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Established Camping

Camp Branch Campground

15 Reviews

Camp Branch Campground, near Smithville, Missouri, is a solid choice for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with some nice amenities. This spot is well-maintained, featuring clean facilities and paved walking trails that make it easy to explore the area.

The campground offers beautiful views of Smithville Lake, which many visitors rave about. You’ll find sites equipped with fire pits and grills, perfect for evening cookouts. As one camper noted, “Nice to be close to bathrooms and have a gorgeous view.”

For those who enjoy fishing or swimming, the lake is just a short walk away, and there’s a swimming beach nearby, though you’ll need to drive to access it. The camp store sells firewood and other essentials, and the friendly staff are always ready to help.

While some campers mentioned the lack of shade and the need for leveling their sites, the overall experience is positive. With activities like fishing and hiking close by, Camp Branch Campground is a great spot for families and friends looking to unwind and enjoy nature.

Description

Army Corps of Engineers

Smithville Recreation Area

This recreation area is part of Smithville Lake

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Location

Camp Branch Campground is located in Missouri

Coordinates

39.4104449 N
94.5222916 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Good
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Good
T-Mobile
Available

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Tent Cabin
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Market
Trash
Firewood Available
Phone Service
WiFi
Drinking Water
Toilets
Alcohol

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Visit Website

Drive Time

31 min from Kansas City
36 min from St. Joseph
58 min from Lawrence
1 hr 19 min from Topeka

Rhonda D.

Guide

Reviewed Apr. 30, 2023

Well maintained / lake views

This is a very well Maintained and care for park with recreational activities, bathrooms and paved walking trails. Not rustic enough for me but very nice. We

Site322 loop D

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

Cindy K.

Traveler

Reviewed Sep. 17, 2022

Beautiful lake views

Stayed on the A loop and had a beautiful view of the lake! Nice to be close to bathrooms and have a gorgeous view. Friendly staff, great price, and campsites have a fire pit with a grill, and a picnic table. We’ll be back!

SiteA32

Month of VisitSeptember

Amanda M.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 14, 2020

good pricing, great location, awful website

We booked a site along with a couple of family members and the website for this park is ancient. Couldn't get anything booked online because the website wouldn't cooperate, save yourself time and just call the campground once you've looked at the map and chosen where in general you want to camp at.

Tent sites are okay sized, and many are close to the water. Not a lot of trees for shade, so bring a shelter for some relief from the sun.

The camp store sells wood and everyone was extremely friendly. There's a swimming beach nearby that you will have to drive to but it is included in the stay! No alcohol is allowed at the beach.

Month of VisitMay

(4) View All

Nikki S.

Traveler

Reviewed Jun. 29, 2020

Great Car Camping

We reserved 3 sites for a family camping trip. The camp hosts were very polite. We had a short walk to the lake for fishing, and the loop had a restroom. We were able to enter the swim beach without having to pay extra. -1 star because the website is awful.

Caitlin R.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 6, 2019

Great Lake! Strict Policies..

We recently stayed 4 nights/5 days and enjoyed it. The lake is big with a sand beach (non alcoholic beverages allowed unfortunately for the adults) for the kiddos. We enjoyed all the covers on the lake so we could anchor out and swim! The shower houses and outhouses were probably some of the cleanest I’ve ever seen and fully restocked and cleaned daily. The grounds are close to town Incase you forgot anything. The rules are super strict when it comes to day passes, boat passes, and having your pass visible in a window. Also the rangers seemed persistent, almost stalker like. We were simply driving around checking out all the park has to offer and got stopped for no reason and asked what we were doing going loop to loop. Some other downfalls were our spot was 13” unlevel. Luckily we had several blocks of wood to help level our camp out. The grass wasn’t mowed. And it was only electrical hookup (which wasn’t a big deal since we were in hose length of the drinking water so we could refill our tanks). Despite the downfalls, we plan to be back!

Savannah T.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 24, 2019

Lovely!

the view is fantastic!!! The bike trail is about 3 steps away from our site. only downside is it is only electric hookups. ( only a downside if you are a travel trailer/rv)

Walter V.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2019

Smithville Lake

Beautiful Lake with some great Campsites. Unfortunately a bunch of families were unhappy with the working staff at the campground, super rude.

Mike D.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 31, 2019

Nice place to camp on Smithville Lake

Nice level camping spots both all electric, water, and sewer and minimal utilities. Some sites close to water. Great fishing, hiking, and 18 hole golf course close by.

Jason C.

Ranger

Reviewed Jul. 29, 2019

Good quiet campground

There are several loops here. If you want piece and quiet and lake access the basic sites are great. Otherwise the electric and quieter in middle week. Not open in off season which is to bad.

(12) View All

Charlotte B.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 11, 2018

Great place to camp.

During the camping season this campground has nice large shower houses and clean bathrooms. They sell ice and firewood at gates. Pleasant campground, very nice lake. I camp with kids from infant through 18 and hot showers and decent bathrooms are a must for us. Close to Smithville Missouri.

J Chad N.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 7, 2018

Quite and relaxing

Some campsites are a long walk to any facilities.

Robin R.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 11, 2018

Smaller less crowded

We have started staying here last couple of years. Nice big spots with electric only. It is quite a ways to shower house but much quieter than other campgrounds on Smithville lake. More family friendly.

Janet L.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 23, 2017

Great view, great park rangers

We arrived late to the campsite, receives some help from a nice park ranger in the morning with a trust fall.

Month of VisitSeptember

Leland L.

Scout

Reviewed Aug. 25, 2016

Very fun campground

Always have fun and decent fishing staff are friendly and so are the park rangers can leave my phone in bathroom or shower house and go back to campsite and nobody takes it Ive actually had a person walking around and asking people if they left phone in bathroom til they find who it belongs to

Tori G.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 24, 2016

Relaxing lakeside

Though we don't have a blast, we enjoy camping, fishing from the lakeshore or dock, and simply relaxing at the campsite. Most sites have some shade with plenty of grass at and among them. Great space for spreading out the lawn chairs, grill or smoker, and yard games. Paved roads are great for walking or bike-riding. There is a playground nearby and a lake swimming beach within only a couple minutes drive.