Round Spring – Round Spring, Missouri - Atlas Obscura

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Round Spring

Round Spring, Missouri

An average of 33 million gallons of water pour out of the collapsed cave at the heart of this spherical spring. 

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Round Spring pours into a collapsed cave creating an illusion of a double-stacked spring. The collapsed cave, known as the spring’s resurgence, is almost perfectly spherical, giving Round Spring its name.

The highest recorded daily flow was 239 million gallons, its lowest 6.5 million. Every decade or so, the spring will flow so heavily that it drains over the tunnel to the collapsed cave and overflows the rise chamber. This massive water resource drains into the churning Current River. The spring and river are part of the first National Scenic Riverways. 

Round Spring, like nearly every Ozark spring, was first a haven for the Native Americans. With time, colonizers built the Eminence near Round Spring. The Civil War destroyed the town, and they rebuilt a few miles south. Today, Round Spring is open to the public. The site features a store, campground, and access to numerous trails right off the beautiful Highway 19.

Know Before You Go

The adjacent Round Spring cave is closed indefinitely due to a bridge collapse. The spring is open to the public and free of charge. No swimming allowed.

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August 10, 2022

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