Best Tent Camping near Lee's Summit, MO

Tent camping options near Lee's Summit, Missouri include several established campgrounds within driving distance. Tent Sites at Milo Farm offers 22 walk-in tent sites with basic amenities. Additional options include Rabbit Ridge Primitive Campground at Hillsdale State Park in Paola, Kansas, approximately 30 miles southwest of Lee's Summit.

Most tent campgrounds in the area provide basic amenities for primitive camping experiences. Tent Sites at Milo Farm allows fires and provides drinking water, picnic tables, and permits alcohol consumption. The sites are walk-in only, requiring campers to park and carry gear to their designated camping area. Rabbit Ridge at Hillsdale State Park offers more developed facilities including electric hookups, showers, toilets, and water hookups, making it suitable for campers seeking additional conveniences while still enjoying tent camping. Both locations are reservable, allowing campers to secure sites in advance.

The tent camping experience near Lee's Summit varies between more rustic and developed options. Milo Farm provides a more primitive experience with walk-in sites that offer greater privacy and a more authentic outdoor experience. Pets are permitted at both Milo Farm and Hillsdale State Park, allowing campers to bring their animals along. Hillsdale State Park provides access to the lake and surrounding trails, creating opportunities for water recreation and hiking during daytime hours. Firewood is available at Milo Farm, eliminating the need for campers to source their own or transport it from outside areas.

Best Tent Sites Near Lee's Summit, Missouri (3)

Show More
Showing results 1-3 of 3 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Recent Tent Camping Photos near Lee's Summit, MO

1 Photos of 3 Lee's Summit Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Lee's Summit, MO

391 Reviews of 3 Lee's Summit Campgrounds


  • Leni K.
    May. 24, 2021

    Weston Bend State Park Campground

    Okay Campground for Tenting

    Campground is great overall, with a walkable trail just past the showers, clean restrooms and easy to access sites. There are only 3 basic tent sites, making it hard to nab. #4 had a decent amount of privacy, however most other electric sites do not. As an electric site, there was not a lot of ground space for tents, we settled on gravel with reflectix to buffer the ground. Check in was easy, and in walking distance. Site was pretty noisy, even after hours, a few kids running around with speakers on blast definitely were less than optimal.

  • Freya
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Quail Run Campground — Hillsdale State Park

    Relaxing place to camp and enjoy nature

    All in all I really enjoyed tent camping at one of the primitive sites! My dad and I used two separate tents, each of which are six person tents, and it was easy to fit both on the campsite. I didn’t love the fire ring because the wall was pretty high and the grill part didn’t have adjustable height so that limited the height of the fire we could build when we wanted to cook over it. The nearby vault toilet was just OK, it was about as clean as a vault toilet could be but there was no way to use hand sanitizer or wash your hands nearby. The shower house with flush toilets, which was a little further away, was clean but didn’t have any hand soap, it only had hand sanitizer which was a disappointment.

    Those were really the only drawbacks to this campsite though! Everything else was lovely. I liked that there was a small camp store nearby with firewood for purchase during operating hours. The scenery was very nice and even though there were a lot of RVs in their section of the campground, I didn’t hear any noise coming from their air-conditioning thanks to the distance between that section and the primitive section.

    Being almost completely surrounded by the lake was so serene and we got to hear and see a lot of wildlife. The only other thing to know about this spot on the campground is that if you’re going to the primitive sites, you will have to park nearby and then walk the rest of the way with your gear. At the site I was in that was only a couple of yards but other ones were further away.

    Also, a note about spiders: there were way more than I’ve ever seen while camping before, so if large amounts of them bother you I suggest you not camp here in October! Most of them were small, but seeing them so often was still kind of gross. Such is life when camping though!

  • Jordan B.
    Jun. 7, 2020

    Louisburg Middle Creek State Fishing Lake

    Peaceful near KC

    I car camped here for one night early this spring and will definitely come here again. There was a big RV parked next to me, some other car campers, and then a group of tent campers. The sites are right on the lake and the vault toilet was clean. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring and they are spaced out nicely. There was a decent amount of traffic to and from the floating boat dock but it still wasn’t too noisy.

  • J
    Jul. 15, 2020

    Crow's Creek Campground

    One of the best!

