Best Campgrounds near Cowgill, MO

The rural landscape surrounding Cowgill, Missouri features a mix of established campgrounds and free dispersed camping options within an hour's drive. Wallace State Park Campground near Cameron offers wooded sites with electric hookups and shower facilities, while Hamilton City Lake provides free lakeside camping with basic amenities. Conservation areas like Bonanza and Crooked River offer more primitive camping experiences for those seeking solitude. A Country Charm RV Park in Hamilton caters to RV travelers with full hookups, and Watkins Mill State Park Campground in Lawson accommodates both tent and RV campers with options for cabins and glamping.

Missouri's seasonal weather patterns significantly impact camping conditions in the Cowgill area. Spring brings frequent rainfall that can create muddy access roads, particularly at conservation areas with gravel or dirt entrances. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-95°F with high humidity, making waterfront sites particularly desirable. As one camper noted about Hamilton City Lake: "The site is shaded with lots of trees, which helped keep things cool, and it's right next to the lake. We were able to fish right from our spot and caught some bluegill and a big crappie." Most established campgrounds remain open year-round, though water systems may be winterized from November through March.

Lakeside camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the region. Crow's Creek Campground features sites with lake views where, according to one camper, "We could walk right down a grassy hill to the trail along the lake." Privacy varies significantly between campgrounds, with Wallace State Park offering secluded sites "separated by trees and bushes so you get plenty of room to yourself," while more developed RV parks typically have closer spacing. Fishing opportunities abound at most water-adjacent sites, with bass, crappie, and bluegill commonly caught. Cell service is generally reliable at established campgrounds, though conservation areas may have limited coverage. Many campgrounds in the region feature well-maintained trails for hiking and biking, with several offering paved paths suitable for families.

Best Camping Sites Near Cowgill, Missouri (64)

    1. Wallace State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Cameron, MO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 632-3745

    "Great MO state park, close to the city with easy access to 35 N. Trails, lakes, camping, great spot! If you don’t want/need electric, try campground 1, the spots are tucked into the trees."

    "Not far off of RT 36 going East through Missouri. Cost only $13 with hot showers. Nice campsite with table and fire pit. The night of our stay the ranger did a naturalist talk about stream life."

    2. Watkins Mill State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Excelsior Springs, MO
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 580-3387

    $12 - $42 / night

    "Watkins mill SP is located a short distance from Kansas City off I-35 near Kearney. The park has a large lake that you can fish and boat as well as multiple hiking options."

    "This place offers peace and quiet outside of a small town with close by amenities. Clean and helpful staff"

    3. A Country Charm RV Park

    8 Reviews
    Cameron, MO
    14 miles
    Website

    "Small (15 Spaces) RV park located 1/2 mile from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. Most likely the reason why people come to Hamilton. Very clean and well kept."

    4. Bonanza Conservation Area

    3 Reviews
    Cowgill, MO
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 675-2205

    "Multiple campsites available along the highway, but the marked site is one of the best, right by a great fishing lake. Very quite, no amenities."

    5. Soggy Bottom Campground

    1 Review
    Cameron, MO
    13 miles
    Website

    $30 / night

    "A wonderful place for family fun for those who enjoy riding ATV’s and/or UTV’s through wooded trails and/or mud! The campground provides full-service hook-ups with water, electricity, and sewer."

    6. Crooked River Conservation Area

    1 Review
    Lawson, MO
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (660) 646-6122

    7. Hamilton City Lake

    1 Review
    Cameron, MO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 271-3100

    "We stayed at Hamilton City Lake in early summer and really enjoyed the peaceful, low-key atmosphere."

    8. Crow's Creek Campground

    28 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    34 miles
    Website

    "The best part is the view of and access to the lake! So beautiful and relaxing.  We had a nice gravel site with fire ring and picnic table."

    "The roads and trails are nice for scooters and bikes. Fairly close to the water and playground; within walking distance."

    9. Love's RV Hookup-Cameron MO 837

    2 Reviews
    Cameron, MO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 312-6061

    $37 / night

    "Located at Love's so most things you could need are available there, some amenities shown in the photos."

