Best Camping in and near Big Lake State Park

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Enjoy a scenic retreat at this waterfront state park.

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Public campgrounds in the park
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Stay at a public campground in Big Lake State Park

Top-rated campgrounds near Big Lake State Park

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Beacon Farm Ministries

4 sites · RVs, Tents20 acres · Saint Joseph, MO

Pitch a tent or park a camper or small RV on our nonprofit farm. We have 5 acres of pasture/garden and 15 acres of woods in the River Bluffs of NW Missouri. Find a place in a meadow to star gaze and watch the moon, or hike into the woods for a secluded camping experience. Beautiful rolling hills, wildlife, wild flowers, peace and quiet are just a few of the perks in this rare location next to the Bluffwoods Conservation Area. Be prepared to get your hands dirty with this listing. All campers have the opportunity to volunteer one hour per day while staying at Beacon Farm. We are a nonprofit Christian ministry planting God's love one seed at a time. Donating organic produce to those in need here in Saint Joseph. Your hour of volunteer time each day could consist of harvesting veggies, weeding, stacking wood, milking goats, or any number of other things, depending on the time of year you are here. We look forward to meeting you and hearing where your travels have taken you. Located near here: Bluffwoods Conservation Land -- runs along our property Grocery Store, Gas station, and Cafe 10min back towards town (about 5 miles) Lewis and Clark Sate Park about 20 min from us Weston Bend Sate Park about 40 min from us Wallace state Park an hour from us Watkins Woolen Mill State Park 70min from us Big Lake State Park an hour away

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Fun Family Farm - Overview

18 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents120 acres · Robinson, KS

Fun Family Farm (FFF) near Robinson, KS is an organic farm where our hobby is creating fun! This entry is to give you an overview of the farm and also in case you want to hold a laid-back, nature-oriented, special event at the FFF, where our mantra is, “nothing will be perfect, but everything will be fine.” So, if you are looking for artificial perfection, look elsewhere. ---For any of the guest houses, bring your own linens or sleeping bags, or rent from us. ---The Blue Bedroom has a double bed in it, as does the Hippie Van. Both have either air conditioners or heaters as needed. ---The Big Yellow Bus has a queen bed and two sets of bunk beds in addition to a wood stove, air conditioner, small refrigerator, and a microwave. ---Braden's Brown Bus has a double bed and a futon, air conditioner, sink and a small refrigerator. ---The Hippie Van is a painted VW van with the seats removed and a double bed built in. AC and Heat are available. Some of the fun we create on the farm includes: ---Super-deluxe horseshoe pit and dart board ---900-lb counter-weighted trebuchet for throwing pumpkin, watermelons, or bowling balls over 400 feet ---Lots of rural roads, paved and unpaved for bike riding (bring your own bike) --- Smallish pond with a beach for swimming ---Creek for wading and looking for fossils ---Several fire-pits with seating ---Lots of shaded sitting areas for visiting and flowers for viewing ---Mowed trails through the woods ---Lawn games including lighted bocce ball ---Playground equipment and a large sandbox for the kids ---Cows, pigs, ducks, geese, turkeys, and chickens at various stages of growth depending upon the time of year. ---If the weather is right, an ice skating rink Amenities Include: ---An Outdoor shower ---Fire-pits with hot dog sticks, grates, and seating ---Gas Grill ---Access to town water for drinking ---Access to well water for sand and water play ---Two NICE outhouses in the barnyard (one is known to the local children as “the magic bathroom” due to its blue lighting) ---Seldom used outhouse at the pond. If you are interested in renting the entire farm for a family reunion or wedding etc., message us at least 6 months in advance and we will be able to block off the dates you are requesting.

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Horse Creek Adventures

23 sites · Lodging, Tents170 acres · Sidney, IA

Horse Creek Adventures is a 170 acre ranch that provides an opportunity for visitors to stay one night or several days to enjoy the land and area sights. You have your choice as to how you want to stay. Our "off the grid" cabins offer a special opportunity to camp with a roof. The cabins are extremely popular! Check out the information about them and then check the photos posted by quests and read their reviews to give you lots of ideas of how you could enjoy these one of a kind sites. Tenting is available all over the 170 acres. You can tent by the pond; on top of the hill, or in a valley. These sites allow you to "get away from it all" and let the stress melt away. We have tenting sites close to a road to give you flexibility to see local attractions while enjoying the whole 170 acres. The land is part of the famous Loess Hills. There are hilltops to take in the breath taking views and valleys surrounded by trees. A pond full of trophy sized bass , catch and release, no license required. Wildlife abounds including a wide variety of birds. We have been described by avid birders as a rich place for birding. The area is rich with history-Lewis and Clark; French Canadian trappers and their Lakota wives established French Villages; Mormons came through here on the way to Utah; Jesse James played cards. Waubonsie State Park is close with hiking trails and seven miles of Horse trails. At night you can use a portable corral to have your horse close. End the day around a campfire, look at the stars and the lightening bugs and be serenaded to sleep by the coyotes and whip-poor-wills Enjoy !!

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Green Grass Farms Camping

5 sites · RVs, Tents150 acres · Bedford, IA

Green Grass Farms was officially started in January of 2016. After being on active duty for years and having a disabled child, we decided we wanted to simplify and slow down our way of life. In November of 2014 our disabled son was put on a 100% "Real Foods Diet" and that played a huge part in motivating us to look more into what that really meant. What was the difference between farm raised and store bought organic food? What was the real benefit of not using hormones or antibiotics or pesticides? Which is better, grain finished or grass finished meat? So we bought the farm and started Green Grass Farms!Learn more about this land:The property is primitive with treed area and lots of grass. With sustainable livestock farming and ranging. We have a mix of chicken, pigs, and cattle on the farm. You would be staying in the pasture or in a wooded area. You can be next to the animals or next to our farm store near our corn field. There's lots of views of windmills and pastures/farmland.Happy to give farm tours outside of my working hours.

