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The best camping near Prairie State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Prairie adventure.

You can go where the buffalo roam—in Missouri.  

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Community favorites near Prairie State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Prairie State Park

96%
(24)

The Hill

13 sites ¡ RVs, Tents25 acres ¡ Asbury, MO
My family settled on this plot of land at the turn of the century, moving west in a covered wagon. And aside from a brief time in the late 80's it has been in our family ever since. For most of the 20th century the property was a small farm, grazing cattle and mowed for bailing hay. We are trying to rejuvenate the property to become a 21st century Aquaponic Farm, bringing Eco/Agro tourism into the area and breathing some new life into this old plot of land.Learn more about this land:The Hill, aptly named, is a hilltop that slopes down to a large pond that divides the twenty acre property in two.  With plenty of room to stretch your legs you can enjoy a nature walk, go fishing or practice your aim at the shooting range. In the evening enjoy the night sky around one of several fire rings, while roasting marshmallows. Easy access and only a quarter mile from the main road. 
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from 
$15
 / night
94%
(24)

Riverside at Hollyhaven

10 sites ¡ RVs, Tents35 acres ¡ Joplin, MO
Learn more about this land:Utilize the 7 acre lake or Shoal Creek for fishing, tubing, swimming, canoeing/kayaking, sunbathing, cave camping.   Frisbee golf course within walking distance and fabulous trails for hiking.
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$32
 / night
100%
(3)

Farmland Panoramic

1 site ¡ RV12 acres ¡ Jasper, MO
Learn more about this land:Situated atop a ridge in SW MO, on the eastern edge of the great plains just west of the Ozark Mountain foothills, you’ll have beautiful farmland views to the east, south and west, including incredible sunsets over the water of our pond (fish all you want). Expect peace and quiet here, with the exception of the occasional mama cow calling to her calf. Great spot to spend the night near the junction of I-49 & I-44. Ride bicycles, kayak on the ponds, take a walk in peace. Small town of Jasper is a few miles away, with grocery and fuel stops. Lamar (birthplace of Harry S Truman) is 8 miles north..
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$24
 / night
100%
(2)

Big Red Barn RV Park

31 sites ¡ RVs10 acres ¡ Carthage, MO
Welcome To The Big Red Barn RV Park! Carthage, Missouri, is home to the Big Red Barn RV Park located just off Historic Route 66. Whether you are looking to stay a night or two, or even a week, or month Big Red Barn RV Park can add the R & R to your trip. Catch a movie at the drive-in movie theatre, visit the beautiful county courthouse, or stay for the annual Maple Leaf Festival. All the amenities you need are right here waiting for you. Come on over. We’d love to have you here. Things To Do In Our Area... Out for a day trip? Just passing through? Carthage, Missouri, is a great family destination for you and your family. Stay and watch a movie at one of the few remaining drive-in movie theatres in the United States. You can also visit Precious Moments Park and the world's largest Precious Moments gift shop. For the history buff in the family, the Carthage Civil War Museum has all the information and artifacts of the Civil War Battle of Carthage and the Civil War in southwest Missouri. Make Big Red Barn RV Park and Carthage, Missouri, part of your memories. From our small but comfortable spaces set aside for tent visitors to our oversized pull-through spaces created for today’s spacious motorhomes with pull-behinds, the Big Red Barn RV Park has carefully planned to meet the needs of every guest. Stop by the office in the morning to join us for a cup of coffee, and speak with our friendly staff about their favorite places to visit in Carthage!
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$19.43
 / night
100%
(2)

Open area camp site. Great views!

