Lane Spring Recreation Area

Star3.76
36 reviews
Lane Spring Recreation Area

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

First-Come

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

Not Allowed

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Lane Spring Recreation Area
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00
Total Campsite Fees$0.00

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What Campers Say

3.76

Mixed Reviews

Based on 36 reviews

121 Google reviews

Most mentioned

viewspeacefulcleanshade

"Reviewers overwhelmingly love Lane Spring Recreation Area, describing it as beautiful, peaceful, and well-maintained, with very clean facilities and reasonable prices. Campers highlight the clear spring/river, wooded privacy, and good mix of rustic camping with some modern amenities. Many say they plan to return regularly or already visit at least once a year."

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About Lane Spring Recreation Area

Tucked along the gentle waters of Little Piney Creek, Lane Spring Recreation Area invites you to discover a tranquil retreat where a crystal-clear spring bubbles up beneath a canopy of towering hardwoods. Whether you're claiming one of the first-come, first-served campsites, casting a line for trout, or wandering the network of nature trails, this hidden gem offers the perfect blend of accessibility and wilderness charm, complete with two reservable pavilions for gatherings and a stunning stone patio that overlooks the spring itself.
The site offers first-come, first-served overnight campsites including several family campsites and some waterfront campsites, plus day-use group picnic pavilions. Pavilions may be reserved for groups or used on a first-come, first-served basis when unreserved.
Natural Features and SceneryStep into a world where ancient sycamores, stately oaks, and graceful cypress trees create a living cathedral above Lane Spring's crystalline waters. The spring itself emerges cool and clear from the earth, its edges adorned with vibrant watercress and native plants that have thrived here for generations. As you explore the trails winding through the Mark Twain National Forest, you'll traverse lush bottomland where wildflowers paint the forest floor in seasonal bursts of color, and Little Piney Creek provides a constant, soothing soundtrack to your adventure. The shaded stone patio offers a front-row seat to this natural theater, where you can watch the spring's waters dance and swirl before joining the creek on its journey downstream.
Geological RegionNestled in the northwestern reaches of Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest, this area showcases the distinctive karst topography and spring-fed waterways that define the Ozark landscape.
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Campsite details

AccessibilityAccessible picnic area and shaded stone patio; handicap-accessible paths to pavilions; each pavilion has 10–20 designated parking spots with accessible paths.
Sites SizeSeveral family campsites available; some waterfront campsites along Little Piney Creek.
Total Campsitesnull campsites
Recommended CampsitesFamily campsites include a table, lantern post and campfire ring with grill; choose waterfront campsites for creek access. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.

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Reserving a campsite

Guests Allowed Per Site
  • Pavilions: up to 100 people
  • individual campsite guest limits not specified.
Groups
  • Two group picnic pavilions, each equipped with tables, grills and electric outlets, each can accommodate up to 100 people
  • pavilions have 10–20 parking spots and can be reserved (or used first-come, first-served if unreserved).
Tents
Tents are not allowed
RV vehicles
RV vehicles are not allowed
Primitive
Primitive are not allowed
Reservable
Reservations are not allowed

Site layoutPicnic area with two group pavilions (each with tables, grills and electric outlets and 10–20 parking spots with accessible paths), additional individual picnic sites near the spring, and several family campsites. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Walk-in AvailabilityMultiple first-come, first-served campsites are available; pavilions can be reserved and are available first-come if unreserved.

Amenities available

Potable water
Fire rings
Picnic tables
Vault toilets

Activities you can enjoy

Outdoor recreation includes trout fishing on Little Piney Creek, hiking on two named trails, and popular birding and wildlife viewing opportunities in the hardwood forest and along waterways.
Hiking
Two maintained trails: the 1.25-mile Blossom Rock Trail and the 1.5-mile Cedar Bluff Trail traverse lush bottomland vegetation and wildflowers, then climb to river views and rock outcroppings.
Fishing
Trout fishing is popular on the creek segment nearest Lane Spring; it is managed as a wild trout fishery (self-sustaining, not stocked). Only artificial lures and flies are allowed, with a daily limit of one trout measuring 18 inches or longer. Bass and sunfish are also plentiful.
Wildlife viewing
Birding and wildlife viewing are popular along the trails and creek; habitat includes hardwood forest with sycamore, cypress, oak and riparian vegetation.
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Campground rules

  • Pets are not allowed
  • Each family campsite is equipped with a campfire ring with grill.

Hazards


Weather at Lane Spring Recreation Area

32
°F
Dec 11
Thursday
Overcast
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 2.7 mph
Overcast

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Good to know

Proximity to water featuresSituated along Little Piney Creek with some waterfront campsites and an accessible patio overlooking Lane Spring.

Campground Map

Lane Spring Recreation Area
Driving directionsFrom Rolla, Missouri, travel 12 miles south on U.S. Highway 63, then continue 1 mile west on Entrance Road.
Accessible via U.S. Highway 63 (site is 12 miles south of Rolla), then 1 mile west on Entrance Road.
Nearby places
Rolla, MO — 12 miles (site is 12 miles south of Rolla)

Reviews from booking and map sources

3.8
36 reviews
Mixed Reviews
Mixed Reviews
Lane Spring Recreation Area has mixed reviews, placing it in the bottom 85% of campgrounds based on reviews
Reviewers overwhelmingly love Lane Spring Recreation Area, describing it as beautiful, peaceful, and well-maintained, with very clean facilities and reasonable prices. Campers highlight the clear spring/river, wooded privacy, and good mix of rustic camping with some modern amenities. Many say they plan to return regularly or already visit at least once a year.
Review Summaries
Based on 36 reviews

What Campers Love

Campers praise the crystal-clear spring/river, scenic views, and heavily wooded, private campsites that offer separation from neighbors. The campground is described as well-organized, clean, and well...
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Based on 36 reviews

Common Concerns

Negative comments are minimal and mostly situational. One reviewer warns that the restroom area can feel unsafe for children, another mentions barking dogs from another camper disrupting the first...
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Based on 36 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reviewers suggest watching food storage carefully due to raccoons and following bear-safety practices, including not bringing food into tents. Families are advised to supervise children closely when...
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Based on 36 reviews

Camper Quotes

"We spent a night here and wish we could have spent longer… Pit toilets were nice and clean. I have paid way more to have way less." "Love this unique place. It's got crystal clear springs, which you...
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Based on 36 reviews

Site-Specific Reviews

Site 4 is mentioned as a large, mostly level asphalt pull-through with 50-amp service, located directly across from pit toilets and a water source, which the reviewer found convenient and very good...
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Based on 36 reviews

Accessibility Features

One detailed review notes that vault toilets are clean and wheelchair accessible from the parking lot. However, access to the river and picnic tables can be challenging: reaching the river involves a...
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Based on 36 reviews

Pet-Friendly Features

One reviewer reported a stay disturbed by another camper’s dogs that "barked at absolutely everything all morning long" until the owners left after complaints, suggesting that pets are allowed and...
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Based on 36 reviews

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Last updated December 10, 2025
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