Deep in the Fort Crowder Conservation Area, Gibson Spring Back Country Site requires a short hike from the trailhead to reach this free camping spot. The site centers around a natural spring that serves as the water source, though campers must treat the water before use. Several picnic tables spread across the area provide space for multiple tents.
Access proves challenging since no road signs mark the trailhead turnoff. The campsite includes a trash can and features a barbecue grill left by previous visitors. Fort Crowder's 11 miles of multi-use trails accommodate hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. No restroom facilities exist at the site. For those planning extended stays in the region, campgrounds near Neosho offer additional options with full amenities.
Description
ort Crowder Conservation Area, located in southern Newton County, was once part of the old, World War II Camp Crowder Army Base. The U.S. Army selected the Neosho site for the base because of its proximity to water, railroads, and highways. Visitors to the area can still see foundations, fruit trees, open fields and other remnants of many of the hundreds of small farms purchased by the federal government for the 60,000-acre base. Camp Crowder was named for Judge Advocate General and U.S. Ambassador to Cuba Enoch H. Crowder. Thousands of soldiers went through basic training here before the camp was decommissioned in the mid 1950s, including Mort Walker, who immortalized the Camp as Camp Swampy in his syndicated comic strip, Beetle Bailey. Fort Crowder Conservation Area, encompassing 2,362 acres, is approximately 60 percent forested. Primary species include white, black, post, blackjack and red oaks, hackberry, elm, black cherry, black walnut, and ash. The remainder of the area is open and includes 200 acres of native warm-season grasses, 100 acres of crop fields and 600 acres of fields maintained in an early successional stage. The area hosts various game species, including quail, rabbits and doves in the open areas and large numbers of deer and squirrels. Turkeys have been stocked here and are now present in good numbers. During your visit to Fort Crowder Conservation Area you may view various forest and wildlife improvement projects in progress from the 11 miles of multiuse trails that wind through the area. These trails are open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
Area map: https://mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/mo_nature/downloads/conservation-areas/6510map.pdf
RV Road Trip Guides
Location
Public CampgroundGibson Spring Back Country Site - Fort Crowder Conservation Area is located in Missouri
Directions
In Neosho at the Highway 59 and Route HH junction, take Route HH east 3.50 miles.
Coordinates
36.82558104 N
94.29584318 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 2/8/26
AT&T5GGood Coverage
Connectivity
T-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoors- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 2/8/26
- AT&T5GGood Coverage
Access
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
FREE established camping
Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Gibson Spring Back Country Site - Fort Crowder Conservation Area needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 32 min from Joplin, MO
- 1 hr 6 min from Fayetteville, AR
- 1 hr 12 min from Springfield, MO
- 1 hr 38 min from Tulsa, OK
