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Best Tent Camping near Skidmore, MO

224 Reviews

Tent campsites near Skidmore, Missouri include several established campgrounds spread across northwest Missouri and extending into nearby Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Mozingo Lake County Tent Campground provides dedicated tent camping areas with a five-star rating from visitors, while Hoot Owl Bend offers more primitive tent camping experiences. Agency Conservation Area also provides free backcountry camping approximately 30 miles south of Skidmore.

Most tent camping areas in the region are characterized by flat terrain with variable shade coverage. Mozingo Lake's tent camping sites feature actual tree cover rather than open fields, making them preferable for summer camping. "Loved that the tent camping sites were actually surrounded by trees, I see way too many tent campsites that are basically just in the middle of a grass field," noted one visitor. Sites typically include minimal amenities, with trash collection available at some locations while others require pack-in, pack-out practices. Multiple conservation areas maintain primitive tent sites that lack picnic tables, designated fire rings, or drinking water. Several campgrounds enforce closure hours from 10 PM to 4 AM, which affects overnight tent camping options.

The region offers varied experiences for tent campers depending on location. Areas closer to water bodies like Mozingo Lake provide recreational opportunities beyond camping. Tent campsites at Ross County Park in nearby Iowa feature a shelter house and trash collection but no other services, creating what one visitor described as a "nice out of the way location" with "no services of any kind." Hoot Owl Bend provides tent camping in a simple clearing suitable for setting up tents but requires careful site selection. Visitors should prepare for potential wildlife encounters and seasonal challenges like stinging nettle near water access points. For tent campers seeking basic accommodations, the area provides several free or low-cost primitive camping options with varying levels of isolation from neighboring campsites.

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Best Tent Sites Near Skidmore, Missouri (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Skidmore, MO

7 Photos of 10 Skidmore Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Skidmore, MO

224 Reviews of 10 Skidmore Campgrounds

  • Michelle V.
    Aug. 19, 2020

    Hackberry Hollow Campground — Indian Cave State Park

    Great for car camping

    Just car tent camped here with my fiancé and dog over the weekend. We had many camp sites to choose from because it’s back to school time in NE (timing, timing, timing)! Basic tent sights are first come, $15 a night. The park offered firewood ($6) and ice for sale. Lots of hiking trails with different levels of difficulty and elevation. Most drive up camp sites have outhouses nearby. We sometimes drove up to the group tent sites where they have clean bathrooms, running water and showers (need quarters for shower). We had a great time and enjoyed being surrounded by all the lovely trees. Staff were friendly and the park was clean. Only bummer is the steps to the “cave” is still closed.

  • Sarah H.
    Sep. 19, 2016

    Big Lake State Park Campground

    Clean and Friendly off I-29

    My husband and I tent camped one night at this park. We arrived around 8 pm and even though the office was getting ready to close, the woman behind the counter was very kind and helpful. She helped us with finding our spot and with getting firewood. Our basic tent site was lakeside and had a fire pit and picnic table. The site was so well maintained it was hard to find small sticks for kindling.

    The grounds have private bathrooms with toilets and showers. There are two nice playgrounds and a swimming pool. Most campers were enjoying fishing in the small lake. Kayaks were available to rent for a small fee. Kids enjoyed riding bikes around the flat roads.

    This is a great spot off I-29 to set up camp and have a rest. It's also a good spot to take young kids fishing.

  • Tarrah C.
    Apr. 5, 2023

    Waubonsie State Park Campground

    Nice Trails

    This is a great weekend spot not much to do around the park. The campsites are nice but close with not much space in between. There are 2 campgrounds, the one north of the highway is a horse campground but required. There are nice trails in this area. The campground on the south is more of a tent site. There are vault toliets, no showers. A lot of great trails o this side. All campsites include a picnic table and fire ring.

  • Whitney L.
    Jun. 6, 2022

    Bluffwoods Conservation Area

    lovely, quiet camping near St. Joe’s MO

    Love this little area for camping! It’s well maintained, quiet, easy to access, has lots of grass for the dogs to play and we always see wildlife. People often leave trash so be sure to leave no trace so it stays nice for all to enjoy <3

  • Charles C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2018

    Auburn Recreation Complex

    FREE TENT CAMPING- on the edge of town @ the Auburn RV Park

    RV and tent campers only $15 a night with hookup. TENT CAMPING IS FREE! 10-night maximum. Dumping station. Water and electrical. The restrooms are quite a ways away. No showers available.

    The town has some decent shopping, such as the Catholic thrift store which is so well set up it could be mistaken for a decent antique store, and a local clothing store with unique items.

    The disc golf course in town is challenging and well laid out.

