6 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Cooper's Landing Campgrounds and Marina offers glamping accommodations right alongside the Missouri River, providing guests with a unique waterfront experience. Just a short drive from California, Missouri, this destination includes yurts with convenient access to the Katy Trail for cycling enthusiasts. Glamping sites feature water and electric hookups, with comfort amenities that set them apart from traditional camping. The property includes a general store selling snacks, beer, and essential supplies, plus access to showers and toilets for a more comfortable outdoor experience. Military Park Fort Leonard Wood Lake of the Ozarks Recreation Area, approximately 45 miles south, provides additional glamping options with full hookups and resort-style amenities. "A beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise. A bathroom as well as indoor shower," one visitor noted.
Riverside entertainment enhances the glamping experience at Cooper's Landing, where live music performances occur Thursday through Sunday evenings on an outdoor stage. Food trucks regularly visit the property, offering Thai cuisine and other dining options that eliminate the need for cooking during your stay. The adjacent Katy Trail provides immediate access to biking, hiking, and nature observation, with visitors frequently spotting bluebirds, cardinals, and indigo buntings. Water activities center around the marina, though swimming is not recommended due to the strong river currents. Spectacular sunsets over the Missouri River create memorable evenings from glamping accommodations. According to a camper, "Leaving this magical place today. For anyone wanting to stay be aware they have live music Thursday through Sunday. They wrap everything up by 10pm and it's very quiet late night. It was like being on vacation from my full time vacation lifestyle."
"A beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise."
"They still offered everything they could to me including an indoor shower and bathrooms."
from $10 - $60 / night
Check Availability"Kinda drive in and park anywhere you see a firepit. We had a rooftop tent on the truck and a tent. We camped near the smaller pond."
"Friendly staff made for a homey feel. Plenty of room to be camped away from others."
"Just one look around and we spontaneously decided to camp that night to check out the area."
"Sites with electric and water only are in nice oak woods overlooking Lake of the Ozarks. (Our site # J has a concrete stairway with 150 steps down to the water.)"
"Most sites have been levels and graveled showers and restrooms newly remodeled easy access to byway some traffic noise if close to front is being upgraded and is a good getaway from overcrowded campgrounds"
"We stayed in march so leaves are off the trees and could hear road noise. Very nice stay."
from $10 / night
ScoutA beautiful campground located right next to the Missouri River. Live music, amazing Thai food, general store with snacks, beer, ice cream and merchandise. A bathroom (in addition to portapotties) as well as indoor shower. Very kind people all around
TravelerSuper friendly people. They had gotten flooded out two weeks before I got there so there were a few things being rebuilt. They still offered everything they could to me including an indoor shower and bathrooms. A perfect spot if you want to escape road noise and light pollution and be lulled to sleep by the noise of the river not but eight feet away.
GuideThis was a nice short notice trip we took. Only downside is it’s near MU, so throughout the day, you get a lot of kids hanging out until the “quiet hours” set in. Next time we’ll bring bikes and hop on the trail.
Also, we caught an AMAZING sunset from our site!
ScoutSee beautiful scenery on the MO River & Katy Trail. You may get to see a paddleboat cruising the river. Cooper’s has spectacular sunsets, a boat ramp, dock, trails, bonfires, live music, and a very friendly atmosphere.
The Katy trail runs through the edge of the property, offering quick access to trail walking, hiking, and bicycling.
The general store has many options including a wide variety of food and drinks. It also has a small bicycle repair area set up outside.
I highly recommend the delicious Thai food restaurant on site.
Prices are very reasonable.
ScoutI do Not like that the fire pits nearest to the river are 30 inches from a 30ft drop off! Only 2 people can enjoy the campfire because of that.
Secondly, they do Not provide tables for the campers. Kinda expensive to Not have tables.
Not a good fishing place because it's a treacherous walk down.
The evening band was awesome!
Will Not be back because of the above.
GuideVery relaxed place. Kinda drive in and park anywhere you see a firepit. We had a rooftop tent on the truck and a tent. We camped near the smaller pond. The spot was fine and there wasn’t a ton of tent campers so we had the place to ourselves. The portapotties were gnarly but the toilets/showers behind the office were clean and had hot water. Staff was friendly when we checked in and we bought an armfull of fire wood and they even dropped it off where we parked in their sidebyside but it was damp so we had to scavage some smaller sticks to get the fire hot enough to self sustain. There was a lot of burned cans and some trash in our fire pit when we showed up so we threw it all away before we started our fire. Would stay again but it definitely isn’t a 5 star clean place. Think Ruth from Ozark show.
GuideLeaving this magical place today. For anyone wanting to stay be aware they have live music Thursday through Sunday. They wrap everything up by 10pm and it’s very quiet late night. This weekend they had special events everyday related to the Katy trail right next to it. You will have water and electric but no sewer and no dump station on site. Plan your length of stay accordingly. In addition to the live music, food trucks come in and there is a cash bar/store with drinks, snacks, firewood and ice. It’s a very small campground and you are not walled off from the general public. If this is your style of camping you will really enjoy this place. Built in the 70’s on the banks of the Missouri River I had an amazing time. It was like being on vacation from my full time vacation lifestyle. I didn’t grocery shop the whole time.
