Alley Spring

The crystal-clear waters of the Jacks Fork River greet campers at Alley Spring, where vibrant blue springs merge with shaded oak forests in Missouri’s Ozark National Scenic Riverways. This well-maintained campground combines accessibility with natural splendor, offering 162 sites—including 28 with electric hookups—on paved pads amid riverfront panoramas. Shower facilities and flush toilets operate seasonally, while year-round amenities include fire rings, picnic tables, and proximity to the historic Alley Mill, a striking red structure from 1894 that anchors the spring-fed landscape.

Set six miles west of Eminence, the campground serves as a gateway to 130 miles of waterways ideal for canoeing, swimming, and fishing along the Jacks Fork and Current Rivers. Trails like the 0.4-mile Spring Branch Loop reveal caves, limestone bluffs, and the namesake spring pumping 81 million gallons daily. Group sites accommodate groups up to 45, while standard sites balance shade and sun with double-wide parking spurs suitable for RVs up to 25 feet (though larger rigs may need strategic parking). A dump station and potable water are available, though no sewer hookups exist.

The Ozark landscape here thrives with white oak forests, dogwood blooms in spring, and trails leading to overlooks like Chubb Hollow. Within 30 minutes, Round Spring’s turquoise pool and Rocky Falls’ swimming holes offer additional excursions, though most visitors find ample recreation along the Jacks Fork’s banks just steps from their campsite. Free summer ranger programs enrich evenings with campfire talks under the stars.