    We camped here in June 2020.  We had a nice RV site with electric.  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. We could walk right down a grassy hill to the trail along the lake.  We had lots of grassy space around us to set up and play yard games. Trails and roads within the campsite are paved, so it's great for bikes and scooters.  Grounds are well maintained and grassy areas feel fine to walk through and play in.  Nearby area beaches to play at, a playground, and a short drive to stores to get anything we forgot! We love this beautiful place and will return!

    Cons: the full hookup sites don't have a view of the lake. This is why we chose an electric only site and used a spigot in the campsite to fill our tank.

  • Amanda M.
    Sep. 14, 2020

    Camp Branch Campground

    good pricing, great location, awful website

    We booked a site along with a couple of family members and the website for this park is ancient. Couldn't get anything booked online because the website wouldn't cooperate, save yourself time and just call the campground once you've looked at the map and chosen where in general you want to camp at. 

    Tent sites are okay sized, and many are close to the water. Not a lot of trees for shade, so bring a shelter for some relief from the sun. 

    The camp store sells wood and everyone was extremely friendly. There's a swimming beach nearby that you will have to drive to but it is included in the stay! No alcohol is allowed at the beach.

  • S
    Jul. 20, 2020

    Crow's Creek Campground

    Tent Sites with Lake Views

    We live near Crow’s Creek, and enjoy making spur of the moment camping trips here throughout the year. There are many spacious tent sites with great views of the lake. Miles of paved walking/biking trails around the water offer for a nice activity!

    Tip: Before choosing your site number, ask which loop is furthest from the horse camping as there can be some noise from the barn at night. The park staff has typically made this suggestion to us when we arrive!

  • Laura H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 23, 2020

    Sunflower Campground — Hillsdale State Park

    Very Clean and Very Relaxing

    The Park: We love this park, it’s massive, and really pretty. They have so much to do (listed below). Sunflower Loop is our favorite and has full hookups. There are more primitive loops as well. It is ADA accessible. There was not a tornado shelter as of 2018. This is one thing that should be mandatory given its proximity and being further away from potential shelter. Excellent camping on the lake. Lots of water activities available.

    Sites: level, clear, easily accessible. Sunflower loop is widely spaced and plenty of room for larger RVs.

    Cellular: decent cellular signal.

    Amenities: Amphitheater Bath House Bicycling Boat Ramp Boating Canoeing Kayaking Campground Host Camping, Equestrian Camping, Improved Site Camping, Primitive Church Comfort Station Dock, Boat Dump Station, Camper Dump Station, Marina Fire Rings Fishing, Park Lake Fuel, Boats Golf Grills Gun Range Hiking Hiking Trail Horseback Riding Hunting Information Booth Jet Skiing Laundry Marina Mountain/Trail Bicycling Park Lake Parking Picnic Area Picnic Shelter Picnic Tables Playground Rentals, Boat, Motorized Rentals, Jet Skis Reservoir Restrooms Shelters Showers Skiing - Water Swimming, Park Lake Telephone Toilet, Pit/Vault Trails, Bicycle Trails, Equestrian Trails, Hiking/Walking, Easy Trails, Mountain Bike Walking Water Access, Park Lake Water Skiing

  • Mark D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2025

    Montrose Missouri Conservation Area Dispersed Camping

    Enjoyed Our Stay

    Large grass area available for tents or campers. No specific camp locations. No fire rings or picnic tables. Pit toilets are as expected.

    Shallow muddy water but it does attract wildlife. A bit of road noise but tolerable. Perfect for our one night stay.

  • Myron C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA

    Campground Too Close to the Railroad Tracks

    Most KOA campgrounds I have been to are exceptional with great sites for all types of camping. However, there are a couple of them that have one or two sites that leave you scratching your head. We were supposed to camp at site 18, but it was not level and had tire ruts all the way to the back of the site. There was nowhere to set up our tent without it being uncomfortable throughout the night. With that said, we moved over to site 19, which was level. The tent sites are small for the tenters and there is little to no shade. 

    The good things about the sites are that they have water and electricity. There is even a night light and a place to charge your electronic devices. There is a fire ring but no lantern hanger. 

    The bath house is modern and up to date; however, the shower dressing area has got to be the smallest I have EVER seen at a campground. I estimated the dressing area to be about 18” x 24”. I’m not a math whiz, but even I can figure out that an average sized person would have difficulty moving around in the dressing area. 

