Looking for a place to camp near Independence with your horse? Finding a place to stay in Missouri while traveling with your horse has never been easier. Search nearby equestrian campsites or find top-rated spots from other campers.
$12 - $42 / night
This recreation area is part of Smithville Lake
$12 - $48 / night
This recreation area is part of Smithville Lake
This recreation area is part of Smithville Lake
Water, Electric: 22
Primitive Campsites: 12
Other Information: Saddle Ridge equestrian area has approximately 32 miles of marked trails available to horseback riders and trail users. Sites are reservable at reserveamerica.com 2 days in advance of arrival.
Conveniently located south of the Kansas City Metro Area, one of Kansas’ newest reservoirs awaits visitors to its more than 12,000 acres of park and wildlife area. Completed in 1982, more than 70 percent of the standing timber was left in the reservoir basin to provide fish habitat. Walleye, catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill are abundant. Approximately 4,500 acres of water and 51 miles of shoreline are open to fishing. Roughly 7,000 acres are open to hunting at Hillsdale within the wildlife area and state park.
Common wildlife includes whitetail deer, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbit, beaver, muskrat, and a variety of waterfowl. Birdwatchers will see bald eagles, shorebirds, finches, warblers, sparrows, and hawks.
The Saddle Ridge equestrian area on the east side of the reservoir has about 32 miles of marked trails available to horseback riders.
The Conservation Department created this area in 1968 with the purchase of 1,024 acres from several landowners. Later acquisitions of 924 acres have increased the area's current size. This conservation area was acquired in part through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Pittman-Robertson funds are generated from a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition. Because of its size and diversity of habitat, Bonanza Conservation Area is managed for a wide range of game and nongame wildlife species. The area's open fields are managed by farming, haying and controlled burning. Other habitat management includes tree, shrub and grass plantings and selective timber harvest. Native grasses have been planted and managed to improve nesting habitat and winter cover. A few streams run through the area; the largest of these are Shoal Creek and Crabapple Creek. Bonanza Conservation Area is a Quail Restoration Landscape. This means additional emphasis is placed upon managing the area for early successional species such as Bobwhite quail.
Area closed to bicycle use (and horseback riding) during all portions of the firearms deer hunting season and spring turkey hunting seasons.
On department areas where camping is allowed, camping is limited to a period of 14 consecutive days in any 30-day period. Personal property must be removed at the end of the 14-day period. Unless a special use permit is obtained, total camping days on all department areas are limited to a total of 30 days within one calendar year. Groups of more than 10 people must obtain a special use permit prior to camping. To obtain a special use permit, contact the area manager at the phone number listed for this area in the area details section. Quiet hours are in effect in camping areas from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. Visitors who are not occupying a campsite are required to leave the campground by 10 p.m. On camping areas with established campsites, only two camping or sleeping units are permitted in each site.
Legend
Weston Bend, MO 9/24: As of early September 1/2 of the campground is closed for construction. I understand that some sites will be upgraded to full hookups. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 5 for a state park . Hiking and overlooks nearby. This is a nice campground to visit Leavenworth from. Very clean showers. Price 2024: About $15 for non electric sites. $25 for electric sites Security: Gate w code for night time entry Usage during visit: Very full during weekends. Plenty of free sites during the week Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: Some more than others Site Spacing: Very good Pad surface: Blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Pretty quiet Outside Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: No reason for Electric Hookup: All sites but # 3 and 26. Sewer Hookup: Coming to some sites by 2025 Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes, at dump stations and some scattered spigots Generators: Allowed Bathroom: One building with flush toilets. One pit toilet near site #26 Showers: Yes. Clean and nice. Pull Throughs: 1 or 2 Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Thick deciduous forest Recent Weather: Some 90 - 100 degree days in late August Solar: # 3 has better solar than the other non-electric site shady #26. Insects: Not bad Host: Great Rig Size: large rigs Sites: #3 and # 26 are non- electric. #26 is the most private.