    10. Lakeview Campground and RV Park

    1 Review
    Lawson, MO
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 848-4018

    $10 - $40 / night

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Recent Reviews near Cowgill, MO

379 Reviews of 64 Cowgill Campgrounds


  • Daniel K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Blue Springs Lake Campground

    Great in town option

    Great option, clean and well ran. Quiet and I will stay agian!

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Kansas City East-Oak Grove KOA

    Just off the freeway

    Easy to access. Great for an overnight. Cable not working. My site was a bit small for my 29’ rig. It is a toy hauler and I asked for more room. It was promised, but not delivered.

  • R
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Owl Creek Market and RV Park

    Great place to stay overnight.

    This was a great park for us to pull over and get off the freeway overnight we did it on our way to Kansas from MI and from Kansas to MI. The store was very nice and the staff there were friendly and accommodative.The only thing I would recommend is getting some shade in the center of the park where the pull-throughs are on concrete.

  • NomadBrad D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Blue Springs Lake Campground

    Perfect Spot

    Great campsite, very clean… Bathrooms were spotless. As washer and dryer, showers, three toilets, playground for kids, firewood for sale.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Mayview RV Park

    Small town charm, CHEAP!

    $20/night including full hookups! Town population only 600. There’s a bar & grill and a brunch cafe around the corner from the RV park. Payment is self serve, no reservations. Couldn’t get WiFi to work but cell connection (T-Mobile) was fine

  • NomadBrad D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Blue Springs Lake Campground

    Great Campground!

    The whole experience was awesome. The entire place was spotless, the sites were far apart enough that you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you. Bathrooms were incredibly clean and the camp hosts or some of the nicest ones I've ever encountered! I think their names were Robin and Jim. 5 stars for sure!

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Crowder State Park Campground

    Very Quite and clean!

    We really enjoyed our stay here. It was quiet and clean. Looks like it has many activities going on. We were only here for one night as a stop over. The stars were amazing.

  • Sayler O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Crow's Creek Campground

    More for Family Gatherings, Not for a Nature Escape

    Crows Creek Campground is fine if you’re just looking for a place to get out of the house, be outside, and hang out with family, but it’s not great for anyone hoping to feel truly “out in nature.” The campground is huge, with several loops and tons of sites. The RV loops were packed and felt really crowded, while the tent site loops were almost empty during our July visit.

    One big downside for me was the lack of trees—there’s maybe one tree per tent site and even fewer around the RV spots. Shade is minimal, and there’s really no sense of being in the woods. To top it off, the campground has a lot of rules, like no fires past midnight and no tying hammocks to trees (not that there are enough trees to even try).

    If your goal is simply to camp near the lake with a big group or family, this place works fine. But if you’re looking for a quiet, natural setting or a campground that feels like an escape. This just doesn't feel like camping to me.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Worlds of Fun Village

    Great location for family fun!

    Super cute big facility. Built on a hillside adjacent to the amusement and water park. The camp ground pool is huge and fun for the kids on non park days. The campground is all paved and perfect for scooters and bikes for the kids. 3 washers and driers $2.50 each takes quarters or card.


Guide to Cowgill

The terrain surrounding Cowgill, Missouri features rolling hills and farmland with elevations ranging from 800 to 950 feet above sea level. Unlike other Missouri camping destinations, this area features a mix of conservation lands and municipal facilities that remain accessible during winter months when many state parks winterize. Most campgrounds in the region sit adjacent to small lakes and ponds that support local fishing opportunities, particularly for bass and panfish species.

What to do

Hiking trails with lake views: At Wallace State Park Campground, visitors can access several trail options ranging from casual strolls to more challenging hikes. "The trails around Wallace are fantastic. From a casual stroll around the lake to a more vigorous hike up the hill this park provides it all," reports Chad K. The park features trails that wind through wooded areas and connect to the small 6-acre lake.

Biking on paved paths: Cyclists can enjoy smooth riding surfaces at Crow's Creek Campground where the infrastructure supports family biking. "Trails and roads within the campsite are paved, so it's great for bikes and scooters," notes Julie B. The paved trails follow the lakeshore and connect different camping loops, making it easy to explore the entire property without navigating difficult terrain.

