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Riverfront Campground & Canoe

3.6 (22 reviews)
Open 8:30 am - 8:30 pm

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Some pictures of the Rocky River cabin
Chrissy A.

I'm not sure where these other negative reviews came from... Our experience with Riverfront was definitely positive! We've been going on float trips for a couple years now, normally tent camping with a group of 8-12 people. This year we decided to look for a cabin and give that a shot. Most places I looked for a cabin that would suit us were in the $150-$350 range! Luckily I stumbled on Riverfront!! We rented the Rocky River cabin for 6 people (with 2 more camping in a tent) for $90/night, which was way cheaper than anywhere else I looked and incredibly convenient. I did have to call to make my reservations and to put my deposit down, but every time I called with questions the people on the phone were incredibly polite. The office has a lot of supplies in case you forget anything, and the prices aren't *horrible* but are on the expensive side. I had forgotten cooking spray and they had one Walmart brand can for $3.75. Ouch. My bad. But I was also willing to pay without fuss because they actually had it when I needed it! The cabin was small, but suited our needs perfectly. There's a full kitchen, albiet the oven and fridge were on the smaller side. I wasn't expecting all of the kitchen supplies they had available, but the place was basically fully kitted out! Pots, pans, cutting boards, coffee maker, silverware, etc etc. We had brought everything expecting supplies to be limited, but most everything was there. Just bring food and drinks and you're set. Beds were pretty comfortable. In our cabin we had some queen sized bunk beds and then a futon. Apparently the futon was less comfy than the regular beds, but that's to be expected. The campground provided linens, and they were nice; much better than sleeping in a sleeping bag! A/C worked fairly well, although the people near it said they were freezing and those of us on the other side of the cabin were a little on the warm side. So, just make sure if you're sleeping under the AC you grab an extra blanket. It ended up raining both nights (so glad we got the cabin!!) so we couldn't enjoy the fire pit, but this cabin has a great location for it. It's near the office but tucked away just enough to be convienient but quiet. Hopefully you don't experience the rain, because it was nice to be able to use the fire pit and picnic table. The float was also great. A little confusing at first, so make sure you confirm put in time and which float you're doing (the 5 or the 8 mile). We did the 8 mile and were on the river by 10:30. Unfortunately, they were a little slow to get our raft ready as we had rented a 4 person instead of the standard 6, and they had to go back to the barn to get it. However, once we got on the river it was all good. All of the equipment was in good shape. We'd rented the raft mentioned before, which was big enough for 4 adults and a fairly big cooler, as well as a canoe and 3 single person kayaks. The kayaks were in probably some of the best shape I've seen for float trip rentals. You do have to be out by 6:30pm or else you are charged an additional $20/craft/hour, so watch your time. The 8 mile took us from 10:30 to about 5:30, and we didn't feel like we stopped THAT many times, but we also didn't rush either. Basically, enjoy yourself just be aware of the time. Once you get to NRO (the giant campground) you'll have about 2 more miles to float, so that's a good gauge of time. We've floated the Elk River several times before, as well as with other outfitters on the Niangua, and I would say this was our most positive experience yet. Overall I would definitely stay with Riverfront again, and probably in the same cabin as well.

Getting ready to get on the water at Riverfront Campground.

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Ask the Community - Riverfront Campground & Canoe

Review Highlights - Riverfront Campground & Canoe

We've floated the Elk River several times before, as well as with other outfitters on the Niangua, and I would say this was our most positive experience yet.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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One Eyed Willy's - You can also rent canoes or tubes for float trips

One Eyed Willy's

4.3(7 reviews)
4.7 mi

I've been going to One Eyed Willy's for years now. I've been on a 10-15 person bachelorette party…read moretrip, two 30+ person college student/young adult trip, as well as a one-day non-camping float with my husband and I. My most recent was one of those giant group trips this past weekend. I've also floated at NRO and some crappy site around Steelville (Green's maybe?). There's definitely a reason we keep going back to OEW's and will continue to do so. First of all, Brian, the owner, is a super nice guy. We hadn't made it down there in about 3 years, and he still remembered me "Last time I saw you, you just got engaged!". Though not great at answering e-mails (just don't bother), the staff is quick to return phone calls if you leave a voicemail. The campsite itself has a nice layout, and they keep improving. Port-o-potties are serviced often, and they have a small shower, bathroom, and store close to the campsite (previously they were only available way up the hill, so thumbs up on the improvement!). The showers and bathrooms were clean and well lit, unlike some other places I've been. By the time we booked, the aluminum canoes were all gone, which is usually how we go, because they're cheaper. Now, no longer being the broke college student, I will ALWAYS pay the measly $5 extra for the fiberglass canoes. Molded seats...worth every penny. Remember that. In general, the Niangua is a great river to float on. Decent current, good sand bars, and nice cold water! And if you're going to float the Niangua, go to One Eyed Willy's!

