Best Campgrounds near Parkville, MO

Parkville, Missouri sits near several established campgrounds that provide varied accommodation options within a 20-mile radius of the city. Basswood Country RV Resort, located approximately 10 miles northwest of Parkville, offers full hookup sites for RVs along with tent camping areas and cabin rentals. Weston Bend State Park Campground, situated to the north along Highway 45, provides both drive-in and walk-in sites for tents and RVs in a state park setting. The camping landscape around Parkville includes mixed-use campgrounds with amenities ranging from basic to resort-style facilities, with most sites concentrated along major highways and near water recreation areas.

Camping in the Parkville area operates year-round at several locations, though amenities and accessibility may change seasonally. Many campgrounds like Weston Bend State Park maintain reservable sites that fill quickly during summer months, particularly on weekends. The region experiences typical Midwestern seasonal variations with hot, humid summers and cold winters that can affect camping comfort. Most established campgrounds provide drinking water, electric hookups, and sanitary facilities, though availability varies by location. Cellular coverage is generally good throughout the region due to proximity to the Kansas City metropolitan area. A visitor to Basswood Country RV Resort noted, "All in all our experience was a positive one, but prospective visitors should know that there is a large section of long term renters that you must drive through to get to the short term sites."

Several campgrounds near Parkville feature water recreation as a primary attraction. Smith's Fork Recreation Area and Crow's Creek Campground both offer boat-in access along with traditional camping areas. Family-friendly amenities appear frequently in visitor reviews, with many campers highlighting swimming pools, fishing opportunities, and planned activities for children. One camper at Basswood wrote, "This campground is a must for anyone with children. Awesome sites with full hook ups. They have several ponds you can fish from. Nice play area for kids as well as themed weekends with lots of activities." Proximity to Kansas City International Airport affects some camping areas, with aircraft noise mentioned in several reviews. The variety of camping areas ranges from quiet state park settings to more developed resorts with extensive recreational facilities.

Best Camping Sites Near Parkville, Missouri (103)

    1. Weston Bend State Park Campground

    35 Reviews
    Weston, MO
    15 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."

    2. 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."

    3. Walnut Grove RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Mission, KS
    13 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."

    4. Basswood Country RV Resort

    12 Reviews
    Platte City, MO
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (816) 858-5556

    $56 - $59 / night

    "The only two things I wasn’t expecting were: 1. it’s pretty close to the airport, but you don’t notice the planes except when you’re outside; 2. the sites (except premium ones) are pretty close together"

    "This park is convient to I-29 but far enough off the highway to be quiet and peaceful. Tent sites, full hookups as well as rooms and cabins are available."

    5. Blue Springs Lake Campground

    45 Reviews
    Blue Springs, MO
    24 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."

    6. Camp Branch Campground

    15 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    17 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)"

    7. Worlds of Fun Village

    8 Reviews
    Randolph, MO
    12 miles
    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."

    8. Smiths Fork Recreation Area Camping

    10 Reviews
    Smithville, MO
    15 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!"

    9. Campus RV Park

    14 Reviews
    Independence, MO
    18 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."

    10. Watkins Mill State Park Campground

    34 Reviews
    Excelsior Springs, MO
    27 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"

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Recent Reviews near Parkville, MO

605 Reviews of 103 Parkville Campgrounds


  • Freya
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Quail Run Campground — Hillsdale State Park

    Relaxing place to camp and enjoy nature

    All in all I really enjoyed tent camping at one of the primitive sites! My dad and I used two separate tents, each of which are six person tents, and it was easy to fit both on the campsite. I didn’t love the fire ring because the wall was pretty high and the grill part didn’t have adjustable height so that limited the height of the fire we could build when we wanted to cook over it. The nearby vault toilet was just OK, it was about as clean as a vault toilet could be but there was no way to use hand sanitizer or wash your hands nearby. The shower house with flush toilets, which was a little further away, was clean but didn’t have any hand soap, it only had hand sanitizer which was a disappointment.