GuideJust one look around and we spontaneously decided to camp that night to check out the area. Amazingly beautiful and well maintained campgrounds near the Lake of The Ozarks just for military families, count me in. Area is easy to navigate with bathroom facilities, playground and pavilion with grills, plenty of fishing spots, tons of rv, cabins and tent campsites. You can also rent boats, jet skis, and other outdoor gear at the admin office. We took a tent campsite toward the back of the park with beautiful lakes views and a little private beach. We cannot wait to come back to hang out longer.
TravelerThis is a fun spot with a cool vibe. Right on the river, food truck, bar and drinks at the general store, nice people, fire pit and music. There is a nice biking/jogging trail along the river as well. Spaces are tight to get in and out, but otherwise no complaints.
Glamping near California, Missouri centers around the Missouri River and Katy Trail access points, with several established campgrounds providing water and electric hookups for both tent and RV campers. Located in central Missouri at approximately 850 feet elevation, the area experiences hot summers with high humidity and mild winters, making spring and fall the optimal camping seasons. River access points require careful navigation due to strong currents and seasonal flooding that can affect camping conditions.
Fishing opportunities: McCubbins Point offers a public boat ramp with cooking spots for preparing your catch, though one visitor noted "bathrooms not clean" during busy periods when the area gets crowded.
Katy Trail cycling: The paved trail provides accessible outdoor recreation with wildlife viewing opportunities. A camper at Cooper's Landing Campgrounds and Marina shared, "Katy trail is easy biking, beautiful views, shaded. Blue birds, cardinals and also an indigo bunting were seen our first trip out."
Sunset viewing: Plan evening activities around sunset for memorable river views. According to a visitor at Hanson Hills Campground, "Very peaceful. Plenty of room to be camped away from others. A short excursion down a dirt road made the place feel remote, but within the comforts of society."
Live entertainment: Many campgrounds offer regular music performances. One camper at Cooper's Landing noted, "This is a fun spot with a cool vibe. Right on the river, food truck, bar and drinks at the general store, nice people, fire pit and music. There is a nice biking/jogging trail along the river as well."
Fishing access: Several campgrounds provide direct fishing opportunities. A visitor at Hanson Hills Campground commented, "The pond was a great place to relax and watch the kids reel in fish after fish. Everybody was respectful and quiet come night and morning."
Shaded sites: Tree cover provides critical relief during hot Missouri summers. One camper at Linn Creek KOA mentioned, "Nice large trees would offer some summer shade but still not much separation between sites. Water and electric at site."
Access road conditions: Some campgrounds require driving on unpaved roads. A visitor to Hanson Hills Campground cautioned, "Arrived late, be aware this is a good 5-10 minutes down a dirt road (after a rainy night it was not pretty pulling my trailer back to the highway)."
Site spacing considerations: Privacy varies significantly between campgrounds. According to a visitor at Cooper's Landing, "Spaces are tight to get in and out, but otherwise no complaints."
Swimming safety: Missouri River currents create dangerous swimming conditions. A camper noted, "The river is wide and deep here. Current and undertows make it definitely not suitable for swimming. You can see the water swirling and churning."
Playground facilities: Check campground amenities before booking with children. At Military Park Fort Leonard Wood, there are "tent sites right on the water, with spectacular views. You can launch your own kayak or rent a motor boat to explore this gigantic lake."
Seasonal activities: Holiday weekends often feature special programming. A visitor to Hanson Hills Campground shared, "We stayed over the labor day weekend and the campground was full of activities for the kids. There was a live band and karaoke."
Budget options: Sites without full hookups often offer better locations. A Military Park Fort Leonard Wood visitor mentioned, "Sites with electric and water only are in nice oak woods overlooking Lake of the Ozarks. Our site has a concrete stairway with 150 steps down to the water."
Site leveling: Many campgrounds in the region have terrain challenges. A Linn Creek KOA visitor observed, "Spacious and mostly level sites, which is outstanding as this park is on face of a hill."
Road noise considerations: Highway proximity affects some glamping locations. One RVer at Linn Creek KOA noted, "We stayed in March so leaves are off the trees and could hear road noise. The gravel roads around the campsite were very washed out from rain, unlevel, and I was nervous we'd bust up the camper pulling it."
Reservation flexibility: Call ahead for last-minute glamping options in California, Missouri. A visitor to Military Park Fort Leonard Wood explained, "Very relaxed reservation procedure. We called and were told to just show up. They would hold a spot for us. It worked out fine."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near California, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near California, MO is Cooper’s Landing Campgrounds and Marina with a 4.1-star rating from 18 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near California, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 glamping camping locations near California, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
