Reservations are now open for Pulltite Campground! Group Sites 1-3 and Standard Sites 14-55 will be available starting on April 15, 2025. Sites are available by reservation only - book online at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234357 More
The following campgrounds are closed pending cleanup/repairs: Pulltite, Cedar Grove, Dee Murray, Akers, Sinking Creek, Broadfoot, and Jerktail. All other campgrounds are open as of 1/2/2025.
Waymeyer and Pin Oak River Access Temporarily Closed
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in southeast Missouri, spanning throughout Dent, Shannon, and Carter counties. The park offers three visitor centers, one in each district of the park.
Multiple locations - Alley Spring Visitor Center: 12185 Alley Hollow Road, Eminence, MO 65466 Big Spring Entrance Station: Hwy 103, Van Buren, MO 63965 Administrative Headquarters: 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren MO 63965 Van Buren, MO63965
Visitor centers can be found at the following locations:
Big Spring Entrance Station - 3 miles south of Van Buren on Highway 103
Alley Mill & Store - 12185 Alley Hollow Road
Round Spring Ranger Station - 13209 Round Spring Campground Rd
Administrative offices for Ozark National Scenic Riverways are located at 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965. This location does not offer a visitor center - tourists should instead go to the Big Spring Entrance Station.
Generally, the park grounds are open 24-hours a day throughout the year. Some visitor centers will have different hours depending on season and staff availability. Likewise, certain roads, trails, or river access points may be seasonally closed.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in southeastern Missouri. Summer temperatures generally range from 75-100 degrees (°F) with high humidity. Winter temperatures generally range from 0-50 (°F) degrees with periods of intermittent freezing and snow.
Periods of excessive heat are typical in summer, while heavy rains or flooding can occur throughout the year. Be sure to plan accordingly when camping, hiking, or floating.
Entrance Fee-free
This site is fee-free year-round. No entrance fee or pass is required.
Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), this station serves as a welcome center for Big Spring. Park literature, passport stamps, and information are available at the facility. Visitors can also learn about local history through displays about the CCC.
Closed today
Current Hours (Winter Hours)
September 2–May 25
Sunday:Closed
Monday-Friday:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
During fall/winter, Big Spring Entrance Station is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Standard Hours
Every Day:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Big Spring Entrance Station is open 7 days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the off season (fall and winter), it is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Winter Hours
September 2–May 25
Sunday:Closed
Monday-Friday:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
During fall/winter, Big Spring Entrance Station is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Alley Mill is located at Alley Spring. Rangers lead guided tours of the mill or answer questions at the front desk. The facility offers an Eastern National sales area and exhibits of Ozark culture. The building itself is accessible, with ramps leading to the front door.
Closed today
Current Hours (Off Season)
November 1–May 26
Every Day:Closed
Alley Mill is closed from November 1 to Memorial Day Weekend.
Standard Hours
Sunday:9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Monday-Thursday:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday and Saturday:9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Alley Mill is open daily during the summer season, typically from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of October.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Fall Season
September 1–October 31
Every Day:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Alley Mill has slightly reduced hours during the fall season.
Off Season
November 1–May 26
Every Day:Closed
Alley Mill is closed from November 1 to Memorial Day Weekend.
Alley General Store is part of the Alley historic community and features Ozark cultural exhibits, cooperating association merchandise sales, and an informational contact station. A 24 hour passport stamping station is located on the screened porch.
Closed today
Current Hours (Winter Hours)
November 1–May 25
Every Day:Closed
The Alley General Store is typically closed in fall/winter. Give the store a call at (573) 226-3945 to check availability.
Standard Hours
Every Day:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Alley General Store is open from Memorial Day through the end of October. The store is closed during fall/winter.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Winter Hours
November 1–May 25
Every Day:Closed
The Alley General Store is typically closed in fall/winter. Give the store a call at (573) 226-3945 to check availability.
Round Spring Ranger Station, located along the Current River, serves the upper third of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. This station offers park literature, trip planning advice, and cave tour tickets. Exhibits and videos make this a great place to learn about the park's rivers and caves.
