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2026 Season availability
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132 Sites Available
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Reviews (323)
What Guests Are Saying
Big Spring State Park offers a beautiful and well-maintained campground with excellent access to the Current River and nearby attractions like Blue Spring and Rocky Falls. Many visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the friendly staff, highlighting the park's peaceful atmosphere and various recreational opportunities, including hiking and swimming. However, some guests noted issues with restroom cleanliness and limited electric sites, as well as occasional disturbances from wildlife, particularly raccoons. Overall, it is a cherished spot for camping and outdoor activities.
What Guests Are Saying
Big Spring State Park offers a beautiful and well-maintained campground with excellent access to the Current River and nearby attractions like Blue Spring and Rocky Falls. Many visitors appreciate the cleanliness of the facilities and the friendly staff, highlighting the park's peaceful atmosphere and various recreational opportunities, including hiking and swimming. However, some guests noted issues with restroom cleanliness and limited electric sites, as well as occasional disturbances from wildlife, particularly raccoons. Overall, it is a cherished spot for camping and outdoor activities.
Review Summary
Kimberly K
VerifiedJuly 15, 2026 • Stayed at: 114, Loop: Loop 100
Beautiful and peaceful, workers are friendly and helpful. Definitely coming back.
Wilbur S
VerifiedJuly 17, 2026 • Stayed at: 218, Loop: Loop 200
What a hidden gem this area is! We camped at the Big Spring campground in the national park. Our favorites were Big Spring, Blue Spring, Alley Spring and Rocky Falls. This area is so well maintained! The trails were wide and level and the gravel roads were well maintained. We ate at Redbeard's Steakhouse outside of Van Buren. It was delicious! Just a beautiful area! And all of the people we encountered were so helpful and kind!
Janice B
VerifiedJuly 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 203, Loop: Loop 200
We love camping at Big Springs! We look forward to being here each year. The Springs are beautiful. It is so peaceful here. The water can be a bit chilly but, it is so clean and clear. Love, love love it here!
Mehmed & Amra K
VerifiedJuly 19, 2026 • Stayed at: 208, Loop: Loop 200
Very crowded because and not enough electric sites but beautiful place. Last twenty years we are praying to get more electric sites. Not enough space for trailer and truck to park. Not easy to get to the beach. No stairs and very steep.
Patrick B
VerifiedJuly 21, 2026 • Stayed at: 310, Loop: Loop 300
Great camping good staff
Kyle C
VerifiedJuly 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 420, Loop: Loop 400
The campground was well kept and very clean. The amenities were in good shape and well kept. The entire campsite and area was well kept and all of the rangers that we interacted with were very friendly and informative. We floated all the way down the river right to the campsite and the entire process was very pleasant. We will absolutely be back to camp again!
Nancy M
VerifiedJuly 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 221, Loop: Loop 200
The Park and the surrounding area were just beautiful. While we were there it was extremely HOT. Would have loved to have sat in the river to cool down. Everyone in our group was 65+ years old and we never found a place within the park that felt safe for us to enter the water. The place by the campground had steps but then you had to use a rope to get down further. Not safe!
Gregory W
VerifiedJuly 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 209, Loop: Loop 200
We love camping here every year. We love riding bikes and checking out the deer at night in the fields with our grandkids. We wish there were more electric spots to camp on. Jolly Cone is a nice place to get a bite to eat too.
Marco B
VerifiedAugust 2, 2026 • Stayed at: 315, Loop: Loop 300
Very nice quiet spot next to the river which is perfect for a swim. Though the bathrooms are not cleaned the two nights we were staying there.
Kathy C
VerifiedAugust 3, 2026 • Stayed at: 207, Loop: Loop 200
The shower houses were very nasty. They have mold in them!! We have been coming there for 23yrs and you have finally built showers and bath rooms and are very nice compared to what they used to be but there is mold in the showers already and no garbage cans to throw stuff away in showers except the bathrooms. Also in the primitive site why didn't they rebuild the toilet house? The one that is close to the electric site. Also we did not have a camp host this year only part of our stay just wondering what was going there?
Location & Directions for Big Spring
Po Box 490, Van Buren, MO 63965 United States
Elevation: 138 ft
Getting There
Big Spring Campground is located four miles (4 mi) south of Van Buren, Missouri. Turn south on Missouri Highway 103 and continue south for four miles (4 mi) to the Big Spring Unit of the park.
Highway access
Big Spring Campground is accessible via Missouri Highway 103, which connects to the nearby town of Van Buren.
Policies & Rules
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.
- 50-amp electric hookups are now available in the 200 loop only (bring converters if necessary).
- There is no direct water hook up at the campsites. You may fill your tanks at the station near the front entrance.
- There are no sewer hookups. A dump station is available at the campground entrance.
- Two tents or 1 RV and 1 tent per site only on Standard Family sites
- 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.
- No glass bottled beverages are allowed in tubes or non-motorized vessels
- All reservations and reservation changes MUST be completed through the Recreation.gov user profile or by calling toll free 1+877-444-6777.
- For more information about the campground, please call (573) 323-4236 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30pm weekdays, or e-mail [email protected].
- Free standing Hammocks only. NO hammocks are allowed to be tied to trees.
- 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.)
Nearby Campgrounds
Last updated: October 20, 2026
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Population: 1,161
Elevation: 472 ft
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