Best Tent Camping near Steelville, MO

The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Steelville. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Missouri camping has to offer. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Steelville and user-submitted reviews.

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Best Tent Sites Near Steelville, Missouri (25)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Steelville, MO

674 Reviews of 25 Steelville Campgrounds


  • Mike V.
    Aug. 3, 2016

    Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Campground

    Camping, hiking, sightseeing, & birding at Taum Sauk Mountain State Park in Missouri

    Gave this campground a 5-star rating, but it probably should only be a 4 star. It only has about 12 basic tent campsites, no water or electrical at the sites. The campsites were nicely spaced, most have a lot of shade, each has a picnic table and a place to make a fire. No trailers allowed at camp sites, just tents. There is one or two special-use camping areas that can be used for groups such as boy scouts, etc. It appears you can pay in advance and reserve some campsites, so that you be sure to get one for your trip. I went in late May on the Mon-Tue of-after Memorial Day weekend and was able to find an available campsite even though I did not have a reservation. Camping fees/rates were posted on a board near the restroom building by the honor system camping fee pay station.
    The restroom bldg only has pit toilets, not flush toilets. But they were cleaned very well by the workers on the 2nd day I was there. Also worth noting is that there is water faucet an a drinking fountain next to the restroom bldg, so you can get fresh water if needed. OK, so this sounds normal to average, so why give this campground a good rating? Because of location to the great stuff near-by on this mountain.
    Missouri's High Point is here on this mountain. There is a very nice overlook w/ viewing platform w/ handrails very close to the campground. Some awesome hiking trails are worth checking out, although they are a bit rugged in places where you could twist an ankle. One of the trails will take you to a nice waterfall, which is Missouri's highest falls. Note that I would not call it MO's largest waterfall. Further to all of this great stuff is that the birds were plentiful and quite active when I was there. Easy to watch and listen to them at the camping area, and at the overlook viewing platform. Birds were pretty much everywhere. There is also a look-out tower up on the mountain, which is probably used as a fire watch tower. A few pictures attached.

  • 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.

  • R
    Nov. 22, 2021

    Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park

    Late Fall Tent Camp

    We tent camped in loop 3 in late November for one night. The bathroom and showers were still on in this camping area. The spots are slightly close together but still very wooded. Not a lot of people camping at this time of the year even on a Saturday. Camp hosts were fabulous. The sites aren’t really set up for tents. More for Trailers. We had to get creative to find a spot to put up the tent in order to stake it down. Large parking pads, fire rings, and picnic tables at each camp site.

  • Marissa H.
    Aug. 11, 2020

    Timbuktu Campground — Echo Bluff State Park

    Wonderful Swimming Hole

    This is a really nice spot for tent camping - even though it’s clearly geared towards RV camping. Make sure to book a walk-in campsite if you’re tent camping, otherwise you’ll be in the lot with the RVs (no trees, no privacy etc see first picture). You’ll have to carry your gear to your site, but not too far. Each walk in site is fairly isolated and separate from the other site by trees. Each site has a wood tent pad, picnic table, and fire ring with grate. If you want you could even go to the lodge (walking distance) for a meal and skip the cooking! Book your spot in advance as it seems like they fill up quickly.

  • Olivia S.
    Jul. 20, 2020

    St. Joe State Park Campground

    Reviews on Campground #1 & #2

    I’ve camped at both campgrounds offered at St. Joe. In the fall of 2018, we stayed at CG#1, the spot has a nice gravel tent pad with border, picnic table, and a fire pit. The spot also offered a concrete section for a camper and cars. We had a pop-up and one tent and it was very spacious. A great spot with a minute walk to a very well kept shower house and bathroom. We really liked this spot at CG#1.

    CG#2 is located about 2-3 away from the main campground, this includes the shower house and main bathrooms. There is no shower house at CG#2. I stayed at CG#2 about a week ago. Very similar in design to the sites at CG#1, it also offers amenities for those with horses. We had a spot with electric and no water, water is located close by the vault toilets. The site has a gravel parking area rather than the concrete one at CG#1. We had two tents, two cars, and five people, just as spacious. If you want more seclusion and don’t really care about being right next to the showers, I would suggest CG#2.

    Also, there was a trail located right by our spot at CG#2, it’s a good hike!!

    Two clean and well kept swimming areas, great trails, good camp sites, and great bathrooms/showers!

  • b
    Aug. 31, 2021

    Mark Twain National Forest Loggers Lake Recreation Area

    WPA beauty!

