21 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Tent campgrounds near Vienna, Missouri offer primitive camping experiences along the Gasconade River and nearby conservation areas. Paydown Access provides secluded tent sites with basic amenities, while Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area offers free primitive tent camping with vault toilets. Fredericksburg Ferry Access and Helds Island Access provide additional options for tent campers seeking riverside locations with minimal development.
Most tent sites in the Vienna area feature grassy or gravel surfaces with fire rings but limited additional amenities. Vault toilets are available at most locations, though no running water or shower facilities exist at these primitive campgrounds. Sites are typically first-come, first-served with no reservation systems. Road conditions vary, with some locations requiring careful navigation on dirt or gravel roads. Campers should pack in all necessary supplies including drinking water, as most locations have no potable water sources. Several campgrounds, including Osage-Tavern Access, have dirt access roads that may be challenging during wet conditions.
Conservation areas and river access points provide the most secluded tent camping experiences in the region. These areas typically offer peaceful settings with opportunities for fishing, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Tent campers can enjoy stargazing at night due to minimal light pollution at these remote locations. The proximity to water features makes these sites popular during summer months. Fredericksburg Ferry Access features "about 10 primitive sites with grassy coverage and a mix of gravel or grass pull-ins. Lots of trees but still great stargazing at night." Visitors should be prepared for variable conditions, as some locations like Rollins Ferry Access can become busy and noisy, particularly on weekends and holidays.
"The police drove by around 11 pm which had us wondering if some people hang out and party there on occasion. No electric for your camper, but a great spot when the weather cooperates."
"Lots of open space to camp and plenty of area to hike or use an ATV. Also it’s on the river which is nice!"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Has 1 bathroom and place for trash. Right along the river so nice if your looking for water. I arrived at 6 on a Saturday (post labor day) and plenty of sites available."
"Has a shaded grassy area for camping. No power vault toilets. Be prepared for some neighbors and young visitors through the night."
"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."
"This Missouri Conservation area is a Swiss Army knife of rugged of the path camping. Rivers, Lakes, Gun range, Horses and hiking can all be enjoyed here."
"Drive was safe in our heavy converted camper van. No off road vehicle or AWD needed. Ground is very level and not super rocky so this is a great site for tents."
ScoutVault 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.
GuideThis is a USFS campground that is perfect if you want a secluded spot to disconnect for awhile. No water, electricity, or cell service, but the views are amazing and Paddy Creek is beautiful. Campground requires a six mile drive on somewhat rough gravel roads and and a paved creek crossing if you are are coming from the Licking, MO side of the forest.
There are about two dozen campsites, each with a narrow and short concrete pad to back a vehicle into. A small popup camper or travel trailer may fit, but anything medium or larger is not going to work. All sites have good shade from tall trees and include a picnic table and fire ring. The single vault toilet was clean and stocked.
Cost is $15 a night and is paid for in the iron ranger nearby. The campground appears to close in late fall and open again in the spring at different dates each year, so be sure to check the USFS website before planning a trip.
GuideFredericksburg Access is a free campground with about 10 primitive sites. Grassy coverage with a mix of gravel or grass pull-ins. Lots of trees but still great stargazing at night. We even saw a few meteors!
We went on a late July weekend and only 1 other small group was there. It had just rained but wasn't too mucky. Drive was safe in our heavy converted camper van. No off road vehicle or AWD needed.
Ground is very level and not super rocky so this is a great site for tents. There are vault toilets but no sinks nor dumpsters, so plan ahead for hygiene and waste. Toilets are on flat ground, handicap accessible, and gender neutral. Likely to be a much tougher trip if you used to full hook-up RV camping/glamping, or require showers, but perfect for primitive camping!
The region: 45m to nearest Walmart or tractor supply, so plan ahead. Food, fire starter logs, and lighter fuel available at Thriftway (about 30 min), firewood and ice at Casey's, and McDonald's all in Linn (all 30m) if you need anything.
About water access: Sites are all within about a 5 min walk from the boat ramp on the Gasconade. Sign reads "no swimming" but there's a nice gravel bar just downstream from the ramp. If you enter the water, be mindful that boats may pass as you try to cross.
