North Fork Recreation Area
North Fork Recreation Area provides camping, picnicking, boating, canoeing, hiking and fishing access to the beautiful North Fork of the White River, which has a total of nine major springs flowing into it. As you drive into the site, the first right takes you to the boat access area. If you go straight you’ll hit a t-intersection, if you go left you enter the campground, if you go right you enter the day use. The site is surrounded by an oak/hickory forest, there are a lot of tulip poplar and sycamore in that area.
More like this: first-come in Missouri · tent only in Missouri · accessible sites in Missouri
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | Campground – single site nightly fees are $10.00/nonelectric. Day Use Area Fees: $2.00 per vehicle. $10.00 per bus. $20 annual fee |
| Accessibility | Several picnic tables, toilets, handicap parking at the day use area |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Season | May to November |
| Forest | Mark Twain National Forest |
| Fees | Campground – single site nightly fees are $10.00/nonelectric. Day Use Area Fees: $2.00 per vehicle. $10.00 per bus. $20 annual fee |
| Rules | No motorized vehicles permitted on trail system. No motorized vehicles beyond posted signs. Fireworks are prohibited. 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). Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the campground. Only collect dead and downed wood for campfires. |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.7586° N, 92.1528° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Monty's Outdoors ↗ | 15.8 mi |
| RV sales & service | Blue Compass RV ↗ | 36 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miRidge Runner-NF to Noblett ↗16.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.4 miBlue Spring Trail0.7 mi trail · hiking
- 0.4 miBlue Springs Connector0.2 mi trail · hiking, bike
- 0.9 miRidge Runner-NF Loop ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 1.1 miDevils Backbone-Raccoon Hollow3.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.2 miDevils Backbone-Mary Hollow4.2 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.4 miBlue Spring Trailhead ↗Mark Twain National Forest · Season January to December
- 1.2 miMcGarr Ridge Trailhead ↗Mark Twain National Forest · Season January to December
- 1.5 miRaccoon Hollow Trailhead ↗Mark Twain National Forest · Season January to December
- 2.8 miCollins Ridge Trailhead ↗Mark Twain National Forest · Season January to December
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside Devils Backbone Wilderness.
- inDevils Backbone Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 6,691 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
- Hodgson-Aid MillBuilding · Sycamore · 7.2 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 North Fork Recreation Area?
No. North Fork 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 North Fork Recreation Area?
Campground – single site nightly fees are $10.00/nonelectric. Day Use Area Fees: $2.00 per vehicle. $10.00 per bus.
Source: Forest Service
Is North Fork Recreation Area open right now?
Open as of Oct 26, 2026. Season May to November.
Source: Forest Service status
Can I bring an RV to North Fork Recreation Area?
North Fork Recreation Area is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
Are there accessible sites at North Fork Recreation Area?
Several picnic tables, toilets, handicap parking at the day use area.
Source: Forest Service
What if North Fork Recreation Area is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Udall Park (16.5 mi), Gamaliel (23.6 mi), and Bidwell Point Park (26.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby