Near Monroe City, Missouri, Mark Twain Lake spans 18,600 acres with numerous camping options available from early spring through late fall. The lake attracts visitors for fishing, boating, and hiking through the surrounding woods. Campsites in this region offer varying levels of amenities, from basic tent sites with vault toilets to full-hookup RV sites with shower facilities.
What to do
Fishing access points: Indian Creek Campground offers multiple ways to enjoy the lake. "Great beach and marina. Mark Twain Lake is beautiful. Lots of hiking trails and greenery between campsites. Many established trees," notes one visitor.
Exclusive beach access: Indian Creek Campground provides special water access for campers. "This campground has it's own beach that you can only get to by boat or if your camping in the campground. Felt more private that way," shares a reviewer.
Biking opportunities: Paved roads throughout the campgrounds make for excellent recreational cycling. "This campground has a lot of road to bike on if you like to ride your bike," mentions a camper at Indian Creek.
Kayaking and water activities: Ray Behrens Campground offers close proximity to paddling opportunities. "Close by places to Kayak, swim, fish and play. Fish cleaning stations which I had never seen before," a visitor notes.
What campers like
Secluded, wooded sites: Campers praise the natural spacing between sites at most campgrounds. "The sites on outside of loop in the Coyote loop are better in general. They have no view of lake though, just glimmers," shares a visitor at Coyote Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: The area offers excellent night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "Total darkness, perfect for stargazing," reports a visitor to Indian Creek.
Wildlife encounters: Coyote Campground offers close encounters with local wildlife. "Two raccoons popped out at me (site 45) from a hollow tree," mentions a camper, while another notes the area is "Full of crystals and wildlife."
Level, well-maintained sites: Ray Behrens campsites receive consistent praise for their construction and layout. "Great shade, almost no slope to pads, all power options, great water pressure, and a sewer hookup. Plenty of rocked lounging or tent space with each site," notes a visitor.
What you should know
Cell phone coverage: Most campgrounds in the area have adequate cellular service. "Good connection on the phone service as well," reports a camper at Indian Creek, while another mentions "1-2 bars with ATT throughout park."
Insects can be problematic: Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area and other campgrounds require insect preparation. "Lots of driveable attractions nearby we visited while buying more repellant," notes one visitor, while another camper at Indian Creek mentions, "Only issue I had was the amount of bugs that were everywhere."
Site selection matters: For tent campers, look carefully at site dimensions and surfaces. "Some of the basic sites in the Coyote Loop are more suited to small pop-up trailers than tents—eg, site 45 does not have much room for a tent unless you want to set it up on gravel, while site 43 does."
Quiet camping experience: Many reviewers note the tranquility of camping in this region. "Very quiet after hours. Total darkness, perfect for stargazing," mentions a camper at Indian Creek.
Tips for camping with families
Playground locations: Puma Campground at Mark Twain State Park offers family-friendly amenities. "The park featured a playground, boat ramp, and a fish cleaning station. Everything we hoped it would be & more," reports a visitor.
Free boat options: Hunnewell Lake Conservation Area offers unique opportunities for families. "They had rowboats and canoes you could paddle around in. You just needed your own life jacket. The boats were free," mentions a reviewer.
Educational opportunities: Visit Mark Twain's Birthplace while camping in the area. "Be sure to check out Mark Twain's Birthplace!" advises a visitor to Coyote Campground at Mark Twain State Park.
Swimming areas: Multiple beach access points provide safe swimming locations around Mark Twain Lake. "Warm, clear, fresh water to swim in," notes a camper at Coyote Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Frank Russell Campground offers well-constructed sites for RVs. "Most impressed by how perfectly level our paved parking pad was. We didn't have to level the rv or even unhook it from the truck," shares one RVer.
Hookup variations: Sites with water and electricity are more common than full-hookup sites. "Electric hookup only. 91 degrees needed fan air movement. Water and dump are $24 a night," notes an RVer at Ray Behrens.
Distance to amenities: Stock up before arriving at more remote campgrounds. "This campground is out in the boonies so you'll want to stock up before you pull in. 25 min from Walgreens, 45 min from Walmart," advises a camper at Indian Creek.
Seasonal considerations: Some loops or entire campgrounds close during off-peak seasons. "They are doing some work on some of the gravel pads so some sites are closed but it's all for the better so no complaints," shares a visitor at Coyote Campground.