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Tobeyland

3 sites · Lodging21 acres · Agency, MO

We are just off I-29 in northwest Missouri between St. Joseph and Platte City. This tiny cabin is across the driveway from our house on flat ground. Our property is 21 acres and includes a yard of 6 acres and fields (alternating corn and soy beans) and a wooded area. There is a fishing pond down the hill behind our house. There is also a fire pit to the left (north) of the cabin. Around the fire pit are swings and benches. We call this area Geriatric Park. It used to be a playground for our grandkids, but when they outgrew it we adults took it over! We have a gravel driveway which services our house and the cabin. You park next to the cabin. There is a kitchenette with the necessary essentials and a small bath with a shower and toilet. There is also heat and AC. If you love nature and want to relax, walk in the fresh air, or even be put to work, just let us know. We want your stay here to be enjoyable and hope you look forward to coming back! We are in the country not too far from the Pigeon Hill firing range, so you may hear gunfire from there or the neighbor's target practicing. Nearby are several wineries, the McCormick Distillery in Weston MO, and historical St Joseph MO (where the Pony Express began and Jesse James ended), as well as several antique stores. Just a little further southwest is Leavenworth KS, which has a huge amount of history and more antiques, and Fort Leavenworth (the Army's Command and General Staff College (CGSC)). To the east is Jamesport MO, our local Amish colony. This is a farm. If the thought of a bug, spider web, or strand of hair makes you cringe, this probably isn't the place for you. The cabin is clean and sanitized between each visitor, but is not prepared for a forensic inspection. Thanks for understanding! Learn more about this land: This property was just a farm field when we bought it. We love how it is turning out and can't wait to share it with you. We have Pekin ducks. Pekins are the white ducks, like the Aflac duck, or like Donald Duck. They are bred for meat and eggs, so they are fat and cannot fly, so cannot be released into the wild. We keep them happily spoiled. We don't eat our ducks, but love the eggs when they decide to lay them. We also have 3 Nigerian Dwarf goats, named Dawg (white and brown), Gracie (black) and George (black and white). They sleep with the ducks, but we let them out in the yard most days. No matter what they say, please don't let them in your cabin. They are NOT potty trained. In the cabin is an informational book that tells about our rules, local restaurants, things to do, how to work the TV, microwave/air fryer combo, and hot plates. Our pond is fed by underground springs, so the water is very cold. We keep it stocked with 6 kinds of fish (blue gill, crappie, big mouth bass, small mouth bass, catfish and 1 carp). If you choose to fish, please don't keep the albino's or the carp (he keeps our pond clean). If others are dinner size, enjoy your fresh meal! The farmer behind us has cows, so you may see or hear them. We also see visiting deer and turkey on occasion. If you bring your pets, do not leave them outside alone. Being in the country, we have coyotes, bobcats, skunks and raccoons. None of those are pet friendly.

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Diesel Rodeo Production

4 sites · RVs, Tents65 acres · Nebraska City, NE

We are an active equine facility with indoor and outdoor arenas. We have 65 acres with a nice 5 acre pond that you can catch and release some nice bass and crappie. We offer plug in for larger campers or find a spot to pitch your tent down by the creek and unwind. We are located 10 minutes from Nebraska City

The best camping near Big Lake State Park guide

Overview

About

As its name implies, Big Lake State Park is all about the water. The 646-acre waterway is the largest oxbow lake remaining in Missouri. Fun fact: The lake itself is actually larger than the state park. Toss out a line from a shore or fishing dock—or hit the waters for boating and paddling. An onsite pool offers clear, cool waters for summertime splashing. Take a stroll through the wetlands to watch for wildlife, as many migratory birds are attracted to the large marsh. For overnight stays, book a tent or RV site in the campground or rent one of the premium cabins.

Notable campgrounds

Best for water views: Big Lake Campground’s basic sites are located directly on the shores of Big Lake.
Best for big rigs: Sites 1 through 8 at Big Lake Campground offer 50-amp hookups.
Best for new campers: Big Lake Campground has several pull-thru sites that make RV parking easier.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Reservations may be made up to 12 months in advance through the Missouri State Park website or by phone.
The campground is open year round, with reservations offered April 15 through October 31.
Showers and water are available April 15 through October 31.
The park offers basic sites, with no hookups, and electric-only sites. Water is available at a handful of spigots placed throughout the campground.
Weekend reservations require a two-night stay, either Friday and Saturday or Saturday and Sunday.
Advanced reservations are recommended for weekends and holidays, especially in the summer peak season.

When to go

Summer is a popular time to visit Big Lake State Park, as the warm weather invites outdoor recreation on the waters and the park pool is open. Visitors may encounter temperatures in the 90s and high humidity. Though summer and fall are pleasant, this is the slower season. The campground may be quieter, and the waters may be more still. Natural beauty abounds. The campground is open through the winter. Campers need to prepare for below freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow and ice.

Know before you go

Wifi is not offered by the park.
Potable water is available at a frost-free spigot during the off season.
The premium camper cabins have air conditioning, a kitchen, a bathroom, and sleeping space for up to six people.
Watercraft rentals may be available onsite. Call to confirm before visiting.