Of all the national forests in the United States, Mark Twain National Forest is one of the most unique. While it encompasses 3,068,800 acres in southern Missouri, those acres are not contiguous. Indeed, the forest consists of nine separate sections of land sprawled from one side of Missouri to the other. As the only national forest in Missouri, the Mark Twain National Forest operates as a single unit even though only 1,506,100 acres of it is publicly owned. The forest's entirety is within the Ozark Mountain Range boundaries, where trees, wildlife, fish, and birds are prolific, agile, and wily. The separated areas, both publicly and privately owned, are natural homes where humans are tolerated guests.
Camping in Mark Twain National Forest
The way Mark Twain National Forest is spread out over southern Missouri makes it an ideal national forest to visit in an RV. By using an RV, visitors camp in one location, explore it thoroughly, and then pick up stakes and move to another section of the forest to explore a completely different environment. Each evening, these visitors can relax in comfort before tackling the next day of adventure. You can begin this journey by visiting one of the RVshare sites above to find the perfect RV to rent for you and your family.
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Three Springs RV Park and Campground
Three Springs RV Park and Campground is located near the headquarters of the Mark Twain National Forest in Rolla, MO. The campground offers 24 pull-through gravel sites. These campsites are narrow, which means you may not be able to deploy any slide-outs from your RV. There is a playground and a rec hall with pool tables, foosball, and an arcade.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amps
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other Amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, restrooms with flush toilets, warm showers, laundry facilities
Fee: $32 to $35 per night
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Hidden Valley Family Outfitters
Hidden Valley Family Outfitters offers 74 RV campsites, 40 of which have pull-through capability. All of the sites are 40 feet wide and 52 feet long, allowing plenty of room for visitors to deploy their slide-outs and otherwise spread out across the area. A camp store provides RV supplies, groceries, LP gas, firewood, ice, fishing supplies, and a snack bar. Situated beside the Niangua River, the campground supports a boat ramp and a river dock. The camp store rents out kayaks and canoes. Guests can enjoy fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, and wildlife observation.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amp
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other Amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, restrooms with flush toilets
Fee: $34 to $39 per night
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Ozark Highlands MHC/RV Park
Ozark Highlands MHC/RV Park offers 24 RV campsites, of which nine are pull-throughs. All the campsites are 20 feet in width. The pull-through sites are 60 feet in length, and the back-in sites are 43 feet long. The campground provides planned activities for its guests. There is a heated pool, a playground, horseshoe pits, and a rec hall.
Water Hookup: Yes
Electric Hookup: 30/50 amps
Sewer Hookup: Yes
Wi-Fi Available: Yes
Pet-friendly: Yes
Other Amenities: Restrooms with flush toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, warm showers, dump station, self-service RV wash station
Fee: $40 per night
Activities in Mark Twain National Forest
Because of the large distances between locations and the incredible changes in elevation that each Mark Twain National Forest section enjoys, there is a vast array of plants and animals for visitors to enjoy. Visitors may choose to walk through a prairie grass section, along undulating valleys filled with the babble of a creek, or across the tops of ridges. In any case, the natural environment produces homes for different arrays of wildlife, including birds in each forest area.
There are many small communities within easy reach of Mark Twain National Forest, some of which are inside the borders of one section or another. The separation of sections of the forest means that light pollution is more prevalent in most areas, reducing star-gazing opportunities.
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Fishing
In some forest sections, anglers find wide-open lakes or reservoirs to fish for stocked trout, crappies, or bass. In other areas, anglers combat close quarters where trees hover over creeks tumbling from one hole to the next filled with native trout, waiting for a lingering fly or floating worm.
How to get to Mark Twain National Forest
Address: 401 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401
Fee: Entry fee $0
Mark Twain National Forest is an ideal place to spend a vacation in an RV. To take advantage of the opportunities that the forest provides, visit RVshare to find an RV rental that will take you and your family on a trip full of wonders.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark Twain National Forest
Does Mark Twain National Forest offer free camping sites?
Yes, Mark Twain National Forest offers free camping sites. Dispersed camping is allowed in many areas of the forest, as long as campers leave no trace when they pack up camp. The Berryman Campground in the forest offers free, primitive camping with access to vault toilets and picnic tables.
Is there a limit to how long you can camp in Mark Twain National Forest?
Yes, there is a limit to how long you can camp in Mark Twain National Forest. Campers may stay 14 consecutive days and then must move at least one mile before setting up camp again.
If you are camping in a developed recreation area, you may camp for up to 14 days, and then must leave the campsite for at least seven days before returning.
Is Mark Twain National Forest open all year round?
Yes, Mark Twain National Forest is open year-round. Some areas may only have services during the summer season, however, and in some spots there is no water available in the winter months.
How many hiking trails does Mark Twain National Forest have?
There are 32 miles of maintained trails in the Mark Twain National Forest. Hikers will find trails for a variety of abilities, from easy walks to lengthy hikes in the forest.
What type of wildlife lives in Mark Twain National Forest?
Wildlife living in the Mark Twain National Forest includes roadrunners, bald eagles, wild turkeys, deer, and black bears. There is a variety of songbirds and other small animals living in the forest as well.
