Glamping near Sedalia, Missouri offers both rustic and luxury camping experiences within an hour's drive of the city. The region sits at an elevation of about 900 feet, with numerous lake-based camping destinations featuring oak and hickory forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F, making water activities particularly popular during camping season.
What to do
Kayaking on Truman Lake: Visitors at Long Shoal Park can enjoy water recreation with convenient access points. "The sites have picnic table and fire rings with a grate. Site 97 was on a corner, with a neighbor to one side, and lots of space between sites to the other," noted one camper about the lakeside options.
Fishing for local species: Several parks offer productive fishing opportunities, particularly at sunrise and sunset. "Clearfork Lake was great for fishing for us!" explained a visitor to Knob Noster State Park, highlighting the park's secondary lake as an alternative to Lake Buteo.
Cycling on paved trails: The Katy Trail connects to several camping areas. "Katy trail is easy biking beautiful views, shaded. Blue birds, cardinals and also an indigo bunting were seen our first trip out," reported a camper at Cooper's Landing.
What campers like
Spacious camping sites: Many area campgrounds provide ample room between sites. A visitor at Sparrowfoot remarked, "Huge sites, brand new power poles, shaded, and well patrolled for an extra feeling of safety."
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained shower buildings are frequently mentioned in reviews. "Bathhouse has been newly renovated," noted a visitor about Knob Noster, while another camper at Sparrowfoot stated, "Clean shower house and vaulted facilities. Will return."
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting creates opportunities for wildlife observation. "We checked the showers and toilets, they were clean and had just been hosed down. As I write this I can hear the coyotes coming in," shared one Sparrowfoot visitor about the evening atmosphere at their campsite.
What you should know
Seasonal water levels: Lake depths fluctuate significantly throughout the year. "Water in the lake is high this time of year but fun is still to be had via fishing, biking, boating and kayaking," mentioned a reviewer at Long Shoal Park.
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have spotty connectivity. "Poor Verizon coverage, T-Mobile a little better," noted a visitor at Osage Bluff, while another camper at Bucksaw mentioned, "Cell service is hard to get and air TV only gets public broadcasting stations."
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife may visit campsites. "We did have a problem with raccoons, but with our site being on the very edge of the sites I think that may be inevitable," reported a Knob Noster visitor, highlighting the importance of securing food and trash.
Tips for camping with families
Playground accessibility: Select campsites near recreation areas for convenience. A Sparrowfoot visitor detailed: "Loop B also has the playground which is right behind site B47. It's a newer playground and all equipment was nicely maintained. There are no swings."
Swimming areas: Certain lakefront areas offer better swimming conditions than others. "If you walk further around the corner to the right, it turns into a nicer 'beach' style area with few rocks, although the mud can be a little thick after it rains," advised a visitor at Sparrowfoot about finding appropriate water access.
Family-friendly biking routes: Several locations offer safe cycling for children. At Knob Noster, a reviewer highlighted that the campground is "great for the grandkids to ride their new bikes on the level smooth campground road in safety."
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Electric service types vary between parks. "We didn't reserve a spot and had to take one of the last 5 'non-electric back in sites as all the many electric sites were already reserved and filled up fast," shared an RVer at Knob Noster, suggesting advanced reservations for powered sites.
Level sites: Many area campgrounds feature concrete pads. "Well maintained campground with nice, level concrete pads. Sites are spacious," noted a visitor to Cooper's Landing Campgrounds and Marina, though they also cautioned: "Spots are tight and the party is next door, but looking to trying again when the music starts up."
Dump station access: Not all parks with hookups offer on-site dumping. "You will have water and electric but no sewer and no dump station on site. Plan your length of stay accordingly," advised a Cooper's Landing RVer about managing waste tanks during extended stays.
