Favorite Missouri Ozark campgrounds

[JDS]

We're getting itchy to go camping next month (April) and were thinking of the Missouri Ozarks. Would greatly appreciate any advice/recommendations on campgrounds that may be open in April. Our first priority is a scenic campground with nice, large sites. We've never camped in Missouri and are really looking forward to it. Arkansas would also be an option, but it's a bit farther from our Iowa home base.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

John S.

[soldiermedic]

Tablerock Lake and Lake Taney Como are beautiful areas to camp in around the Branson area.

[KJRitchie]

Mill Creek COE opens March 31 on Table Rock Lake.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ml#post1530044

Kelvin

[JDS]

Thanks for the recommendations. Does anyone have any experience with Johnson Shut Ins State Park?

John S.

[KJRitchie]

My brother in law has camped there and likes it. Most Missouri State Parks are nice. Another one near Springfield is Roaring River. It's famous for their trout fishing.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ri-104293.html

Other trout parks are Bennett Springs and Montauk State Parks.

We've camped at Cape Fair COE on Table Rock Lake also but prefer Mill Creek. Cape Fair has two main loops. The one near the marina is not as nice as the other one closer to the entrance. Its more suited to RVs and there are spots that back onto the lake.

There are other COE parks on Table Rock that we haven't been to that look nice from Google Maps satellite.

Arkansas has lots of nice State Parks and COE parks on most lakes.

There have been a couple of Airstream rallies held in private parks near Silver Dollar City near Branson and one in Eureka Springs.

Kelvin

[Will_Brule]

If you want to trout fish, I would make a slightly longer trip down to the Dam Area Quarry COE campground just south of Mountain Home, Ar. It is right on the Norfork River. Great trout fishing with easy access to the river. Beautiful campground and very nice facilities. I will be there for the first two weeks of April.

[OldVwHunters]

I second that vote for Roaring River. Crowder by Trenton is nice, and Weston Bend near the Historic town of Weston are ones you might hit in North Missouri coming or going, but might be off your path.

[Will_Brule]

I went to Bennett Springs and Montauk some years ago. The people were standing shoulder to shoulder, flailing the water to fish. I didn't bother. The campgrounds were nice though.

[murreywalker]

Unfortunately, MO State Park and C of E facilities for the most part, don't have full service; the Ozarks exception would be Table Rock State Park which is located on Table Rock Lake.

Bennett Springs has some full service spots, but go pretty fast.

Mill Creek Corp park has been mentioned, but another good option would be Old 86 campground. It's a Corp facility also.

If you're willing to travel a bit further (just twenty minutes south of Fayetteville, AR), you'll find Devil's Den State Park, and is by far, our favorite in the Ozarks.

Other Arkansas State Park options would be Petit Jean State Park (delightful) and Lake Catherine State Park near Hot Springs.

[soldiermedic]

Johnson Shut Ins and Elephant Rock State Parks on on the eastern side of the state not far south of St. Louis. We hosted a small rally there back in 2010 which visited both of those state parks despite staying at a privately owned campground. Both of the Parks are beautiful for hiking with trails throughout. Of course, Johnson's Shut-Ins is known for the water features that draw thousands in the summer heat. Here's a few pics from elephant rocks (3), and the last from Johnson Shut-Ins

[indy]

I know it's not MO but Air Midwest is having a Rally April 16-19 check out the rally page here and see if that will work out for you. It will be in the most northeast part of OKlahoma.
Last tally we have more than 24 units comming.

Love to have you join us!
But the Lake of the ozaks MO has nice size spots not sure of water and septic hookups but elec. is available I am sure right on the lake . Have fun in Mo.

[kswelsh]

Johnson's Shut-In's State Park has been completely redone and has full hook-ups. It is a WONDERFUL park - great hiking and water fun opportunities. The campground is tops but books up early. The education center is wonderful and so informative on how the Shut-in's were restored following the tragic breach of the Taum Sauk Reservoir. Close by is Elephant Rocks State Park that is also fun - huge granite boulders and great hiking trails. Old 86 Campground near Blue Eye, MO - close to Big Cedar Lodge is so nice - most sights back to water. Lake of the Ozark State Park is also very nice and is on the quiet end of Lake of the Ozarks. So much to see and do in Missouri, come and enjoy

[GettinAway]

I was going to expand a bit on how nice it is to camp at Johnson's Shut Inns, but some of what I was going to say has just been said.
I camped there before the big flood and renovation, and really liked it. I've talked with others that have been in there since the renovation, and they say it's even better. Great hiking and scenery. My guess is, it won't be crowded at the shut inns themselves, until warmer weather.
I like the trout parks in Missouri, but if you aren't into trout fishing with a crowd, they aren't my favorite. Still nice though!


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[KJRitchie]

The heaviest crowds are on the weekends and at the sections that have the fewest restrictins. The sections that are flies only are less crowded. See my thread link earlier in this thread. That trip was in April 2013 on a weekend.

Kelvin

[JDS]

Thanks everyone for your replies. The needle seems to be pointing toward Johnson Shut Ins!

John S.

[ole81]

Back in 2010 we were passing through MO and found ‘Pomme de Terre’ State Park. It was so beautiful that we stayed an extra day.
Check it out....

[51coke]

I live in Central Mo and always travel to the southeastern part of Mo. First I stop at Elephant Rocks State Park and walk the mile trail around the rocks then climb the rocks and take in the view(see photos in another post). Thirty minutes away is Johnson Shut Ins State Park which is a good place to stay with nice sites. There is a nice bike path to the Shut Ins(see photo in another post), a nice visitor center, trails, and the Shut Ins to play in the water. Right on down the road is Taum Sauk mountain which is the highest point in Mo and also Mini Sauk Falls which is the highest waterfall in Mo on the mountain. Great views and a 3 mile trail. Down the road from there is Sam Baker State Park, which is my favorite park in MO, with 2 campgrounds. It is right on the Big River, the park offers float trips from the park. There is also several nice trails there, the Mudlick trail and the Ozark trail, as well as a concrete trail for bike riding or easy walking thru the park. Wappapello Lake is also close by.

[GettinAway]

If we have many more of these nice days here in the St Louis area, all those campgrounds in the Ozarks will be looking good with trees leafing out, redbuds and dogwoods blooming, in no time. Perfect camping weather.


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[jcanavera]

Missouri has some wonderful places to camp. It's a very interesting state since it traverses from the plains area north of I 70 to the Ozarks which begin south of that same highway.

One of the things to consider is that some of the state and county lettered roads have some sharp turns and significant grades. In many cases the grades exceed the standards that the interstate highways adhere to. In other words you should not be driving these roads if you have marginal towing power or brakes. Also be aware that some of those roads have lengthy steep grades that can tax cooling systems on a 90+ degree days.

The south east side of the state has some of the tallest "peaks" in Missouri. This is the area around Johnson Shut-Ins and Elephant Rocks State Parks. I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from traveling in these areas. Just understand that poorly running tow vehicles or heavily loaded trailers might present some challenges dependent upon what roads you choose. It's not the Rockies but on the other hand many of these roads are of the era before extensive grading and leveling of ground terrain was done.

Jack

[indy]

Wow 51coke you know your MO I live here in KC and i am copying down your extensive detail of an awsome MO adventure.
Thanks