreciate your business to give this place any business.
GuideNO PLUMBIN, PORT O JOHNS ONLY
PRIMITIVE CAMPSITE 10 IS BEST FOLLOWED BY 7
Froggys has one flaw, see first sentence. Other than that its perfect. The crew is so friendly and you can tell they love running the CG and caring for guests. They had a fire pit in the middle of the river which was so cool and did a pork steak dinner one of the nights. The sites along the river are great for primitive camping. And the six mile float on the gasconade was lovely. The river moves slow, so if you're used to floating 16 miles on the spring fed Jacks Fork or Current, halfing that will be plenty. Shower house was clean and efficient.
RangerWe arrived on a Saturday and the park was packed, but were able to have a spot with electric. Campground probably has well over 200 sites with electric, electric and water, and tent camping. Right on the Merrimack river where one could go hang out in the river or float or tube down the river. Cave that is situated in the park that one can pay for a tour Fisher cave. We actually went to the Meramec Caverns tour about 15 miles away. Road into park is fairly narrow and has a pretty good grade going up and down. Park is actually almost 3 miles from the visitor center. Even though the park was very full when we arrived, it emptied out to almost no one on Sunday afternoon. You are nicely spaced apart from other people for the most part. Showers were adequate.
GuideGreat park close to hwy 44 (5ish minutes + drive to campground) Lots of spots to choose from even though it was a Saturday in August. All are pretty flat and open with not much privacy. Showed up at 5pm and chose an open spot but had to call to reserve because I had no cell service (phone worked, internet didn’t). Phone reservation was super easy and efficient. Our spot (#86) had a lot of broken glass under the picnic table and the fire out was filthy. Convenient potable water and dump station areas. We just stopped for the night while driving through the area so didn’t use the park which seems to have tons to do.
TravelerStunning views. Multiple spots. All have a picnic table and fire ring. They have a QR code on each picnic table so you can book your site through the state and pay $10 to Camp but there's no service in that area so I'm not sure how they expect us to be able to do that. There's two camping sections. One is about halfway down the road. It's grass and trees and it's across from a vault toilet and a trash bin. If you go all the way to the end of the road it rocks and sand and you're right on the water but there's no toilets or trash.
The coordinates for this place just takes you to the start of the road not to the actual campsites. So once you get to the road just drive down it. It's not too far and car could make it.
The only annoying thing was that when I stayed with my tent on the rocks by the water, all the way at the end, I could still hear the person at the very first campsite with RV generator humming very loudly and it took away a lot of the ambiance of the place. So it's primitive but you may not be alone.
Camping near Salem, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.
Camping in Salem, MO, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're looking for a quiet retreat or an action-packed adventure, there's something for every camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Salem, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, Salem, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 141 campgrounds and RV parks near Salem, MO and 12 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Salem, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Salem, MO is Montauk State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 35 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Salem, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 12 free dispersed camping spots near Salem, MO.
What parks are near Salem, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Salem, MO that allow camping, notably Ozark National Scenic Riverways and Mark Twain National Forest.
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