Best Campgrounds near Liberty, MO

Camping options near Liberty, Missouri include a mix of state parks and private campgrounds, most offering RV and tent sites with many featuring cabin accommodations. Watkins Mill State Park Campground, located approximately 15 miles north of Liberty, provides year-round access with full hookups, showers, and reservable sites. Other notable options include Weston Bend State Park to the northwest and several campgrounds around Smithville Lake, such as Crow's Creek and Smith's Fork Recreation Area. Most campgrounds in the region maintain concrete pads for RVs while also accommodating tent campers, with several offering cabin rentals for those seeking more comfortable accommodations.

The camping season in the Liberty area extends year-round at several locations, though some campgrounds like Blue Springs Lake operate seasonally from May through September. Full hookup amenities are common at most established campgrounds, with electric, water, and sewer connections widely available. Reservations are recommended, particularly during summer months and weekends when Kansas City residents seek outdoor recreation opportunities. Most campgrounds provide basic amenities including toilets, showers, and trash service, though primitive camping experiences are limited in this predominantly developed region. Road access is generally good with paved routes to most camping areas. One camper noted, "There is a pool, hot tub, laundry and clean bathrooms with showers. The campground did attempt to improve privacy with strategically placed trees and shrubs."

Proximity to Kansas City makes the Liberty area's campgrounds popular for urban residents seeking convenient outdoor experiences. The campgrounds around Smithville Lake receive consistent praise for water recreation opportunities, while Worlds of Fun Village attracts families visiting the adjacent amusement park. Several visitors have commented on the convenient location of Campus RV Park in nearby Independence, with one noting it's "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." Most mixed-use campgrounds in the region balance natural settings with convenient access to urban amenities. Travelers seeking a true wilderness experience might need to venture farther from the Liberty area, as most local camping options prioritize convenience and developed facilities over backcountry solitude.

Best Camping Sites Near Liberty, Missouri (86)

    1. Blue Springs Lake Campground

    45 Reviews
    Blue Springs, MO
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 503-4805

    $33 - $48 / night

    "The sites were well situated such that you felt you had plenty of privacy."

    "The original plan was to be in Blue Springs for an outdoor off-road RC event, camping in our pup with a generator at the track."

    2. Watkins Mill State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Excelsior Springs, MO
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 580-3387

    $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"

    3. Crow's Creek Campground

    28 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    12 miles
    Website

    "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."

    4. Campus RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Independence, MO
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 254-1815

    $35 - $55 / night

    "The RV park is really close to downtown Independence, Missouri and has everything we needed for the night."

    "Trains nearby can be load with their horns but it's close to airport which was necessity for me."

    5. Worlds of Fun Village

    8 Reviews
    Randolph, MO
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 454-4545

    $300 / night

    "Easy walk to Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun, with some back-in sites offering tremendous views of downtown KC. "

    "Built on a hillside adjacent to the amusement and water park. The camp ground pool is huge and fun for the kids on non park days."

    6. Camp Branch Campground

    15 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    13 miles
    Website

    "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)"

    7. Smiths Fork Recreation Area Camping

    10 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    13 miles
    Website

    "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!"

    8. Lake Jacomo - Fleming Park

    20 Reviews
    Lee's Summit, MO
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 503-4805

    "Nice little campground tucked away just outside Kansas City. Close to everything but far enough that it’s still really camping. Cell service on AT&T and Verizon are great."

    "We just started the check in process and the staff is so great and helpful that I've already added this place to favorites and hope to return next time I'm in Missouri"

    9. Weston Bend State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Weston, MO
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 640-5443

    $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. Basswood Country RV Resort

    12 Reviews
    Platte City, MO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 858-5556

    $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."

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Recent Reviews near Liberty, MO

511 Reviews of 86 Liberty Campgrounds


  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA

    Good overnight.

    Easy check in friendly folks. Level site. Pull through FHU everything worked as expected. Would stay her again.

  • wThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 23, 2025

    Kansas City East-Oak Grove KOA

    Nice layout . Trees and open area 4 tents

    Staff was accommodating.. paid ahead .. they left instructions for tent area

  • Rae B.
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Lake Jacomo - Fleming Park

    Will return

    We just started the check in process and the staff is so great and helpful that I've already added this place to favorites and hope to return next time I'm in Missouri

  • Daniel K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 15, 2025

    Blue Springs Lake Campground

    Great in town option

    Great option, clean and well ran. Quiet and I will stay agian!

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Kansas City East-Oak Grove KOA

    Just off the freeway

    Easy to access. Great for an overnight. Cable not working. My site was a bit small for my 29’ rig. It is a toy hauler and I asked for more room. It was promised, but not delivered.

  • R
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Owl Creek Market and RV Park

    Great place to stay overnight.

    This was a great park for us to pull over and get off the freeway overnight we did it on our way to Kansas from MI and from Kansas to MI. The store was very nice and the staff there were friendly and accommodative.The only thing I would recommend is getting some shade in the center of the park where the pull-throughs are on concrete.

