The best camping near Doniphan with horseback riding

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The Ozark Mountain foothills of Southeastern Missouri provide an epic backdrop for outdoor adventures near Doniphan. The Current River cuts a wide swath through the hills, creating a natural playground for paddlers, floaters, and anglers. Nearby, the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways protects the waterways and historic sites, such as bubbling blue springs and picturesque historic mills. Small-town pride shines through in Doniphan, which provides a home base for exploring this slice of the Ozarks. Public primitive camping can be found at the Deer Leap Recreation Area. To find private RV parks with full amenities, head to Poplar Bluff or Van Buren.

79% (459)

Top-rated campgrounds near Doniphan

3. Williams Camp : Eleven Point River

98%
(30)
18mi from Doniphan · 10 sites · Tents, RVs
Learn more about this land: You'll have a private place of your own, with access to some of Missouri states most hidden springs, rivers, waterfalls, fishing, hunting, hiking, (some of the best) horseback riding trails, and historic landmarks.  Rather you're after solitude or sport, this area has you covered.  Kayak, canoe, and shuttle rental, service is available at hufstedlers.com and is a short 11.5 mile drive.  Beautiful eleven point river offers blue, red, and white ribbon, spring fed trout/walleye water.  If you're looking to float the river, be sure to research the many springs on the way down your trip and the historic mill communities that once flourished there.  These are perfect opportunities to take a break, eat a meal, and explore the area.  Most also will have public bathrooms.  Unless there are multiple reservations, you will be allowed to hookup/stay at whichever site is the easiest for you to get parked at.  Maps of the area and things to do will continue to be updated as they are developed.  In the mean time, a great resource is MissouriScenicRivers.com. We do not live near this site so this is an exclusively non-hosted listing.
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night

6. The Holliday Landing on the Lake

94%
(65)
36mi from Doniphan · 44 sites · Tents, RVs
Learn more about this land: Holliday Landing Resort & Marina offers a variety of beautiful campsites to meet your camping needs. There are 11 sites with water, electric, and sewer hook-ups, 28 sites with water and electric, there is a secluded mini-loop where tent campers can enjoy the same access and amenities. All water and electric campsites have 30/120 amp electric service and frost-free water. Guests may use the modern restroom facility with showers. A dump station is available for your use. Each non-primitive site has a gravel pad for RV campers and parking, a grassy area for tent camping, visiting, or playing, a picnic table, and a fire ring with grill. Each primitive site has a grassy area, picnic table, and fire ring with no designated parking area. For your convenience, camping guests may use the boat ramp and may rent a boat slip for a $10 nightly fee.  Kids and adults alike can play together at our playground area. Camping guests also have access to an inground swimming pool at no extra charge.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night

The Ozark Mountain foothills of Southeastern Missouri provide an epic backdrop for outdoor adventures near Doniphan. The Current River cuts a wide swath through the hills, creating a natural playground for paddlers, floaters, and anglers. Nearby, the Ozarks National Scenic Riverways protects the waterways and historic sites, such as bubbling blue springs and picturesque historic mills. Small-town pride shines through in Doniphan, which provides a home base for exploring this slice of the Ozarks. Public primitive camping can be found at the Deer Leap Recreation Area. To find private RV parks with full amenities, head to Poplar Bluff or Van Buren.

79% (459)

Top-rated campgrounds near Doniphan

3. Williams Camp : Eleven Point River

98%
(30)
18mi from Doniphan · 10 sites · Tents, RVs
Learn more about this land: You'll have a private place of your own, with access to some of Missouri states most hidden springs, rivers, waterfalls, fishing, hunting, hiking, (some of the best) horseback riding trails, and historic landmarks.  Rather you're after solitude or sport, this area has you covered.  Kayak, canoe, and shuttle rental, service is available at hufstedlers.com and is a short 11.5 mile drive.  Beautiful eleven point river offers blue, red, and white ribbon, spring fed trout/walleye water.  If you're looking to float the river, be sure to research the many springs on the way down your trip and the historic mill communities that once flourished there.  These are perfect opportunities to take a break, eat a meal, and explore the area.  Most also will have public bathrooms.  Unless there are multiple reservations, you will be allowed to hookup/stay at whichever site is the easiest for you to get parked at.  Maps of the area and things to do will continue to be updated as they are developed.  In the mean time, a great resource is MissouriScenicRivers.com. We do not live near this site so this is an exclusively non-hosted listing.
Pets
Campfires
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night

6. The Holliday Landing on the Lake

94%
(65)
36mi from Doniphan · 44 sites · Tents, RVs
Learn more about this land: Holliday Landing Resort & Marina offers a variety of beautiful campsites to meet your camping needs. There are 11 sites with water, electric, and sewer hook-ups, 28 sites with water and electric, there is a secluded mini-loop where tent campers can enjoy the same access and amenities. All water and electric campsites have 30/120 amp electric service and frost-free water. Guests may use the modern restroom facility with showers. A dump station is available for your use. Each non-primitive site has a gravel pad for RV campers and parking, a grassy area for tent camping, visiting, or playing, a picnic table, and a fire ring with grill. Each primitive site has a grassy area, picnic table, and fire ring with no designated parking area. For your convenience, camping guests may use the boat ramp and may rent a boat slip for a $10 nightly fee.  Kids and adults alike can play together at our playground area. Camping guests also have access to an inground swimming pool at no extra charge.
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$35
 / night

Public campgrounds near Doniphan

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The best camping near Doniphan with horseback riding guide

Where to go

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Spend your days exploring the best of the Ozarks along the shores of the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers. Then, sleep under the stars, which shine even brighter in this remote region. The National Park Service operates several campgrounds across this 80,000-acre unit, with a mix of electric and non-electric sites. Some are suitable for tents only, while others can accommodate RVs. Alley Spring and Big Spring are home to the largest, most developed parks. Primitive and backcountry camping sites are also available.

Mark Twain National Forest

If you haven’t had your fill of rivers, head to the Eleven Point/Doniphan Ranger Unit of Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest, where you’ll find the Eleven Point National Scenic River. With undeveloped shorelines, this river provides scenic serenity for paddlers and anglers. A number of primitive float camps welcome boaters—or venture off the river to find more developed RV parks and glamping rentals.

Van Buren, Missouri

Van Buren is a hub of activity and camping in southern Missouri, located 40 miles north of Doniphan. Grab an ice cream cone or home-style meal at one of the many restaurants in town to fuel up for your outdoor adventures. Big Spring, one of the largest in the U.S., is a must-see, with dazzling blue waters feeding into the Current River. Public camping can be found on National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and national forest lands. Private RV parks and glamping rentals provide amenities like electric hookups and family activities.

When to go

Summer is when the action is at its highest, as Doniphan’s float trip season kicks into high gear. The waterways are at their busiest, bursting with tubes, canoes, and kayaks, and yet, there is still solitude to be found. The spring-fed rivers provide a refreshing break from the heat and humidity. Though the water isn’t as inviting in spring and fall, the weather is, with moderate temperatures and scenic opportunities for leaf-peeping in the Ozarks hills. A hush falls across the region in winter, as cold temperatures and occasional snows descend.