Camping opportunities near Edwardsville are extensive throughout all four seasons, with summer temperatures averaging 86°F while winter temperatures drop to around 30°F. The Kansas City metro area sits at approximately 900 feet elevation with rolling hills and wooded areas surrounding Edwardsville. Most campgrounds in this region experience high humidity during summer months, creating challenging conditions for tent campers without proper ventilation.
What to do
Hike the trails: Weston Bend State Park Campground offers multiple hiking trails with river overlooks just 35 miles from Edwardsville. "Weston Bend has an amazing hiking trail system within the park! Even one paved trail! We greatly enjoyed our visit and can't wait to go again," shares Danielle H. The park features both paved and natural surface trails suitable for all skill levels.
Fish without a license: Basswood Country RV Resort provides five small lakes where guests can fish without obtaining a state fishing license. "You could fish in the lakes and didn't even need a license. We watched kids get excited as they caught fish after fish," reports Shannon G. The resort stocks the lakes regularly for consistent catches.
Try disc golf: Prairie Clover Campground at Clinton State Park offers a full disc golf course along with an archery range. "Full bath houses, disc golf, archery range, and an abundance of hiking all around the camps," notes Charles F. The disc golf course features both wooded and open fairways suitable for beginners through advanced players.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Blue Springs Lake Campground maintains exceptionally clean restrooms and grounds. "The entire place was spotless, the sites were far apart enough that you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you. Bathrooms were incredibly clean and the camp hosts or some of the nicest ones I've ever encountered," writes NomadBrad D. The campground undergoes regular maintenance including daily bathroom cleaning.
Proximity to Kansas City attractions: Campus RV Park provides easy access to Kansas City attractions while offering full hook-ups. "Just 30 minutes to downtown Kansas City and maybe 15 minutes to arrowhead stadium, this campground is ideal for being close to everything that Kansas City offers," explains Wendy T. The concrete pads and full utilities make extended stays comfortable.
Pet-friendly environments: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Edwardsville feature dedicated pet areas. "We appreciate the awesome dog park where they could run a bit," mentions Debbie S. about Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA. The dog park offers fenced running space with waste stations and water access for pets.
What you should know
Train noise: Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA experiences frequent train traffic. "This is a good KOA but the trains run ALL NIGHT long," warns Darius C. Trains pass every 20-30 minutes throughout the night, so light sleepers should bring earplugs.
Seasonal site availability: Many campgrounds in the Edwardsville area fill quickly during summer weekends. "This park has undergone some improvements with Prairie Clover Camping Loop {#1} showers and bathrooms clean and newly painted; Electrical sites sold out weekends so mid week may be your best bet," advises Kent F. about Clinton State Park.
Airport proximity: Basswood Country RV Resort sits under the flight path for Kansas City International Airport. "It's pretty close to the airport, but you don't notice the planes except when you're outside," reports Abbie G. Most flights stop around 10 PM, creating quieter overnight conditions.
Tips for camping with families
Look for organized activities: Basswood Country RV Resort offers structured family activities throughout summer weekends. "Every weekend there are organized activities such as arts and crafts, fishing contests, duck races and frozen t-shirt contests in the pool, and a Saturday evening outdoor movie," explains Tori G. Activities typically run from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Choose campgrounds with play areas: Crow's Creek Campground features playgrounds and paved pathways perfect for children. "The roads and trails are nice for scooters and bikes. Fairly close to the water and playground; within walking distance," notes Brittnie T. The paved surfaces work well for wheeled toys while remaining accessible.
Select sites away from party areas: During peak season, some campgrounds develop louder sections. "We have small children and it can get pretty rowdy during the summer. We have chosen to go to other campgrounds during peak season," shares Robin R. about Crow's Creek. Requesting sites farther from group areas can create quieter camping experiences.
Tips from RVers
Premium sites offer more space: At Worlds of Fun Village, spending extra for premium sites provides significantly more room. "Pay more for the pull through you'll have tons of parking even if your rig is big. Our rig is 44 ft and we parked two 2500's on the pad no problem," advises E C. These premium sites cost approximately $10-15 more per night but provide double the parking space.
Watch for sloped sites: Many campgrounds near Edwardsville feature uneven terrain. "The site slopes to the passenger side and down hill to the road, so we used a few levelers. Many sites here are sloped. The premium cement pads seemed to be more level than gravel sites," reports MickandKarla W. about Blue Springs Lake Campground. Bringing additional leveling blocks helps manage the terrain.
Security considerations: Some campgrounds lack gated security. "Security was disappointing, as there was no gate to the campground, nor a gate around it. So our campsite (site 2) that backed up to the road was 10 feet off the public sidewalk," notes John L. about Worlds of Fun Village. Campers should lock compartments and secure valuables when away from their sites.