Closed today
Current Hours (Off Season)
September 2–May 25
Every Day:Closed
Round Spring Ranger Station is closed during the off season. During this time, visitors should instead visit the Big Spring Entrance Station.
Standard Hours
Every Day:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Round Spring Ranger Station is open for visitation during the summer season. Keep in mind that the ranger station may briefly close when rangers perform tasks outside the building.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Off Season
September 2–May 25
Every Day:Closed
Round Spring Ranger Station is closed during the off season. During this time, visitors should instead visit the Big Spring Entrance Station.
Pulltite Ranger Station is located next to Pulltite Campground. The facility offers a "Kids Center" with puppets, books, and other play materials. Adults can enjoy short park films and charging stations. Restrooms and showers are available at this location.
Closed today
Every Day:Closed
Pulltite Ranger Station is open intermittently during the summer season, typically on weekend afternoons. However, there is no set schedule. The nearby camp store (concessioner-owned) is open most days in the summer.
Visitors looking for interpretation, information, or directions should instead visit the Round Spring Ranger Station, about 15 minutes away.
Public WiFi is not available.
Cellular service is usually only available within the immediate area of local communities: Van Buren, Eminence, Winona, and Salem have cell towers. Otherwise, service is generally non-existent within the park boundaries. Limited cellular signal may be obtained on higher hills or roadways. Plan ahead: Download/print any maps or information you need before arriving.
For internet, wifi may be available at local businesses or state parks. The park does not offer public wifi.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is the first national park area to protect a river system. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers are two of the finest floating rivers you'll find anywhere. Spring-fed, cold and clear they are a delight to canoe, swim, boat or fish. Besides these two famous rivers, the park is home to hundreds of freshwater springs, caves, trails and historic sites such as Alley Mill.
Visitor Centers
The park has three main visitor contact stations, one in each district:
The Big Spring Entrance Station is open year-round. It is located along the lower Current River, just outside Van Buren, MO.
The Alley Spring Mill & Store are open most days from Memorial Day to October 31. These visitor centers serve the Jacks Fork district. Alley Spring is located on Highway 106, west of Eminence, MO.
Round Spring Ranger Station is open during the summer season only, typically Memorial Day to Labor Day. It serves the upper Current River district. This station is located on Highway 19, north of Eminence, MO.
For directions and other details, click on the tabs below.
Big Spring Entrance Station
Built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), this station serves as a welcome center for Big Spring. Park literature, passport stamps, and information are available at the facility. Visitors can also learn about local history through displays about the CCC.
Physical Address
Highway 103 Van Buren, MO63965
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 490 Van Buren, MO63965
Located on Highway 103 south of Van Buren Missouri.
From Van Buren, turn off Highway 60 onto Highway 103 (south). Follow the road for roughly 3 miles. After reaching the bottom of a large hill, you will see a sign for Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Past that sign, the entrance station and parking are on the right.
Closed today
Current Hours (Winter Hours)
September 2–May 25
Sunday:Closed
Monday-Friday:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
During fall/winter, Big Spring Entrance Station is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Standard Hours
Every Day:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Big Spring Entrance Station is open 7 days a week between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the off season (fall and winter), it is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Winter Hours
September 2–May 25
Sunday:Closed
Monday-Friday:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
During fall/winter, Big Spring Entrance Station is closed on weekends and federal holidays.
The Big Spring Entrance Station is your gateway to the CCC Historic District. NPS Photo / Shaun Heise and Logan Timm
Rangers provide information, interpret history, and answer calls from the front desk of the entrance station. NPS Photo / Logan Timm
The rustic style of the Civilian Conservation Corps defines Big Spring. NPS Photo / Logan Timm
Exhibits at Big Spring give insight to the habits, benefits, and struggles of working under the Civilian Conservation Corps. NPS Photo / Logan Timm
Alley Mill
Alley Mill is located at Alley Spring. Rangers lead guided tours of the mill or answer questions at the front desk. The facility offers an Eastern National sales area and exhibits of Ozark culture. The building itself is accessible, with ramps leading to the front door.
