Blue Springs Lake Campground provides easy access to outdoor recreation in eastern Jackson County, Missouri. The area features rolling terrain with wooded areas interspersed among open grasslands at approximately 900 feet elevation. Seasonal temperatures range widely, with summer highs often reaching the 90s with significant humidity, while spring and fall offer milder camping conditions with less precipitation than summer thunderstorms.
What to do
Explore historic sites nearby: At Fleming Park, camp visitors can visit historical attractions within minutes of their site. "We took time to go to the Fort Osage National Historic Landmark and Missouri Town which is part of the Jackson County Parks & Rec. Nice way to spend a rainy kind of day," notes one Blue Springs Lake Campground visitor.
Go fishing: Multiple lakes provide excellent fishing opportunities year-round. "The campground's proximity to Blue Springs Lake offers water access" with additional options at nearby Lake Jacomo. "Beautiful Lake, with fishing, and boating," reports a camper who enjoyed the water activities despite experiencing rainy weather during their stay.
Utilize hiking trails: The 27 miles of trails throughout Fleming Park offer everything from short walks to longer hikes. A visitor at Lake Jacomo - Fleming Park mentioned the system provides ample options for exercise, noting "You can kayak, rent a pontoon, lots of sailboats on the lake, fishing. 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City."
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds in the area provide decent site separation. "The sites were well situated such that you felt you had plenty of privacy," reports a camper at Blue Springs Lake Campground, while another mentioned "the sites are so pretty and spaced well."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently praise the maintenance standards at Watkins Mill State Park Campground, with one noting, "Clean facilities include plenty of stalls and sinks, separate showers and laundry. Well lit and accessible." Another camper added, "Bathrooms and showers are kept clean and overall just a great place to go."
Helpful staff: Camp hosts and park staff receive positive reviews for their service. "The camp host was friendly and welcoming. This was the best campground we stayed at on our cross country trip," shared a visitor to Blue Springs Lake Campground. Another commented, "The entire place was spotless, the sites were far apart enough that you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Some campgrounds have significant variability in sites. At Campus RV Park, a camper noted, "Many sites here are sloped. The premium cement pads seemed to be more level than gravel sites." Similarly at Lake Jacomo, "Not a great spot for tent camping. Ton of road noise and most grassy areas are sloped."
Weather considerations: Missouri's climate can impact camping experiences. Summer thunderstorms can create drainage issues at some sites, with one camper pointing out that at Lake Jacomo - Fleming Park, "It's really close to the lakes so that's great but there's minimal tree coverage and several of the sites are at the bottom of a hill which get water logged when it rains."
Reservation timing: Since check-in and check-out times can overlap at some parks, planning is important. A visitor mentioned, "Since entrance time and exit time are both 2:00 we had to wait for our spot to open which was difficult as we both needed to check in with our jobs."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Families should seek sites near play areas when available. At Blue Springs Lake Campground, one camper shared, "The sites were well kept up, with many prime locations near the playground for our kids. Campground staff were beyond friendly and accommodating."
Swim options: Lake Paradise Resort offers a dedicated swimming facility popular with families. "The pool is renovated and very nice. It is very large, zero entry, up to mostly around 5 ft deep with a small area that was 9ft; there is a children's area with a sprinkler."
Biking opportunities: Several campgrounds feature bike-friendly environments. At Watkins Mill State Park, campers appreciate the paved surfaces: "We would go out extra early to set up then spend our time on the bike trails until lunch." Another mentioned it's "great for fishing, kayaking, bike riding" with well-maintained trails.
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Many RV sites in the area require some adjustment. At Kansas City East-Oak Grove KOA, a visitor advised, "The site slopes to the passenger side and downhill toward the road, so we used a few levelers." This appears to be common at several area campgrounds.
Maneuverability considerations: RVers should consider site access when booking. "The road area was wide, so we had no issues backing into the site. The utilities were place middle-back on the site and we had no problems reaching," noted one Blue Springs Lake Campground RVer, while others mentioned that some parks have tighter access roads.
Full hookups availability: Most campgrounds in the area offer varying levels of hookups. At Blue Springs Lake Campground, one visitor reported "Concrete pads. Full hookups," while others noted specific campgrounds might only offer electric or partial hookups depending on the loop.
