Best Campgrounds near Randolph, MO

The Randolph, Missouri area connects campers to a diverse range of camping experiences within a short drive of Kansas City. State parks and county-managed recreation areas dominate the landscape, with notable options including Weston Bend State Park and Blue Springs Lake Campground. Within 30 miles, campers find everything from full-hookup RV sites to primitive tent camping along lakeshores. Watkins Mill State Park Campground offers year-round access with electric hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations, while Crow's Creek Campground provides waterfront sites with electric-only options that many visitors prefer for their lake views. The region balances urban-adjacent camping with more secluded natural settings.

Camping facilities throughout the area maintain varying seasonal schedules, with most state parks operating year-round while county parks like Blue Springs Lake Campground run from mid-May through early September. Many campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. As one camper noted, "The sites were well situated such that you felt you had plenty of privacy," though some mentioned challenges with simultaneous check-in and check-out times. Weather considerations include spring rainfall that can create muddy conditions and summer humidity that makes shaded sites desirable. Cell service remains strong at most developed campgrounds, with Verizon and T-Mobile providing reliable coverage.

Lakeside camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors, with multiple reviewers highlighting water access as a primary attraction. At Crow's Creek Campground, campers appreciate that "you can walk right down a grassy hill to the trail along the lake," while others note the spacious sites that allow for outdoor activities. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with deer, raccoons, and various bird species commonly spotted. Families particularly value the paved trails for biking and scooters at several campgrounds. Historical attractions near camping areas, including Fort Osage National Historic Landmark and the Watkins Mill historic site, provide rainy-day alternatives. Bathroom facilities vary significantly between locations, with state parks generally offering better-maintained shower houses than county facilities.

Best Camping Sites Near Randolph, Missouri (91)

    1. Blue Springs Lake Campground

    45 Reviews
    Blue Springs, MO
    13 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. Campus RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Independence, MO
    6 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."

    3. Crow's Creek Campground

    28 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    16 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. Worlds of Fun Village

    8 Reviews
    Randolph, MO
    1 mile
    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."

    5. Watkins Mill State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Excelsior Springs, MO
    20 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"

    6. Lake Jacomo - Fleming Park

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

    "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"

    "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."

    7. Walnut Grove RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Mission, KS
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (913) 262-3023

    $62 - $131 / night

    "Its all about the location and supply and demand. It was very over priced for the tiny amount of space you get and subpar wifi."

    "We made a last minute decision and decided to stay somewhere near KC after a long cross country trip."

    8. Camp Branch Campground

    15 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    18 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)"

    9. Weston Bend State Park Campground

    35 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. Smiths Fork Recreation Area Camping

    10 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    17 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!"

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Recent Reviews near Randolph, MO

537 Reviews of 91 Randolph Campgrounds


  • Donna H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 11, 2025

    Weston Bend State Park Campground

    Quiet, clean campground.

    My reservation was for the 15th of September, just at the end of the camping season, and so the park was quiet. The park ranger was wonderful. I stayed in space #019, which was perfect for my 19' camper van. Other than electric, I didn't use any other services, so I cannot comment on facilities. I would stay here again. 

    The town of Weston is walkable from the park. I left before the shops opened, but the town was quaint and inviting.

  • 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.


Guide to Randolph

The Randolph, Missouri camping area serves as a connection point between Kansas City's urban environment and the rural landscape of western Missouri. Located in the humid continental climate zone, the region experiences seasonal temperature variations with summer highs averaging 88-92°F and winter lows reaching 17-22°F. Fall camping can be particularly pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 50-70°F during October and November with less rainfall than spring months.

What to do

Fishing at Smithville Lake: Access prime fishing spots at Crow's Creek Campground where the lake is stocked with crappie, bass, and catfish. "We have small children and it can get pretty rowdy during the summer. We have chosen to go to other campgrounds during peak season," notes a camper at Crow's Creek Campground.

Historical tours year-round: Visit Watkins Mill State Park's historical woolen mill for educational experiences outside peak season. "If you like history, take a tour of the woolen mill part. Very cool," recommends a visitor at Watkins Mill State Park Campground.

