The best safari tent rentals near Steelville, Missouri

With several waterways surrounded by the beauty of the Missouri Ozarks, Steelville offers a scenic basecamp for outdoor recreation. The rustic downtown is literally—and figuratively—Main Street America. Antique stores and cozy cafes reflect the slow pace of the region. The real action is found on the waters, with the Meramec River, Huzzah Creek, and Courtois Creek nearby. Grab a canoe, kayak, raft, or tube for a classic Missouri float trip. A number of private RV parks line the waterways and dot the region, offering full hookups, free wifi, and float trip rentals and transportation.

98% (580)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

98%

(839)

46mi from Steelville · 37 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Ironton, MO

A wooded, more private camping experience with unique site designs and natural elements. Wood-burning sauna and hot tub available for guest use. Primitive Camping Van/vehicle Camping Small Trailers Glamping Bike Trails, Hiking, creek sit-in' on site! Best of the midwest biking, hiking, Ozark Trail, rock climbing Elephant Rocks Park, Johnson Shut-ins and more swimming holes nearby! Wood for sale on site, $5 per bundle, Fire starters also available. Ask us about our "Really Good At Camping" merchandise. We have shirts, mugs & wine tumblers! *Cash Only* at this time. We Have free stickers! *For camp site locations please refer to our map in the campsite listing photos. We are located just west of the Ironton Water Works Plant and the Shepherd Mountain Lake dam. Turn right after the dam, drive through Shepherd Mountain Lake Park. If our "campground guests only" gate if it is closed, and please close gate behind you. Thank you! No Hook Ups No swimming in the lake and no outside boats, but we have boats for campers to use free of charge! General Store and restroom facilities/showers coming soon!

With several waterways surrounded by the beauty of the Missouri Ozarks, Steelville offers a scenic basecamp for outdoor recreation. The rustic downtown is literally—and figuratively—Main Street America. Antique stores and cozy cafes reflect the slow pace of the region. The real action is found on the waters, with the Meramec River, Huzzah Creek, and Courtois Creek nearby. Grab a canoe, kayak, raft, or tube for a classic Missouri float trip. A number of private RV parks line the waterways and dot the region, offering full hookups, free wifi, and float trip rentals and transportation.

98% (580)

Top-rated campgrounds

1. Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

98%

(839)

46mi from Steelville · 37 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging · Ironton, MO

A wooded, more private camping experience with unique site designs and natural elements. Wood-burning sauna and hot tub available for guest use. Primitive Camping Van/vehicle Camping Small Trailers Glamping Bike Trails, Hiking, creek sit-in' on site! Best of the midwest biking, hiking, Ozark Trail, rock climbing Elephant Rocks Park, Johnson Shut-ins and more swimming holes nearby! Wood for sale on site, $5 per bundle, Fire starters also available. Ask us about our "Really Good At Camping" merchandise. We have shirts, mugs & wine tumblers! *Cash Only* at this time. We Have free stickers! *For camp site locations please refer to our map in the campsite listing photos. We are located just west of the Ironton Water Works Plant and the Shepherd Mountain Lake dam. Turn right after the dam, drive through Shepherd Mountain Lake Park. If our "campground guests only" gate if it is closed, and please close gate behind you. Thank you! No Hook Ups No swimming in the lake and no outside boats, but we have boats for campers to use free of charge! General Store and restroom facilities/showers coming soon!

Stories from the community

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Chelsea

November 2025

Weekend Trip to Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

We camped in the safari tent and had a cozy lovely time. Although it was in a loop with other campsites it felt plenty private, set back from the road and separated from the other sites by plenty of trees. Didn't end up trying the tub, but it looked nice. The wood stove kept us warm throughout the night, and the solar power bank and water pump were a nice touch.

