Campgrounds near Lawson, Missouri occupy varied terrain within Missouri's northern plains region at elevations ranging from 850 to 1,100 feet. Most camping areas sit along creeks, small lakes, or wooded terrain with predominantly red oak and hickory trees. Summer temperatures average 82-90°F while spring and fall overnight temperatures can drop below 50°F, requiring appropriate gear for seasonal camping.
What to Do
Explore local fishing spots: Several campgrounds offer fishing opportunities without requiring a Missouri state license. Lake Paradise Resort maintains multiple stocked fishing ponds where campers can fish directly from their sites. "The lake is nice," notes one visitor, though they mention the sites "are old and not very level and difficult to maneuver."
Visit nearby amusement parks: Worlds of Fun Village provides direct access to connected theme parks. "The theme park offered discounted tickets when staying at the campground and parking for the parks was included. Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are internally connected, making it easy to walk between the two," explains one camper who visited with their family.
Attend outdoor movies: Some campgrounds organize seasonal community events during summer months. "We went to a movie outside there and fireworks for Memorial Day weekend," reports a camper at Lake Paradise who enjoyed the amenities during a holiday weekend stay.
What Campers Like
Concrete pads at urban locations: Campus RV Park offers level concrete sites throughout their property. "Full hook ups, concrete pads, showers and laundry," reports one visitor who appreciated the stability of hard-surface parking areas during their stay.
Swimming facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain swimming pools for guest use. "The pool is huge and fun for the kids on non park days. The campground is all paved and perfect for scooters and bikes for the kids," shares a visitor to Worlds of Fun Village who found the pool amenities particularly valuable during their stay.
Strategic tree placement: Basswood Country RV Resort uses landscaping to create privacy between sites. "The campground did attempt to improve privacy with strategically placed trees and shrubs," notes a visitor who appreciated the effort to create separation between camping spaces despite the urban setting.
What You Should Know
Train noise affects some parks: Train tracks run near several campgrounds in the region. "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," reports a camper at Campus RV Park.
Airport proximity creates overhead traffic: Love's RV Hookup in Cameron and other locations experience air traffic. "Hope you like airplanes!!! Not too far from KCI and planes making their final decent fly right over top," notes one camper at Basswood Country RV Resort who found the noise noticeable but not disruptive.
Highway noise affects some sites: Traffic noise varies significantly between campgrounds and specific site locations. "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," advises a visitor to Worlds of Fun Village.
Tips for Camping with Families
Pool access policies: Some campgrounds include pool passes with camping fees while others charge separately. "Included in your camp fee you get 2 free daily passes per night of camping to the pool and a discounted rate for any other swimmers," explains a visitor to Lake Paradise Resort who budgeted for additional swimming fees.
Playground access: A Country Charm RV Park offers minimal onsite playground equipment but has public facilities nearby. "City pool and playground across the street. Only stayed one night so didn't get a chance to try those," mentions a visitor who noted the convenient access to municipal recreation facilities.
Activity planning: Some campgrounds organize seasonal events for families. "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," reports a Lake Paradise visitor who enjoyed the organized activities during their holiday stay.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for quiet stays: RV sites closest to highways experience significantly more noise than interior locations. "Just 30 minutes to downtown Kansas City and maybe 15 minutes to arrowhead stadium, this campground is ideal for being close to everything that Kansas City offers," explains a visitor to Campus RV Park who appreciated the convenient location despite the urban setting.
Hookup configurations: Owl Creek Market and RV Park provides full hookups with both 30 and 50 amp service. "Immaculate pull thru, roomy site, fire pit, picnic table, level, concrete slab, both 30 & 50 AMP, full hookups," lists one satisfied visitor who found the electrical options particularly valuable.
Security considerations: Some urban locations have limited perimeter security. "Security was disappointing, as there was no gate to the campground, nor a gate around it. So our campsite (site 2) that backed up to the road was 10 feet off the public sidewalk," notes a Worlds of Fun Village camper who took extra precautions with their equipment.
