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About Big Spring
Number of accommodations: 132
Campground Amenities
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Showers
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Sites & Availability
132 Sites Available
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Reviews (236)
What Guests Are Saying
Big Spring Campground is a peaceful and well-maintained location, known for its beautiful spring and river, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as fishing, canoeing, and hiking. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, helpful staff, and the serene atmosphere, especially during less crowded times. While some guests noted the lack of water and electric hook-ups at sites and occasional noise from other campers, many expressed a strong desire to return for the natural beauty and overall enjoyable experience.
What Guests Are Saying
Big Spring Campground is a peaceful and well-maintained location, known for its beautiful spring and river, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as fishing, canoeing, and hiking. Visitors appreciate the clean facilities, helpful staff, and the serene atmosphere, especially during less crowded times. While some guests noted the lack of water and electric hook-ups at sites and occasional noise from other campers, many expressed a strong desire to return for the natural beauty and overall enjoyable experience.
Review Summary
Patricia M
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 214, Loop: Loop 200
Camp site was clean, ready for my camping. Bathhouse and restrooms were maintained. Rainier at the springs was very knowledgeable and very helpful, answering all questions. It was quiet at night, all guests respectful. Will be back, absolutely beautiful. But next I will bring something to detour flies.
Nancy C
VerifiedSeptember 2, 2021 • Stayed at: 229, Loop: Loop 200
The bathrooms at the campground are very clean, however, the bath house that has the showers is not kept up. The drains are clogged and water does not drain well and the over all cleanliness lacks a lot to be desired. There was no camp host when I was there.
Stephen C
VerifiedAugust 31, 2021 • Stayed at: 206, Loop: Loop 200
This is my families favorite place to go camping. We live around 5 hours away and have made the trip every year at least once a year since first discovering it. The campsites are a little on the small side considering the size of rigs now. We have a 38 foot pull behind that we struggle with at some of the older campsites. We need a total of 63 feet from the rear of the camper to the front of the truck when hooked up. Most of these sites seem to fall right around the 40-45 foot length. They have updated the electricity on a lot (maybe all) of the sites and have 50A service. Unfortunately some of the sites the electrical box is directly behind the pad instead of to the side. This compounds the problem for the length of the pads as you can’t overhang the back of your camper over the grass because you’re limited to how far you can back up your camper on the pad. We absolutely love the area. Soooo many things to see in relatively short driving distance. Big Spring is right there. There’s a nice trail that leads to it from the turnoff to the campground. Rocky falls a 45 minute drive as well as Allie Spring. Blue Spring is about an hour away and a short lovely hike. It seems most people are there for either tubing down the beautiful current river or have canoes or kayaks. There is a nice gravel bar at the campground that you access by going behind one of the sites with a gradual slope in the river that we bring our bag chairs and a canopy and put in the water to sit and cool off when we have beach days. There are two sections of the campground that aren’t used as much as they have no electrical connections. I wish they would develop at least one of those section and put in deeper sites with water and sewer hookups as the dump station is a pretty good drive for even dumping your blue boy. I feel a lot more people would visit the campground. The shower houses are very well kept up on
Jared S
VerifiedAugust 29, 2021 • Stayed at: 219, Loop: Loop 200
Beautiful campground. Very quite and easy to park big rigs!
RICHARD L
VerifiedAugust 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 210, Loop: Loop 200
Great campground. Clean restrooms. Enjoyed our time there.
Nancy C
VerifiedAugust 20, 2021 • Stayed at: 229, Loop: Loop 200
The bathrooms in campground are kept clean, however, the shower house needs more attention.
Dave N
VerifiedAugust 17, 2021 • Stayed at: 203, Loop: Loop 200
Park was in poor shape. Compared to other federal campgrounds this was one of the worst
Maria C
VerifiedAugust 8, 2021 • Stayed at: 216, Loop: Loop 200
The campground is very well maintained. Our site was leveled and with nice shade. The rangers were very helpful. The park is beautiful!
Kurtis C
VerifiedAugust 6, 2021 • Stayed at: 110, Loop: Loop 100
Nice and clean. Quiet nights and kind staff. Will definitely be returning.
Denise H
VerifiedAugust 1, 2021 • Stayed at: 214, Loop: Loop 200
We had a great time, nice shady camping spot, floated the Current River, amazing spring, friendly rangers.
Location Big Spring
Address:
Po Box 490
Van Buren, MO, 63965
United States
Big Spring Campground is located four miles (6.4 km) south of Van Buren, Missouri. Turn south on Missouri Highway 103 and continue south for four miles (6.4 km) to the Big Spring Unit of the park.
Latitude & Longitude: 36.9625 / -90.9831
Elevation: 138 feet
Policies & Rules
| Category | About |
|---|---|
| General |
If you arrive and another party is occupying your reserved campsite, please call Arrowhead Dispatch at 1-844-460-3604 for a Law Enforcement officer to be dispersed to your location for removal of the unauthorized party. |
| General |
50-amp electric hookups are now available in the 200 loop only (bring converters if necessary). |
| General |
There is no direct water hook up at the campsites. You may fill your tanks at the station near the front entrance. |
| General |
There are no sewer hookups. A dump station is available at the campground entrance. |
| General |
Two tents or 1 RV and 1 tent per site only on Standard Family sites |
| General |
Modern restrooms are open April 15-Oct. 15. During other times visitors will be directed to an alternative, which may be a short distance from their campsite. |
| General |
No glass bottled beverages are allowed in tubes or non-motorized vessels |
| General |
All reservations and reservation changes MUST be completed through the Recreation.gov user profile or by calling toll free 1+877-444-6777. |
| General |
For more information about the campground, please call (573) 323-4236 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30pm weekdays, or e-mail OZAR_Campground_Operations@nps.gov. |
| General |
Free standing Hammocks only. NO hammocks are allowed to be tied to trees. |
| General |
Water systems shut off Oct. 15-April 14. (Water off means most bathrooms and faucets in campgrounds will be closed and facilities winterized, including picnic pavilions. The exception are the heated shower houses/flush restrooms at Round Spring, Big Spring and Alley Spring campgrounds.) |
