Looking to go glamping near Collins and enjoy a rustic retreat into nature? Glamping is not only a fun alternative to traditional tent camping, but also allows you to pack more or less gear as you see fit. You're sure to find glamping for your Missouri camping adventure.
This recreation area is part of Stockton Lake
The valley that cradles Bennett Spring has created a place of peace and recreation that has welcomed generations of enthusiastic anglers. Bennett Spring camping is one of Missouri’s earliest state parks and continues today to attract fishermen and nature lovers seeking to make new memories. More than 100 million gallons of clear, cool water gush from Bennett Spring each day and form a spring branch stocked daily with rainbow trout waiting for lucky fishermen. Fishing may be the main draw but the park also offers many other amenities such as a dining lodge, campgrounds, cabins and hiking trails. Whether you are a traditional fishing enthusiast or someone seeking a place to relax and refresh, Bennett Spring State Park has what you need to make every trip one to remember.
This recreation area is part of Pomme De Terre Lake
Sparrowfoot Campground is situated on the Grand River Arm of the Harry S. Truman Lake in the hills of western Missouri. Visitors enjoy fishing, hunting and boating.
Sparrowfoot is an excellent fishing location. Truman Lake is also a popular destination for tournament fishermen.
A mosaic of hardwood forests and grasslands covers the area's rolling hills. Rocky bluffs extend into the lake. Wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkey, hawks, ospreys, eagles, and many different water birds can be found in and around the park. An abundance of fish such as crappie, bass, walleye, paddlefish, blue and channel catfish can also be found in Harry S Truman Reservoir. Approximately 8,800 acres of standing timber were left in the lake to provide quality aquatic habitat.
Katy Trail State Park, the nation's longest rails-to-trails project, is nearby. This unique park stretches from Clinton to Machens, with dozens of trailheads in between. Biking and hiking are allowed on the entire length of the trail, and horses are allowed from Clinton to Sedalia.
$20 - $30 / night
Longshoal Park sits on the shores of Harry S. Truman Lake in the hills of western Missouri. Visitors enjoy fishing, hunting, swimming and boating. Click here for the Harry S. Truman Lake virtual tour.
Longshoal is an excellent fishing location. Truman Lake is also a popular destination for tournament fishermen. Longshoal Marina is located within the park, offering convenient boat services for guests. A sandy beach makes the area perfect for families.
Harry S Truman Reservoir lies among the rolling hills and rocky bluffs of the Ozark Plateau. Mature hardwoods of Oak and Hickory with cedar trees mixed in cover the area. Wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkey, hawks, ospreys, eagles, and many different water birds can be found in and around the park. An abundance of fish such as crappie, bass, walleye, paddlefish, blue and channel catfish can also be found in Harry S Truman Reservoir. Approximately 8,800 acres of standing timber were left in the lake to provide quality aquatic habitat.
The 950 miles of shoreline around Truman Lake provide plentiful opportunities for fun in the outdoors. Many parks surround the lake, including Harry S. Truman State Park. The Harry S. Truman Visitor Center sits atop Kaysinger Bluff and provides a spectacular view of the dam and reservoir. Exhibits provide information about the rich history of the Osage River Valley from pre-civilization to modern day. Waterfowl, bald eagles and turkey vultures are commonly seen from the observation deck. Longshoal Marina
$15 - $30 / night
Cedar Ridge is located on Stockton Lake in the scenic Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri. The lake and surrounding landscape offer countless recreational opportunities along nearly 300 miles of shoreline, providing visitors with many ways to explore one of the most sought-after natural areas in the state. Fishing, hunting, camping, sailing, boating and scuba diving are popular activities.
Boating is a popular pastime at the lake. Sailing is especially popular and the lake hosts several races each year. The campground provides two boat ramps for easy access to the water. A swimming beach and an accessible fishing dock are also on-site. The waters of Stockton Lake are home to several species of fish including small and largemouth bass, crappie, white bass, walleye, catfish and sunfish, making it an ideal destination for anglers.
