Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Show on map (573) 323-4236 ozar_interpretation@nps.gov

P.O. Box 490
Van Buren, MO 63965

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork rivers are two of the finest floating rivers found anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear: they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat, or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails, and historic sites such as Alley Mill.

Directions

Visitor centers can be found at the following locations: Big Spring Entrance Station - 3 miles south of Van Buren on Highway 103 Alley Mill & Store - 12185 Alley Hollow Road Round Spring Ranger Station - 13209 Round Spring Campground Rd Administrative offices for Ozark National Scenic Riverways are located at 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965. This location does not offer a visitor center - tourists should instead go to the Big Spring Entrance Station.

Reviews

Ozark National Scenic Riverways features beautiful, clean, and well-maintained campgrounds set in scenic natural river settings. The friendly and helpful staff enhance the peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere with good access to water activities like canoeing, kayaking, and floating the Current River. While most facilities such as bathrooms and showers are clean, some sites experience issues like limited shade, mud or flooding, crowding, and occasional noise or raccoon disturbances. Cell service and utilities are limited in many areas, and some sites have accessibility challenges or maintenance concerns.

Beautiful natural settings with scenic river access

Clean and well-maintained campsites and facilities

Friendly and helpful campground staff and hosts

Good opportunities for water activities like canoeing and kayaking

Peaceful, family-friendly environment

Limited or no cell phone service and internet in many areas

Some campsites are crowded, close together, or have limited shade

Mud, flooding, and accessibility issues affect certain sites

Raccoons can be a nuisance around food

Noise disturbances from neighbors, generators, or groups

1,284 reviews

5 stars

775

4 stars

312

3 stars

107

2 stars

1 stars

Yves C

Campground:Round Spring

Loop:Standard

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

Good location by the river. Campground was nice. Bathrooms and showers were nice and regularly cleaned. Camp host very friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Only reason I don’t rate my experience as 5stars is because of some loud campers after 10pm curfew time.

PAUL J

Campground:Big Spring

Loop:Loop 200

Site:

Reviewed 8 days ago

there was no camp host but the campground was clean and what we expected.

Mike J

Campground:Big Spring

Loop:Loop 200

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

Reserved a 50 amp site, plugged in to the 50 amp receptacle, only got 30 amp service. Not sure what the problem was, plugged in when I got home and had 50 amps with no problems.

John B

Campground:Round Spring

Loop:Standard

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

We were there in late October and found the campground to be very quiet and were pleased to have flushed toilets and hot showers. Everything in the park seemed to be very well maintained and the area is beautiful.

Tim T

Campground:Pulltite

Loop:Sites 31-55

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

I only rated it a 5 because there were no other campers near us & the pictures showed campsite 55 as being by itself. We floated from Akers to Pulltite campground which was convenient. The campground was clean & spacious. Will consider going back in the future.

Matt W

Campground:Jacks Fork / Middle Current Backcountry Campsites

Loop:Powder Mill Campground

Site:

Reviewed 9 days ago

Great spot for a weekend camping trip

Keep your options open

Watch for a matching campsite across monitored campgrounds in Ozark National Scenic Riverways.