Camping near Rushville, Missouri centers around Smithville Lake, a 7,200-acre reservoir with 175 miles of shoreline. The area sits at approximately 860 feet elevation with seasonal temperatures ranging from winter lows near 20°F to summer highs in the 90s. Most campgrounds maintain operations from April through October, with limited winter camping available at select locations.
What to do
**Fishing opportunities: Smithville Lake attracts anglers year-round with multiple access points. Big Lake State Park Campground offers direct lake access for fishing from shore. "Nice lake, campground was good, there are basic sites up against the lake and the rest are electric. Basic sites are large and some of the electric are also," notes a camper at Big Lake State Park Campground.
**Hiking trails: Weston Bend State Park features multiple trail systems ranging from paved accessible routes to more challenging terrain. A visitor notes, "Weston Bend State Park has an amazing hiking trail system within the park! Even one paved trail! We greatly enjoyed our visit and can't wait to go again!" The park maintains 5 distinct trails ranging from 0.75 to 3 miles in length.
**Water recreation: Most area campgrounds provide boat ramps and water access. At Camp Branch Campground, visitors appreciate proximity to water activities. "We had a short walk to the lake for fishing, and the loop had a restroom. We were able to enter the swim beach without having to pay extra," reports one camper. The campground maintains a dedicated swimming beach open May through September.
What campers like
**Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer spacious sites with natural buffers. At Weston Bend State Park Campground, a camper reports, "Lots of space between sites. Majority of sites had shade. Most sites are back in, there are 2 pull through sites and 2 family sites." Site 26 receives particular praise for seclusion.
**Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high among visitor priorities. According to one guest at AOK Campground & RV Park, "Very, very clean bathrooms and laundry. Hosts present and helpful. Would stay again without hesitation." Another visitor noted the "updated facilities" that contribute to the overall camping experience.
**Family-friendly amenities: Many locations cater specifically to families. A visitor at Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA reports, "It's a great family campground with beautiful views. We travel with two adorable rescues and appreciated the awesome dog park where they could run a bit." The KOA includes dedicated playgrounds, dog parks, and seasonal programming for children.
What you should know
**Seasonal closures: Water systems typically shut down during colder months. A camper at Crow's Creek Campground shares, "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." Most campgrounds maintain updated closure information online.
**Train noise: Several campgrounds experience railroad noise. A visitor at Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA warns, "There was a light from a nearby cabin lighting the whole tenting area, and the trains were one right behind the other… ALL NIGHT LONG! Every thirty minutes or so, a train passed by. It wouldn't be so bad, but it was LOUD!"
