The best camping near Prairie State Park

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

You can go where the buffalo roam—in Missouri.  

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Stay at a public campground in Prairie State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Prairie State Park

91%
(70)

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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$19.80
 / night

Buffalo Hump

11 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Wyandotte, OK
We have 15 beautiful acres of different terrain; the forest area is great for our tent campers with multiple areas to hide away amongst the trees. We ask tent campers to park outside the forest area and it is a short walk to all sites. Great area to walk around and explore the wildlife. For our self-contained RVers we have various areas to utilize the grass but yet still close to shade, some with picnic tables, fire pits and some without but we are growing into those features for all sites. Self-contained areas can fit up to 45' RV, we ask that if you are towing you remove your vehicle prior to going into the site areas. We also have areas with concrete if you prefer to stay there also suitable up to 45'. Regardless of the site we have communal fire pits to use and wood for a small fee. All Sites are currently self-contained, which means you will need to provide your own bathroom facilities. Animals are welcome but we ask they stay on a leash. We have spotted several turtles on the property, and we have free roaming guinea fowl to help keep down on the pesky bugs. We have a 13,000 sq ft building with Military Surplus, flags, FREE morning coffee and a small vending machine for drinks and snacks 7 days a week 9am to 6pm. We do have locked gates after hours, so please let us know if you need a gate code. We make it easy to get in and out of the property with three entrances/exits and large enough for big rigs to pull in. We are on US HWY 60 1.5 miles West of Indigo Sky Casino and a short 3 miles from River Bend Casino and Twin Bridges State Park. We are very close to Grand Lake which is a premier fishing location and host top professional fishing tournaments here. Great for Large Mouth Bass, bluegill, smallmouth bass and white crappie and channel catfish. If you're looking for something different, they are known for having spoonbill as well.
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$10
 / night
100%
(1)

Greenwood Country

1 site · RV, Tent33 acres · Diamond, MO
Nestled in the serene Ozarks Greenwood area, surrounded by towering woods and trails with a spacious field, lies a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The starry sky above twinkles with a brilliance unmatched by any urban setting, offering a breathtaking backdrop to the tranquil handbuilt country store across the field on the hilltop where the "Western Territory of the Ozarks" Marker is located. You are now 3 miles from the closest town. Tucked away in this tranquil oasis is a cozy campsite just for you! A fire ring perfect for roasting marshmallows under the stars. As night falls, the chorus of frogs croaking in the distance fills the air, accompanied by the calls of a mated pair of barred owls which lives in our woods. Here, you may catch a glimpse of deer gracefully roaming through the wispy air, or simply sit back and marvel at the beauty of the natural world surrounding you. Just a stone's throw away is George Washington Carver National Park, this idyllic retreat is a nature lover's paradise! Museum, films, activities, trails, even an old farm house next to a spring fed pond and stream. Lot's of history all free admission and worth going just 5 miles away. We are centrally located in the United States and just 30 to 60 miles in any direction offers lakes, attractions and even an hour and a half away is Branson! We are situated just off of state highway E, it provides easy access to all the wonders of the great outdoors, making it the perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful getaway in the heart of nature.
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$20
 / night
80%
(5)

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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$32
 / night
100%
(2)

The Sims Family Farm in the Ozarks

8 sites · RVs, Tents30 acres · Miller, MO
We have spent years here at our farm getting it to a picturesque park like setting. Situated on just 30 acres you will get to interact with some of the friendliest and lovable farm animals around such as the miniature donkey, free range chickens and ducks, and even some goats. The livestock on the farm can vary from time to time. The beautiful stary nights are simply spectacular along with seeing the fireflies at certain times of the year as well as getting to see some of the majestic wildlife that like to call our property theirs. We have seen an abundance of deer, some turkey, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional coyote and bobcat and lots of birds including an occasional visit from a bald eagle. We are just minutes away from Robert E. Talbot conservation area where there are lots of trails to enjoy. We are only a few miles from a small airport that offers skydiving on the weekends seasonally. Springfield is about 30 minutes away, Branson is about an hour away and is a well known tourist location with some shows including some of America's Got Talent runners up and many other shows. We are only a couple minutes away from old Route 66 where there are a lot of neat little places that commemorate Route 66. We are nestled just a short 25 minute drive from Stockton lake where there is some amazing fishing. If you are looking to get back to nature and enjoy what mother nature has provided this is the place for you.
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$22.50
 / 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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