I've stayed at one eyed willy's a few times. It's a clean campground with adorable cabins! The…read morecabins are kept clean and the staff there are very hard working and very friendly! The owner of the campground goes out of his way to make sure you have what you need. The little shop at the entrance has a lot of cute decor and clothing. I will definitely take my family there again!

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One Eyed Willy's
One Eyed Willy's - Cabin with queen bed, bunk beds and a bed in the loft. Full kitchen and bathroom.

Cabin with queen bed, bunk beds and a bed in the loft. Full kitchen and bathroom.

One Eyed Willy's

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Mountain Creek Campground

Mountain Creek Campground

3.5(11 reviews)
4.9 mi

Campground was nice :-) but I will mention two things... our trashcan was full when we got there,…read morethe owners might wanna double check trash cans before people arrive :-) and we requested a shower key when we got there and were told that there weren't any available at that time?? Everyone there should have access to a shower key? Other than that again nice campground :-)

Review Summary: This place needs to be shut down! Read if you want but it's long…read more.. Maybe I'm just new to the MO camping experience but this is unlike any campground I've ever been to. This is basically just a place for professional hippies to hang out at all summer and fund their hippie lifestyle by renting out canoes and cabins - they don't care if customers are satisfied as long as they have SOME money coming in. Now I have to say I don't have a problem w/ hippies. I am from Austin but this was a whole new level. We get there around 2:30 to check in and the office is locked w/ a sign that says back at 12:00. (Hippies don't believe in wearing watches.) Then the couple helping didn't seem to realize that anyone was even staying that night even though I made the reservations 2 months prior. We had to wait an hour for our cabin to be cleaned and actually get into it. We got into our cabin and it still wasn't very clean - the guy could have swept the floor. And for $70 a night you'd think there would be a small kitchenette. There was certainly room for one. We asked about WiFi because I (stupidly) didn't make sure my Spotify music was in offline mode and one girl (the nicest one from NY) said the password was $2.00 so when we came back later another guy was like "here is it..." with out charging and while I was circling the building trying to get my signal back another creepy girl was like "there's no phone service and we can't give out the WiFi since we have 5 other computers - it would be too slow." Really? I didn't think true hippies believed in technology?! Actually, she said "there's no service" in a "no one will hear your cries when we eat you tonight!" tone. Clearly these people aren't clear on the rules of the camp. Then for our float we had to wait 1.5 hours after the shuttle time and as we were waiting on one bus the crowd was crazy. I don't mean college-kid, drunk and silly crazy. I mean, are you sure your trailer isn't in flames right now from all that meth you've been making in there?? OMG I've never been so out of place in my life. One guy, missing most of his teeth [whatever was left was black], decided somewhere along the way that women would actually show him their tatas for Jello shots. "Um...you're gonna have to fork over a LOT more than that dude!" I JUMPED off when a guy came on and said there was a kid bus! Our neighbors were pretty cool and we talked about it later that night about how they should have bailed also. Did I mention the park brake on the bus didn't work so they used a heavy wooden block to keep the bus in park?! That HAS to be illegal. The one good thing was our cabin was far from everything else (including the river - no bueno) so things weren't so bad when it was just us but dealing with these people and the majority of the other floaters was just a nightmare.

Niangua River Oasis - rope swing, anyone?

Niangua River Oasis

2.4(10 reviews)
12.0 mi

We had a great time at NRO. We saw hummingbirds on the porch by check-in. We liked that we got two…read morenights free primitive camping with purchase of a float. We stayed Saturday and Sunday night over Memorial Day weekend. We had great weather. We also were able to bring our dog and he did great floating. Our two year old loved it, as well. Our raft was great. We liked that we could purchase fire wood at the shop. I gave four stars rather than five because there could be room for improvement. The campsite picnic table was a little old and flimsy, so basically we used it to set things on but sat on our lawn chairs instead. Not the campsite's fault but there was a very noisy motorcycle that drove through the campsite at 4am waking everybody up. Also, we knew ahead of time it was party central in campground A so we knew what to expect and stayed away. We found a nice spot away from the partying. Just be prepared to see a little craziness floating. Overall, we had a good experience. My son liked riding the busses to and from floating!