Guide
We came here fully expecting rain and we got it. Only problem was we planned to tie up some tarps to sit under but we didn't know that it was against the rules to tie to the trees at these sites. luckily we made it work tieing to the roof of the table and a stump. As far as the camp ground its self, rules aside, it is amazing. All the tent sites are separated by trees and bushes so you get plenty of room to your self but they are close enough you can still connect with other groups if you want. Another great part about it is that there are walking paths through the woods from each site that meet up at a central restroom. The main bathrooms and showers are over by the office and are super nice but it is good that there are a couple stalls close for the middle of the night situations. Tons of walking trails are around and a decent playground for the kids as well. Overall loved this place.
TravelerWe arrived around 1 pm and got the pull through site. It is a nice little park that will be closed from November 1, 2024 through April 14, 2025. An electric site was $25.00. The facilities were exceptionally clean and the camp hosts were very polite.
Ranger
It is against their rules to camp anywhere but on a gravelly parking lot. We camped just off the road and got a citation. It's not really disbursed camping.
ScoutVery nice lots was a Lil disappointed because this camp site was in mid missori and the agent I contacted it from was in meridian ms and had never been there was told it would have water n 30 amp service but all that was there was 30 amp no water but it was really nice I didn't have time to stay long just the night .
LegendSmall park with some very private sites and some very exposed sites. Nice showers and dump station.
TravelerThis was our 2nd stay at Weston Bend SP. Both times, we had site 26, one of the few basic sites. While some of the other sites were very close to each other, this one is relatively isolated. It's big too. There's a vault toilet close by. It was clean and roomy. We didn't use the water but there are a few spigot throughout the campground. There's also a regular restroom near the campground entrance, but we didn't use it. We will definitely camp here again if we are passing through.
RangerCampground is hilly, sites are level, gravel pads. Lots of space between sites. Electric sites, no water, but water spigots were scattered around the campground. Majority of sites had shade. Most sites are back in, there are 2 pull through sites and 2 family sites. Firewood is available for sale on the honor system near the camp host. Nice shower facilities and laundry available (one washer, one dryer). Regular trash dumpster and also recycling. Pit toilets also available. Dump station across from dumpsters and recycling. Entrance gate closes at 9 pm.
ScoutThis place is absolutely beautiful great for taking your family but if you need RV parts or repairs stay away from Camping World they will rip you off or even if you want to purchase an RV read the reviews on them.
Traveler
We tried Smith Fork and liked it. The only downside is that some of the campsites are close together/congested, but that’s not necessarily a big negative. We have Verizon and service was good. Camp hosts were great!
Traveler
Very nice campground and we’ve stayed here several times without any problems. The hosts are great too. We’ve stayed at sites in Loop C improved which have water and 50amp service. We have Verizon cell service and had no issues.
ScoutCampground is great! Camp hosts Janet and Chris went above and beyond making Halloween perfect for our family. Been here several times and they are more than accommodating. Always a clean, safe and organized campground. Can’t wait until next year to see all of the events!
Scout
We stayed Sunday-Wednesday and it was very peaceful. Sites are not right on top of each other and it looks like they all have a fire pit and picnic table. There are only a handful of paved spots and you will need leveling blocks on the gravel. Showers and bathrooms are clean and the hosts are very nice. New asphalt roads throughout the park; nice for walking, biking, etc. Be sure to get biscuits & gravy at “The General Store” just down the road from the park entrance.
TravelerPros:
- so peacefully quiet, seriously even with the kids
- dog park with 3 separate areas- close to KC
- a hose at the dump station that you can actually hook up to your black tank flush
- both AT&T and Verizon worked great
Cons:
- I honestly have none from here!
RangerGreat please to camp, not to crowded. Got busier on the weekends, empty on the week. Nice showers and toilets, laundry. Campsites were large, many had a good footprint enough to set up a large tent. We have a 20’ round yurt and had plenty of room. Lots of hiking trails in this park, some paved. Nice lookout point. Dog park was nice, well gated and taken care of, had water station for thirsty dogs. We spent 25$ a night for a 30amp electric site. Campground was well maintained. Only minutes from the historic town of Westin, amazing parks, lots of pubs and little restaurants. Nice place to walk around. I would camp here again.