The land surrounding the lake contains hundreds of acres of native prairie grasses, rolling hills and thick forests that turn crimson in autumn. An abundance of wildlife lives around the water, including wild turkey, Great Blue heron, deer and Bald eagles. Visitors can learn about the lake's Bald eagles at the area's annual eagle-watching event hosted each winter.
Three full-service marinas are located around the lake, offering a wide range of services and supplies, including boat rentals, fuel, fishing tackle and restaurants.
$14 - $24 / night
Osage Bluff Park sits on the shores of Harry S. Truman Lake in the hills of western Missouri. Visitors enjoy fishing, hunting, swimming and boating. Click here for the Harry S. Truman Lake virtual tour.
Osage Bluff is an excellent fishing location. Truman Lake is also a popular destination for tournament fishermen.Osage Bluff Marina is located next to the park, offering convenient boat services for guests.
Harry S Truman Reservoir lies among the rolling hills and rocky bluffs of the Ozark Plateau. Mature hardwoods of Oak and Hickory with cedar trees mixed in cover the area. Wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkey, hawks, ospreys, eagles, and many different water birds can be found in and around the park. An abundance of fish such as crappie, bass, walleye, paddlefish, blue and channel catfish can also be found in Harry S Truman Reservoir. Approximately 8,800 acres of standing timber were left in the lake to provide quality aquatic habitat.
The 950 miles of shoreline around Truman Lake provide plentiful opportunities for fun in the outdoors. Many parks surround the lake, including Harry S. Truman State Park. The Harry S. Truman Visitor Center sits atop Kaysinger Bluff and provides a spectacular view of the dam and reservoir. Exhibits provide information about the rich history of the Osage River Valley from pre-civilization to modern day. Waterfowl, bald eagles and turkey vultures are commonly seen from the observation deck. Osage Bluff Marina
$15 - $25 / night
Shawnee Bend Park sits on the shores of Harry S. Truman Lake in the hills of western Missouri. Visitors enjoy fishing, hunting, swimming and boating. Click here for the Harry S. Truman Lake virtual tour.
Shawnee Bend is an excellent fishing location. Truman Lake is also a popular destination for tournament fishermen.A playground and sandy beach make the area perfect for families.
This year-round day-use area offers a large group picnic shelter. Amenities include flush and pit toilets and drinking water.
Harry S Truman Reservoir lies among the rolling hills and rocky bluffs of the Ozark Plateau. Mature hardwoods of Oak and Hickory with cedar trees mixed in cover the area.__ Wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkey, hawks, ospreys, eagles, and many different water birds can be found in and around the park.__ An abundance of fish such as crappie, bass, walleye, paddlefish, blue and channel catfish can also be found in Harry S Truman Reservoir. Approximately 8,800 acres of standing timber were left in the lake to provide quality aquatic habitat.__
The 950 miles of shoreline around Truman Lake provide plentiful opportunities for fun in the outdoors. Many parks surround the lake, including Harry S. Truman State Park. The Harry S. Truman Visitor Center sits atop Kaysinger Bluff and provides a spectacular view of the dam and reservoir. Exhibits provide information about the rich history of the Osage River Valley from pre-civilization to modern day. Waterfowl, bald eagles and turkey vultures are commonly seen from the observation deck.
$30 / night
Guide
A trout fisher dream, as one of Missouri’s 5 hacherys are here. Fun for this kids to see the amazing amount of fish. Due to rain I didn’t have the opportunity to hit any of the trails, but there are several that vary in length and difficulty.
GuideThis is a nice campground. But not if you’re looking to get away from people and get deep into nature. This is mostly a fishing campground. Not a lot to do in the area. Campground is still nice, just close to city and not as nice as other areas in Missouri
Ranger
I wish there were more secluded spots, but altogether a great place. There are miles of mountain biking trails which can be hard to find in Missouri, especially at state parks. Next time, we are hoping to get a spot with more trees and shade. The marina has a great shop In case you ran out of marshmellows or sunscreen and also has a small restaurant attached. Boat slips are also available. You can even rent pontoons or jet skis. There is also a water trail for canoes and kayaks, which are also available for rent.
