The Mark Twain Lake region near Columbia, Missouri serves as a camping hub with direct access to the 18,000-acre lake and over 100 miles of shoreline. Summer temperatures average 85-90°F with humidity levels between 60-80%, creating muggy camping conditions during peak season. Fall camping offers more comfortable temperatures and less crowded campgrounds.
What to do
Biking on Katy Trail: Access the trail directly from Cooper's Landing Campgrounds and Marina, which sits alongside this historic path. "The Katy trail is easy biking with beautiful views, shaded. Blue birds, cardinals and also an indigo bunting were seen our first trip out," notes a visitor who appreciated the wildlife viewing opportunities.
Fishing in Mark Twain Lake: Coyote Campground offers easy lake access with a dedicated fish cleaning station. "Warm, clear, fresh water to swim in. Full of crystals and wildlife. We will be going back," reports one camper who enjoyed the water quality.
Walking trails: Lakeview Park in Mexico (about 30 miles from Columbia) features a 1.4-mile walking trail circling a 15-acre fishing lake. A visitor mentions, "Nice sites lots of shade, electric on site, priced at ten a nite. 1.4 mile walking trail, 15 acre fishing lake."
What campers like
Live entertainment: Cooper's Landing Campgrounds and Marina hosts regular music performances with a specific schedule. "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," notes one visitor about the predictable quiet hours.
Unique camping atmosphere: Campers appreciate the social aspects at certain campgrounds. As one visitor to Lazy Day Campground mentions, "Great vibe with this campground, pull through with 30 amp available. Camp store is adorable, owners are awesome."
Scenic views: Many sites offer water views, particularly at sunset. A Cooper's Landing visitor noted, "This 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."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds have different experiences depending on when you visit. For glamping close to Columbia, Missouri, consider timing for events. "We camped in a 32' Class C for 7 days during the Miss Missouri Pageant. It's a quiet little park with maybe 15-20 sites with electric only," reports a visitor to Lakeview Park.
Amenities vary widely: Hanson Hills Campground (formerly Crooked Creek) offers varying comfort levels. "Very relaxed place. Kinda drive in and park anywhere you see a firepit. The portapotties were gnarly but the toilets/showers behind the office were clean and had hot water," notes one camper.
Accessibility factors: Some campgrounds require driving on unpaved roads. A visitor to Hanson Hills mentioned, "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)."
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Hickory Ridge Campground offers a salt water pool and organized activities. "Lots of activities - pool, cornhole tournament, potluck dinner, and movie night. Great place for families," notes a visitor about the structured entertainment options.
Kid-friendly fishing: Multiple campgrounds offer pond fishing for younger anglers. At Hanson Hills, one visitor reported, "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."
Playground availability: Check for campgrounds with play areas. Lakeview Park offers a well-maintained playground: "It was a nice 5 day stay posts of room for your tent and parking. Play ground was very clean and pavilion had lots of outlets and picnic tables."
Tips from RVers
Site layout considerations: At Lazy Day Campground, a visitor noted specific features helpful for RVers: "The gravel pad was fairly level, and although the utilities were toward the back of the site, we had no trouble connecting. There were two sewer hookups—a nice touch. Water is shared, but the pressure was solid at about 50 psi."
Glamping alternatives near Columbia: For luxury camping without bringing your own RV, Hickory Ridge Campground offers glamping options. A visitor noted the owners are "clearly making improvements and working hard to create a unique place."
Connectivity concerns: Cell service varies by location and carrier. At Lazy Day Campground, one RVer reported, "We got 2 bars on Verizon and 3 bars on T-Mobile, and our T-Mobile Home Internet worked very well. The CG WiFi was fine for email and web browsing."
