We’ve got our first family campout in Missouri in the books and it definitely warrants an entire blog post. Lake of the Ozarks State Park really exceeded all of our expectations. The campsites were neat and clean, the bathrooms weren’t terrible, the lake was beautiful, and the weather was PERFECT. Today I’m sharing what we liked, disliked, and tips for taking a trip there yourself!
Camping in Lake of the Ozarks State Park
Ya know, for someone who used to despise camping as much as I once did, I’m sure getting my fill of camping this summer. Between camping with the Young Women in June, our family campout this past weekend, and a canoe/camping trip I’m going on with some of the Young Women this week, I’ll probably be all camped-out by the end of it all. Honestly, it was our last summer in Washington that really got me to enjoy camping. (And it’s worth checking out my post on things to do in the Pacific Northwest part 2 where I [briefly] talk about those camping trips JUST to see the pics of Cape Flattery.)
Brandon was feeling a little salty about me camping TWICE this summer when he wasn’t camping at all (guess which one of us REALLY loves camping?), so despite me getting more than my fair share of camping this summer (once is really enough for me), I suggested we take a good ol’ family campout so Brandon could at least get SOME camping in. We booked a site at Lake of the Ozarks, Brandon put in for a pass from work, and we headed out on Thursday afternoon.
Lake of the Ozarks is only about an hour (give-or-take) from Fort Leonard Wood, but it is a ROUGH drive – especially for yours-truly who gets incredibly carsick on those dang winding Missouri highways. Thankfully, the location is awesome enough that it was worth all that nasty carsickness. We stayed in the State Park in section 4 (more information at the bottom of this post) and immediately started setting up camp. We didn’t spend anytime in the lake that first day because Brandon had gotten off work later than planned and we were running out of daylight. But we enjoyed watching the sunset and the moonlit views of the lake – all right from our campsite.
The next day we spent a good portion of the time at the designated swimming area which was just a short drive from our campsite. If you’re not familiar with Missouri lakes I should let you know: you won’t get any crystal-clear water here. But we didn’t let a little murky water stop us – we went right in and had a great time. The beach area at Public Beach 1 Marina is really nice – with lots of shaded area, picnic tables, and ample space to really spread out and relax. There is also a store where you can purchase drinks, snacks, or souvenirs – as well as book boat rentals if you have a Missouri boat license – and bathrooms are located in the parking lot. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was “glamping” but we absolutely were not roughing it.
Unfortunately the day before we left for our campout, C crashed on Brandon’s electric scooter and got pretty banged up. It was a huge blessing that she didn’t get more hurt, but she ended up with some insanely scraped knees. With the wounds being so fresh and not scabbed over, we didn’t feel comfortable having her swim in the lake. Still, she was able to float in the tube with her knees out of the water and I think she enjoyed herself in the end – even if she had to miss out on some swimming.
When we weren’t swimming, we were out on the kayak and paddleboards right by our campsite (there wasn’t a designated place for us to enter the water from our campsite, but we aren’t against blazing a small trail to the lake), roasting marshmallows on the fire, and relaxing in the hammock (or, trying to relax while the younger two tackled us). There are SO MANY things to do in and around Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Because of C’s injuries (and kids who just wanted to swim the entire time), we didn’t explore nearly as much as I would have liked, but I’ve included more information on other things to do in the area at the bottom of this post.
So in the end, we got a break from our everyday lives, spent plenty of time as a family, and nobody got severely sunburnt. If that’s not a win, then I don’t know what is!
’til next time…
Ash
Things to know about camping in Lake of the Ozarks
Know before you go: The campsites at Lake of the Ozarks State Park are really nice, but they are small. We felt pretty close to our neighbors – which didn’t bother us (and didn’t seem to bother them), but it’s worth noting. Our campsite was right on the lake, but it wasn’t a very good place to swim. It WAS a great place to put our kayak and paddle board in, so we took full advantage of that. If you’re mostly looking to swim, I recommend booking a site near Public Beach 1 Marina. Campsites in section 1 are going to be farthest from the lake, whereas campsites in section 4 are going to put you closer to the lake AND closer to Public Beach 1. (For reference, we booked site 176 in section 4 and it was a quick 3-4 minute drive to Public Beach 1.) For site maps and more information, visit the Lake of the Ozarks section on the Missouri State Parks website.
