We tent camped at Campground 2 in a basic site. This campground has a lot going for it, but some things that could be better…

PROS Unlike the majority of MO state parks, this one opens before April, for those of us who like to camp the shoulder seasons. It has heated, relatively clean and well stocked restrooms, drinking fountains and water spigots, a great camp host who kept us informed about a minor partial water shutoff but otherwise let us do our thing, and the shower house looks very nice, though it was far too cold to use it. Walking distance to marina and access to the popular Lakeshore Trail. Sites very clean and cleared of brush. Recycling offered (and encouraged) at your site if you want it. Our site and the others on the same end of the campground backed up to private wooded area. Playground available for the kids right next to the shower house. Fifteen minute drive to Branson attractions (I recommend Talking Rocks Cavern, especially for families, but anyone can enjoy the cave tour). Campground was very quiet, though I’m sure being there on weekdays early in the season helped!

CONS Basic tent sites aren’t the best; the electric sites are nice and flat, but our site was hilly and very rocky. We were thankful we brought tarps to put under the tent footprints. Sites 237-239 are right on top of each other. The park doesn’t sell firewood or ice; a fellow camper told us the marina offers wood, but he also recommended we buy it somewhere else. We found a place right outside the entrance, but the wood was pretty wet due to rain the day before.

Just FYI expect the lake winds to keep temps lower than what’s forecasted; we expected 25 degree temps overnight and woke up to 19 degrees and frosted tents!

I would definitely return and try out different sites—we enjoyed our stay.