Camping near Bloomfield, Missouri centers around Lake Wappapello, which sits at approximately 360 feet above sea level. The southeastern Missouri terrain features low rolling hills with oak-hickory forests surrounding the 8,400-acre lake. Winter temperatures typically range from 20-45°F while fall camping offers milder conditions with less humidity than summer months.
What to do
Seasonal events: Redman Creek Recreation Area hosts special events throughout their operating season. "They do a Trick or Treating event at Halloween. Campers decorate campsites and the kids walk through. They also hold the Festival of Lights around Christmas time," notes a camper at Redman Creek Recreation Area.
Fishing opportunities: Multiple lakes and ponds provide fishing options at various conservation areas. "People's Creek has upper and lower campsites. Upper is basically less trees and isn't near the lake. People's lower has a mixture of sites that are very close to the lake but relatively less shade," explains a visitor to Peoples Creek - Lake Wappapello.
Hiking trails: Several conservation areas feature walking paths through paw paw forests and oak woodlands. "The paw paw loop trail was forested by hundreds of paw paw trees. The entire trail smelled of apple cider vinegar and was quite pleasant," reports a camper who stayed at General Watkins Conservation Area.
What campers like
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites with natural features. "Peoples Creek has nicely spaced sites and well maintained facilities. There is a public swimming beach and boat ramps located at the entrance. In addition, there is a private beach area where you can pull your boat up if you are a patron of the campground," according to a review of Peoples Creek - Lake Wappapello.
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention well-maintained bathhouses at established campgrounds. "The bathroom/bath house was brand new and so very nice! Loved the huge fire pits for sitting around and watching the sun set over the lake," shared a visitor at Asher Creek Campground.
Multiple water access points: Lake access varies between campgrounds with some offering beach areas. "The sites closest to the lake are very level, and everyone in the campground is only a short walk from the cleanest park restrooms I've ever seen," notes a camper who stayed at Asher Creek Campground.
What you should know
Limited services at conservation areas: Primitive sites typically have minimal amenities. "There are about 5 primitive sites. No water sewer or electric. There are multiple lakes in the area and hiking trails as well," explains a reviewer at General Watkins Conservation Area.
Seasonal operation: Some campgrounds close during winter months. Redman Creek Recreation Area operates from March 15 to October 31, while others like Peoples Creek and Holliday Landing remain open year-round.
Varied site conditions: Quality and maintenance differ between campgrounds and specific loops. "I felt like this campground was cramped. We stayed at the East campground. The sites were a little closer to each other than what we are use to," reports one camper at Ridge Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds feature dedicated play areas for children. "Has a playground in the middle by the shower house. They do a Trick or Treating event at Halloween," mentions a visitor to Redman Creek Recreation Area.
Swimming options: Natural beach areas provide alternatives to pool swimming. "The lake is great to swim in - very clean bottom and not slimy at all. We did take our kayaks and paddled around a little but mostly stayed on beaches and swam," shares a camper who visited Ridge Campground.
Educational programs: Some parks offer nature activities. "They had some sort of eagle program they put on for kids/families twice during our stay - didn't attend, but nice that they offer it," notes a camper at Redman Creek Recreation Area.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup variations: Power options differ between campgrounds. "Sites are only a few miles from our house, we use it to test out new gear. Spots are perfect for smaller rigs," explains a local camper about General Watkins Conservation Area.
Dump station locations: Not all campgrounds offer on-site sewer connections. "Decent cell service for both ATT & Verizon. Some site are full hook up, but most are e&w only," notes a visitor to Peoples Creek.
Navigation challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult access roads. "The twisty turns will grab your stabilizers and bumper if you're not very careful. Our original site was extremely unlevel but thankfully we were able to get into a level one last minute," warns an RVer who stayed at Peoples Creek - Lake Wappapello.