Cost: Prices are dependent on season and what kind of campsite you book. Please see the Missouri State Parks website for up-to-date pricing. At the time of this posting, the prices listed below are accurate.
On-Season Camping (April-October):
Basic Campsite – $15/night
Electric 30 AMP Campsite – $25/night
Electric 50 AMP Campsite – $27/night
Basic *Family Campsite – $22/night
Electric 50 AMP *Family Campsite – $44/night
Off-Season Camping (November-March):
Basic Campsite – $14/night
Electric 30 AMP Campsite – $21/night
Electric 50 AMP Campsite – $23/night
Basic *Family Campsite – $20/night
Electric 50 AMP *Family Campsite – $38/night
*Family campsites include two camping pads, two tables, two grills, and two lamp posts. Electric family sites have two electric hookups. Only one reservation fee is charged if booked in advance.
Reservations: You can make reservations for campsites by visiting the Missouri State Parks website or by calling 877-422-6766. I recommend making reservations ahead of time because campsites fill up quick.
IMPORTANT FOR BOOKING ON WEEKENDS: Missouri State Parks require you to book two nights on weekends – so either Friday AND Saturday or Saturday AND Sunday. We opted to book Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night, but we ended up leaving Saturday early-evening so we could be back for church on Sunday. There were multiple people at the campsite who did the same thing. Of course, we paid for a night we didn’t end up using, but when the fee was only $15/night, it was worth it for us.
Additional Information:
- Dogs are allowed at Lake of the Ozarks State Park and at the campsites. It is recommended that no more two dogs stay at each campsite. Dogs must be kept on leashes 10 feet or shorter and are not allowed in designated swimming or fishing areas.
- Camping is only allowed for 15 days out of every 30 at one park.
- Before bringing firewood in, please check the restrictions related to it. At the time of this posting it is recommended that you purchase your firewood locally (close to the site where you are camping) and refrain from taking any leftover wood home with you. This is to limit the spread of destructive pests that may be transported throughout the state of Missouri.
- Showers are available at each of the sections (in section 4 where we stayed, they are in a building right across from the playground) and there are also multiple bathrooms. They are “outhouse style” bathrooms and some don’t have lights in them, so make sure to bring a lantern with you. That being said, we found the bathrooms to be relatively clean – especially considering how busy the campground was.
Other things to do in the area:
Ozark Caverns – For more information on Ozark Caverns please visit the Ozark Caverns section of the Missouri State Parks website. As of this posting, the hours and pricing for the caverns are as follows:
Tour Schedule
May 15-31
Saturdays & Sundays at 11:00am, 1:00pm, & 3:00pm
June 1 – August 15
Daily at 11:00am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, & 4:00pm
August 16-31
Tuesday-Saturday at 12:30pm & 2:00pm
September 1-15
Saturdays & Sundays at 11:00am, 1:00pm, & 3:00pm
September 16 – May 14
CLOSED FOR TOURS
Admission
Adults (18+) – $10
Teens (13-17) – $8
Children (6-12) – $6
Children (under 6) – FREE
Grand Glaize Beach (PB#2) Marina – For more information on Grand Glaize Beach please visit the Grand Glaize Beach section of the Missouri State Parks website.
Hours
May 24 – September 2
Open daily from sunrise to sunset
Hiking Trails – There are so many different hiking trails in the area. While we did not do any of them (since C had some very sore knees), we plan to go back and check them out. There are trails for everybody ranging from moderate to “rugged” and ranging in distance from .8 mile loops to 14 mile loops. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely walk or a full on climb, you’ll be able to find what you want in Lake of the Ozarks State Park. For more information and for maps of the hiking trails, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Hiking Trails section on the Missouri State Parks website.
