Big Spring

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

In the rolling, forested landscape of Big Spring, two of America's most beautiful spring-fed rivers combine to make up the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

As the first national park area to protect a wild river system, visitors have plenty of scenic water activities to enjoy as well as hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.

This year-round campground has flush toilets and shower facilities available. Picnic tables, fire rings, and grills are provided. Roads and parking spurs are paved.

Ranger-led campfire programs are offered in the campground amphitheater during summer months.

Reservations are accepted for three different group picnic areas. Be sure to specify which picnic area you desire. Big Spring Group Picnic Site is at the spring; Peavine and Chubb Hollow are along the river.

Need to Know

• Some campsites may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• 50-amp electric hookups are now available (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 form 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.

Natural Features

The Ozark National Scenic Riverways is known for its caves, springs, sinkholes and losing streams, and features over 300 identified caves within its boundaries. The caves range in size from a rock overhang to almost seven miles of identified passages. Eight caves, including an open sinkhole, have been designated as outstanding natural features.

The Ozark forest is mostly White oak and Shortleaf pine, Missouri's only native pine species. Along the rivers, Sycamore, Cottonwood, River birch and maples are common.

Redbud and dogwoods are also abundant, putting on a spectacular show during most spring months.

Nearby Attractions

Scenic Big Spring is the largest freshwater spring in North America and produces an outflow of 280 million gallons a day.

Round Spring Cave is nearby, with ranger-guided tours offered daily during summer months. Historic and picturesque Alley Mill and Alley Spring are also nearby. The mill is open daily in the summer and ranger-guided tours are available upon request.

Recreation

The Current River flows past the campground, offering excellent canoeing, tubing, swimming and fishing. Over 130 miles (209 km) of waterways exist within the park. Canoe and kayak rentals and outfitters can be found nearby.

Several miles of hiking and horseback riding trails crisscross the region, include the Alley Overlook Trail, Chubb Hollow Trail, Ozark Trail, Cave Spring Trail and Big Springs Trail.

Contact Information

Default

PO BOX 490 VAN BUREN MO 63965

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 573-323-4236

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

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.

Available Campsites

• Site 315, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 307, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 615, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 606, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 214, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 516, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 222, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 223, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 104, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 103, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 204, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 309, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 617, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G02, Loop Big Spring Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site 416, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 405, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 414, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 620, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 510, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 111, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 602, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 317, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 401, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 113, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 124, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 603, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 304, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 418, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 614, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 505, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 409, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 612, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 507, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 311, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 308, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 218, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 417, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 101, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 601, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 611, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 120, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 211, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 202, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site P01, Loop Peavine Shelter, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site 217, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 613, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 207, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 110, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 415, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 219, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 114, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 210, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 421, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 305, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 123, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 205, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 226, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 419, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 413, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 216, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 203, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 515, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 201, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 314, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 107, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 302, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 410, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 517, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 404, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 224, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 116, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 511, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 506, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 209, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 501, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 229, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 503, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 303, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 518, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 213, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 509, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 121, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 227, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 310, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 316, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 514, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site G01, Loop Big Spring Group Sites, Type Group Tent Only Area Nonelectric
• Site 225, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 221, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 504, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 228, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 109, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 112, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 319, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 206, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 609, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 212, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 313, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 108, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 512, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 403, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 407, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 312, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 610, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 619, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 618, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 117, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 115, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 301, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 402, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 318, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 513, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 215, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 605, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 106, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 408, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 306, Loop Loop 300, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 616, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 105, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 420, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 208, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 412, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 502, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 102, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 406, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 220, Loop Loop 200, Type Standard Electric
• Site 608, Loop Loop 600, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 119, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 118, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 411, Loop Loop 400, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site P02, Loop Big Spring Picnic Shelters, Type Group Picnic Area
• Site 508, Loop Loop 500, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 122, Loop Loop 100, Type Standard Nonelectric

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