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2024

    Waubonsie State Park Campground

    Really good hiking trails

    Stayed one night on Sept 4. Camped at site 35 in the non-equestrian campground; non-electric fee $15. Parked van on the grass at this site. Like nearly all of the sites in this campground, this site was close to the campground road. Overall, I felt that the campsites were all bunched together - offering no privacy and spacing between sites. The shower house was closed during our visit. Water was also turned off at the wayer pumps in the campground. There was one single vault toilet available for all of the campers; it was reasonably clean. Wayne, the campground host, was nice & helpful. There is a self-serve firewood station in the campground; cost is either $5 or $10, depending on the amount of wood you purchase. The campsites have a picnic table & metal fire ring. I wasn't too pleased with this campground, but I was very happy with the nearby hiking trails within the park. It's a pretty state park with hills & lush forest. The day use areas looked great. I recommend those traveling along I-29 to stop at this park - not necessarily for the camping, but for the hiking. Had some T-Mobile 4G service.

  • Charles C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2018

    Duck Creek Recreation Area

    New Campground by Secluded Lake

    This park is a beautiful lake. We saw white pelicans and blue herons on this visit but it is not uncommon to see hawks, owls, and eagles in the area. This is a new park dedicated this year by the Nemaha NRD: sort of a multi-county natural resource agency found exclusively in Nebraska.

    The picnic tables, vault toilets, paved walking trails, playground equipment are all new and well laid out. Gravel slabs with electrical hookup are only $12 a night but that is deceiving because you need to purchase a $5 day pass or $15 annual pass to come to the park. Yet even the some of the primitive sites have slabs for a pop-up and did not appear to cost anything beyond your vehicle pass.

    The lake is too small for any boat with more than a trolling motor (there is a boat ramp) and should be outstanding for a kayak or canoe. Fishing should be great here. Paved trail and wide gravel slabs with raised fire pits should make this a great rustic getaway for handicapped campers. There is even a paved path to the end of a jetty of fishing in the lake.

    This park is close to the Steamboat Trace Hiking/Biking Trail which is a 26-mile trail following the bluffs and coming within spitting distance of the Missouri River. Peru Nebraska is close, home of one of the oldest colleges this side of the Mississippi. Peru is also close for limited supplies such as Ice and band-aids. Auburn and Nebraska City are both about 10 miles away, Neb City has a Walmart.

    I think this park is best for a quiet weekend getaway. I recommend you contact the NRD for an annual pass and take advantage of the other parks they operate. You could hike or Bike the Trace and tent camp for free!

  • Danni A.
    Oct. 7, 2024

    Brownville Riverside Park

    Needs quite a bit of improvement

    We stayed here so that we would be within walking distance of Brownville. It took a while to figure out how to make a reservation (you call the River Inn Resort). When I made the reservation, I was told there is no electricity, which is fine since we have solar. However, we were not told there are no tables, or fire rings... there pretty much isn't anything other than land. The land that is there is pretty rough as well. There were very large burs of some sort throughout the grassy areas, which made it difficult for our dog to go anywhere during our trip. There were also an unbelievable amount of gnats, but that is probably due to the proximity to the river. The people at the River Inn Resort, where you check in, were friendly and helpful. However, we would not stay here again.

  • Ranadinitalei D.
    May. 13, 2021

    Charity Lake

    Exactly what we were looking for

    We were looking for a quick detour to set up our tent and sleep for a few hours. This was exactly that. There was a picnic table, a fire pit, a nice breeze, a lake and it was quiet and secluded

Guide to Skidmore

Tent camping near Skidmore, Missouri offers a variety of options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to immerse themselves in nature. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, campers can enjoy unique amenities and activities.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

Activities to enjoy while tent camping

  • At Hoot Owl Bend, campers can explore the nearby water and enjoy birdwatching, although it's essential to be cautious of the stinging nettle in the area.
  • Pony Creek Lake is primarily a fishing destination, providing ample opportunities for anglers to cast their lines in a serene setting.
  • Atchison State Fishing Lake offers a quiet atmosphere for primitive camping, perfect for those looking to unwind and connect with nature.

Tips for tent camping near Skidmore

  • Be prepared for a lack of amenities at Agency Conservation Area, as it offers no drinking water or trash services, making it essential to pack out what you bring in.
  • When visiting Brownville Riverside Park, be aware of the park's condition, as it has faced challenges from flooding and may require some improvements.
  • If you prefer a more developed site, consider Kirkman’s Cove Recreation Area, which provides shaded spots and access to a sandy beach for swimming and boating.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Skidmore, MO is Mozingo Lake County Tent Campground with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 10 tent camping locations near Skidmore, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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