CAMPING

Missouri offers some of the best camping experiences in the country.

Missouri has over forty state parks with 3,600 campsites to the 100s of private owned campgrounds. There is sure to be a spot that gets you close to the outdoors experience you want and being away from the hustle and bustle of daily life make camping in Missouri one of the least expensive and most rewarding things you can do.

We of course offer listings by areas of the private campgrounds and Missouri has a centralized reservation system for state park campgrounds.

The smells of a meal being cooked over the campfire or grill and being away from the hustle and bustle of daily life make camping in Missouri one of the least expensive and most rewarding things you can do. Keep checking back for tips and tricks for camping in Missouri.

Building Smokeless Campfires

43 Camping Tips To Consider Before Your Next Outing

Dutch Oven Cooking Guide

Soda Can Cook Stove

Where To Find Mushrooms

Cooking Gar

Identifying Animal Tracks

Want to expand your travels? Check out camping in nearby Kentucky or Tennessee

A Dakota Firehole or as I like to call it – a dirt rocket stove is a great way to primitive camp fire. It reminds me a lot of how a rocket stove is built in how you feed the wood. Getting good oxygen is the key to a smoke free fire and this does that for sure. It is also very easy to cover up and make safe when you leave.

The guy is obviously not a Missouri native – but his methods work. Check it out.

1 Give yourself plenty of time to set up camp before dark.

2 Choose a level spot and sweep it free of debris. If you have to sleep on an incline, sleep with your head uphill.

3 Look above your site for potential falling rocks and dead tree branches.

4 Don’t park or camp under a lone tree, especially on high ground. It will be a lightning rod in the event of an electrical storm.

5 Unroll your sleeping bag right away, so that when it’s bedtime, the bag has puffed up and is ready to offer full insulation.

6 Stake your tent down. Even a minor storm can blow your tent away with everything in it.

7 In rocky soil, where tent stakes won’t work, use rocks inside the corners of your tent to anchor it securely.

8 Check for potential hazards such as anthills, wasp nests, or piles of rock, branches, bark or leaves that snakes or scorpions could call home.

9 Never make in a natural watercourse. A rainstorm, even miles away, can turn your camp into a raging river.

10 Camp where the morning sun will hit your tent or trailer as it will make those chilly mornings warmer.

11 People love camping near water, but if the water isn’t moving, you are likely to have issues with insects.

12 Locate your tent or trailer upwind of your intended campfire so smoke doesn’t blow toward and fill your sleeping quarters.

13 Always use a ground or tarp below your tent. It’s another layer of insulation and moisture control, and it will protect your tent floor from excessive wear and tear.

14 In hot, buggy weather, orient your tent door toward the prevailing wind to help cool the tent interior. It also helps keep mosquitoes away from the door.

15 If stormy weather is predicted it is better to face the front of the tent away from the wind and help keep rain from blowing into the door.

16 Practice setting up a new tent before leaving home.

17 Seal the seams of your tent — you’ll have a drier night. Some tents come with a tube of sealer. It’s also available at outdoor-equipment retailers.

18 Some tents are overrated in sleeping capacity. Three feet of width per person is ideal for a comfortable sleep.

19 Clean, dry and air your tent after each trip. It will last longer and not mildew.

20 Bugs are attracted to brightly colored clothing – so tone it down for a better time outside.

21 Stick to high-quality wool-blend socks for hiking. Cotton traps sweat next to your skin.

22 Layering is the key to proper camping attire. Have a base layer, a mid-layer and a rain jacket on hand.

23 Break in those new boots long before you hike a mile in them.

24 A hat is essential. It keeps the sun off your head and face during warm weather, and keeps heat from escaping from your head during cold weather.

25 Keep your stove clean — especially the burners and gas fittings. Clogged burners are inefficient. Dirty fittings can leak and create a fire hazard.

26 Have at least two flashlights, and spare batteries for each.

27 Consider binoculars a basic camping tool – you will see more for sure!

28 Take a collapsible shovel – works great for everything from latrine duty to managing your fire.

29 LED headlamps are really handy when trying to use both hands in the dark.

30 Use stacking storage tubs to organize your camping gear. It will keep it clean and all in one place.

31 Down sleeping bags are best for insulation, but when wet, can lose loft and heat-retention qualities. Synthetic-fill bags are generally less expensive and a good choice for family campers.

32 Wear a cap at night. It will help conserve body heat.

33 Don’t go to bed cold. Do something to get warm before crawling into bed.

34 Wear a base layer like long underwear to bed.

35 A sleeping pad is essential for warmth. Without it the ground can suck the heat out of your body.

36 Wind steals heat. Keep your tent closed up. If you must, vent the tent on its downwind side or place your camp in a naturally sheltered area.

37 Keep the next day’s clean socks and underwear inside the foot of your sleeping bag. They’ll be warm for the morning.

38 Drinking alcohol might give you a warm fuzzy feeling but actually robs you of body heat.

39 Dental floss works as good as a toothpick, and is strong enough to work as thread for fabric repairs or as emergency bootlaces.

40 Carry a roll of duct tape. There are tons uses for duct tape, ranging from automotive, first aid to tent repair.

41 Bring a compact pair of scissors or a multi-tool. It’s good for all kinds of uses — first aid, equipment repairs, etc.

42 I always bring a small sewing kit. Great for everything from wardrobe malfunctions to medical uses.

43 Drink plenty of water. You won’t know you’re dehydrated until it’s too late, so prevent it by constantly rehydrating.

Dutch Oven Cooking The Easy Way

A Dutch oven is a must for delicious camp-out feasts! Just about anything you cook in a regular oven can be created in a Dutch oven If you haven’t already you need to follow the instructions to season your Dutch oven.