Cycling on paved paths: Ride bikes or scooters on paved trails at Smith's Fork Recreation Area. "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," mentions a camper at Crow's Creek.

Theme park adventures: Visit Worlds of Fun when camping at their adjacent campground during operating season (March-October). "The theme park offered discounted tickets when staying at the campground and parking for the parks was included. Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are internally connected, making it easy to walk between the two," explains a visitor from Worlds of Fun Village.

What campers like

Lakefront electric sites: At Crow's Creek, the electric-only sites offer direct lake access that many prefer over full hookup options. "They have a section with just electric where you are right on water and can leave boat right on lake. They have water and electricity on hill no lake view but nice to have water hookup," notes a reviewer.

Private tent camping spots: Find more secluded tent sites at Weston Bend State Park, especially during weekdays. "Both times, we had site 26, one of the few basic sites. While some of the other sites were very close to each other, this one is relatively isolated. It's big too," shares a camper at Weston Bend State Park Campground.

Clean facilities: The bathrooms and shower facilities at Blue Springs Lake Campground receive consistent praise for cleanliness. "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," reports a visitor at Blue Springs Lake Campground.

Urban convenience: The proximity to Kansas City makes Smith's Fork Recreation Area popular for short trips. "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," states a camper at Smiths Fork Recreation Area.

What you should know

Site leveling challenges: Many campsites in the region require leveling equipment, particularly at Camp Branch. "We were simply driving around checking out all the park has to offer and got stopped for no reason and asked what we were doing going loop to loop. Some other downfalls were our spot was 13" unlevel. Luckily we had several blocks of wood to help level our camp out," reports a camper.

Seasonal water shutoffs: Be prepared for early water system shutdowns during cooler weather. "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 and also no sewer at site," cautions a visitor at Smiths Fork.

Tree coverage varies: Shade can be limited at certain campgrounds, especially at Crow's Creek. "One big downside for me was the lack of trees—there's maybe one tree per tent site and even fewer around the RV spots. Shade is minimal, and there's really no sense of being in the woods," mentions a Camp Branch Campground visitor.

Road noise: Some campgrounds experience traffic noise, particularly those near highways. "Being right off Johnson Drive, there is considerable road noise," notes a camper at Walnut Grove, while another mentions "Row 1 (sites 1-20) is along a busy highway with semi truck noise 24 hours a day" at Worlds of Fun Village.

Tips for camping with families

Playground proximity: Select sites near recreational amenities for easier family camping. "The roads and trails are nice for scooters and bikes. Fairly close to the water and playground; within walking distance," recommends a family at Crow's Creek Campground.

Off-peak camping for quieter experience: Visit popular areas during shoulder season for more family-friendly atmosphere. "We love it when it is still kind of off season like Easter weekend and after labor day. We have small children and it can get pretty rowdy during the summer," suggests a regular visitor to Crow's Creek.

Pool access: Choose Worlds of Fun Village for additional water recreation beyond lakes. "The campground pool is huge and fun for the kids on non park days. The campground is all paved and perfect for scooters and bikes for the kids," shares a family camper.

Spacious sites for play: Look for campgrounds with ample space between sites for outdoor activities. "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 lots of grassy space around us to set up and play yard games," notes a family at Crow's Creek.

Tips from RVers

Full hookup availability: Smith's Fork offers complete services at all sites. "Of everywhere Smith's Fork is the only one (so far) that offers Electric (30 & 50 amp), Water (2) and Sewer at every campsite. At just $30 per day it is a steal!" advises an RVer.

Navigational considerations: Blue Springs has some tight turns that require planning with larger rigs. "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," recommends an RV camper at Blue Springs Lake Campground.

Site selection for privacy: Premium sites offer more space at several campgrounds. "I would recommend staying at the premium pull through sites the other back-in sites are rather small. I like the location it's close to where I was working and close to downtown so lots of things to do in the area," suggests a visitor at Walnut Grove RV Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Randolph, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Randolph, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 91 campgrounds and RV parks near Randolph, MO and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Randolph, MO?

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

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

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