Lathrop, MO is a great camping destination for adventurers of all types. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in, as well as sights to see and explore. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Lathrop and user-submitted reviews.
"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."
$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"
"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."
"Pleasant campground, very nice lake. I camp with kids from infant through 18 and hot showers and decent bathrooms are a must for us. Close to Smithville Missouri."
"The bike trail is about 3 steps away from our site. only downside is it is only electric hookups. ( only a downside if you are a travel trailer/rv)"
"Close to Kansas City so it makes a great quick getaway. Clean, friendly, and right next to Smithville Lake. Our pick for a short trip."
"These RV spots have great shade, are spaced nicely apart, and are a quick walk to the lake! Amazing sunsets!
You can rent a boat for a half day or full day with advanced notice!"
"We ran into a local and he told us about a spot on the east side of the lake. An old boy scout camp. It wasn’t maintained but there was nobody there."
"Bucolic setting on a lake. Pit toilet and not much else in amenities, but a VERY pleasant place to spend a night!"
$12 - $48 / night
"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."
"We enjoy camping there to get away from routine and responsibilities and simply hang out at our camper. The campground is wooded, generally cool, and peaceful."
$37 / night
"Located at Love's so most things you could need are available there, some amenities shown in the photos."
$10 - $40 / night
$56 - $59 / night
"The only two things I wasn’t expecting were: 1. it’s pretty close to the airport, but you don’t notice the planes except when you’re outside; 2. the sites (except premium ones) are pretty close together"
"This park is convient to I-29 but far enough off the highway to be quiet and peaceful. Tent sites, full hookups as well as rooms and cabins are available."
ScoutThe place looks great and has had some great up keeps. The ice cream shop is so cute and the restaurant is going. We went to a movie outside there and fireworks for Memorial Day weekend. The pool was open for the first Saturday but it was rainy and of course cold. It was still so much fun. Can’t wait to be back for 4 of July!!
GuideI took my skoolie there, and I thought we were supposed to park near the cabin, however, it's the part to the left of the cabin that we are supposed to camp at. The website actually forbids anybody camping around the cabin, so you need to use the campsites directly to the west, where there's a bunch of piers, sites, and bathrooms. We drove down 322nd Rd. to get to our site near the bathrooms across from the maintenance building. That road is gradual enough that I was able to get my short bus down it safely without tipping over.
TravelerVery nice parks. It is a major recreation center for the county. Well maintained grounds. Minor annoyances like check in and check out times are the same so we had to wait for the people in our site to leave. We enjoyed taking time to go to Osage Fort and Missouri town. Two historical landmarks worth the visit. Our StarLink worked well. We did not do as much because we were working and because of the rain. The bathrooms were merely adequate, poorly designed without hooks where you need them and a long walk. There was a handicap toilet near us but it was clearly designed by a committee as I can’t see how anyone with a physical handicap could have used it. The light switch and the door lock were high up. The water in the sinks was cold.
ScoutGreat spot to post up for the night when traveling. Full hook up and you can't really hear the interstate
TravelerIt was a very lovely county park. We stayed for nights. The sites were well situated such that you felt you had plenty of privacy. The staff was nice but since entrance time and exit time are both 2:00 we had to wait for our spot to open which was difficult as we both needed to check in with our jobs. Our only complaint was the bathrooms. Not particularly clean and oddly designed. The one nearest to us was a poorly designed handicap accessible bathroom, which was huge but difficult to use. Not sure how you could reach the door lock from wheel chair? There was toilet paper but no hand soap or paper towels just a blower. Rainy weather for the most part but did take time to go to the Fort Osage National Historic Landmark and Missouri Town which is part of the Jackson County Parks & Rec. Nice way to spend a rainy kind of day. Beautiful Lake, with fishing, and boating.
RangerThe road in was dusty but very well maintained. There were 2 fire pits and several picnic tables in a grassy area and an outhouse. There was also a pole bar onsite, possibly for windmill maintenance.
GuideWe stayed at Hamilton City Lake in early summer and really enjoyed the peaceful, low-key atmosphere. There are two known dispersed sites, and while they’re basic, they’re free and offer a great natural setting. We had plenty of room to spread out without worrying about noisy neighbors—it wasn’t crowded at all, and we were the only campers overnight.
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. Another visitor reeled in a bass. We also saw several turtles swimming around, which was a nice bonus.
A few things to note: there’s only one picnic table, and the site is fairly close to Highway 36, so you can hear some road noise. Still, the tranquility of the spot overall and the lack of campground crowding more than made up for it.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a quiet, simple place to camp with great access to fishing.
TravelerNot a great spot for tent camping. Ton of road noise and most grassy areas are sloped. Bathrooms are nice and people are great. $31 for a tent spot.
TravelerWe're the only ones camping here. Some people come to fish during the day but it's dead at night. Clean pit toilets. Will definitely be back.
Camping near Lathrop, Missouri, offers a great mix of outdoor fun and relaxation. With several campgrounds nearby, you can find the perfect spot to enjoy nature, whether you're in a tent or an RV.
Whether you're looking for a peaceful getaway or a fun family adventure, Lathrop, MO camping has something for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to TheDyrt.com, Lathrop, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 71 campgrounds and RV parks near Lathrop, MO and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lathrop, MO is Wallace State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 33 reviews.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Lathrop, MO.
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Lathrop, MO that allow camping, notably Bankhead National Forest and Chugach National Forest.
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