Start by washing the Dutch oven with mild soapy water, rinse, and dry completely. Grease inside and out (pot, legs, and lid) lightly with a good grade of olive oil, vegetable oil, or shortening like Crisco. Do not use a spray in coating, but rather use an oil soaked paper towel or new sponge You can then place in a 300-350 degree oven for at least 1 hour. I prefer to do this on an outside grill to avoid the stink in the house – and trust me it will stink. Once your Dutch oven is seasoned it should never be scrubbed with soap. Store the oven in a warm, dry place with the lid cracked so air can circulate inside.

Cooking Tips: For easy cleanup, line the bottom and the sides of the Dutch oven with aluminum foil. Use a wooden spoon to stir, and always cook with the lid on. A Dutch oven will last you for years care should be taken to make sure it lasts. They will shatter if dropped on hard cement and never pour very cold water into an empty hot pot or you may cause permanent damage to the oven by cracking it.

Heat control the most important thing to master when learning to cook with a Dutch oven. Charcoal briquettes provide a long lasting, even heat source and are easier to use than wood coals but either can be used. Briquettes will last for about an hour and will need to be renewed if longer cooking times are needed. Rule of thumb: Each briquette adds between 10 & 20 degrees. Different types of cooking requires different placement of the briquettes. Here are a few general rules for briquette placement:

For Roasting: The heat source comes from the top and bottom equally. This requires twice as many coals on top as on the bottom.

For Baking: The heat source comes from the top more than the bottom. Place 3 times as many coals on the lid.

For Boiling, Frying, Stewing, Simmering: All of the heat comes from the bottom. All coals are placed beneath the Dutch oven.

Place the required # of briquettes under the oven bottom in a circular pattern so they are at least 1/2″ inside the Dutch oven’s edge. Arrange briquettes on top in a checkerboard pattern. Do not bunch briquettes as they can cause hot spots. To prevent (minimize) hot spots during cooking, get in the habit to lift and rotate the entire oven 1/4 turn and then rotate just the lid ¼ turn in the opposite direction. Rotate every 10-15 minutes. If you use wood coals, remember that the flame will be much hotter than the coals. Avoid direct flames on the pot or turn frequently.

Here is a handy guide for the amount of charcoal briquettes needed for different sized Dutch ovens to reach a desired temperature level and most recipes you find will let you know how many also.

8 Inch Dutch Oven

325 degrees – 15 coals …OR… 10 on top / 5 on bottom
350 degrees – 16 coals …OR… 11 on top / 5 on bottom
375 degrees – 17 coals …OR… 11 on top / 6 on bottom
400 degrees – 18 coals …OR… 12 on top / 6 on bottom
425 degrees – 19 coals …OR… 13 on top / 6 on bottom
450 degrees – 20 coals …OR… 14 on top / 6 on bottom

10 Inch Dutch Oven

325 degrees – 19 coals …OR… 13 on top / 6 on bottom
350 degrees – 21 coals …OR… 14 on top / 7 on bottom
375 degrees – 23 coals …OR… 16 on top / 7 on bottom
400 degrees – 25 coals …OR… 17 on top / 8 on bottom
425 degrees – 27 coals …OR… 18 on top / 9 on bottom
450 degrees – 29 coals …OR… 19 on top / 10 on bottom

12 Inch Dutch Oven

325 degrees – 23 coals …OR… 16 on top / 7 on bottom
350 degrees – 25 coals …OR… 17 on top / 8 on bottom
375 degrees – 27 coals …OR… 18 on top / 9 on bottom
400 degrees – 29 coals …OR… 19 on top / 10 on bottom
425 degrees – 31 coals …OR… 21 on top / 10 on bottom
450 degrees – 33 coals …OR… 22 on top / 11 on bottom

14 Inch Dutch Oven

325 degrees – 30 coals …OR… 20 on top / 10 on bottom
350 degrees – 32 coals …OR… 21 on top / 11 on bottom
375 degrees – 34 coals …OR… 22 on top / 12 on bottom
400 degrees – 36 coals …OR… 24 on top / 12 on bottom
425 degrees – 38 coals …OR… 25 on top / 13 on bottom
450 degrees – 40 coals …OR… 26 on top / 14 on bottom

16 Inch Dutch Oven

325 degrees – 34 coals …OR… 22 on top / 12 on bottom
350 degrees – 36 coals …OR… 24 on top / 12 on bottom
375 degrees – 38 coals …OR… 25 on top / 13 on bottom
400 degrees – 40 coals …OR… 27 on top / 13 on bottom
425 degrees – 42 coals …OR… 28 on top / 14 on bottom
450 degrees – 44 coals …OR… 30 on top / 14 on bottom

Turn A Soda Can Into A Camp Stove

Roughing it or needing to pack light? This handy tip on making a simple stove from a can could come in handy.

How To Turn A Beer Can Into The Only Camping Stove You'll Ever Need from Tom Allen on Vimeo.

Finding morels and other mushrooms around Missouri this spring can be a rewarding challenge, and this video (actually taken in Ohio) can help you be even more successful this season.

I have many a person tell me gar is really good to eat. Some say you want to eat it while it’s hot. I know it isn’t the easiest to clean involving tin snips or even a jig saw to get through the tough scales – but it may really be worth it… Let us know what you think.

Identifying Animal Tracks

Hunting or just camping is a good time to be able to identify tracks on the ground or snow. This handy guide below can help.