Buckner, Missouri sits on the eastern edge of the Kansas City metro area at around 850 feet elevation. The camping options around Buckner range from established campgrounds with full amenities to more basic sites, with seasonal availability generally best from April through October. Overnight temperatures can drop below 50°F even in summer months, making proper gear essential when tent camping in the region.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Blue Springs Lake Campground offers access to fishing spots where campers can catch bass, crappie and catfish. "Beautiful Lake, with fishing, and boating," notes one visitor, and the campground's proximity to the water makes it convenient for anglers of all skill levels.
Historical site visits: Watkins Mill State Park Campground provides easy access to nearby historical attractions. "If you like history, take a tour of the woolen mill part. Very cool," recommends one camper. The historic sites are accessible by "quick little drive" from the campground according to another reviewer.
Biking on paved trails: The paved trails at Watkins Mill State Park Campground create opportunities for family biking. "Great place to camp.kayak. Bike ride," mentions one reviewer. Another notes, "We would go out extra early to set up then spend our time on the bike trails until lunch."
What campers like
Well-maintained facilities: Blue Springs Lake Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "The entire place was spotless, the sites were far apart enough that you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you," reports one camper. Another adds, "Bathrooms were incredibly clean and the camp hosts or some of the nicest ones I've ever encountered!"
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer adequate spacing between sites. "The sites were well situated such that you felt you had plenty of privacy," notes one visitor to Blue Springs Lake Campground. Similarly, at Watkins Mill State Park Campground, a camper appreciates that "sites are nice and spacious and relatively level."
Security features: Campus RV Park in nearby Independence provides secured access for peace of mind. "We felt very safe here since they require an access code to get into the gate," reports one camper. The park's location on a church campus also contributes to the secure environment that visitors appreciate.
What you should know
Road noise varies by location: Highway proximity affects some campgrounds more than others. "City Camping...there was some road noise from morning commuters but overall it's a nice stop for a night or two," mentions one Blue Springs Lake visitor. At Owl Creek Market and RV Park, "It's right off I-70 and you hear the road noise but for a one night traveling site it was nice."
Varying site levelness: Terrain at some campgrounds presents leveling challenges. "The site slopes to the passenger side and downhill toward the road, so we used a few levelers," reports an RVer at Lake Jacomo. Another camper notes, "Many sites here are sloped. The premium cement pads seemed to be more level than gravel sites."
Site spacing considerations: Some campgrounds offer more room than others. "Space between sites varies within the CG," notes a Lake Jacomo visitor. At Kansas City East-Oak Grove KOA, a reviewer cautions, "Our hookups were literally in the next site next to their table, and their fire ring was very close to our trailer."
