🌝 2024 Solar eclipse: Book now for 4/8

Forest camping near Jefferson City

Explore the heart of Missouri from the capital city.

93% (607 reviews)
93% (607 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Jefferson City

Available this weekend

Dog-friendly getaways

12 top forest campgrounds near Jefferson City

100%
(105)

Retreat to the Country

4 sites ¡ Lodging10 acres ¡ Holts Summit, MO
This land has been asking to be shared. First it was swings and little things for the grandchildren and their friends. Then the Cabin by the pond began to welcome visitors. Soon the steep slope anchored a Yurt with a wrap-around deck that puts you up in the trees. Our gathering spot by the creek became a camp site. Recently the grandkids' Bunk House found its way in. Our Retreat is 10 acres, narrow, but 1/4 mile deep, stretching down a steep wooded slope to a creek - and up the other side to the top of a bluff.  It is only ten miles to Jefferson City but has a quiet and distant feel.  
from 
$20
 / night
77%
(11)

Moon-Rise Cabin -Serene and Unique

5 sites ¡ Lodging160 acres ¡ Hartsburg, MO
Enchanting hand-built and rustic off-grid cabin overlooks the Missouri River bottom, nearby bluffs, and scenic, peaceful 177 acre farm -Close to Columbia, Hermann & Jeff City -Spacious studio-style bedroom -Large sunny windows -Outdoor kitchen -Screened-in porch -Fire pit -Incredible views, total stargazers dream -Pets OK! -Outdoor shower (cold!) Secluded & surrounded by nature, find yourself restored after hiking, antiquing, cooking, or drinking wine and taking in the beautiful surroundings. THE SPACE The Moon-Rise Cabin sits atop a ridge overlooking the 177 acre farm and surrounding conservation land ridges. The views from this private little solar powered, off-the-grid getaway are stunning! THE TINY CABIN The cabin is equipped with solar powered lights, phone and computer charging stations, a propane powered heating system and kitchen range. Cold running water flows in the kitchen sink located in the hand built screened in porch and also in the outdoor shower- perfect for cleaning up after a long summer's day of hiking trails or biking on the Katy Trail. BATHROOM The half bath is a clean and comfy outhouse. The property boasts many delicate ecosystems that are thriving thanks to being fully organic and untouched by chemicals for over 40 years. OUTDOOR KITCHEN The outdoor kitchen (on the screened-in porch) includes a gas range for cooking and making morning coffee, and comes equipped with utensils, pots, pans, dish ware, etc. WILDLIFE Warmer months you'll surely encounter some of the resident tree frogs, birds, peregrine falcon, bald eagles, worms, Gary the groundhog, possums, snakes, armadillos, insects, dragon flies, bumblebees, lightning bugs, deer, wild flowers, trees, grass, turtles, fish and celebrity Justin Beaver. SWIMMING POND We have a swimming pond nearby with a little beach. You might also enjoy using our paddle board on the pond! FISHING We also invite you to fish in our pond. You are welcome to keep and eat any fish that you like, with the exception of all bass under 12 inches. Please be sure to release these until they get to breeding age in order to help us ensure the healthiness of our pond. Anything larger than 13 inches is all yours! ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS We have another cabin on the property that sleeps 2. Please inquiry if you'd like to make a family or friends trip to the farm! NEIGHBOURHOOD DESCRIPTION The Moon-Rise Cabin sits on 176 acres of beautiful wooded ridges and deep valleys, ponds and meadows and is directly adjacent to the 657 acre Hart Creek Conservation Area. The town of Hartsburg and the Katy Trail access is about a mile away and a flat and easy ride. Be sure to check out The Hitching Post, Hartsburg's local watering hole famous for its bluegrass jams! Hartsburg Hitching Post hours: Monday-Thursday open 4pm-1am, Friday and Saturday open 3pm-1am, Sunday open 12pm-12am. The Burg is a great place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner on Friday and Saturday, or breakfast and lunch on Sunday. The Burg Cafe hours: Monday-Thursday Closed, Friday open 11 am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday open 7am - 1pm. The Burg has a small number of grocery items for sale as well, including ice and beverages! The closest grocery store is located in Ashland, Missouri, about 10 minutes north. The Moon-Rise Cabin is approximately 30 minutes south of Columbia and about 30 minutes north of Jefferson City, Missouri. GETTING AROUND The Moon-Rise Cabin is less than 2 miles from the nearest Katy Trail access and biking to the cabin is an easy ride through the town of Hartsburg and along the Hart Creek. The only access to nearby towns is by personal vehicle or bike as no public transportation is available. Important: We are committed to protecting our properties which is why we've partnered with Know Your Guest, the leading vacation rental guest-screening provider. Please note that before your booking begins, you will need to verify your details and ID through Know Your Guest. You will also be given the choice between paying a refundable deposit or buying a non-refundable damage waiver. We suggest you buy the damage waiver as this protects you in case you cause accidental damage during a booking.
from 
$60
 / night
99%
(511)