ScoutSites are plentiful. Lots of riding trail miles and lake.
ScoutWe got in late, so the automatic gates were closed, but we got lucky and someone else came out so we were able to get to our campsite. It was very quiet during the night and we woke up to a chorus of birds. The bathrooms are pristine- nicer than some restaurants or hotels I’ve been to. We stayed in campsite 2 and took the trail down to the lake. It was very small, but the water was clear and we saw no trash! We could see the fish in the water! Overall a very lovely stay- we will be back!!
Ranger
Nice little camp ground. Lots of open space for the dog to play. 2 nice ponds. Sites are nice & level good space. There is some traffic noise, being next to the interstate. We were able to mask it.
Guide
This is a very well Maintained and care for park with recreational activities, bathrooms and paved walking trails. Not rustic enough for me but very nice. We
RangerDeer hunting camp. Lots of city hunters with NO CONCEPT of safety during hunting.
LegendGetting to the state park off I 29 and through the countryside was easy as the route had Weston Bend SP signage. We followed the SP signs to the campground(CG) where the gate was not manned so we headed to get water, but someone was sitting in the dump station waiting for another person to arrive so we went around this one-loop CG to see if there was a convenient spigot. There are spigots but with a larger rig, you will block the road, and/or you will be on a hill. We went back around and the person moved so we could get water. After that, we headed to pull through site 28 with electric(50/30/20 AMP) only. The site is long but has a 1/4 moon turn so we had to pull back around to get better positioned on the pad so we could disconnect our 39’ 5th wheel and F450 for our 3-night stay. There were tree branches overhead that we could not avoid. RVers next to us in site 30 had just arrived as well and were having trouble getting their travel trailer unhitched and leveled due to the pad’s slight incline and unlevel asphalt. They got their trailer positioned so they could get somewhat level. We got a solid two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. Due to our proximity to Kansas City, we got a lot of OTA channels. A satellite connection would be iffy in most sites here due to the number of mature trees. The trees in a lot of sites would also scrape the top of larger rigs. There’s a variety of sites with most being good for regular trailers versus tall rigs, and tent sites. They have a nice shower house with 1 washer and 1 dryer both for$1.50. There are also vaulted toilets here and there. There’s a 1.7-acre fenced dog park that includes one large area for large dogs and two other areas with one dedicated to smaller dogs. The dog area is at the front park entrance away from the campground and it would be a long walk to get there, so we drove up. There are a lot of hiking trails here plus an old tobacco barn that’s worth a look.
GuideI stayed at two different sites here over a few days and had a quiet, lovely time. The overlook and trails were a great way to spend my spare time outside of work (remote). My AT&T cell service was poor (perhaps the high number sites at the top of the hill had better reception?) but Verizon was strong enough for me to work. The bathroom/laundry facilities were in the cutest red building, but I didn’t use them as the water had been shut off as it dropped below freezing at night while I was there, so that’s something to keep in mind when planning your trip.
TravelerStayed on the A loop and had a beautiful view of the lake! Nice to be close to bathrooms and have a gorgeous view. Friendly staff, great price, and campsites have a fire pit with a grill, and a picnic table. We’ll be back!
Guide
Great campground (Sunflower) The host's are friendly and knowledgeable of the area. The trees in the sites are small saplings, give them a few more years, and they will be nice.
GuideBig sites, lots of shade.
TravelerUsed to stay here as a kid during deer season, recently came back to it to explore some more. 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.
GuideClean campground clean bathrooms . Power hookup no water or sewer at site but both are available in the campground. $21 a night for seniors
Horse camping in Missouri offers a unique opportunity to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the company of your equine friends. With a variety of campgrounds equipped with horse-friendly amenities, you can experience the beauty of nature alongside your horse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Independence, MO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Independence, MO is Watkins Mill State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 34 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Independence, MO?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Independence, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