    Loggers Lake, in the Mark Twain National Forest, is about 7 miles west of Bunker, Mo. Spring fed lake, no electric or water campsites. There is a maintained M/F restroom on the site, and a water spigot close to the restroom. All sites have a fire ring and a picnic table. GORGEOUS!

  • Staci R.
    Oct. 24, 2017

    Brazil Creek

    No man's land

    No cell signal, and as the other reviewer has said, have your map to get there, because it's easy if you do. Your phone will not get you there. Beautiful clear water creek runs directly behind this "pull off" campground. There is only one actual fire ring & picnic table, but folks have built other rock fire rings dispersed throughout the campground. Just off a main trail to Meramac river and horse and hiking trails. No water, amenities (not even a vault toilet) or cell service.

  • Kelsie L.
    Sep. 18, 2020

    Loggers Lake Campground

    Nice camping right on the lake

    Loggers Lake campground runs along the 22 acre Loggers Lake near Bunker, MO in the Mark Twain National Forest.

    Be prepared for a decent amount of driving on gravel county roads. The route from bunker itself has a bit less while the route to Salem is longer on gravel with a handful of water crossings.

    There are 14 sites which all have parking, picnic table, and fire ring. Most have lantern poles. Most back right up to the lake. Most have back in parking which can accommodate a vehicle with trailer. The first few sites have split parking, which can house your trailer in one spot and vehicle next to it, but not long enough to back in without disconnecting. At the beginning of the campground there is a swimming area with picnic tables, grills, and a vault toilet. After this, there are the sites mentioned above with split parking. Tent sites and tables are down a hill from the parking spots here. There is a small fork with a parking lot and a handful of sites - while we were here there was an RV in this area. I believe this would be the only place a full RV could park in the campground. Finally is the main campground loop. There is another vault toilet at the beginning of the loop. Both vault toilets were relatively clean. One had air fresheners in it. There is water access near the vault toilet. On the loop, all exterior sites back up to the lake. There are two sites on the center of the loop which would be very nice for a large group. The lake itself is beautiful and easy to access. There is a boat ramp at the campground loop and a spot at almost every site to put in a kayak or canoe.

    There is a 1.5 mile trail along the lake which begins at the campground loop. There is a spur to the spillway. The trail does not seem to be very heavily traveled, expect to walk through brush and spider webs!

  • Hannah W.
    Apr. 2, 2019

    Berryman Trail & Campgrounds - Mark Twain National Forest

    No fees, no water, plenty of beauty and space

    This 8 site campground has well kept vault toilets and no other services, but is fee-less to match. There is a pavilion near the access points to the Berryman and Ozark trails. We camped the night before heading out on a one night backpacking trip on the Berryman and were pleasantly surprised - it had rained the past 2 days and just finished when we arrived, but the ground was not soggy at the campsite or really much on the trail at all. The sites are well spaced apart, short pads so we saw one couple park their camper on one and their truck on another (the sites were not anywhere near full). Downside to that was, they ran their loud generator all night. However the experience overall was a positive one, with friendly neighbors but plenty of distance between so we didn't cross paths or hear each other's conversations unless we wanted to, a nice fire ring - check before selecting a site as ours was missing a grate; we didn't need one anyhow, a sturdy picnic table and plenty of down wood around to collect for a fire. We will be back!!


Guide to Steelville

Tent camping near Steelville, Missouri offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature, with various campgrounds providing unique amenities and experiences for outdoor enthusiasts.

Affordable Tent Camping Options

  • Some prices for tent camping range from free to around $25 per night, making it accessible for all budgets.
  • At Brazil Creek, you can enjoy a free camping experience right by a refreshing creek, perfect for cooling off after a day of hiking.
  • For a more structured stay, Adventure Outdoors offers tent sites with electric hookups and showers, typically priced around $25.

Local Activities for Adventurers

  • The Berryman Trail runs nearby Brazil Creek, providing excellent hiking and backpacking opportunities for those looking to explore the scenic Ozarks.
  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the chance to cast a line in the creek at Brazil Creek, where you might catch a few fish while enjoying the tranquil surroundings.
  • Horseback riding is popular in the area, with Brazil Creek featuring hitching posts for equestrians looking to explore the trails.

Unique Features of Campgrounds

  • Panther Branch Primitive Campground offers a truly back-to-nature experience with no amenities, allowing campers to fully disconnect and enjoy the wilderness.
  • At Water Mountain, you can find spacious areas for camping along the river, making it a great spot for both relaxation and recreation.
  • Padfield Branch Primitive Campground features a natural spring and remnants of old living quarters, adding a touch of history to your camping adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Steelville, MO is Courtois Creek Dispersed with a 4-star rating from 5 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 25 tent camping locations near Steelville, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.