LegendThis state park is one worth a stop when near Springfield. I drove north toward this park to enjoy something a bit different and found it to be very peaceful during a weekday.
I had traveled here following a busy time and expected to still have some of that lingering noise which hangs out after a big event. But by the time I reached the location it had dwindled out. Leaving behind in the peaceful outdoors were shaded sites that were well placed but slightly trashed. That isn’t the fault of the park but rather of the people who did not pick up after themselves.
After a little tidying of my site, I was home for the night in a nice tent site. I took a tour of the grounds and noticed that the showers were nice, the water was great in pressure and hot!! Restrooms were well maintained and even after the weekend they had already done their maintenance and had them looking very nice!!
Something else to note when traveling is cell service. With AT&T I had 3 bars of service, something which I was very uncertain of after driving to the location had been spotty in some areas.
The campground runs alongside a waterway and it was nice to enjoy around dusk the sounds of the water. I would have taken a dip in it had I not arrived so late in the evening, it looked so perfect for just dipping the toes in. Also I could see this being a great place to launch a small boat or kayak.
Nearby camp is one of the larger hatcheries in the state which you can visit during certain hours and see how they work to diligently populate the waterways and lakes in Missouri, pretty cool process and information. Definitely recommend!!
Legend
Campsite Review
This is quite a large campground, meaning it can easily cater to tents, car campers, and RV heroes. Each site had electrical hook-ups, and there was a common combination shower & laundry area. My campsite, like all, came with a picnic table and a fire pit. I definitely recommend ear plugs if you are a light sleeper since the bugs were very loud all night. This is one of a few campgrounds within the State Park and I chose it since it offered lakeside views – which were very pleasant. There was also boat ramp access. I had a nice bike ride from the campgrounds to a nearby campsite area near Racoon Ridge on some well paved roads, capped off with some different lakeside views. There was a few places to fill up drinkable water and use bathrooms.
Product Review
I won the Saris Feedom Superclamp 2-Bike bike rack from a contest held on The Dyrt's facebook page, so I decided after a few weeks and trips with the product to do a review.
So far the bike rack has been up to Jasper National Park from Boulder, CO with stops along the way in Grand Tetons, YellowStone, Glacier, Banff and Lake Louise National Parks as well as a roadtrip from Boulder to Toronto, ON through Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan. I've gone on various road conditions over the 5,000+ miles as well as in various driving conditions (city, highway, off roading, and country).
This bike rack is incredibly easy to use. It is what I call "micro adjustable" just because the bike is clamped to the rack with a bunch of slide-able wheel wells and tire arms adjustable at any position. It works with any bike type, and is super easy to install - no special tools needed. Your car just needs either a 1.25" or 2" hitch. Watch the video review here.
I also love that it comes with included, retractable bike locks to secure your crappy or expensive bikes to the rack, then another lock between the rack and your car's hitch. I can't fully open my trunk (although it looks like the new model EX2 solves this bit of trouble) when I have bikes on the back, which I would complain about if this didn't take any longer than 10 seconds to get the bike's off.
I was also impressed how well the rack held up when I went up Shadow Mountain with 2 on the rack to do some riding around the summit with the Grand Tetons as my backdrop. The bumpy road and constant rocking could've bent the frame, but it held up beautifully.
Shout out to Saris for putting some good material around the wheel clamps to keep any harsh contact points against my bike. My bikes are cheap, but someone with anything they care about will appreciate the care they took to keep their bike protected.
I'll do an update on this review after a few more weeks with the rack for my overall impressions, and so far so good!
ROAD TRIP!
And so the road trip to Canada with my dog Sirius begins! I hit the road a little late from Colorado, so I knew as I was driving that when I finally made it to Missouri I was going to be rolling into the campsite in dark. Luckily, most of the drive east once you leave the Rocky Mountains is flat and uneventful so anything I would have seen in the daytime wasn’t much better than blackness. There’s some vast prairie landscape along highway 70, so it’s not the worst scenery to have, but I’ve driven from Colorado to Chicago a few time and I was trying to avoid another one of those endless farm field drives you can find along highway 80. Oh well, more of the same I guess.
