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."
$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."
"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."
ScoutIt 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.
TravelerWe switched from site 46 to site 53 as it was far more level and fairly private since it abutted woods. Campground host was really friendly in greeting us and accommodating our request to change sites. Sparkling clean showers and lovely grounds.
TravelerBucolic setting on a lake. Pit toilet and not much else in amenities, but a VERY pleasant place to spend a night!
GuideWe arrived on Sunday at 3:30 pm & office closed. Booked online which stated campground would assign spot. No one around & placed 2 calls unanswered. Selected a spot, spent night & left in AM. Campground needs work.
GuideOn the way in the neighborhood itself did not seem very likely to hold an RV park this close to urban areas. But the place is nice, has Laundry, Showers etc. No campfire pit, and our spot was a tight fit, but seems nice.
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 70 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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