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Best Tent Camping near Stockton Lake

364 Reviews

Tent camping options around Stockton Lake, Missouri include several basic established sites with varying amenities. Prairie State Park Campground offers primitive tent sites with toilets, picnic tables, and trash service, though the campsites are limited in number. Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area provides free camping opportunities with drive-in and walk-in tent sites, though reviews indicate inconsistent access with some visitors encountering locked gates.

Most tent sites near Stockton Lake feature minimal amenities. Prairie State Park includes toilet facilities, water access points, and fire rings, but lacks showers or electrical hookups. Campers should verify seasonal availability before traveling, as some areas may close periodically or have restricted access. Drinking water is available at Prairie State Park and Masters Park, but most other tent campgrounds require visitors to bring their own water supply. Surface conditions vary from established gravel pads to natural ground, with limited site preparation.

The natural landscape offers the primary appeal for tent campers in this region. Prairie State Park features unique opportunities to experience native grasslands with roaming bison herds and abundant wildlife viewing. The park's primitive setting creates opportunities for stargazing and solitude, with spacious, well-distanced sites providing privacy. Weather conditions can significantly impact the camping experience, with visitors noting the presence of ticks during warmer months. One camper described the Prairie State Park experience as "a surreal experience and worth the time to locate the herd in the park."

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Best Tent Sites Near Stockton Lake (10)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Stockton Lake

2 Photos of 10 Stockton Lake Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Stockton Lake

364 Reviews of 10 Stockton Lake Campgrounds

  • Fred S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 19, 2024

    Crabtree Cove

    Free Off Season Camping (review of Loop B only)

    Camped in Loop B on Oct 4, 2023. Camping was free at this Corp of Engineer campground since off season began on Oct 1st. The Loop B campground has several RV/tent sites arranged in sub-loops in an open field; some trees for shade. Sites are close to each other; no privacy between sites. Sites appear to be level. Each site has a metal fire ring, table and lamp pole. The loop road is paved and the sites were gravel. There were no hookups in Loop B. The water station was shut off, but the vault toilet, which wasn't very clean, was open. No camp host on duty during our stay. There is access to Stockton Lake from the loop road. There was nothing special about this campground, but has good lake access for boats.  Otherwise this campgrund is suitable for an overnight stay.

  • H
    May. 31, 2022

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Primitive accomodations but beautiful land!

    The tiny campground is located in a wooded hollow at the edge of the prairie and has 4 primitive sites, no electric or water at sites, no showers and one vault toilet only. You can drive up the hill to the maintenance area to get water and there is a sign for this. 2 sites have paved pads and the others are gravel/dirt. The 2 outer gravel sites back up to a curved stream that runs along the perimeter of the campground but are lower and more shaded and more prone to hovering clouds of bugs. They are all have a picnic table and fire ring and are relatively private and well distanced. Since you have to drive through this stream to get to the campground beware when there has been heavy rain as it may not be accessible. The center paved sites are more open and grassy and get more wind but also don’t have as much shade. I think I stayed in site 4 and it was great for my solar panel. I did have steady cell service with AT&T while here.

    Since it’s pretty primitive you will likely have the place to yourself, but be prepared to have guests of the state park driving through all day to check it out. Lots of deer around, beautiful to see but this also means ticks! There is also significant poison ivy along the roads but there are signs warning about that. Best to keep to the maintained roads and paths. As far as dogs, they are not allowed on any of the trails because of the bison but they can walk the entire main gravel road of the state park (no shade). Nature center was closed due to covid when I was there but looks interesting. There were a couple bison about 20 feet from the center when I was there. My parents visited once and ended up on the road for about an hour while an entire herd of bison meandered across the road around their vehicle! The bison roam free here, although the small campground area has fences and/or cow grates to keep them out. The land is stunning and open and takes you back to a bygone era of this country. The sunrises here over the prairie are gorgeous.

