Dispersed camping options near Oregon, Missouri are limited. The area primarily offers developed campgrounds within a 30-mile radius, including facilities in St. Joseph, Missouri and across the border in Nebraska. The region sits along the Missouri River valley with elevations between 800-900 feet and experiences humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Mozingo Lake County RV Park, anglers can access the water from multiple points. "Lake Mozingo is near the College Town of Maryville, Missouri. My experience is limited, but I'd say it's pretty nice here. And inexpensive. Concrete Pads with Power and Water at the Site but no Sewer dump, that's Centralized in the Camp. There's Lake access if you want," explains a camper.
Garden exploration: Nemaha's R U Lost - RV Lots offers a unique gardening experience. "Owner of camp is very nice and very helpful. We got here and set up she took us through garden and said we can take what we want. It is very quiet and clean," shares one visitor. Another mentions, "Aside from a vegetable garden, there is a beautiful garden of flowers and plants that you can walk through. It smells so nice! It is lit up beautiful at night!"
Swimming and recreation: Several campgrounds feature pools and recreational facilities for summer visitors. At AOK Campground & RV Park, "There was a pool, a playground, a sand volleyball area, and a basketball area." For families staying at Basswood Country RV Resort, "Basswood provides amenities that are great for entertaining children, including a swimming pool and splash park, two playgrounds, a basketball goal, and fishing."
What campers like
Quiet atmosphere: Many campgrounds offer peaceful settings despite highway proximity. At AOK Campground, "We came in after the office was closed and the owners were very nice and accommodating. The campgrounds were very well taken care of, you could tell they took pride in them." One camper at R U Lost notes, "Birds are chirping, Quiet, alot of trees."
Accessible fishing: Fishing opportunities abound near Oregon, Missouri. "You could fish in the lakes and didn't even need a license. We watched kids get excited as they caught fish after fish," shares a camper about Basswood Country RV Resort. For those preferring lake fishing, Mozingo Lake offers good options as "Nice sites close to the lake with electricity water and wifi."
Attentive management: Land-N-Park RV Park in Nemaha gets high marks for customer service. "Ms. Betty, — she answers the phone when you call to make a reservation! All sites are pull through. Probably around 7-8 total sites. 30 amp and 50 Amp. Nice level gravel, shaded lots." Similarly at Sharp RV Park, "The owner is very helpful. This camp is easy in and out, close to St Joseph, some concrete pads, some gravel."
What you should know
Highway noise: Some campgrounds experience road noise due to proximity to major highways. At AOK Campground, "You could hear some highway noise, but in all the campground was pretty." Another camper notes, "The only reason it isn't getting 5 stars is the proximity to the freeway, you can hear it very clearly (jake brakes and all) continuously."
Airport proximity: Basswood Country RV Resort sits in the flight path for Kansas City International Airport. "The campground is on the final approach for the airport, so you get to see a lot planes flying overhead, which you don't even notice cause they are quieter than they used to be be, and I think they shut down flights around 10pm."
Long-term residents: Some parks cater to both travelers and permanent residents. "We needed a place to stop over and stumbled upon Basswood Resorts on our way back from the Ozarks. What a find! It's located 20 miles north of Kansas City and had full hookups, and even wifi and cable." However, another camper notes, "There is a large section of long term renters that you must drive through to get to the short term sites."
Tips for camping with families
Weekend activities: Basswood offers special weekend programming. "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." This provides built-in entertainment for children of all ages.
Kid-friendly amenities: Multiple campgrounds feature playgrounds and recreation areas. "This campground is a must for anyone with children. Awesome sites with full hook ups. They have several ponds you can fish from. My kids love that. Nice play area for kids as well as themed weekends with lots of activities planned that kids can do."
Convenience services: On-site stores and food options make family camping easier. "There is a great little store with alcohol for the adults; ice cream treats, which we enjoy after a swim; and nearly any key item you might have forgotten to pack." At Basswood, the "store has a pizza place inside" for easy meal options.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose sites strategically at rv camping near Oregon, Missouri. "What is weird is that this is almost two parks - the front is the 'resort' or old-fashioned campground, but where we were placed was in the back with what looked like a lot of long-term, single male residents. It was a longish-walk to front where the pool and store was."
Utilities positioning: At Love's RV Hookup, "The utilities are at the far backside of the pad and based on our rig's configuration with the wet bay towards the front, we needed 25' or more of hose and electric cord." Prepare with extra-long hookup equipment for some sites.
Leveling challenges: Some sites require leveling equipment. "We quickly found out when we auto-leveled that site 1 was not a level site as our passenger side tires were off the ground. And whoever designed these sites thought boulders between sites was a good idea?"
Connectivity options: Cell service varies between campgrounds. For those needing reliable internet, "WiFi is good can stream! Good antenna reception owner is nice." At R U Lost, "AT&T and Verizon worked best for us. Our T-Mobile Mifi was hit or miss."
