Are you in need of a campground near California, MO? California is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near California, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$10 - $60 / night
"A beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise."
"See beautiful scenery on the MO River & Katy Trail. You may get to see a paddleboat cruising the river."
"A full disc golf course nearby and several ball fields. We love this park.
The lake offers amazing fishing wether from boat or shore. Lots of bass crappie and catfish."
"Trails are color coded and they do a great job of separating them by difficulty. The lake also has great fishing if you want to put in a canoe and do some paddling around."
"This Missouri Conservation area is a Swiss Army knife of rugged of the path camping. Rivers, Lakes, Gun range, Horses and hiking can all be enjoyed here."
"Close to Columbia but far enough away for a getaway. Easy to find from the road, even in the dark. Fire pits and picnic tables are there. Vault toilets and running water available."
"However, it is also one of my favorites close to home to hike. The campsites are always clean, but you almost always find litter in the fire rings."
$13 - $50 / night
"Lake of the Ozarks State Park campground is located in Kaiser Missouri about 5 miles down highway 134 off of highway 42. This campground is about 1.5 hour from Columbia and Springfield Missouri."
"We stayed close to the river in the primitive area and the deer were all over. These deer were super friendly and didn't move at all as we walked right past them. "
"An easy and beautiful spot to camp for free near I-70. About 15 minutes of a stunning drive away from the interstate. Plenty of sites, lots, and places to rest for the night. All free and secluded!"
$45 - $52 / night
"Visited in March 2021, some pot holes in drive way, but manageable. Trees seemed to be trimmed back compared to other reviews. Nice facilities and great staff!"
"The only negative thing I would say is the spaces were very close to each other. Our slide nearly went over the patio of the next site over. But it was our family staying in that lot so it was ok."
"When I arrived, I noticed that there were a ton of beautiful primitive trails besides the well-constructed boardwalks. And I also learned that there were even more caves, such as Connor's Cave."
"Great trails for biking and hiking and the creek is perfect for cooling off. However, this place can get really really busy."
ScoutWe stayed in our rv while riding the Katy trail easy check in process. Free use of washer and dryer. Shower was great. Felt super safe here. Nice and quiet. Would definitely recommend to anyone. I noticed bicycle tent campers here and on a rainy night they were able to set up tent in barn to stay dry.
LegendThe Pine Ridge Campground a few miles down the road was full, so we ended up at 1 of the 8 sites here. This is an equestrian campground that allows non-horse campers, but prefers you check Pine Ridge first. We had a fine one-night stay while traveling through, but encountered A LOT of ticks on the overgrown trail. BEWARE of ticks and check yourselves and your pets if staying here. No cell service.
ScoutPLEASE NOTE THIS REVIEW IS FOR "RV" PARK ONLY. WE DID NOT USE THE EVENT CENTER AND BED & BREAKFAST. We pushed ourselves to stay 2 of our scheduled 3 nights. This is a trailer park with RVs. All hands off for reservations and parking. Stopped in at the office and they could have cared less. Parked us next to someone that yelled at everyone she was on the phone with and although dog had a leash on was loose. We like dogs but this one was not too interested in being friendly. Maybe construction at entrance is complete now but was a mess when we were there. Wifi stunk. So this 1 star is a 0 star.....first one I have ever given.
ScoutThis was a great spot - there are 3 sites each with fire pits right on the water. I highly recommend!
GuideStayed for 1.5 weeks. Stay at lake for three days, established area with vault toilet and gravel parking. Has boat ramp and fishing docks. It has been a windy month so I relocated farther up hill to nestle in more with the trees. There are several equestrian campsites +20 throughout the park. Also a shooting range centrally located in the park.
GuideSpent two weeks totally submersed in nature. Had to scope out the area to find a suitable spot to set up camp. Found a spot previously used, but you might prefer finding a spot and starting from the ground up. Only draw back is the Columbia Regional Airport is about 4-5 miles from this location. There is air traffic overhead. Columbia airport is rather small so other than rotary wing aircraft (helicopters) from the hospital, it's not to bad.
GuideI arrived at the site in April of 2025, and was greeted with a locked gate and signage stating rates are $15 per night. Envelopes and lock box are in place. Beautiful campground with plenty of freshly cut firewood. Excellent spot for overnight or weekends with the family.
GuidePark was closed but had parking in the lot outside of the gate. Good enough to crash over night. Did a daylight walk through and discovered a well maintained camp site. Talked with park staff who was cleaning and cutting up downed trees. He was friendly and knowledgeable. Bad timing for me, and I was looking for free camp sites. Otherwise this would be a great go to location for me.
ScoutExcellent camping conditions close to the river that we float down in a canoe each year. I'll continue to do this every year until I absolutely can't anymore!
Camping near California, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.
Camping near California, Missouri, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, California, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 103 campgrounds and RV parks near California, MO and 6 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near California, MO is Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina with a 4.1-star rating from 16 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 6 free dispersed camping spots near California, MO.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 13 parks near California, MO that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
Keep Exploring
