Camping sites near Theodosia, Missouri sit at approximately 900 feet elevation around Bull Shoals Lake, with the terrain featuring forested Ozark hills and limestone bluffs. Water levels can fluctuate significantly throughout the year, rising as much as 20-30 feet during spring rains. Most campgrounds remain open year-round despite seasonal changes, though availability of boat ramps and shoreline facilities depends on lake conditions.
What to do
Trout fishing on White River: Bull Shoals-White River State Park offers premium trout fishing opportunities along the cold waters below the dam. A visitor noted that "There is a dock and convenient store within the grounds and chances to see plenty of wildlife. There are some trails provided. Only thing is the waters temperature will cause areas near the water to get cold." Anglers can access fishing from shore or through guided trips from local outfitters.
Hiking wilderness trails: Hercules Glades Wilderness Area offers 32 miles of hiking trails through varied terrain. One hiker shared that "This is a short four mile hike into cool shut ins that provide a swimming hole and water falls. Along the way on the ridge you can see all the way down into Arkansas." The area requires no permits for overnight stays but has no amenities beyond fire rings at established sites.
Lake recreation: Lakeview - Bull Shoals Lake provides direct access to water activities from April through October. A camper mentioned, "Very large park, and busy during the summer. People launching their boats make it difficult to get into some spots if you have a large camper, but it's nice none the less." The campground includes a marina with boat rentals and swimming areas, though high water can limit beach access.
What campers like
Level, well-maintained sites: Blue Heron Campground receives consistent praise for site quality on the White River. A camper explained, "Best level pads and hookups we've ever seen. Firewood and ice for sale. Everything was absolutely perfect except the road noise….which in all fairness we knew about. LOTS of noise. It died down after 8pm and before 8am." Most sites include concrete pads, fire rings, and chairs at riverfront locations.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Mornings and evenings offer prime wildlife watching at several area campgrounds. One visitor to Bull Shoals-White River State Park reported, "We shared a 'buddy site' because we have tiny campers. I typically like to hike and do other activities when we camp, but here, I was content with sitting and watching the River all day. There was an eagles nest on the other side of the river, so we got to Eagle watch all day as they circled the river hunting for their dinner."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the region maintain good standards despite remote locations. A visitor to Point Return City Park noted, "Also, the vault toilets on the campground are surprisingly not stinky! We enjoyed our stay and will be back!" While another camper at Lakeview mentioned, "The bathhouse is heated, has restrooms and is very clean."
What you should know
Campground accessibility: Many roads to camping areas become challenging during wet conditions. At Point Return City Park, a camper warned, "One road does flood over with high water. Beach within walking distance, but also inaccessible in high water." Sites near water should be reserved with awareness of seasonal flooding potential.
Water hookup distances: Pontiac Cove and other campgrounds sometimes require lengthy hose connections. A camper observed, "Water is shared and can be 50 feet from your campsite. Nice big trees, mostly level parking, which is saying something considering it's the Ozarks!" Similar situations exist at Lakeview where one visitor noted "The water hookup was quite a distance from the site and had to use three hoses to make it reach."
Variable cell service: Coverage decreases significantly in wilderness areas and some lakeside locations. Hercules Glades provides limited to no connectivity, as one camper cautioned: "I always suggest on wilderness hikes to not hike alone or camp alone but this one I found to be more problematic with limited to no cell service for assistance should you encounter danger."
Tips for camping with families
Find shaded campsites: Summer temperatures regularly reach 90°F, making shade essential. A visitor to Oakland Park shared, "Awesome campgrounds on Bull Shoals lake. There are 32 sites only 1 is primitive all others offer 20/30 amps a few have an added 50 amp pluggin. Waters available..There is no sewer hookups. Yet there is a dump station. And bathhouse. Playground area Marina and yes a beautiful lake with swim area boat launch and pier."
Consider noise levels: Some locations experience significant road or boat traffic. At Blue Heron Campground, a camper noted, "LOTS of noise. It died down after 8pm and before 8am and we couldn't hear it in our camper so it's was ok." Similarly, another visitor mentioned, "It is near a bridge so the first night we could hear the traffic but by the next day it became like background noise."
Look for ranger programs: Some parks offer educational activities for children. At Bull Shoals-White River State Park, a visitor mentioned, "The visitor center is awesome and the park had several activities available. We went to an owl talk and a bear talk that was very informative. We also did the lake cruise."
Tips from RVers
Reserve buddy sites: Some campgrounds offer side-by-side sites for group camping. A visitor to Bull Shoals-White River State Park explained, "We shared a 'buddy site' because we have tiny campers. The sites along the River are very close together and many of them have the picnic tables on the wrong side. Kinda strange if you are next to someone with their table on the correct side!"
Check site dimensions: Tight turns can make access difficult for larger rigs. At Lakeview, a camper noted, "Campsite are spread out enough that you aren't in top of other campers. We ended up with a triple site by ourselves because friends had an emergency and couldn't make it." The campground offers single, double, and triple sites with varying accessibility.
Look for backing assistance: Some campgrounds provide guidance for difficult sites. At Blue Heron Campground, a camper mentioned, "Excellent concrete pads with easy back-in markings for RVs. Great cement patio so there is no mud in case of rain. Each site has its own fire pit and 2 chairs."