Selby Farm Horse Retirement

10 sites ¡ RVs, Tents75 acres ¡ Wooldridge, MO
Summary: Easy access from I-70 Great views. Usually very quiet except for wildlife sounds Portapottie at both camping areas Great star viewing. Excellent conditions for pets Hosts live nearby and are good communicators via text or phone. Hosts can direct you to several local attractions and shopping options. Hosts are happy to take questions before, during, or after your stay. Narrative about Selby Farm: Selbys have lived on this 75 acre farm since 1990. Doug and Brenda are retired from teaching at nearby public schools. Our Farm is now dedicated to boarding retired horses for their owners. Feel free to review the Selby Farm Horse Retirement webpage if you are a horse fan. We encourage you to visit our business website where you will see more farm pictures, videos, and where you will learn more about us. We practice rotational grazing for the health of the horses and the health of our pastures. The horses live in a herd as they would in the wild. Basically, they are hanging out with their friends! They also get regular care and feed and so are VERY happy. You will see and probably interact with the horses if you wish. They are guaranteed to come closer if you have treats like carrots and apples slices. Our quiet county road used to be the main road along the river. A hundred years ago it was called "Shanty Road". The shacks that were along it housed workers that harvested food from farms in the river bottom. The only evidence of those shacks now is perrenial flowers growing in unusual places. The area is inhabited by professionals working in nearby towns and cities. In fact there are only five homes along our 1.5 mile section of Copps Chapel Road. The native Americans who used this area did so because of the great diversity of wildlife and availability of water. Also the view is amazing in all directions. Was using this ridge top encampment for security, or just because the view is so satisfying? The Missouri River is on the far side of the bottoms now, but has been very close historically. There is also a large spring flowing from a cave nearby. Witness the flint chips when you walk through our barn lot. You are likely to see a broken stone tool that was once worked on by a native American. These river hills are composed of soils blown in from the end of the last ice age. Being near the river, erosion has cut down the surrounding area making the scenic topography associated with Missouri River valleys and river hills.
from 
$23.50
 / night
100%
(32)

Wildflower Camp, Hike + Swim

3 sites ¡ RVs, Tents60 acres ¡ Eldon, MO
We have a 60 acre property with plenty of space to explore. There are maintained trails throughout and a year-round creek that runs through the valley. Our spring-fed pond is perfect for swimming or paddling around in your canoe. If you're feeling adventurous, you can hike along the creek a ways to a beautiful waterfall.
from 
$45
 / night
100%
(2)

Ozarks Piney Bend Riverfront

5 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents7 acres ¡ Dixon, MO
Experience the Missouri Ozarks in all it's glory! Our property sits on 7 acres running on both sides of the beautiful, crystal clear Big Piney River. We sit right at the bottom of a beautiful bluff and just about 100 feet from the water! We have a dry cabin, with outdoor water spigot available. Concrete pad with electric and water hookups perfect for a small camper. We also own a large beautiful sand bar on the Big Piney River perfect for setting up your tent or hammock camping (only accessible by swimming or kayak, which we can provide)
from 
$15
 / night

Dripping Creek Cabin

1 site ¡ Lodging20 acres ¡ Ashland, MO
This is a cabin that has 20 acres to hike and a creek to walk! There’s a swimming hole to splash in when the water is up. It’s close to Ashland and Hartsburg for any grocery or eatery needs you may have. There’s a firepit and a hot tub. It’s also close to Mark Twain National forest, the Missouri River, and Conservation wild areas.
from 
$150
 / night
95%
(37)

Water Mountain

30 sites ¡ RVs, Tents180 acres ¡ Belle, MO
Ive own this land since 2005 and have used it for camping, parties, and venue.Learn more about this land:This is a 180 acres of camping along the Gasconade River. Lots of great spots for camping, hiking, and UTV/ATV riding. 50% forest, 10% trails, 20% along river, 10% bluffs, and 10% flat with grass field.
from 
$35
 / night
100%
(6)

Sage Mountain Recreational Area MO

30 sites ¡ RVs, Tents50 acres ¡ Berger, MO
Sage Mountain is a recreational area located in the heart of Missouri wine country. Located between Hermann and Washington on the south side of the Missouri river. Our 50 acres of virgin forest is home to an abundance of diverse wildlife, 3.6 miles of hiking trails, bolted climbing and bouldering routes established, and a large impressive cave. We are located near the Katy trail for more hiking and biking. Access to the Missouri river for boating and fishing. On site we have an abundance of areas for back country camping, or we allow car camping in our open parking lot.
from 
$25
 / night
80%
(10)

