Campgrounds near De Kalb, Missouri operate primarily in flatland terrain with occasional rolling hills at elevations between 800-1,100 feet. The region experiences humid continental climate with hot summers reaching 90°F and cold winters dropping below freezing. Summer camping often requires mosquito protection while fall camping offers cooler temperatures and fewer insects near the area's small lakes and ponds.
What to do
Fishing without licenses: Basswood Country RV Resort features five small lakes where guests can fish without obtaining state fishing licenses. "You could fish in the lakes and didn't even need a license. We watched kids get excited as they caught fish after fish," notes Shannon G., who discovered the resort during a stopover from the Ozarks.
Historical exploration: Visit the historical sites connected to President Harry S. Truman at Basswood Country RV Resort. "As a point of interest, this used to be a favorite fishing spot of President Harry S. Truman, check out the Mother in Law cabin—built at his request," shares Sara E.
Water activities: Spend time at campground swimming facilities during hot summer months. "The kids did get some pool time (it was a nice pool) and loved the blob (whatever you call the bounce pads)," mentions Angela C. about her family's experience at Basswood, though she notes many amenities were closing when they arrived in the evening.
What campers like
Concrete parking pads: Worlds of Fun Village offers solid parking surfaces for easy leveling. "Nice RV Park with concrete pads," notes Charley K., who found it made for a convenient stopover.
Accessible location: Campgrounds positioned near Kansas City attractions provide convenience for stadium events. "Located on the property there are RV sites and rental cabins. All RV sites were concrete with 50/30/20 amp, water and sewer," explains John L. about Worlds of Fun Village, adding that "the theme park offered discounted tickets when staying at the campground and parking for the parks was included."
Spacious tent areas: AOK Campground offers good separation for tent campers. "The tent area was nice with lots of room between them," reports Shannon G., who also noted the clean shower facilities and recreational amenities like a small fishing lake with kayak access.
What you should know
Airport proximity: Several campgrounds sit in flight paths of nearby airports. "Hope you like airplanes!!! Not too far from KCI and planes making their final decent fly right over top," mentions GW C. about Basswood Country RV Resort. Dave M. concurs: "Only drawback is the airplanes overhead going to and from the airport."
Long-term residents: Many RV parks host permanent or seasonal residents. "There is a large section of long term renters that you must drive through to get to the short term sites. This gave the impression that this was less a vacation park and more of a trailer park," explains Drew S. about Basswood.
Urban noise levels: Expect some highway and city sounds at campgrounds near major roads. "Being right off I-29 but far enough off the highway to be quiet and peaceful," notes Sara E., highlighting how some parks balance accessibility with a more peaceful setting.
Tips for camping with families
Weekend activities: AOK Campground & RV Park offers various family amenities. "There was a pool, a playground, a sand volleyball area, and a basketball area," Shannon G. describes, mentioning these facilities made their overnight stay more enjoyable.
Kid-friendly entertainment: Look for campgrounds with organized children's programs. "Every weekend there are organized activities such as arts and crafts, fishing contests, duck races and frozen t-shirt contests in the pool, and a Saturday evening outdoor movie," shares Tori G. about her experiences camping with grandchildren at Basswood.
Family-oriented sites: Choose parks with combined recreational options. "We have been camping at Basswood for several years, first with our children and now with our grandchildren. Basswood provides amenities that are great for entertaining children, including a swimming pool and splash park, two playgrounds, a basketball goal, and fishing," explains Tori G.
Tips from RVers
Leveling considerations: Walnut Grove RV Park sites require minor adjustments. "We did pay for the premium pull through site, so we had more room. Everything worked great, the spot was on a slight hill- but wasn't terrible to level out," shares Mary, who appreciated the location's proximity to Kansas City attractions.
Utility hookup lengths: Bring extended hoses and cords when staying at certain rv campgrounds near De Kalb, Missouri. "The utilities are at the far backside of the pad and based on our rig's configuration with the wet bay towards the front, we needed 25' or more of hose and electric cord," advises MickandKarla W. about their experience at Love's RV Hookup.
Site selection tips: Request specific areas within larger campgrounds for better experiences. "Row 1 (sites 1-20) is along a busy highway with semi truck noise 24 hours a day. I recommend either paying more for the pull-through (further from the road) or the back in sites 69-82 in row 3," suggests John L. about Worlds of Fun Village.
