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Average nightly rates132 total sites
RV Sites
126 sites
Tent Sites
6 sites
About Big Spring
Number of accommodations: 132
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Nearby
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Year-round
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Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
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- Showers
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Rates, Sites & Availability
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132 Sites Available
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Reviews (302)
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
Neal M
VerifiedJuly 11, 2026 • Stayed at: 101, Loop: Loop 100
The campground was well maintained and had ample capacity even over a holiday weekend.
Big Springs is such a lovely area, it’s on par with the more celebrated parks out West.
It’s one of my favorite places to visit.
Gary D. G
VerifiedJuly 8, 2026 • Stayed at: 605, Loop: Loop 600
The 600 loop is a long way from the toilets and showers, but overall this is an excellent place to camp. Easy river access, and the trail over the spring is fun.
Ted S
VerifiedJuly 7, 2026 • Stayed at: 107, Loop: Loop 100
Always love visiting this place.
Any possibility of installing more electric sites, and allowing reservations a year in advance.
Jacob S
VerifiedJuly 5, 2026 • Stayed at: 211, Loop: Loop 200
Campground was well kept, and good location next to the river
Susan W
VerifiedJune 28, 2026 • Stayed at: 212, Loop: Loop 200
I have found the site easy to use and navigate through.
Kelli C
VerifiedJune 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 124, Loop: Loop 100
We loved this spot. We floated all day and then set up camp. The neighbors dog barked constantly for the first 3 hours, even with the rangers there. There were two raccoons that were definitely not afraid of us and came up as we were eating dinner, trying to steal our plates from in front of us. Other than those items, we were pleased.
Shara E
VerifiedJune 27, 2026 • Stayed at: 111, Loop: Loop 100
We had a lot of fun and enjoyed playing in the current river.
Stephanie H
VerifiedJune 25, 2026 • Stayed at: 103, Loop: Loop 100
Beautiful campground and very well maintained! River access from the campsite was great (close) but difficult for those with mobility issues. Overall a nice place to camp but BEWARE - this place is absolutely overrun with raccoons that are habituated to camp food and have no fear of humans. They got into our cooler the first night and made a mess. The cooler was closed but didn’t have a latch. They tried very hard to get into the cooler that did have a latch. They constantly come right into the campsite. The campsite next to us had their s’mores fixings on the picnic table and they were standing as close as 5 feet from the table and raccoons (multiple) came out and took the food right in front of them and it wasn’t even dark. We had to keep every single food related item completely locked up unless we were actively using it. Other than that, it was a great experience to camp at Big Spring Campground.
Jeff J
VerifiedJune 21, 2026 • Stayed at: 110, Loop: Loop 100
Excellent location with clean campground, beautiful nature (springs, falls, etc)! Floating on the Current River is a must!
Renee N
VerifiedJune 21, 2026 • Stayed at: 228, Loop: Loop 200
The electric sites are extremely small and there are very few of them. If you have a larger camper it is very difficult to be able to back into your site especially if someone else has something parked at the front of their site across from you. Don’t try to back up past the end of the asphalt even though there is gravel. They will call the sheriffs department on you. They will gladly allow you to have multiple tents smashing the grass down and killing it but don’t you dare put a tire on it! They will again call the sheriffs department on you. We have stayed at many wonderful corp of engineers campgrounds in the past 20 years of camping but this was by far our worst experience and we will not be back. Oh and if you bring your boat too good luck having a place to park it where you can keep an eye on it, you’ll have to decide between your boat and vehicle which one can stay at your site and which one has to be parked out on the main road for anyone to pilfer through.
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.
Big Spring Campground is accessible via Missouri Highway 103, which connects to the nearby town of Van Buren.
Elevation: 138 feet
4.7 mi drive to downtown Van Buren (about 11 min)
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 OZAR_Campground_Operations@nps.gov.
- 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.)
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Last updated: September 2, 2026
