Campground near St. Joseph? (Maryville, Smithville: motel, house, camping)

[misplaced1]

I will be taking a trip to St. Joe soon and am wondering if anyone has any experiences with the campgrounds near? I haven't decided if we will stay in a motel or in an RV but if we can do the RV we could stay longer as money isn't growing on trees lately. Even a fairly close smaller town area would be fine if it's a good place.

[northbayeric]

St. Joseph, Missouri-Kansas, Outdoors Recreation

Hopefully this site will give you some helpful information. I too live in NorCal, and though I've visited St. Joe on two previous occasions, I haven't stayed in any campgrounds there or nearby.

You might want to make the Lewis and Clark State Park your default location if you want to stay in an RV, as it's part of the Missouri State Parks system. The MO State Parks home page is here: Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites and the Lewis and Clark State Park page is here: Lewis and Clark State Park - Home Page - Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, MoDNR

One caveat I just happened to come across: They're replacing the septic system at Lewis & Clark, making the campground shower house and laundry room unavailable until mid-May. That might be after your planned trip.

The next closest state park is Big Lake State Park: Big Lake State Park - Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, MoDNR It's off I-29 between St. Joe and the Iowa border, and there are probably a number of campgrounds you can stay at that are closer to town.

Hope this helps! I sure hear you when it comes to trying to save money, so I'll wish you the best with that as well as decent weather while you're there. No sudden severe thunderstorms!

[misplaced1]

Thank you so much!
And I am praying for no sudden severe thunderstorms especially if they have swirlies!

[northbayeric]

Yes indeed! Funnel cakes. Not funnel clouds! We'll all pray for this with you!

When will you be going? Let us know where you stay at, and how your experience was afterwards!

[hooterville]

Big Lake is aways and off the beaten path from St. Joe. How about Smithville, MO? They have a beautiful lake. (South of St Joe between StJoe & KC) There is also Lake Mozingo in Maryville, MO with nice campground and security but it is 42 miles north of St. Joe. smaller too- about 11,000 pop. Good luck!

[Versatile]

North of St Joe in the area of Amazonia Mo. Camping up in that area in Conservation Areas i think. At Amazonia there is a 200 ft or so bluff overlooking the Mo . River i hear.