  • Rebecca L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 18, 2025

    Damsite

    Another amazing COE campground

    Another wonderful Corps of Engineers campground on Pomme De Terre Lake. There are basic campsites and campsites with full hookups. The campsites are spacious and overlook the lake. This is such a beautiful, well maintained campground. Every campsite is level and has a picnic table and fire ring. During the off season ( Oct 1 - Nov.30 & March 14th - Apr 14 ) all campsites ( electric and primitive ) are only $10. ( limited amenities) From Jan 5th - March 14th campsites are free at Damsite Park. However, there is no electric or water available at that time.
    Please check the Pomme De Terre USACE website for changes and regular season rates. 50% off all rates with America the beautiful/senior access pass at all Corps of Engineers campgrounds.
    I highly recommend this campground. 4g LTE and great cell signal.

  • D
    Jul. 1, 2022

    Raccoon Ridge — Harry S Truman State Park

    Shaded, Quiet and close to the lake!

    Site 36 with 30A & 120V. Public Water Spigot about 50’ away. No Sewer or Water connections at Raccoon Ridge. Plenty of dead kindling and wood around to burn. Asphalt drive with concrete pad. Picnic table, fire/grill ring, hook post w/ recycle bag attached. BEST Site is 38 which puts trailer door parallel with a 180 lake view. Heavy wooded with shared paths to lake or cove. Marina is within 1 mile by water or 15 minutes by car. Ice, Beer and necessities at Puddle Jumpers Bait Store about 10 minute drive. Hosts were great and did cleaning daily. Showers and Dump Station at top of hill few hundred yards away. Let shower water run about 3 minutes before the warm water kicks in. Swim beach is on other side of cove or about a 5 min drive. Dump Station has 4 Waste Holes, two Non-potable water spigots/hoses and one Fresh Potable Water hose and both sides have slight incline on dump tank side. Downtown Warsaw is about 15 minutes away with tourist antique shoppes, bars, ice cream shoppes and the historic Joe Dice Suspension Bridge. The Truman Dam is about same distance away. T-Mobile service with 2-3 bars, no WIFI; but HotSpot worked for ROKU. Keep food and bait inside as raccoons rule at night. Be CAUTIOUS of Red Ticks that are VERY tiny… you’ll want plenty of DEET! Flies were biting like crazy, some mosquitoes and LOTS of May Flies. You’ll see Bald Eagles, raccoons. deer, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, turtles and FISHING near wooded edge of cove is Bass and Crappie haven!!! Also Geocaching near by!!!

    We will return and hopefully get site 38!

  • Napunani
    Dec. 1, 2023

    Bennett Spring State Park Campground

    Fishing Paradise

    PROS 

    Senior discount 

    Check-in via text was easy and fast 

    Beautifully maintained state park 

    Quiet during week 

    Pull-thru Site 102 level, concrete pad surrounded by grass 

    Site sufficient length for trailer and tow vehicle 

    Metal frame plastic plank picnic table metal fire ring with cooking grate 

    Dark sky friendly except for campsites 101-106 

    Trash dumpsters throughout campground 1 

    Firewood for sale $5 at entrance gate house 

    Huge park store! 

    CONS. 

    1 toilet and 1 shower for 48 campsites in Campground 1. Both door locks did not work. There were lines for the one toilet most of the time!!!

    $6.50 Reservation Fee 

    Site 102 had a wonderful view of the entrance gatehouse that had blaring lights all night, the one lane dump station and a dumpster 

    Campground 101-106 sites slammed together; our campfire ring was 15 feet from neighbors sewer outlet 

    Site 102 campfire ring was 2 feet from site unmovable picnic table 

    No privacy from any other sites 

    No security overnight gate closures 

    Would not recommend Park restaurant

  • Joe G.
    Jun. 29, 2022

    COE Harry S Truman Reservoir Long Shoal Park

    Great Place

    Just got back after 2 days there.  Sites are spaced a good distance apart, nice clean lots with fire ring, picnic table and 30 amp.  The flush restrooms are cleaned everyday and very nice.  I picked site 69 which overlooks the lake and was less than 30 yards from water edge.  Site very from 100% sun to 100% shade so you have a lot to choose from.  Highly recommend it to anyone will will be back soon.