Historical exploration: When camping near Cowgill, Missouri, plan a day trip to nearby Watkins Mill State Park where you can tour historical structures. "If you like history, take a tour of the woolen mill part. Very cool," shares Josh P. The preserved woolen mill offers visitors a glimpse into 19th-century industrial operations in rural Missouri.

What campers like

Private, wooded sites: Campers consistently praise the secluded feel of the basic sites at Wallace State Park Campground. "I love how many of the basic sites are secluded or at least mostly separate from other sites. Many have treeline surrounding so your site is closed off from others, ensuring some privacy," writes Erin P. These non-electric sites offer more seclusion than the RV camping areas.

Clean facilities: The shower buildings receive high marks from visitors to the region. One camper at Wallace State Park noted, "Showers were clean and in their own stalls with locking doors, shelves and ample hooks. The water got nice and hot and the shower heads were even and held good pressure." Most established campgrounds in the area maintain their restroom facilities daily, even during peak season.

Free lakeside camping: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the no-cost options at Bonanza Conservation Area where fishing opportunities combine with free camping. "Multiple campsites available along the highway, but the marked site is one of the best, right by a great fishing lake. Very quiet, no amenities," reports Lloyd W. The conservation area attracts anglers looking for peaceful shoreline access.

What you should know

Designated camping areas only: Conservation lands have specific rules about where camping is permitted. At Bonanza Conservation Area, one visitor warns, "It is against their rules to camp anywhere but on a gravelly parking lot. We camped just off the road and got a citation." Always check regulations before setting up at conservation areas near Cowgill.

Limited cell coverage: While the existing description mentions good service at established campgrounds, the conservation areas typically have poor connectivity. Some campers report needing to drive to nearby towns for reliable signal, especially for data connections.

Seasonal closures and limitations: Water systems at most campgrounds shut down during cold weather. "We stayed in October and due to unseasonably cold weather they shut off water with no notice and halfway through our stay," reports Bridget U. about her experience at Crow's Creek Campground. Always confirm available amenities when camping during transition seasons.

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Watkins Mill State Park Campground receives high marks from families with children. "Great park, nice camp sites, will come again!" says Stephanie L. The campground provides easy access to playgrounds and recreational facilities that keep children entertained throughout their stay.

Level sites for setup: Families appreciate the well-maintained camping pads at many local campgrounds. At Wallace State Park, one camper noted, "Large camping pads are lined with wood chips and are comfortable enough to sleep on without an air mattress." This feature makes tent setup easier for parents camping with young children.

Swimming options: During summer months, temperatures regularly exceed 85°F, making water access important for families. Several campgrounds offer designated swimming areas, though at Watkins Mill State Park, "The swim beach has been closed because of excessive vegetation growth," according to Jason C. Always verify swimming conditions before promising lake activities to children.

Tips from RVers

Campground size considerations: For RVers seeking quieter experiences, A Country Charm RV Park offers a smaller setting with only 12-15 sites. "Lovely small RV park. Only about 12 sites. Super friendly, helpful owner. Quiet area in a small town but grocery store just down the road if you need to restock," writes Mary D. The smaller footprint means less noise and traffic compared to larger facilities.

Hookup locations and access: RV campers should note that at Crow's Creek, "The full hookup sites don't have a view of the lake." Many campgrounds in the region offer a tradeoff between premium views and full services. RV campers who prioritize scenery often choose electric-only sites and use central water stations.

Winter RV considerations: For cold-weather camping near Cowgill, Love's RV Hookup provides year-round access to utilities. "Great spot to post up for the night when traveling. Full hook up and you can't really hear the interstate," notes Noah P. The truck stop location ensures plowed access roads and maintained hookups throughout winter months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Cowgill, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Cowgill, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 64 campgrounds and RV parks near Cowgill, MO and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

Which is the most popular campground near Cowgill, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Cowgill, MO is Wallace State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 33 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Cowgill, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Cowgill, MO.