Round Spring Campground
Eminence, Missouri · on Spring Valley Creek · Ozark National Scenic Riverways
Verified · 6 independent sources
- WATER
- spring
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $20/night
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Round Spring Campground
Round Spring Campground sits within Ozark National Scenic Riverways (NPS) about 13 miles north of Eminence, Missouri, where the Current River and the outflow of Round Spring converge. Round Spring itself is a roughly 55-foot-deep, vividly blue spring pool that flows out through a natural bridge to join the Current River, and the recreation area's NPS-designated swimming site gives visitors a swimming hole on the river right by camp.
The campground and swim area sit in a forested Ozark river valley where the Current River flows past shaded campsites, with the circular blue pool of Round Spring nearby, connected to the river by a short spring branch that passes under a natural rock bridge.
Swimming at Round Spring Campground
Swimming happens mainly in the clear, cold Current River at the campground's designated swim site, described by visitors as crystal clear and cold enough to require time to acclimate; the spring pool itself is a striking blue, deep (~55 ft), scenic feature near a natural bridge, with river swimming, tubing, canoeing, and fishing all called out by the NPS/Recreation.gov listing as suited to casual and family use.
How to get to this swimming hole
From Eminence, Missouri, travel about 13 miles north on Missouri Highway 19 to reach Round Spring Campground and the adjacent spring/natural bridge area.
Parking: Paved roads and parking are available on-site at the developed campground; specific swim-site parking capacity was not detailed in sources found.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Round Spring Campground has two points of river access within the campground grounds themselves, so no trail hike is needed to reach the Current River swim site. A separate short interpretive path leads from the parking area past the natural bridge to the blue spring pool and cave entrance, but its exact distance could not be confirmed by sources found this session (NPS trail-specific pages returned 404s). One reviewer separately described a 15-minute walk across a bridge to reach the nearby country store, which is a different, non-swim errand.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
River swim site on the Current River rather than a still pool; visitor reviews describe the water as cold enough to need acclimation time and note the river can be affected by rain-driven current/turbidity. Shallow gravel-bar style river access is typical of these NPS river sites, but there are no lifeguards and no barriers, so young kids should be supervised closely rather than left to swim unsupervised.
Parking
Free
Paved roads and parking throughout the developed campground; parking itself is not fee-gated, though overnight camping requires a paid, reserved site (see fees in prior dossier). Exact day-use swim-lot capacity was not stated in sources found.
Restrooms
Yes
Flush toilets and showers on-site at Round Spring Campground (family-style shower stalls on the lower loop, described by a visitor as having strong water pressure); per NPS fee schedule these facilities operate seasonally, roughly April 15-October 15.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
Multiple sources (NPS, Recreation.gov, first-hand campground reviews) describe the Current River here as crystal clear and cold; visitor reviews specifically note that heavy rainfall can cloud/reduce visibility at the spring and river for a period afterward, so clarity is usually high but not guaranteed after storms.
Hours
Round Spring Ranger Station is open seasonally, roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day (contact (573) 858-3297); the campground/river-access area itself has no gate hours and is reachable year-round, with camping requiring a Recreation.gov reservation (summer season Apr 15-Oct 15, winter season Oct 16-Apr 14).
On the water
Restrictions: No glass bottles/containers permitted in tubes or non-motorized vessels (NPS regulation). NPS park-wide guidance recommends wearing a PFD while floating. No sources found this session specifically addressing motorized boats, paddleboards, or personal watercraft (jet skis) at this stretch of the Current River, so those remain unconfirmed rather than assumed prohibited or allowed.
Round Spring is one of the Current River's popular float put-in/take-out points; canoeing, kayaking, and tubing are described park-wide (NPS, Wikipedia) as among the most popular activities on this river.
What regulars say
Firsthand campground reviews serve as the visitor reports here. Reviewers describe the Current River at this spot as running cold and crystal clear, with heavy rain temporarily clouding visibility. Summer weekends bring crowds, noise, and occasional generator use even on non-electric sites, while weekday spring and fall visits are described as much quieter. The showers are called out as a pleasant surprise (strong pressure, family-style stalls), and one visitor mentioned an unnamed outfitter 'across the road' from the campground that handles canoe, kayak, and tube rental and shuttle service for river trips, though no business name, prices, or hours could be verified.
Backstory
Round Spring Cave, adjacent to the spring, has offered ranger-led lantern/cave tours seasonally (roughly June-October) as a long-standing park interpretive program.
Round Spring Campground: FAQ
Does Round Spring Campground charge a fee?
Camping fees (not swim-specific entry fees) apply seasonally: summer (Apr 15-Oct 15) $20/night standard non-electric, $30/night electric, $45/night cluster (7-20 people), $140/night group (15-45 people); winter (Oct 16-Apr 14) $10/night standard non-electric, $20/night electric, $10/night cluster, $50/night group. Cave tours are $5 per the first-hand review source.
Is Round Spring Campground kid friendly?
River swim site on the Current River rather than a still pool; visitor reviews describe the water as cold enough to need acclimation time and note the river can be affected by rain-driven current/turbidity. Shallow gravel-bar style river access is typical of these NPS river sites, but there are no lifeguards and no barriers, so young kids should be supervised closely rather than left to swim unsupervised.
Do I need to hike to reach Round Spring Campground?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Round Spring Campground?
Paved roads and parking throughout the developed campground; parking itself is not fee-gated, though overnight camping requires a paid, reserved site (see fees in prior dossier). Exact day-use swim-lot capacity was not stated in sources found.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Round Spring Campground?
Round Spring is one of the Current River's popular float put-in/take-out points; canoeing, kayaking, and tubing are described park-wide (NPS, Wikipedia) as among the most popular activities on this river.
When is the best time to visit Round Spring Campground?
Weekday visits in spring and early fall are described by reviewers as quieter and preferable; summer weekends draw large, noisy crowds.
What are the rules at Round Spring Campground?
No glass bottles allowed in tubes or non-motorized vessels; free-standing hammocks only (no tree-tied hammocks); site occupancy limits (two tents or one RV plus one tent on standard sites, max 2 RVs on group sites); all developed campsites require a Recreation.gov reservation; NPS park-wide guidance recommends wearing a personal flotation device while floating.
What water body is Round Spring Campground on?
Round Spring Campground is on Spring Valley Creek, a natural spring verified in USGS hydrography data.
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