# Missouri Ozark springs and shut-ins

> 4-day road trip of about 315 km (196 mi) with 9 stops, from St. Louis to Big Spring. About 3 h 30 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b9-ozark-springs/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 315 km (196 mi) with 9 stops, from St. Louis to Big Spring. About 3 h 30 min of driving in total. Granite boulders, volcanic-rock swimming holes, a red mill and some of the largest springs in the US along the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 315 km (196 mi) |
| Driving | 3 h 30 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 9 |
| Route | St. Louis → Big Spring |
| States | MO |
| Updated | May 15, 2026 |

## Route description

From St. Louis, take I-55 and US-67 south, then MO-21 into the St. Francois Mountains, about two hours away. Elephant Rocks State Park has giant granite boulders on an easy paved loop, and nearby Johnson’s Shut-Ins has natural chutes and pools in the Black River that are perfect for a summer swim.

Head west on winding state roads through the forest to MO-19 and Round Spring on the Current River. This is the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the first national park area created to protect a river, and outfitters along the way rent canoes and tubes.

Eminence is the small hub of the area. West of town, Alley Spring’s red 1894 mill stands over a deep blue spring pool; south-east, a gravel road leads to Rocky Falls, a cascade over pink rock with a swimming pool at its base.

MO-106 and back roads continue to Van Buren and Big Spring, one of the largest springs in the country, pouring from the foot of a bluff. Roads are paved but narrow and curvy; summer weekends are busy with floaters, while April, May and October are quieter.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **St. Louis** (MO)
2. **Elephant Rocks State Park** (Belleview, MO): Huge rounded granite boulders lined up like a circus parade, with a paved trail suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Kids love climbing the smaller rocks.
3. **Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park** (Middle Brook, MO): The Black River squeezes through volcanic rock, forming chutes and pools that make a natural water park. Summer weekends can reach capacity; come early.
4. **Round Spring** (Eminence, MO): A spring rising in a collapsed cave basin by the Current River, part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. There is a campground and a river access.
5. **Eminence** (MO)
6. **Alley Spring and Mill** (Eminence, MO): A red 1894 roller mill beside a deep blue spring pool on the Jacks Fork. One of the most photographed spots in the Ozarks.
7. **Rocky Falls** (Eminence, MO): A cascade over pink volcanic rock into a wide plunge pool, popular for a summer swim. The last stretch of road is gravel.
8. **Van Buren** (MO)
9. **Big Spring** (Van Buren, MO): One of the largest springs in the US, pouring out of a bluff base into the Current River. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the stone cabins and dining lodge nearby.