NPS · Ozark National Scenic Riverways · Van Buren, MO

Alley Spring

The rolling, forested landscape around Alley Spring is where 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 are able to enjoy various water activities as well as hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.

More like this: electric hookups in Missouri · reservable in Missouri · big rigs in Missouri · pets allowed in Missouri · group sites in Missouri

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Bright red Alley Mill under the summer sun and shade treesA campsite at Alley Spring with picnic table and shade treesThe one room schoolhouse near Alley SpringA historic one room schoolhouse at Alley Spring with garden and scarecrow in the foreground
Photos courtesy of NPS Photo · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard, no hookups117
Standard with electric28
Tent-only14
Group tent areas3
group picnic area2
Host/management1
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 64 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

164 sites in 11 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
G01Alley Spring Group SitesGroup tentPavedNoRiverfront45 / 15Yes
G02Alley Spring Group SitesGroup tentPavedNoRiverfront45 / 15Yes
G03Alley Spring Group SitesGroup tentPavedNoRiverfront45 / 38Yes
Burr Oak Picnic PavilionGroup Picnic AreaGroup Picnic AreaGravelPartial100 ampRiverfront60 / 20Yes
Alley Spring Picnic PavilionGroup Picnic AreaGroup Picnic AreaPavedPartial100 ampRiverfront60 / 20
113Loop 100StandardBack-in32PavedFullNoRiverfront6 / 2Yes
114Loop 100StandardBack-in32PavedFullNoRiverfront6 / 2Yes
115Loop 100StandardBack-in32PavedFullNoRiverfront6 / 2Yes
116Loop 100StandardBack-in32PavedFullNoRiverfront6 / 2Yes
117Loop 100StandardBack-inPavedFullNoRiverfront6 / 2Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water
Max vehicle length64 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites Burr Oak Picnic Pavilion, 216, 609 are listed accessible

Open year-round, this campground has flush toilets and shower facilities available April 15 through October 15. Roads and parking spurs are paved. Ranger-led campfire programs are offered in the campground amphitheater during the summer months.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Alley Spring30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 2.77 inches of precipitation, 2.3 inches of snowFebruary: 2.86 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowMarch: 4.53 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowApril: 5.26 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowMay: 5.58 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 4.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 4.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 3.79 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 3.77 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 3.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 3.94 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowDecember: 3.25 inches of precipitation, 0.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 33.1°F averageFebruary: 37.4°F averageMarch: 46.6°F averageApril: 56.7°F averageMay: 66.9°F averageJune: 74.3°F averageJuly: 78.4°F averageAugust: 77.4°F averageSeptember: 69.4°F averageOctober: 57.4°F averageNovember: 45.6°F averageDecember: 36.0°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Eminence 1 N, 5 miles from the campground at 640 feet, station USC00232619 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 47 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 6 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From the east on US Highway 60, turn north on Missouri Highway 19 in the town of Winona. Continue north 12 miles to the town of Eminence. From Eminence, Alley Spring campground is located five minutes west of State Highway 106. From Mountain View, travel 19 miles east from Mountain View on US Highway 60 and turn north on County Highway E.

Nearest townVan Buren, Missouri
Coordinates37.1472° N, 91.4497° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗0.2 mi
Outdoor gearAlley Spring Store ↗0.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Camping in Missouri | Eminence, MO | Review of Alley Springs Mill and Campground

Worth a stop

Historic and picturesque Alley Mill and the scenic Alley Spring are nearby. The mill is open daily in the summer and rangers offer tours upon request. Pretty Round Spring is close to the campground as well.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Mark Twain National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Known for its caves, springs, sinkholes and losing streams, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways has over 300 identified caves within its boundaries. They 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 Dogwood are abundant, putting on a spectacular show during most spring months.

Recreation

Canoeing, tubing, swimming and fishing are popular activities on the vast waterways in the region, with over 130 miles (209 km) of water trails. Canoe and kayak rentals and outfitters can be found nearby. A short walk from the campground leads to a popular swimming area on the Jacks Fork River, a crystal clear and spring fed waterway that's cool and refreshing on a hot summer day. Several interpretive trails with educational exhibits meander nearby. Other hiking trails include the Alley Overlook Trail, Chubb Hollow Trail, Ozark Trail, Cave Spring Trail and Big Springs Trail.

Guidebooks for Missouri

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping - Missouri and the Ozarks
    Steve Henry, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Iowa & Missouri
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • The Ozarks: 43 spectacular hikes in Arkansas and Missouri
    Jim Warnock, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Alley Spring?

Sites at Alley Spring are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Alley Spring?

Check-in 1:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Alley Spring have?

165 sites, including 117 standard sites without power, 28 standard sites with power, 14 tent-only sites, and 3 group tent areas.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Alley Spring?

The longest site here provides 64 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Alley Spring have hookups?

Yes, electric and water hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Alley Spring?

Open year-round, this campground has flush toilets and shower facilities available April 15 through October 15.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Alley Spring?

Yes, pets are allowed at Alley Spring. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Alley Spring?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Alley Spring?

Sites Burr Oak Picnic Pavilion, 216, and 609 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Alley Spring?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Alley Spring?

Canoeing, tubing, swimming and fishing are popular activities on the vast waterways in the region, with over 130 miles (209 km) of water trails. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Alley Spring?

Van Buren, Missouri. Historic and picturesque Alley Mill and the scenic Alley Spring are nearby.

Source: Getting there