Maya Creek

5 sites ¡ RVs, Tents310 acres ¡ Fulton, MO
310 Acre Oak woodland forest sanctuary. This property is run as a conservancy and land trust with a board of directors. Trish & Cameron are land stewards and caretakers as well as managing the camping. We are Leftie Hippie Punk Burners. We are artists, postal carriers and permaculture farmers and natural builders. We believe in BLM, and are LGBTQIA ourselves as well as allies and support all people and critters and nature and are intolerant of hate and mysogeny. We love providing a safe beautiful place in the woods for anyone who needs it. The woods are beautiful, there's a few spots cleared for camping and there are trails to hike, a composting toilet, and not too far from the highway, but far enough you can't hear it. We have a fire pit, hammock and picnick tables for you to use if you like. We love meeting people and we also respect mutual privacy. We live off grid but have some power enough to charge your phone should you need it. We have WiFi but please bring your own drinking water. We have a small Berkey for drinking water here but its best you bring your own. We are in process of installing some outdoor showers and more tiny houses. We are a place in progress and we live here (so there may be projects in progress) and so does the wildlife and that includes ticks. We have a dog, cat, chickens, and abundant wildlife and please consider this PRIMITIVE CAMPING. We look forward to meeting you and thanks for visiting!
from 
$22
 / night
100%
(71)

Savanna Springs

1 site ¡ Tent160 acres ¡ Wooldridge, MO
Once a cattle, corn, and soybean farm, we recently purchased the property and have the goal of regenerating and converting it to perennial trees and shrubs with animals grazing amongst them. Learn more about this land:We love this place and we think you will too. Named after the spring-fed streams that run through the property and our vision of returning the corn and soybean fields back into an oak and walnut inspired savanna, Savanna Springs is tucked into a secluded valley at the end of a dead end road just 10 minutes from I-70. The campsite sits in a crook of a stream surrounded by magnificent sycamore trees. Relax under their canopy while listening to the water babble by or go for a walk and explore the 160-acre property. Off the property there are plenty of other places to explore. Take a walk or bike on the tree canopied gravel roads that are near by. Additionally, the famous Katy trail is about 15-20 minutes away and also a great place to take a stroll or pedal away. Columbia, home of the University of Missouri, is 20 miles away and has just about anything that you can think of.
from 
$20
 / night
80%
(5)

Relax at the Lake of the Ozarks

5 sites ¡ RVs5 acres ¡ Sunrise Beach, MO
Filled with natural wonder, opportunities for recreation and relaxation and a few quirks, the area is a little misunderstood even by many Americans. The Ozarks region is as famous for the Lake of the Ozarks as it is for the mountains that the area is named after, largely because of the sheer size of that particular body of water. With its various arms and nooks and crannies, the lake has 1,100 miles (1,770km) of coastline, which is more than the state of California. It’s no wonder it’s such a popular spot for boating and watersports, with so many places to dock and so much water to explore. The lakes and rivers of the Ozarks are rich with fish, particularly several species of bass and catfish, as well as trout, crappie and carp, all of which attract many recreational fishing boats. There are also more unexpected water creatures like small freshwater jellyfish, which are not believed to be native to North America but do periodically appear in the Lake of the Ozarks, particularly in late summer and early autumn. Looking for a serene getaway with stunning lake views and a touch of green? Look no further than our 5-acre Hipcamp site overlooking the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. With a dispensary just half a mile down the road, you can unwind and enjoy some fresh greens while taking in the breathtaking scenery. So come kick back, relax, and soak up the tranquility of our little slice of paradise. Book your stay now and let us help you create unforgettable memories! Located close to the store and even a farmers market within 1/2 mile. Lots of Local Attractions and Activities, Privacy, Shade, Views of the Lake of the Ozarks On the west side of the property overlooking the rest of the property you have an amazing advantage of the land. Enjoy the early sun and the late sunset.
from 
$35
 / night
100%
(99)

D'Ranch at Clearwater

10 sites ¡ Lodging, RVs, Tents40 acres ¡ Gravois Mills, MO
D'Ranch at Clearwater is a small, 40 acre hobby farm located on the north side of the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri. What started as a simple love of backyard chickens has now become a dream farm for Tracey Durant and her husband Theodore. Nestled in the valley between two forest covered hillsides, and running adjacent to Clearwater Creek on the east and the lake on the south, D'Ranch could not have been a more perfect location for the Durants to plant their roots and get their feet wet. While they continue their love of backyard chickens with their small egg and hatchery operation know as HeebyJeeby Chickens, they have expanded their interests to an array of friendly farm animals including horses, cows, pigs, goats, sheep, ducks, and an occasional turkey or two. 
from 
$15
 / night

Under $50

Star Hosts in Jefferson City

Value Prop
Value Prop

Forest camping near Jefferson City guide

Overview

If you're looking for a camping experience in the forest near Jefferson City, Missouri, Hipcamp has you covered. With over 860 options available, you'll find the perfect campsite to suit your needs. Whether you're pitching a tent or bringing your RV, you'll be surrounded by nature's beauty. Check out top campsites like Spring Lake Ranch (522 reviews), Selby Farm Horse Retirement (240 reviews), and Hummingbird Hollow Outdoors (216 reviews) for tried and true camping spots. Enjoy popular amenities like potable water, toilets, and trash disposal. And with activities such as whitewater paddling, hiking, and biking, you'll have plenty of fun things to do during your stay. So pack your gear and get ready for an unforgettable forest camping adventure!

Top cities near Jefferson City

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Hipcamp is the most comprehensive resource for beautiful private campsites.

Discover and reserve tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping.

Download the Hipcamp App

Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.