Big Spring
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
Entry fee: No Ozark National Scenic Riverways entrance fee. Big Spring is a river on the Current River in Carter County, Missouri. See every spot on the Current River.
Closures and warnings
NPS prohibits wading, swimming, and fishing in Ozark Riverways springs and spring branches. River use downstream of the spring is subject to changing Current River levels. As of September 30, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | River |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Water clarity | Big Spring averages about 289 million gallons per day, among the largest springs in the United States. |
Access
| Road | Paved |
|---|---|
| Road note | Big Spring area at the end of Missouri Route 103 about 4 miles south of Van Buren; spring visible from the parking lot with a wheelchair-accessible walkway. |
| Parking | Big Spring day-use and campground parking |
| Fee | No Ozark National Scenic Riverways entrance fee |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Wheelchair access | Wheelchair-accessible walkway from parking to the spring overlook |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Ozark National Scenic Riverways) |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
|---|---|
| Note | Picnic shelters (reservable), Big Spring Lodge area, campground, and Slough Trail nearby |
Rules
| Camping | Allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Big Spring open?
NPS prohibits wading, swimming, and fishing in Ozark Riverways springs and spring branches. River use downstream of the spring is subject to changing Current River levels. As of September 30, 2026.
Can you swim at Big Spring?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Big Spring.
How do you get to Big Spring?
The road in is paved. Big Spring area at the end of Missouri Route 103 about 4 miles south of Van Buren; spring visible from the parking lot with a wheelchair-accessible walkway. Parking: Big Spring day-use and campground parking.
Do you need a reservation for Big Spring?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Big Spring?
The fee is No Ozark National Scenic Riverways entrance fee.
What facilities are at Big Spring?
Picnic sites. Picnic shelters (reservable), Big Spring Lodge area, campground, and Slough Trail nearby.
What are the rules at Big Spring?
Camping is allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Public land
Big Spring is inside Ozark National Scenic Riverways .
Just outside: Mark Twain National Forest (0.8 mi) .
Sources
3
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm (accessed September 29, 2026; backs access.roadNote / access.roadSurface / identity, access.permitRequired, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed / waterType / entryType, manager / access identity, kind classification, county / state placement)
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/big-spring.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager / access.roadNote / access.parking / access.wheelchairAccess / access.amenities / rules.camping / swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote / hazardNote)
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.fee / waterbodyName)
More: Missouri swimming holes