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Elisabeth

September 2025

2 nights at Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

Wow! What a nice retreat. The sites are well maintained and everything has been thought out and put together for a peaceful getaway. The spa area was so very relaxing. We used the woodburning sauna and ice bath. Wonderful! The remote setting amongst the trees made the spa area a unique experience. So grateful for the composting toilets that were well spaced amongst the sites for easy use. Water was easy available. 10 mins away Elephant Rock and 20ish mins away from Johnson Shut ins. We will be back for another stay. Highly recommend.

S

Stacie

June 2025

Weekend Trip to Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

We stayed at the Arcadian Osasis site and it was just that an oasis. The yurt was amazing, wonderful amenities like the solar fridge- we didnt use but would be great for those staying longer than we did. The kettle with butane burner was fantastic when we needed our coffee the next morning. The yurt felt very bohemian right up my alley. My daughters are teens and they had a such a great time. It was a wonderful time in a beautiful serene setting to take time with family.away from technology. Thank you Arcadian Valley Oasis for the gift you set up in nature we loved our stay.

K

Kevin

June 2025

Weekend Trip to Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

Just the rustic and charming getaway we were looking for!

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Paul

April 2025

Weekend Trip to Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

Friendly hosts and a well equipped glamping platform tent. We really enjoyed our stay. Very peaceful front porch sitting and a cozy wood burning stove to fend off the chill. That outdoor bathtub was a fun experience. Well done.

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Paul

April 2025

1 night at Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

One of the greatest short term rental experiences of our life. amazing spot! Will return asap

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Casey

October 2024

2 nights at Arcadia Valley Outdoors Land

We absolutely loved staying at the Arcadian Oasis tent at AVO!! The host, Michael, was so friendly and checked on us each night we were there! He made sure to answer any questions we had about the site/things to do around town. The tent was absolutely amazing to stay in. There was a nice queen size bed, ample mood lighting and seating, a few campsite games and a puzzle. There were 2 different types of butane cookers, a kettle, a solar powered fridge, and a large container of fresh water. Just a short walk from the tent was a well maintained outdoor shower and a very nice wood fire hot tub that was very relaxing. We arrived at 4:30pm and he had it burning all day so that it was hot for us by the time we arrived. The host even offered to fire up the sauna but we declined as it wasn’t quite cold enough outside for our liking, but we appreciated the sauna option! If you’re early birds like us, watching the sunrise over the lake from the porch of the tent is just spectacular. All in all we had an amazing time and we definitely recommend this campsite to anyone looking for a relaxing “glamping” experience!

Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best safari tents near Steelville guide

Where to go

Mark Twain National Forest

The Mark Twain National Forest covers 1.5 million acres of Missouri. For hikers and backpackers, the Courtois Creek Section of the Ozark Trail is a big draw, running 45 miles from its trailhead in Onondaga Cave State Park and connecting with over 200 miles of trail. Public camping can be found in the national forest within an hour’s drive of Steelville, including Red Bluff Campground, Brazil Creek Recreation Area, Council Bluff Recreation Area, and Lane Spring Recreation Area. Tent and RV sites offer dry camping and electric hookups.

Meramec State Park

Just under 30 minutes northwest of Steelville, Meramec State Park showcases landscapes along the waterway. In addition to offering scenery, the river provides recreational opportunities, including swimming, fishing, and paddling. Explore the onsite cave or hike one of the 13 trails. A campground offers tent and RV sites with amenities including electric-only, water/electric, and full hookups.

Onondaga Cave State Park

The dramatic Onondaga Cave is the focal point of this state park. Named a National Natural Landmark, the cave features massive stalactites and stalagmites with a river flowing through the fascinating structures. While cave tours are a popular activity, the park also features hiking and biking trails, as well as fishing, boating, and paddling in the Meramec River. Basic and water/electric campsites for both tents and RV are available.

When to go

Hiking and biking are most pleasant in the Steelville region in spring and fall, with fall being particularly beautiful as the leaves change. The weather is usually moderate in these shoulder seasons, with occasional rains. Summer is the most popular time for travelers hitting the waterways, as water temperatures warm to comfortable levels, providing cool relief on hot, humid days.