Best Tent Camping near Sullivan, MO
Forested areas surrounding Sullivan, Missouri offer several tent camping options, with Brazil Creek Recreation Area in nearby Bourbon providing primitive tent-only sites along a clear water creek. Courtois Creek Dispersed Camping, located within a short drive of Sullivan, offers backcountry tent camping with creek access and natural surroundings. Both locations cater specifically to tent campers seeking more remote experiences, with Brazil Creek featuring a mix of drive-in and walk-in tent sites. Klondike Park, though farther away near Augusta, provides additional tent camping options with more developed facilities and scenic views of a former quarry turned lake.
Ground conditions at primitive tent campgrounds vary significantly, with most sites featuring natural surfaces rather than developed pads. Brazil Creek offers limited amenities with only one official fire ring and picnic table, though campers have created additional stone fire rings throughout the area. A single vault toilet was recently added, but no drinking water is available unless filtered from the creek. Courtois Creek Dispersed Camping requires careful vehicle access, as one camper noted the road in is "barely a road" with fallen trees and branches that can make navigation difficult. Neither location offers reservations, operating on a first-come, first-served basis, and both require campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste.
In early spring and fall, tent campers experience fewer crowds at these locations. According to reviews, Brazil Creek provides good access to the Berryman Trail for hikers and backpackers using the area as a basecamp. One visitor described it as "a great little spot if you're okay with no electricity, light, or just want to get away from it all." Cell service varies by provider, with AT&T users reporting 1-3 bars at Brazil Creek, while others had no service. At Courtois Creek, a camper noted there was "no cell signal" but found the area "beautiful and peaceful." Walk-in tent sites at Klondike Park offer more privacy, with sites #19 and #20 described as "more secluded, with more trees and privacy" than other locations.