Niangua River Oasis is one of the closer float trip options for anyone living in Kansas City. It's…read morea little bit of a drive to get to, but this is a place where I've had a lot of fun. Beware of the turn off from MO 64 and the gravel road you have to take to get to it as traffic can be fast and people drive crazy. It's pretty well signed so you won't have much trouble finding it. Also there is a VERY STEEP hill that you have to go down to get to the office and the riverfront. Very Important Note: GLASS is BANNED by Missouri State Law on the River. (Not the capmground though.) Plan Accordingly. Float Trips: NRO has several options of canoes / rafts to choose from. Classic Aluminum Grumman / Osagian canoes, 4 and 6 person rafts, kayaks (which are a blast), and yes they offer private shuttles if you have your own canoe or kayak. NRO used to offer 3 different float lengths but they have stopped offering the float that puts in above Bennett Springs. They now offer just two floats, NRO to Rendezvous Point which takes about 4 hours, and NRO to Oldham's Riverview which is pretty much an all day float. The longer float has less rapids and more deep pool areas if you want to spend a little more time just letting the current carry you. The NRO to Rendezvous Point float has rapids, deep pools, and is not the same from year to year as the river changes it's course in some spots. Pickup after your float is usually prompt, and you ride back in big yellow former school buses that will make some of you glad you're not in school anymore! Camping: Yes they offer nice but expensive cabins. I've tried them, it's not for me. The fun is in the campgrounds. A CAUTION for parents: The campgrounds especially on the weekend often turns into a big party atmosphere. It can be a problem if you want the kids to sleep. If you want a quiet camping experience especially on weekends you might want to look elsewhere. Showers: The showers aren't bad, the hot water keeps up with demand. The problem is they don't always have enough shower stalls to meet the demand so sometimes you have to wait. Camp Store / Office: They have basics, a few odds and end fishing and expensive camping supplies, ice, and firewood. Service can range from friendly to surly. Don't be an idiot, you won't get treated like one. Law Enforcement: The Dallas County Sheriff, MO Highway Patrol and MO Water Patrol, along with Conservation Agents patrol NRO's campgrounds. They have set up checkpoints on the water to look for underage drinking or other indulgences. They operate "waterjet boats", give them 2 inches of water and they can travel upstream without fuss. For the most part they won't give you trouble, but there have been occasions where they have a seriously bad attitude. If you encounter this make sure and contact the appropriate agency and complain when you get home. Summary: $40 will get you a wonderful day on the water that you will enjoy. Don't forget the sunscreen, that Ozarks sun will sneak up on you after spending 4 hours on the water. A sunburn while riding in a bouncy school bus heading back to camp is no fun!.

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Niangua River Oasis - Some people rafting the Niangua river

Some people rafting the Niangua river

Niangua River Oasis - Some drunk kids going down the river

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Some drunk kids going down the river

Bennett Spring State Park

Bennett Spring State Park

3.4(22 reviews)
0.8 mi

Wow it has been a decade since I went back to Bennett spring state park. This place looks the same…read moreoverall, which is good. Who doesn't want fresh air and a break from the hustle and bustle of the major city. This place has great fishing. You can see plenty of people trout fishing and all the trouts swimming in the clear water. Nature at its finest. If you are ever near Lebanon Mo, I definitely recommend to visit this great place if you are a nature lover.

Do not come here for tent camping. These campgrounds are not hospitable for tent stakes. We bent 5…read morestakes and spent two hours trying to find a spot that would work at our sight (310). The ground is full of rocks and gravel. We saw some people that were able to pitch their tents, but they were few and far between. I'd say it was 95% RVs, 5% tents. Additionally, come to find out that our sight was right under electrical lines, which is not safe to sleep under, and on a curve with no barrier protection. So your choices are sleep under the lines or worry that an irresponsible driver is going to run you over. We talked to the supervisor on duty who gave us the option to switch to a different sight that they keep open for these situations or get a refund on one of the two days we reserved (there were no other sights available here or any other local campgrounds). Checking out the alternative sight, we found that is was basically all gravel with a small patch covered in leaves. Who knows what was under them but it wouldn't have been big enough for our tent. We sat for a moment to decide what we wanted to do and a woman in an RV next to us came over and we find out her friend had reserved the sight but couldn't make it so she cancelled. So the sup fibbed in telling us they keep one sight open. In the end, we had to turn around and drive the 3.5 hours home. They need to update their site to advise if a sight is not pitch-able for tent camping. Oh also, there were way too many people fishing. Apparently this place is crazy popular and there's a fisherman every 5 ft or so. Does not make for a good time.

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Bennett Spring State Park
Bennett Spring State Park
Bennett Spring State Park

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Riverfront Campground & Canoe - campgrounds - Updated May 2026

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