When I was researching places roughly 9 hours from home, Harry S Truman State Park looked like a fun place to check out near the Ozarks if you’re on the road and passing through. There are lakes plenty large enough for any water activities you’re creative enough to think up, and the many campgrounds found scattered in the parkland offer a great balance of seclusion and variety. I picked Long Shoal since it was near the water and promised some nice lakefront views. I was going to have to wait until the morning to find out if that promise was one the park could deliver on though, as I didn’t arrive into camp until close to 2am. I parked, popped up the rooftop tent, popped in my ear plugs, and hit the sack. The next morning I awoke to a large lake and a kayaker enjoying their morning paddle. My morning was spent cycling the 4 miles just past the welcome center, where I enjoyed some more lakeside views from Racoon Ridge. It certainly was convenient to have a paved road the entire ride lined with dense forest trees. I wish I saw some deer along the way, but I can’t always get so lucky. The heat was quite strong, so it was a nice coincidence that the ride was shaded and hugged the water’s edge. I took in the lake views, but I didn’t have long to enjoy the scenery, as I had another 8 plus hours in the car that day, since I wanted to get to Kentucky and spend my real play time of the trip checking out the Land Between the Lakes Recreation area.
LegendAfter one visit, this became one of my favorite state parks. This is one of Missouri’s’ “trout parks” with a hatchery and release sites so fishing (which actually becomes catching) is a big draw. Bennett Spring is so serious about their fishing they even have a trout cam so you can watch other anglers testing their skills.
When we pulled into the campground and picked out a super sweet paved full hook-up site we let out a sigh of approval and knew we were going to really like it there for a few days. The park has 143 campsites comprised of five loops so there are a wide variety of camping options, from basic to sewer/electric/water sites with some being reserveable to first come, first serve. There are wooded sites and those in the open where you are close enough to the fishing action to watch anglers from your RV. In addition to camping, there are 65 other lodging units which are cabins, duplex/fourplexes, and motel rooms.
We came to camp, fish, and hike but there is also canoeing, floating, a nature center and museum, trout hatchery, dining facilities, a church, Olympic-size swimming pool, and much more. When I wasn’t wading in the water with a wet line, we were walking through the woods. The park has over twenty miles of hiking trails meandering through its 3,216 acres. Trails range from a leisurely walk along the stream to that of rigorous mountain trails that reward hikers with great picturesque views of the Ozark Mountains. Guided ranger-led tours are also available for those wanting a little more information on your walk. The camp store is quite large with everything from food to souvenirs. For Anglers this is where you get your fishing permit and advice on the best lures to use (of which they have a large selection).
One aspect of this park that is so appealing is the historical character that came from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) improvements made back in the 1930’s. They built a dam, arched bridge, cabins and shelters, dining lodge, roads, and trails. The CCC influence is obvious when looking at the dining lodge with its stone and wood exterior and post and beam interior that stands the test of time and emits rustic charm. The dining lodge still performs its original function and is popular among visitors (especially those who want to have their freshly-caught trout prepared for them).
To make a reservation or view campsite details, photos and availability, go to the reservation website by clicking the “Make a Reservation Now” link below. Reservations may also be made by calling toll free 877-ICampMO (877-422-6766). Printable campground maps are available for your reference by clicking on the "Map" links.
Some state parks are remote and have a quiet and tranquil feel. This park has a lot going on so that is probably not the case in the busy summer season. When we were there in early April the park’s campgrounds were pretty empty and quiet and while we really liked that we also liked that there was a lot to do. Our three days passed quickly and we would definitely come back.
Traveler
Follow the coordinates and it led to a storage rental drove around, no campsite around
ScoutDefinitely a great place to get out on the water! Several beach access spots but very rocky with no sand beaches near the state park campground.