Physical Address
12185 Alley Hollow Road Eminence, MO65466
Mailing Address
12185 Alley Hollow Road Eminence, MO65466
Alley Mill and General Store are located at Alley Spring. Alley Spring is found 6 miles west of Eminence, Missouri, on State Highway 106.
To reach Alley Spring from Eminence, head west out of town on State Highway 106. Drive for roughly 5.5 miles, at which point you will cross a small bridge over the Jacks Fork river. Further down the road, you will see a parking lot on the right-hand side. Park there, or drive further to reach parking at the General Store. Additional ADA parking is located past the store.
Closed today
Current Hours (Off Season)
November 1–May 26
Every Day:Closed
Alley Mill is closed from November 1 to Memorial Day Weekend.
Standard Hours
Sunday:9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Monday-Thursday:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Friday and Saturday:9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Alley Mill is open daily during the summer season, typically from Memorial Day Weekend through the end of October.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Fall Season
September 1–October 31
Every Day:9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Alley Mill has slightly reduced hours during the fall season.
Off Season
November 1–May 26
Every Day:Closed
Alley Mill is closed from November 1 to Memorial Day Weekend.
The Historic Alley Roller Mill is open during the summer months for visitation. Patty Wheatley-Bishop
Alley Spring is a stunning location year-round. It is no wonder settlers chose to live here decades ago. NPS Photo / Wil Marischen
The wooden interior of the mill tells the story of settler life in the Ozarks. The craftsmanship is apparent in every plank and machine. NPS Photo
The machinery inside the mill was used for demonstrations for years. They have since been shut down to protect the mill's foundation. NPS Photo
The craftsmanship of the roller mills is amazing even by today's standards. NPS Photo
Various exhibits are on display at Alley Mill. This Leffel turbine is originally from Klepzig Mill. NPS Photo
Round Spring Ranger Station
Round Spring Ranger Station, located along the Current River, serves the upper third of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. This station offers park literature, trip planning advice, and cave tour tickets. Exhibits and videos make this a great place to learn about the park's rivers and caves.
Physical Address
13209 Round Spring Campground Rd Eminence, MOMO 65466
Mailing Address
13209 Round Spring Campground Rd Eminence, MOMO 65466
Round Spring Ranger Station can be found on Highway 19, about 12.4 miles north of Eminence, MO. From Eminence, simply drive north on Highway 19 until you reach Round Spring.
The station is located near the family campground, on the south end of a two-lane bridge. There is parking in front of the building (on top of the hill) and below the building (at the bottom of the hill).
Closed today
Current Hours (Off Season)
September 2–May 25
Every Day:Closed
Round Spring Ranger Station is closed during the off season. During this time, visitors should instead visit the Big Spring Entrance Station.
Standard Hours
Every Day:8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Round Spring Ranger Station is open for visitation during the summer season. Keep in mind that the ranger station may briefly close when rangers perform tasks outside the building.
Closures & Seasonal Exceptions
Off Season
September 2–May 25
Every Day:Closed
Round Spring Ranger Station is closed during the off season. During this time, visitors should instead visit the Big Spring Entrance Station.
Round Spring Ranger Station offers interpretation and trip planning during the summer season. Come talk with our rangers! NPS Photo / Wil Marischen
Visitors to Round Spring Ranger Station can see a model representing Round Spring Cave. NPS Photo / Wil Marischen
Visitors can get cave tickets and information at Round Spring Ranger Station. NPS Photo / Wil Marischen
While the surrounding area is open year-round, Round Spring Ranger Station is closed in winter. NPS Photo / Wil Marischen
Last updated: September 19, 2024
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 490
Van Buren,
MO
63965
Phone:
(573) 323-4236
Call (573) 323-4236 for Big Spring Entrance Station, located south of Van Buren, MO.
Call (573) 226-3945 for the Alley Spring General Store, located west of Eminence, MO.
Call (573) 858-3297 for Round Spring Ranger Station, located north of Eminence, MO.
