Ray Behrens Campground area offers several access points for pets at Mark Twain Lake, where water levels fluctuate seasonally due to the dam-controlled reservoir. The lake covers 18,600 acres with 285 miles of shoreline, reaching depths up to 70 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through August, while spring and fall provide milder conditions for outdoor recreation with pets.
What to do
Hiking with dogs: Multiple trails near Indian Creek Campground connect to lakeside access points where pets can explore. "A quaint little campground on a beautiful creek. Well manicured grounds with restrooms and showers," notes camper Jeyd A.
Boating access: The shoreline offers multiple boat ramps for water recreation at Mark Twain Lake. "This campground is out in the boonies so you'll want to stock up before you pull in," mentions Amie M., who adds "there are multiple water access points to get to the shoreline."
Night sky viewing: Clear nights provide excellent stargazing opportunities away from city lights. "Total darkness, perfect for stargazing," reports Jason R. from his Indian Creek stay, where he also noted "abundant wildlife" during evening hours.
Fishing spots: Multiple fishing locations exist around the lake with dedicated cleaning stations. According to Phil W., Ray Behrens Recreational area is "well kept and offers both standard-electric and full hook up" sites convenient to fishing areas.
What campers like
Level campsites: Many campgrounds in the area feature paved, relatively flat sites. "Great level concrete campsites! Majority of them are full hookups with paved roads throughout," notes Cathy S. about Doe Run at Ray Behrens.
Spacious camping areas: Sites throughout the region typically provide ample room between neighbors. Sam H. observes that Ray Behrens has "enough empty space in between that most campgrounds would have stuck another site in-between."
Water access trails: Multiple footpaths lead directly to shoreline areas. Jennifer F. from Ray Behrens Recreational notes "the trails lead you to the lake, but a short drive to the other side of lake they had a lake beach entry to swim."
Clean facilities: Most campgrounds maintain their bathhouses regularly. According to Josiah P., Ray Behrens is a "well maintained campground with clean restrooms."
What you should know
Limited supplies nearby: The remote location requires advance planning for provisions. According to Amie M., Indian Creek is "out in the boonies" with the closest Walgreens 25 minutes away and Walmart 45 minutes distant.
Steep shorelines: The lake features sharp drop-offs in many areas, making supervised pet access important. Gwenn W. notes about Ray Behrens: "This is a man-made lake and there are sharp drop offs all the way around."
Limited beach access: Most water entry points are designed for boats rather than swimming or wading. "If we had a boat and the kids were older we might go back but probably not, I really prefer having a beach," mentions Gwenn W.
Seasonal insect activity: The wooded environment hosts various bugs depending on the season. One camper at Indian Creek noted: "Only issue I had was the amount of bugs that were everywhere. When I stepped out it felt like I was walking through a thousand spider webs."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Select campgrounds offer play areas for children. "We ended up with a spot that we loved since it was close to the playground," says Jennifer F. about Puma Campground at Mark Twain State Park.
Biking opportunities: Paved roads throughout many campgrounds provide safe cycling for kids. "The kids bike around on the pavement and play in the little park," says Elisha P. about Ray Behrens.
Educational programs: Some campgrounds host ranger-led activities. "Park programs for kids and friendly camp host," mentions Chuck H. about his stay at Badger Campground.
Hiking difficulty levels: Consider trail difficulty when planning with children. Charlotte B. notes that Badger Campground has "a great, and decently easy, hiking trail located at the park that has great views of the lake."
Tips from RVers
Leveling requirements: Many sites require blocks for proper leveling. Nora V. from Ray Behrens notes: "Had to use blocks site goes down hill. Stayed 2 nights for $18 total with National senior pass."
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete utilities for extended stays. Jennifer B. observes at Frank Russell Campground, "Nice new concrete sites with fire pit, full hookup."
Site selection strategy: Choose sites at loop ends for maximum privacy and space. Sam H. recommends: "The whole park doesn't match the awesomeness of site 97 and the few around it, but the end of this loop is almost perfect."
Dump station access: Convenient facilities exist for waste disposal when departing. Jan K. notes about Frank Russell: "Used their dump station and filled the water tank as we exited the park."
