Discover the best river, stream, or creek campgrounds near Macon, Missouri

United States
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Missouri
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Macon

99% (20 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Macon

3 top river, stream, or creek campgrounds near Macon

Available this weekend

Booked 1 time

The Grove at North River Ranch

7 sites · Lodging2200 acres · Shelbyville, MO

Settle into The Grove at North River Ranch, a lovely glampground on our 2200 acre working regenerative ranch. Look out on the pond, under the shade of oak, maple and honey locusts. Hike a trail through forested paths, around beautiful wide pastures. Look for protected birds on our Audubon Certified property, and observe deer, fox, beavers and other wildlife in their natural, balanced environment. Enjoy quiet, restful sleep in furnished platform tents with quality linens and handcrafted quilts under beautiful, unobstructed starry skies.

Papa's Alpacas Camping Paradise

4 sites · RVs, Tents520 acres · Green Castle, MO

Learn more about this land: Papa's Alpacas Camping offers 20 acres of rolling open hills, wooded areas, and a creek for great hiking. Full hookups are available. Stocked ponds are available as well as Papa's Alpacas Petting Zoo which includes alpacas, sheep, goats, and mini donkeys on a donation basis. Very secluded location with breathtaking views away from any traffic or distracting noise. Star gazing at its best!

Wooded Escape

6 sites · Tents50 acres · Sturgeon, MO

Where else can you have 50 acres of woods, all to yourself? Owned since the early 1970s, we just love this property for its quiet serene atmosphere and thought we'd share its beauty with others. It's hard to find a secluded place to relax in anymore and escape the crowds. So come and enjoy! Learn more about this land: You can park in the driveway, then hike around and set up a secluded tent campsite anywhere on our 50 acres of wooded land. The site listing numbers you see on this map are simply for general reference, you can camp anywhere you please. Also, the only vehicle access is the driveway and large open field you see on the map here. Folks with roof top tents or campers or RV's can set up camp anywhere in this field, along the edge of the woods. The remaining acreage is heavily wooded and hilly with creeks running through. At this time, vehicles cannot penetrate the woods. Pinnacle Park is a simple walk down the road/hill from our land. You can have fun hiking, splashing in the creek, playing in the sand and rock climbing at the Pinnacle's. Pinnacle Park also has nice shelters for picnics with fireplaces and restrooms. We offer a water hydrant on our land, but no electric or bathrooms.

Nearby parks

Explore the area’s public lands.

Mark Twain State Park

Florida, Missouri

Pershing State Park

Laclede, Missouri

River, stream, or creek camping near Macon guide

Overview

Probably no other town has a supposedly psychic dog as its unofficial town mascot. But that’s just the kind of place Macon is. Jim the Wonder Dog is quite a legend in Macon, and you can visit memorial sites in his honor. This sense of sincerity with a bit of humor fits the easy going town of Macon quite well. Small town pride is evident. The wide open prairies and farmland of northern Missouri surround Macon, providing space for outdoor recreation. In addition to a few private RV parks near town, public campgrounds can be located at the Atlanta Wildlife Conservation Area and the Thomas Hill Reservoir.

Where to go

Long Branch State Park

Sprawling Long Branch Lake forms the heart of Long Branch State Park, with a preserved prairie and savannah creating gentle hills along the horizon. Boating, fishing, swimming, and paddling are popular park activities. The modern campground features concrete and gravel campsites for tents and RVs, with electric hookups and water views available.

Hannibal

Approximately an hour east of Macon, Hannibal is a great little town to explore—focusing on all things Mark Twain. One of Missouri’s most famous native sons, Mark Twain used his life experiences as a boy in this riverfront town on the Mississippi as the inspiration for his works, and you can tour sites related to his life. A number of private RV parks offer full hookups and free wifi, and public campgrounds can be found at nearby lakes.

Columbia

Mid-Missouri’s largest city, Columbia, is an energetic college town. The hip downtown is bursting with shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries, and there’s even nature to explore nearby, at Rockbridge Memorial State Park and the Katy Trail rail-to-trail hiking and biking route. In addition to private RV parks found in the region, public camping is found at Finger Lakes State Park and in Mark Twain National Forest.

When to go

Northern Missouri has more moderate summers than the rest of the state, but warm temperatures and some humidity can be expected. Spring and fall are generally pleasant, though bursts of cooler weather are common. Winters are quite cold, with freezing temperatures, snow, and occasional ice making camping less convenient.