  • NomadBrad D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Blue Springs Lake Campground

    Perfect Spot

    Great campsite, very clean… Bathrooms were spotless. As washer and dryer, showers, three toilets, playground for kids, firewood for sale.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Mayview RV Park

    Small town charm, CHEAP!

    $20/night including full hookups! Town population only 600. There’s a bar & grill and a brunch cafe around the corner from the RV park. Payment is self serve, no reservations. Couldn’t get WiFi to work but cell connection (T-Mobile) was fine

  • NomadBrad D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 15, 2025

    Blue Springs Lake Campground

    Great Campground!

    The whole experience was awesome. The entire place was spotless, the sites were far apart enough that you didn't feel like your neighbors were on top of you. Bathrooms were incredibly clean and the camp hosts or some of the nicest ones I've ever encountered! I think their names were Robin and Jim. 5 stars for sure!


Guide to Liberty

Camping opportunities near Liberty, Missouri range across several Corps of Engineers and county-managed sites that offer different levels of privacy and amenities. The region sits where the Missouri River valley meets rolling hills, creating diverse terrain for outdoor recreation with an average summer high of 88°F and winter lows around 22°F. Seasonal closures affect some campgrounds, with water systems typically shut down from mid-October through April at most locations.

What to do

Fishing year-round: Smithville Lake, accessible from Camp Branch Campground, offers excellent fishing opportunities. "We have started staying here last couple of years. Nice big spots with electric only. It is quite a ways to shower house but much quieter than other campgrounds on Smithville lake. More family friendly," notes a camper who frequents the Camp Branch Campground.

Biking on paved trails: The 7.5-mile paved trail around Smithville Lake connects multiple camping areas. "The roads and trails are nice for scooters and bikes. Fairly close to the water and playground; within walking distance," says a visitor to Crow's Creek Campground.

Historic site exploration: Watkins Mill State Park offers both camping and historical education. "If you like history, take a tour of the woolen mill part. Very cool," mentions a local who grew up near Watkins Mill State Park Campground.

What campers like

Clean facilities: Many campgrounds invest in well-maintained bathhouses. "These are the cleanest bathrooms and facilities that I have been to I think Mabye ever. The camp hosts were super nice stop by to make sure that I was all set up and didn't need any help," reports a visitor to Weston Bend State Park.

Privacy options: Site selection can make a big difference in experience. "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," explains a camper who stayed at site 26 in Weston Bend State Park Campground.

Urban proximity: Locations like Campus RV Park provide convenient access to Kansas City attractions. "Great little spot right in downtown Indep. Only drawback is all the sirens, all night and day," notes a long-term visitor to Campus RV Park.

What you should know

Train noise: Several campgrounds deal with train proximity. "The only real thing this has going for it is proximity to an amusement park. It's in the middle of a sketchy at best neighborhood and is extremely crowded in the months the park is open," warns a visitor to Worlds of Fun Village.

Seasonal operations: Water systems shut down earlier than expected at some parks. "We stayed in October and due to unseasonably cold weather they shut off water with no notice and halfway through our stay. Ended up leaving early since we had no water," reports a camper from Crow's Creek Park.

Security measures: Campgrounds have varying security protocols. "We felt very safe here since they require an access code to get into the gate," mentions a tent camper at Blue Springs Lake Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Children's activities: Many campgrounds organize events for kids. "Every weekend there are organized activities such as arts and crafts, fishing contests, duck races and frozen t-shirt contests in the pool, and a Saturday evening outdoor movie," shares a grandparent who regularly visits Basswood Country RV Resort.

Playground access: Consider proximity to play areas when selecting sites. "The sites were well kept up, with many prime locations near the playground for our kids. Campground staff were beyond friendly and accommodating," recommends a visitor to Blue Springs Lake Campground.

Dedicated family campgrounds: Some locations cater specifically to family groups. "This is full hook up. They have both 30 and 50 amp. Close to 169 hwy. Perfect for families with young children. Smaller park, very friendly hosts," notes a regular at Smith's Fork Recreation Area.

Tips from RVers

Site leveling: Many campers report uneven sites at area campgrounds. "The site slopes to the passenger side and downhill toward the road, so we used a few levelers. Many sites here are sloped. The premium cement pads seemed to be more level than gravel sites," advises an RVer who stayed at Blue Springs Lake Campground.

Big rig accessibility: Some parks have limited space for larger vehicles. "As you exit the park, if you have a big rig, you'll want to stay to the left side of the dump station for a wider right turn out of the park," notes an experienced RVer who navigated Blue Springs Lake Campground with their 40' fifth wheel.

Site selection strategy: Pull-through sites offer advantages at some locations. "Pay more for the pull through you'll have tons of parking even if your rig is big. Our rig is 44 ft and we parked two 2500's on the pad no problem," recommends a camper at Worlds of Fun Village.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Liberty, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Liberty, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 86 campgrounds and RV parks near Liberty, MO and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Liberty, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Liberty, MO is Blue Springs Lake Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 45 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Liberty, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Liberty, MO.