    Those were really the only drawbacks to this campsite though! Everything else was lovely. I liked that there was a small camp store nearby with firewood for purchase during operating hours. The scenery was very nice and even though there were a lot of RVs in their section of the campground, I didn’t hear any noise coming from their air-conditioning thanks to the distance between that section and the primitive section.

    Being almost completely surrounded by the lake was so serene and we got to hear and see a lot of wildlife. The only other thing to know about this spot on the campground is that if you’re going to the primitive sites, you will have to park nearby and then walk the rest of the way with your gear. At the site I was in that was only a couple of yards but other ones were further away.

    Also, a note about spiders: there were way more than I’ve ever seen while camping before, so if large amounts of them bother you I suggest you not camp here in October! Most of them were small, but seeing them so often was still kind of gross. Such is life when camping though!

  • 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!

  • S
    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 Parkville

Camping near Parkville, Missouri, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and family-friendly activities. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from that cater to different needs and preferences.

What to do:

  • Hiking and Nature Walks: Explore the trails around Watkins Mill State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The area was clean and the bathrooms well maintained," making it a great spot for a family hike.
  • Fishing and Boating: At Blue Springs Lake Campground, you can enjoy fishing and boating. A camper noted, "Quiet, beautiful campground located just outside of Kansas City," perfect for a relaxing day on the water.
  • Wildlife Watching: Clinton State Park Campground is known for its wildlife. One reviewer shared, "PLENTY of wildlife. Bunnies, raccoons, and deer," making it a fun spot for nature lovers.

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Wallace State Park Campground said, "The bathrooms are pristine—nicer than some restaurants or hotels I've been to."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. One reviewer at Crow's Creek Campground mentioned, "The hosts are great too," highlighting the helpfulness of the staff.
  • Spacious Sites: Campers often comment on the spaciousness of the sites. A visitor at Lake Shawnee County Campground noted, "The sites are a little close but nothing crazy," making it comfortable for families.

What you should know:

  • Seasonal Availability: Some campgrounds, like Blue Springs Lake Campground, are only open from May 16 to September 3. Plan your trip accordingly!
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. For example, Clinton State Park Campground has some dated bathrooms, as one camper mentioned, "The bathrooms were pretty dated too."
  • Wildlife Caution: While wildlife is a highlight, it can also be a nuisance. A camper at Watkins Mill State Park Campground warned about ticks, saying, "It was a rough tick season this spring."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Campgrounds with Play Areas: Look for campgrounds that have playgrounds or open spaces. A family at Blue Springs Lake Campground enjoyed being "right by the playground," making it perfect for kids.
  • Plan for Quiet Hours: Some campgrounds, like Kansas City East-Oak Grove KOA, have families that enjoy evening activities. One camper humorously noted, "Grumpy old people who don’t like kids' noises past 8pm," so be mindful of noise levels.
  • Pack for Activities: Bring along games and outdoor toys. A visitor at Lake Jacomo - Fleming Park mentioned, "Nice and quiet," making it a great spot for family bonding.

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Hookup Availability: Make sure to confirm if your site has the necessary hookups. A camper at Crows Creek Campground mentioned, "We have Verizon cell service and had no issues," which is great for those needing connectivity.
  • Be Prepared for Crowds: Some campgrounds can get busy, especially on weekends. A visitor at Bloomington East - Clinton Lake noted, "It was beautiful!" but also mentioned the need for reservations.
  • Bring Leveling Blocks: Some sites may not be perfectly level. A camper at Wallace State Park Campground advised, "Bring blocks," to ensure a comfortable setup.

Camping near Parkville, Missouri, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With a little planning and the right campground, you're sure to have a great time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Parkville, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, Parkville, MO offers a wide range of camping options, with 103 campgrounds and RV parks near Parkville, MO and 3 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Parkville, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Parkville, MO is Weston Bend State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 35 reviews.

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

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

What parks are near Parkville, MO?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Parkville, MO that allow camping, notably Blue Springs Lake and Clinton Lake.