Discover 6 Secret Free Campsites in Southern Missouri

If you love Missouri, camping and free, I have found the motherlode of cool destinations for you. It's 6 somewhat secret campsites in southern Missouri that won't cost you anything.

I need to clarify something. When I said that I found you 6 secret free campsites in southern Missouri, what I meant to say is that the Missouri Department of Conservation found them. They're also not secret per se, but definitely off-the-beaten-path of some of Missouri's more populated camping places.

Peck Ranch Conservation Area (Carter and Shannon counties)

Patrick Bridge Access (Ozark County)

Schlicht Springs Access (Pulaski County)

Wilbur Allen Memorial Conservation Area (Wright County)

Caney Mountain Conservation Area (Ozark County)

Vera Cruz Access (Douglas County)

There are some additional things you need to know about these 6 campsite areas hidden away in the woods of southern Missouri. You can't camp there for more than 14 days consecutively. You won't need a special use permit unless you're planning to have a group of 10 or more be a part of your group.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has some great camping guidelines for all of the state's camping areas, but these 6 in particular are all located in black bear country. That means you need to prepare and store food in a bear safe kind of way. A black bear can smell a food source from miles away so if you're reckless with what you're eating, you may end up with a dangerous and unwelcome visitor.