Sutton Bluff Recreation Area
The numbers that decide it
- Longest rig
- 76 ft
- Sites
- 34
- Electric hookups
- Yes
- Pull-through sites
- Yes
- Paved access
- Yes
- Accessible sites
- 34
- Driveway grade
- Slight
- Bear boxes
- Not published
- Campfires
- Not published
- Shade
- Yes
- Group sites
- 7
Site-level detail from Recreation.gov, checked 2026-08-05. Where a field says “not published”, the agency has not published it — it does not mean zero. See it on Recreation.gov
Sutton Bluff Recreation Area
Roomy campsites surrounded by open lawn and natural shading, cool breezes, abundant songbirds, and scenic views all await visitors at the Sutton Bluff Recreation Area. The Sutton Bluff Campground is set alongside the West Fork of the Black River in a forested hardwood bottom. Sutton Bluff is located 13 miles outside Centerville, Missouri. It is nestled among a variety of short-leaf pine trees and shrubs, and a number of campsites sit alongside the West Fork of the Black River. This campground serves the nearby Sutton Bluff ATV and Motorcycle Trail System . A 45-mile off-road vehicle trail. Permits are required for off-road vehicle use in the area. The Karkaghne section of the Ozark Trail , which is popular among backpackers, hikers and mountain bikers, is accessible from a trailhead less than a mile from the campground. The West Fork of Black River provides access to a serene, slow-moving mountain stream and a natural gravel beach. Visitors enjoy wading in the waters, however the current is not strong enough to enable floating the river. Anglers can enjoy a variety of bass and bluegill.
Before you go
Season
March 27, 2025
Reservations
First-come, first-served
Fees
Electric sites: • Single - $20, • Double - $30 Non-electric sites: • Single - $10, • Double - $20 • Group non-electric campsite: $40 Day Use Fee • Per Vehicle: $5 • Per Bus: $10 • Group picnic area pavilion: $25 There is a 50% discount for camping for anyone with an Interagency Access or Senior Pass . Interagency passes cover the full day use fees, excluding busses.
Hours
Quiet Hours 10PM and 6AM.
Restrictions
ATV use in the campground limited to ingress and egress to the trail • Campground: Fees will be paid at the fee tube provided. • Campsite parking allows for two vehicles per site. Park only in designated parking areas. • No more than 8 people are permitted at single sites (16 for double sites). • Dogs must be on a 6 foot leash in the campground. • Only collect dead and downed wood for campfires. • Fireworks prohibited • ATV’s and UTVs must stay on road surfaces, and cannot be on grassy areas within the campground or in the river/on adjacent gravel bars. • Livestock, including horses, are not permitted at the recreation area
Accessibility
Campsites are all accessible. Lantern posts, grills, restrooms, tables, and fire rings are all accessible. The pavilion at this site is also accessible.
Scenic drives that pass close
Make it a night on a better road
Byway plans the drive in — real stops, real weather, nothing invented.