Fourche Lake Recreation Area
Fourche Lake Recreation Area is located on the 44-acre Fourche Lake, a beautiful place to be outside. The first thing you see as you enter the site is the boat launch and boat launch parking. If you drive a little further you pass some campsites. At the very end there is a loop where the toilet is, in the day use area. The campground is surrounded by a oak, pine, and hickory forest. The campsites are spaced out among the trees, to give some privacy.
More like this: first-come in Missouri · free in Missouri · tent only in Missouri · accessible sites in Missouri
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | There are no fees. |
| Accessibility | tables, toilet, lantern posts, fishing pier, and grills |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | January to December |
| Forest | Mark Twain National Forest |
| Fees | There are no fees. |
| Rules | Day Use Boats are allowed, only electric motors are permitted. Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the day use area. No trash containers; please pack out all your trash. Fireworks are prohibited. Camping Campsite parking allows for two vehicles per site. Park only in designated parking areas. No more than 8 people are permitted at single sites (16 for double. sites). |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.6390° N, 91.0568° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Alley Spring Store ↗ | 40.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Video of Fourche Lake Rec Area, MO from Makayla C.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Mark Twain National Forest.
- inMark Twain National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 3,069,958 acres
- 6.4 miIrish Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 16,427 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Hillyard CabinBuilding · Warm Springs · 10.8 mi
- Ripley County CourthouseBuilding · Doniphan · 12.8 mi
- Ripley County Jail, Sheriff's Office and Sheriff's ResidenceBuilding · Doniphan · 12.8 mi
Guidebooks for Missouri
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Fourche Lake Recreation Area?
No. Fourche Lake Recreation Area is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Fourche Lake Recreation Area?
Nothing. Fourche Lake Recreation Area is listed as free. There are no fees.
Source: Forest Service
Is Fourche Lake Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season January to December.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to Fourche Lake Recreation Area?
Fourche Lake Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at Fourche Lake Recreation Area?
Tables, toilet, lantern posts, fishing pier, and grills.
Source: Forest Service
What if Fourche Lake Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Deer Leap Recreation Area (9.8 mi, first-come), Float Camp Recreation Area (10.4 mi), and Greer Crossing Recreation Area (18.6 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby