Van Buren: Mailing address of Ozark National Scenic Riverways is P.O. Box 490, Van Buren. Below are 4 places to visit, each read on its own official or visitor-bureau page.Facts read October 30, 2026 from the pages linked beside each one. Hours and prices change; confirm before you drive. Region is our own county grouping.
- Southern OzarksRegion
- Carter CountyCounty
- 4Places to See
- 0Place Pages Here
Why Go to Van Buren
- Mailing address of Ozark National Scenic Riverways is P.O. Box 490, Van Buren. (nps.gov)
- Big Spring lies about four miles south of town at the end of Route 103. (nps.gov)
- Big Spring averages about 289 million gallons a day; the NPS calls it Missouri's largest spring. (nps.gov)
- The NPS describes the Ozark Riverways as the first national park area to protect a river system, centered on the Current and Jacks Fork. (nps.gov)
See and Do
| Place | What It Is | Hours or Price as Printed |
|---|---|---|
| Big Spring | Huge spring with an accessible walkway, trails, picnic shelters and a campground. | Entrance station open year-round; hours and fees not printed on the page; phone (573) 323-4236 |
| Big Spring Campground | Tent and RV sites, electric hookups in the 200 loop, no water or sewer hookups; summer ranger campfire programs. | Reserve via recreation.gov or 877-444-6777; price not stated |
| Slough Trail | Accessible trail among several at Big Spring. | not stated |
| Current River (Ozark National Scenic Riverways) | Spring-fed, cold, clear river that the NPS promotes for floating and recreation. | Fees not stated on page |
A Little History
- Big Spring was a Missouri state park from 1924 to 1969, when the state donated it to the National Park Service. (nps.gov)
- The park's visitor information desk moved out of the Van Buren headquarters lobby to the Big Spring Entrance Station in 2023 (headquarters is administrative only); found only in a search snippet, so not used as a fact. (nps.gov)
Getting There
- Big Spring is on the lower Current River just outside Van Buren; the park page names Van Buren and Eminence as nearby towns. (nps.gov)
Plan Your Visit
| Visitor Information | cityofvanburenmo.gov |
|---|---|
| Visitor Center Address | City Hall, 1401 Main Street, Van Buren, MO 63965 |
| Phone | 573-323-4335 |
| Drive Times | Missouri drive times |
| Events Nearby | Southern Ozarks events |
More
What We Could Not Verify
Not confirmed
- Population (Census blocked)
- Events
- Official town history
- Chamber or tourism site (none found; vanburenmo.com did not resolve)
- Big Spring hours and fees
- Big Spring Lodge and CCC cabins are noted closed for renovation by NPS; reopening not stated
- Our region grouping is not an official designation.
Questions People Ask
What is Van Buren, Missouri known for?
Mailing address of Ozark National Scenic Riverways is P.O. Box 490, Van Buren.
How do I get to Van Buren?
Big Spring is on the lower Current River just outside Van Buren; the park page names Van Buren and Eminence as nearby towns.
Where can I find visitor information for Van Buren?
The visitor site we read is cityofvanburenmo.gov. The address it prints is City Hall, 1401 Main Street, Van Buren, MO 63965.
What are the main things to see in Van Buren?
Big Spring, Big Spring Campground, Slough Trail, Current River (Ozark National Scenic Riverways) are the first four on the list above.
Sources
- cityofvanburenmo.gov, read October 30, 2026
- nps.gov, read October 30, 2026
- nps.gov, read October 30, 2026
- nps.gov, read October 30, 2026
- nps.gov, read October 30, 2026
- nps.gov, read October 30, 2026
Checked October 30, 2026 by It’s Missouri. Cite this page: Van Buren, itsmissouri.com (https://itsmissouri.com/destinations/van-buren-missouri/), checked 2026-10-30. Free to quote with a link.