Camping sites near Greenfield, Missouri center around Stockton Lake, with summer temperatures averaging 85-90°F in July and August. The area sits at approximately 1,020 feet elevation with predominantly oak and hickory forests surrounding the lake shoreline. Wind conditions on Stockton Lake can intensify in afternoons, creating challenging conditions for water activities.
What to do
Kayaking on marked trails: Stockton State Park Campground offers designated kayak trails on the lake for guided exploration. "Great 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!" notes Katie R.
Swimming at beaches: Orleans Trail maintains a sandy swim beach that's regularly cleaned. "The sandy swim beach is clean and fun, even off-season. Lots of places to hike and fish. Great place for boating," reports Kenna P. who camps there regularly in October.
Rock jumping: Find unique swimming spots near Cedar Ridge Campground—Stockton Lake where adventurous visitors can swim to a popular feature. "If you walk down the trails there are great places to swim near camp including 'Chicken Rock' a large island out in the lake the kids love to swim to and jump off," mentions Bryan C.
Hiking lake-view trails: Crabtree Cove has multiple hiking options with lake views. "The camp doesn't have a swim beach, but there are some shoreline areas you can swim. The sites are all fairly decent and shady and not too bunched together," according to Bryan C.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Hawker Point campers frequently mention the spacing and forest coverage. "Lake camping isn't my favorite because often times the sites are too close together for the privacy and quiet that I prefer that being said Hawker point is my favorite lake campground. Many sites are well spaced and shaded," explains Nikki M.
Morning water conditions: Early risers benefit from calm waters before afternoon winds pick up. "Windy lake for sure in the afternoon and had trouble docking and loading. If you get back in a cove it was great for swimming and calm. Best time is in the early morning before the lake gets rough," advises Phillip G. about Crabtree Cove.
Loop-specific advantages: Campground design varies significantly between loops. "We stayed in the D loop at site D37. All of the sites in the D loop are more spaced out and wooded than in the other loops. They also don't have electric and the bathroom is a vault toilet," shares Hayley G. at Orleans Trail.
Off-season discounts: Crabtree Cove, Stockton Lake, MO offers significant savings during shoulder seasons. "An absolutely wonderful campground with great low rates in the shoulder season($10 for electric during shoulder season) Plus if you have the America the beautiful pass its 50% off. Regular season rates $14-$20," reports Rebecca L.
What you should know
Variable shower quality: Facilities differ widely between campgrounds. "We used the shower houses(which we had to drive to get to) and they were okay. The water wouldn't get hot, but we didn't take ice cold showers," mentions Hayley G. about Orleans Trail.
Cellular connectivity gaps: Many Stockton Lake campgrounds have limited service. "We were there in mid July and we had a pleasant cool breeze off the lake and not much of an insect problem. The only negative issue we had was that the fire ring hadn't been cleaned out in a while. We had a ton of ashes we had to clear out ourselves just to be able to build a fire," notes Lea B. about Ruark Bluff, who also mentioned "sketchy cell service."
Conservation area access issues: Robert E. Talbot Conservation Area has reported inconsistent access. "When we got there we found a locked gate across the entrance to the conservation area! We were tired from a long drive with a bunch of rain near the end, and we ended up just sleeping in the parking lot," shares Eric O., while another visitor Steve K. countered, "There is NO locked gate nice little spot cows across the street after 12hrs riding good enough for me."
Train noise: Campgrounds further from Stockton Lake may have different disturbances. "Because you're going to see and hear a lot of them, as there is a train track very close to the site," warns Steven N. about Springfield Route 66 KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water activities: Cedar Ridge provides multiple swimming options beyond beaches. "The kids loved watching the sailboats on this part of the lake. They also love the Sandy Beach," shares Ashley W.
Playground proximity: Select sites near recreation areas at Springfield - Route 66 KOA for convenience. "The staff was friendly and the camp was clean... This KOA is clean with wonderful parks and a nice pool. It was a great place to stay while driving to our destination," says Courtney G.
Technology disconnection: Plan for limited connectivity at certain campsites. "Easy walk to the lake. Best part: no cell service for the teens! Camped with other families and really enjoyed ourselves. Nice and quiet at night, too," reports a camper at Ruark Bluff.
Walk-in camping introduction: Stockton State Park offers beginner-friendly walk-in sites. "We did check out the walk in sites here, but were not able to stay in them. They looked awesome and were a short 5 minute walk from the parking. A great beginner site for walk in camping and there were carts at the start of the trail for your gear," notes Hayley G.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling considerations: Check site grading before selecting a reservation. "We stayed at campsite 13 gravel lot site and a little uneven where the picnic table and sitting area had a good view of the lake and the plus was we faced away from other campers so it was like you were the only ones there at times," shares Phillip G. about Crabtree Cove.
Dump station locations: Prepare for limited hookups at some campgrounds. "Into the wild... Great 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," explains Joe J. about Stockton State Park.
Satellite positioning: At KOA locations, tree cover may affect reception. "The only downside was that we had to pull ahead in our site to get satellite signal. So we had to back up to dump. We were only there for two nights so it wasn't a HUGE hassle!" mentions Felicia H. at Springfield Route 66 KOA.