The swim there requires crossing a moderately sized river that is relatively swift. This is fine for people who swim well but not recommended for young children or weak swimmers especially without flotation devices. It is swift enough to carry you downstream of your target even for good swimmers, so plan for this, especially for your swim back upstream (recommend walking upstream past dock then floating back across to dock). It's also deep in the center so you're not going to be able to cross with dry items unless you have a container that is waterproof.
Again, it's a wider and quick river, so we had to help our dog across. Took 5-7 min there and 15 to get back (with dog. Mind the rocky/brush areas just downstream of the dock, saw some snakes.
GuideMeramec is a campground centrally located in the Meramec caverns. It is a flat area, soft ground, and open space to camp. Not a lot of privacy from neighbors but it is cozy and everything is close by. Bathrooms could be updated but they are well maintained. Host is kind and halloween trick or treating is the best time to come. Lots of playgrounds and space to play yard games. No trails but it is along a short trail that leads to a cave and the river.
Scout$5 recommendation donation for the night. Stayed at this campground as a halfway point hiking the Big Piney Trail loop. Typical primitive campground with toilets, bear-proof trash cans, and camp sites with fire rings and picnic tables, but not much else. Didn’t see any water faucets near our site.
GuideThis campground is in a small village that is my ancestral home. As a kid I spent my summers just up the road at my grandparents’ house. That being said, you don’t go to this campground to be comfortable. It’s fairly primitive. One loop is mostly rocks. It didn’t used to be that way but there was a devastating flood a few years back and now if you camp in that loop you’re likely going to be on rocks. Unfortunately the far end of the other loop is mostly rock now too. There are vault toilets, a grand total of three in the campground. They are usually kept clean. No showers. Water is at the spigot. The campground host doesn’t bother with quiet hours. The raccoon population is out of control. Basically if you’re camping here it’s just for the crystal clear waters of the Huzzah Creek. There are large boulders to jump from, some small fish to catch, tadpoles to observe, and lots of pretty shells to dig out of the rocky beach. The river will keep the kids busy all day. Most of the sites on the straights are grassy. The loops tend to be rocky. Ample shade at most sites as well as an abundance of ticks, chiggers, and horseflies.
LegendThis is a nice, large campground in the middle of Meramec State Park. The campground is a large level meadow between the river, the bluffs and the road. For being close to the road, there is not a lot of road noise. I noticed more river noise with boats buzzing up and down the Meramec. The campground was well maintained and nicely laid out with several loops. There didn't seem to be any real separation between the tent and RV sites, but on a early season weekend, you can manage to get a tent site away from the RV's. Some tent sites have good ham mocking trees, but not all sites do. And some sites were clearly in low lying areas that would definitely puddle in a decent rain. All sites had the standard fire ring and picnic table. I thought the shower house was really clean and well maintained, although for a campground this large I would have thought there would have been two. There is a nice hiking trail coming out of the campground that winds along the river and then along the base of the bluff. You can hike up into a large cave and get a birds eye view of everything through the trees. Across from the campground is Fisher's Cave which is open for exploration during the summer months. It was not open when I was there, but there is a trail going to the top of the cave, and of course you can stand at the gated entrance to the cave and feel the cold air coming out. I'm not a caver, but apparently this is a really good cave for exploring.
TravelerThis was our first trip in our camper and a first camp at Meramec Caverns.
The staff is friendly and helpful. Security patrols around the clock and doesn't put up with any ridiculousness.
Campsites available on pavement, gravel for campers and RVs and grass for tents. Our site had 30/50 amp service and water on a gravel site facing the Meramec River. It waa a beautiful view!
Shower house and restroom facilities are clean and maintained.
A dump station is located just outsIde the main gate of the campgrounds.
Because of the location, there is no wifi and we had no cell service for the majority of our stay. Once in a while it would get a signal but it was very brief.
Campsites are separated from the Meramec Caverns tourist attractions so there is not constant traffic coming through the campsite.
Most campsites had a stone fire ring, bbq grill, and picnic table.
The cave tour, zipline, boat ride, canoe and float trips and motel are all within short walking distance from the campgrounds.
The campground store has ice, firewood and basics available. The gift shop at the cave has typical tourist items available. The restaurant is more of a snack bar and not a full service restaurant, so don't rely on it for your meals during your stay!