TravelerWe camped in campground 1 right next to the play ground. Super clean, had a view of the lake. Within walking distance of the marina. Everyone was very friendly. My only complaint is the first night we had super noisy neighbors. I'm all for music and a good time but past quiet hours I think one should tone it down a bit. I assumed the host would tell them to be quiet. It did take me complaining the next morning, and then the host went to talk to them. Rest of the trip was smooth as can be! Kayak trails on the lake...beautiful clean swimming beaches. Can't wait to go back :)
GuideWe stay here about seven or eight times per year. Easy to reserve sites. We always stay on the west loop. There are no bad sites. Our favorite sites are 15 and 39. Restrooms are immaculate and camp hosts are great! Walking distance to the Marina that includes a restaurant. Walking distance to the lake and a lake view with kayak access.
TravelerCamp host are awesome
TravelerBathrooms could really use an update but the lake access in our group campsite was awesome!
ScoutI really enjoyed my first trip here. I had never even heard of this lake. The grounds are nice and clean. The restrooms and showers are decent for a public area. The shop on the marina is not over priced like you would think. The staff are really nice. We do wish there were more instructions in the confirmation email on the check in process and specifically where to go when first arriving at the camp. There are pontoons, kayaks and canoes for rent at the marina. There is also a swim beach nearby.
TravelerGreat state park. Cleanest restrooms I’ve seen. Great trails. Bring the kayaks. They have some pretty cool kayak marked trails on the lake. Beautiful sail boats to see as well!
TravelerGreat camping spot with easy access to the lake and marina however there isn’t any water or sewer hookup on the camp site. Almost boondocking with electric hookup and a dump station.
RangerReal nice park Especially for what we paid. $8.00 for electric only per night. Senior rate off season, $2.00 discount. Two loops East & West. We stayed in the east on a fairly level site, all nicely spaced. Most sites are pretty level, except some that back to the woods. Good ATT signal. Did not try OTATV. Dump & fresh water were near by. Real friendly camp host. A great night over for us.
ScoutBathrooms were clean but dated. Water spigots were well spaced. Ticks were very bad. Family sites were spacious but laid out like 2 separate sites. Would have been nice to have both tables together. Tent pads were advertised but non-existent.
Scout
Great place for camping with the family and dogs! everyone is very pleasant and I felt comfortable letting the kids ride their bikes around, a great presence from the park rangers !
GuideThis campground is very wide open and great for family camping, the main facilities are clean and showers are private. It has a camp store, playground and a great swim beach with places to fish from the shore. The campground is perfect for bike riding as well.
GuideBeautiful and a fun time
RangerGreat state park and campground.
RangerWe picked a standard non electric site as it was level and not crowded. $8 for seniors so not bad. Lots of fishing activities here on the lake. Would stay longer if we had the time.
ScoutWhen I was there, had called ahead to reserve a spot. When I got there, there was no one to help me, one of the campers came and directed me to a campsite. The grass was knee high, trash had not been picked up and the firepit had trash in it from the previous campers. I never did meet the owners, but I had great neighbors and enjoyed my stay. Don't think I would go back.
ScoutWe are a quite campground with a small stock pond and a shower house for men and women. We also have a laundry facility and a clubhouse, we have firewood, and Ice. So come by and see us and enjoy a quiet weekend. You may see deer, and birds, squirrels ,Chipmunks, sometimes turkey. So we would love to meet you.
ScoutNice little privately owned campground with a great value for your $. Definitely off the beaten path but full hookups for $15 per night. No T-Mobile service. Kinda backwoods and could definitely use some updating but pleasant all the same.
Scout
Beautiful views from many of the sites. I noticed several of the tent sites do not have level areas for your tent. T01 site does not have close parking unless you are able to park in the handcap parking. It is a quite park in the evening. Camp host is polite and shower house is kept clean. Vault toilet by the boat ramp is sketchy (where tent camping is located). Will stay here again.
ScoutGreat campground to stay at. Sites are power only, water and dump separate. Campground has private boat ramp and parking away from public use so things stay secure overnight. Short walk to beach area is nice. Will be back again
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Collins, MO is Stockton State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 11 reviews.
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