  • Lea B.
    Aug. 16, 2020

    COE Stockton Lake Hawker Point

    Private and Nearly Perfect

    Just got home from a weekend stay at site C19 at Hawker Point COE Park. This particular site was just up the hill from the lake and completely private. The walk to the lake was about 50 yards and a little steep but we managed to carry two kayaks down and up without too much trouble (and we are a middle-aged couple), and it was totally worth the effort because it was as if we had our own private cove.

    The site is very spacious and shaded with plenty of trees for our hammocks and clothesline. Lots of level places for tents. The park attendants were very friendly and helpful.

    C19 has no electricity or water and the closest vault toilet is a good walk down the road. The shower houses were driving distance away. We have a shower tent, so that wasn’t an issue for us.

    We drove through the rest of this park to check out A and B campground loops. A loop consists of full hookup sites and many sit right on the water. Little shade and crowded, but if you like to play on the lake all day these might be for you. B loop had pretty wooded sites but many were not close to the water. C loop is where it’s at!

  • Abby H.
    May. 18, 2023

    Pittsburg Area Campground — Pomme de Terre State Park

    First Weekend

    My boyfriend and I stayed here for one night at the beginning of may for our first camping trip together. It was at one of 2 basic tent sites. Ours was just a short walk on a (likely camper-made trail) down to the water. The water seemed clean enough to swim but there was a lot of floating moss and seaweed right along the shore. So we opted to just fish even though we were unsuccessful. There were plenty of trees to hang out hammock, a grill grate over the fire, and a decent amount of shade. There were two flat sites for a tent. We chose one that was slightly more on a slope because it was less rocky. Spotted a few poison ivy plants and 2-3 brown recluses but we’re in their habitat so that is to be expected. Not ideal but not unexpected lol we definitely plan to return!

  • Wendy M.
    Oct. 25, 2020

    Prairie State Park Campground

    Primitive fun

    This campsite is not for those who want amenities. There are 4 SPACIOUS sites and they are what I would call primitive. No hookups/ no electricity/ no running water. Good for star gazing. Two sites have a paved pad and two do not...depends what you’re looking for. There are quite a few trails ranging from 1.5-4.5 miles—- total of 14 miles of trails. The nature center is small but they have two bison, a coyote, and many other learning opportunities inside. Speaking of bison and coyotes... you’ll hear the coyotes all night howling and barking...the bison are roaming around which you will be able to see where they’ve been by the scat droppings around the road and trail system. Definitely something to see if you’ve never seen the plains before.

Guide to Stockton Lake

Tent camping near Stockton Lake in Missouri offers a blend of natural beauty and outdoor adventure, perfect for those looking to escape into the great outdoors.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Enjoy fishing and boating at Masters Park, where the fishing docks and boat ramp provide easy access to the water.
  • Experience the serene environment at Hermitage State Park Campground, which is known for its peaceful lake access and various fishing opportunities.
  • Explore the trails and wildlife at Prairie State Park Campground, where you can spot bison roaming freely across the landscape.

Amenities that enhance your camping experience

Local attractions to explore during your stay

  • Visit the nearby beaches and swimming areas at Hermitage State Park Campground for a refreshing dip after a day of hiking.
  • Take a scenic drive around Shawnee Bend to enjoy the picturesque views of Harry S. Truman Lake.
  • Discover the unique landscapes and wildlife at Prairie State Park Campground, where you can hike trails that showcase the beauty of the Midwest's native grasslands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Stockton Lake?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Stockton Lake is Masters Park with a 1-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Stockton Lake?

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

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