Home
Recreation Search
Camping
Day Use
Tours
Permits
Search by Map
My Reservations & Account
Welcome - already a member? Sign In   Not a member yet? Sign UpHelp...

Find Sites

BIG SPRING (MO), Ozark National Scenic Riverways, MO

Description

Open all year round.

Modern restrooms are open Apr 15-Oct 15th. Water is shut off and many restrooms are closed after Oct 15th to prevent frozen pipes. Campers will be directed to an open restroom or vault toilet which may be a short distance from their campsite.

Canoeing, tubing, swimming, and fishing are popular activities. The town of Van Buren is four miles north and offers restaurants, outdoor supplies, and tube and canoe rental concessionaires. The scenic Big Spring is nearby.

Big Spring is the largest freshwater spring in North America and produces an outflow of 280 million gallons a day. The river is crystal clear and spring fed, cool and refreshing on a hot summer day.

The campground has flush toilets and free hot showers available. Ranger-led campfire programs are offered in the campground amphitheater during summer months.

Reservation are accepted for two different Picnic Pavilions. Be sure to specify which Pavilion you desire. Big Spring Pavilion is at the spring, and Peavine Pavilion is along the river. Picnic Pavilion reservations will be accepted year round.

Services & Amenities:

Within Facility
  • Amphitheater
  • Biking
  • Bird Watching
  • Boat Launch Ramp
  • Boating
  • Campfire Programs
  • Campground Host
  • Canoeing
  • Cold Springs
  • Comfort Station
  • Dump Station
  • Firewood
  • Fishing
  • Group Camping Facility
  • Group Picnic Shelters
  • Handicapped Access Site
  • Hiking
  • Hiking Trail
  • Horseback Riding
  • Hunting
  • Interpretive Programs
  • Iron Ranger
  • Kayaking
  • Paved Roads
  • Photography
  • Picnic Tables
  • Ranger Station
  • Showers
  • Sightseeing
  • Swimming
  • Tubing
  • Water Faucets
  • Wildlife Viewing
Within 10 Miles
  • Canoe Rental

Alerts and Important Information

Reservations must be made 7 days in advance. If you attempt to make a reservation less than 7 days away all campsites will be listed as unavailable. This does not necessarily mean that all are reserved. Some campsites may be available but only on a first-come, first-serve basis.Group Campsites are TENT camping ONLY. Family campsites are limited to 6 people and a max. of two tents, or an RV and one tent.
Quiet Hours are from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Pets must be on a leash at all times.
CAUTION: Diving from river bluffs is illegal, dangerous and can result in injury or death. The following items are prohibited on the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers: Styrofoam, glass containers, Jell-o shots, beer kegs and beer bongs.

50 amp electric hookups are now available. Be prepared to convert electric if you have 30 amps. There is no sewer hookup, but a dump station is available at the campground entrance.
All equipment must fit on site pad.
Park vehicles in designated areas only. Vehicles are not allow on the grass!
Groupsites are closed in the Off season.

For more information about the park, please call (573) 323-4236 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. week days.

Or e-mail - OZAR_Campground_Operations@nps.gov

Getting There:

Big Spring (MO)
PO BOX 490
Van Buren MO 63965

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
36.9625, -90.98306

Big Spring Campground is located four miles south of the town of Van Buren, Missouri. Turn South on Missouri Highway 103 and continue south for four miles to the Big Spring unit of the park.
View Regional Map

Phone Park for More Information:

Information: (573)323-4236
Accessibility      Privacy      Disclaimers      FOIA