    I might give it a higher rating if we were camping in an RV or even in our teardrop camper, but another problem was the noise. I was warned that there would be a train passing through, and the person I spoke to offered to throw in a pair of ear plugs and a night mask. Now I know why. There was a light from a nearby cabin lighting the whole tenting area, and the trains were one right behind the other… ALL NIGHT LONG!!!!! Every thirty minutes or so(could have been every twenty minutes, but I’m not sure), a train passed by. It wouldn’t be so bad, but it was LOUD!!!!!!! 

    We were on our way to Colorado, and the next time we are passing through, I will make sure to skip this campground.


Guide to Lee's Summit

Tent camping near Lee's Summit, Missouri offers options ranging from primitive sites to more developed campgrounds within a 30-mile radius. The area experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and mild winters with occasional snow. Spring and fall provide the most comfortable camping conditions with moderate temperatures and lower humidity levels, though spring can bring unpredictable thunderstorms.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: At Rabbit Ridge Primitive Campground — Hillsdale State Park, anglers can access Hillsdale Lake which spans 4,580 acres and contains crappie, bass, and catfish. The lake maintains a consistent water level throughout summer, making it reliable for fishing plans.

Hiking trails: The area around Lee's Summit features several marked hiking paths ranging from beginner-friendly 1-mile loops to more challenging 5+ mile trails. Most trails remain accessible year-round, though muddy conditions often persist during spring months.

Wildlife viewing: Early morning and dusk provide optimal wildlife spotting opportunities near Tent Sites at Milo Farm. Campers commonly report seeing deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species throughout the property's 40-acre woodland setting.

What campers like

Privacy between sites: The walk-in sites at Marysville provide exceptional separation between camping areas. Sites require a 5-10 minute walk from the parking area, creating a more secluded experience compared to drive-up campgrounds.

Accessibility to water: Many campers appreciate that Hillsdale State Park sites remain relatively close to shore access points. This proximity allows for convenient morning fishing without requiring lengthy hikes with equipment.

Campfire regulations: Unlike some regional parks with seasonal fire bans, Milo Farm maintains consistent fire policies year-round. Each site includes a designated fire ring, and the property sells bundled firewood on-site for $5 per bundle.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Summer camping near Lee's Summit requires preparation for heat and insects. July and August regularly see daytime temperatures above 90°F with high humidity. Mosquitoes peak from June through September, particularly near water sources.

Reservation requirements: Most established campgrounds within 30 miles of Lee's Summit require reservations, especially during summer months and holiday weekends. Rabbit Ridge Primitive Campground often books completely 2-3 months in advance for summer weekends.

Water availability: Access to potable water varies significantly between sites. During late summer, some smaller campgrounds may implement water conservation measures during drought conditions. Always confirm current water availability when making reservations.

Tips for camping with families

Best shower facilities: When camping with children, Hillsdale State Park offers the most reliable shower facilities in the area. The shower houses remain open from April through October and feature private changing areas alongside shower stalls.

Kid-friendly activities: Many families recommend Marysville for its relatively flat terrain and open spaces suitable for children's games. The campground maintains a small playground area with swings and climbing equipment near the main entrance.

Safety considerations: Cell service remains spotty throughout much of the camping areas surrounding Lee's Summit. Family campers should download offline maps and identify the nearest emergency facilities before arriving, as the closest urgent care may be 20+ minutes away.

Tips from RVers

Site dimensions: Most tent-focused campgrounds near Lee's Summit have limited RV accessibility. Sites typically accommodate smaller rigs under 25 feet, with minimal leveling options on unpaved surfaces.

Generator policies: Milo Farm strictly prohibits generators at all tent sites to maintain a quieter camping atmosphere. RVers requiring electrical support should instead consider the developed campgrounds at Hillsdale State Park which offer electric hookups.

Access road conditions: Many of the best tent camping locations near Lee's Summit, Missouri feature unpaved access roads that can become challenging after rainfall. Sites with the most privacy often require navigating narrow, winding roads unsuitable for larger recreational vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Lee's Summit, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Lee's Summit, MO is Tent Sites at Milo Farm with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Lee's Summit, MO?

TheDyrt.com has all 3 tent camping locations near Lee's Summit, MO, with real photos and reviews from campers.