2 sites ¡ RVs1 acre ¡ Weir, KS
A former homesite is now been repurposed as a camping site for those traveling through the area. Enjoy the open views and nice sunrises over open countryLearn more about this land:This was a former homesite that has been demolished and leveled. It’s easy to access and has great 360 views of Kansas open areas. Great sunrises, and A perfect place to stop when traveling along your routes!
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from 
$22
 / night
90%
(61)

Warriors o' Rainbow Horse Sanctuary

3 sites ¡ RVs, Tents16 acres ¡ Reeds, MO
The pasture is quite visible from Old Route 66, nearly adjoining it. Therefore people traveling “the Mother Road” find it convenient to stay with us. Grass is the best forage for horses, especially older ones, so we take care of our pastures, making for beautiful scenery for campers, too. Plus the entire back mile is bordered by old forest. And there is a swimming hole not a half mile away. This is a quiet and private site, bordered by a neighbor's old forest on back, other neighbor's cattle pasture on side, and you're in one of the pastures used by the Horse Sanctuary. (You are camping about 1/4 mile, more or less, from our house.) We regularly see coyote, wild turkeys, deer, fireflies, and the like.   We are just 1/2 mile off Old Route 66, therefore there are quirky little museums and great restaurants (for such a rural area!).   Plus we are only about an hour's drive from Branson. MO. which is a known tourist attraction.
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from 
$22
 / night

Krupp Camp

1 site ¡ RV, Tent12 acres ¡ Scammon, KS
Our campsite is a developing property of 12 acres adjacent to and sharing a private boundry with 60 acres of public land managed by the Kansas department of parks and wildlife. It is a private area off the state highway with a dirt track entrance and primitive camping. Enjoy wandering the woods throughout the property.
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$35
 / night

Rainbow Bridge Ranch

2 sites ¡ RVs75 acres ¡ Baxter Springs, KS
Our site is by the historical place Rainbow Bridge on Route 66! You can see whole bridge from your car staying here🚗🚗 We live walking distance from bridge so we can help guest for needs We are welcome for camper, road trip event, parking, travel trailer, truck etc... It is very quiet place. Some traffic at noon but not so busy at all. Many visitors for the bridge during spring and fall☀️
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from 
$50
 / night

Timber Ridge Campsite

10 sites ¡ RVs, Tents120 acres ¡ Joplin, MO
Learn more about this land:Large field for activities. Wooded Timber Ridge with 25 foot wide crystal clear creek running through property. Deer, turkey, and plenty of wildlife viewing.
Pets
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from 
$25
 / night

The best camping near Prairie State Park guide

Overview

About

Roaming herds of bison are not a common site in Missouri, but they are at Prairie State Park, which preserves the last remaining remnants of Missouri’s tallgrass prairies, which once covered one-third of the state. Around 100 bison and 25 elk roam the park’s 4,000-acres. Hiking and backpacking are the primary activities, with seven trails offering various terrains and views to explore. Look for wildflowers, walk along a trickling stream, and imagine you are a pioneer settler, like Laura Ingalls Wilder. The onsite Regal Tallgrass Prairie Nature Center has educational displays about the landscapes and wildlife of the rolling grasslands.

Notable Camping Spots

  • Best for backpackers: Prairie Campground’s backpack camp is a short hike away from the campground.
  • Best for RVers: Site 4 at Prairie Campground has a double-wide concrete driveway. 

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. The four campsites are first-come-first serve. Walk-up registration is accepted year-round.
  2. Campsites can accommodate more than one tent camper.
  3. Site #4 has a double-size concrete pad.
  4. The sites can accommodate vans and some RVs.
  5. Getting to some sites may involve crossing a wet-weather stream.

When to go

Check the event calendar before heading to Prairie State Park, as the park frequently hosts bison walks and other special interpretive programs. The largest is the Prairie Jubilee, held in June of even-numbered years. The festival brings in artists and living history interpreters. Other times of year are likely to be more serene. Summer is generally hot and humid, which may be a consideration when camping without electricity. Spring and fall are pleasant, with below freezing temperatures occurring occasionally in winter.

Know before you go

  • Campfires are not allowed in the backpack camp, but backpack stoves are.
  • This park does not have a showerhouse or developed restrooms. Only a single vault toilet is located onsite.
  • Potable water is available at a building near the camping area.
  • Bring your hiking shoes. To truly experience the prairie as the pioneer settlers did, you need to get out in it.
  • While the park doesn’t have many services onsite or nearby, the town of Pittsburg, Kansas, is 30 minutes away.

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