The cave tour is interesting and informative and on a hot day the 60 degree temp of the cave is the perfect place to hang out for a while!
Overall, a very nice place to camp and enjoy the outdoors without being too far from home.
We will definitely be back for another stay!
Guide137 acre lake with great fishing, offering rv hookups and basic tent sites with a pavilion and privys
Tent camping near Vienna, Missouri centers around Gasconade River access points and conservation areas where primitive sites offer minimal amenities but direct water access. Most locations provide vault toilets but require campers to bring their own water and supplies. The region receives moderate rainfall from spring through fall, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F during peak camping months, making river access particularly valuable for cooling off.
Fishing opportunities: Osage-Tavern Access offers direct river access with approximately 12-15 primitive sites. "Right along the river so nice if your looking for water. I arrived at 6 on a Saturday (post labor day) and plenty of sites available," notes a camper who visited in September.
Stargazing: The area features minimal light pollution, creating excellent conditions for night sky viewing. "We even saw a few meteors!" reports one visitor to Fredericksburg Ferry Access in late July.
Swimming: Access points along the Gasconade River provide swimming opportunities during warmer months. Gravel bars downstream from boat ramps create natural swimming areas. "The swim there requires crossing a moderately sized river that is relatively swift. This is fine for people who swim well but not recommended for young children or weak swimmers," cautions a visitor about river conditions.
Quiet weekday camping: Most primitive sites near Vienna remain uncrowded except during peak summer weekends. Paydown Access offers particularly secluded camping experiences. "Beautiful, very secluded, and we were the only ones there," reports one March visitor.
Level tent sites: Fredericksburg Ferry Access features particularly tent-friendly terrain. "Ground is very level and not super rocky so this is a great site for tents," notes a camper who visited in July.
Accessibility: Some locations maintain accessible facilities despite their primitive nature. "Toilets are on flat ground, handicap accessible, and gender neutral," reports a visitor describing Fredericksburg Ferry Access facilities.
Limited supplies: The nearest major supplies require significant driving. "45m to nearest Walmart or tractor supply, so plan ahead. Food, fire starter logs, and lighter fuel available at Thriftway (about 30 min), firewood and ice at Casey's, and McDonald's all in Linn (all 30m) if you need anything," notes a camper who stayed at Fredericksburg Ferry Access.
Variable noise levels: Some locations experience fluctuating noise levels. Rollins Ferry Access can become particularly disruptive. "Unless you enjoy loud noise, drunks, busy traffic, guns being shot off at all hours of the night and a massive cloud of bugs, avoid this campsite," warns one visitor.
Road conditions: Access to many tent sites requires driving on unpaved roads. "8 miles is dirt but my Nissan Rogue did fine," notes one camper about reaching Osage-Tavern Access.
Water safety planning: Rivers in the area present safety considerations for families with children. "It is swift enough to carry you downstream of your target even for good swimmers, so plan for this, especially for your swim back upstream," advises a camper who visited with their dog.
Conservation area alternatives: Ben Branch Lake Conservation Area offers a quieter alternative to river access points. "Vault toilets available. Quiet. No water, hook ups or picnic tables, but fire rings. Otherwise very peaceful experience," reports a visitor who stayed in August.
Boat access areas: Several camping locations function primarily as boat launches. "There's a boat launch here. Saw a decent amount of traffic for this. Grass sites. Road is well maintained," notes a visitor to Helds Island Access.
Limited hookup options: The Vienna area offers minimal RV amenities. Water Mountain is one of few locations accommodating both tents and RVs. "Lots of open space to camp and plenty of area to hike or use an ATV. Also it's on the river which is nice!" reports a visitor who gave the location five stars.
Primitive setup required: RVers must prepare for self-contained camping. "No power vault toilets. Be prepared for some neighbors and young visitors through the night," notes a camper describing Pikes Camp, indicating the lack of hookups and variable social conditions.
Seasonal considerations: Spring rainfall can impact access for larger vehicles. "It had just rained but wasn't too mucky. Drive was safe in our heavy converted camper van. No off road vehicle or AWD needed," reports a July visitor to Fredericksburg Ferry Access, suggesting favorable summer conditions for smaller RVs and camper vans.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Vienna, MO is Paydown Access with a 4-star rating from 1 review.
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