Wallace State Park spans 500 quiet, densely wooded acres in northwest Missouri, and includes four campgrounds with more than 75 individual campsites. The campground is heavily shaded, and is an ideal destination for campers looking for peace and quiet. Electric and non-electric sites are available for tents and RVs, and all campers have access to drinking water, modern restrooms and showers. If you're looking for a more secluded setting, a handful of primitive walk-in tent sites are also available. A wide range of activities are available in Wallace State Park, many of them centered around 6-acre Lake Allaman. The small, quiet lake is perfect for canoes, kayaks and small boats with electric motors that can be hand-launched from the shore. Swimming is also permitted, though there is no designated beach, and fishermen can catch bass and panfish. The park also includes playgrounds, picnic areas and more than 6 miles of hiking trails.
Mark Twain Landing in northeast Missouri is primarily an RV campground, and many campsites include full electric, sewer and water hookups and can accommodate motor homes of all sizes. Pull-through sites are available, along with cable TV, campfire rings, picnic tables and modern restroom, shower and laundry facilities. For a more rustic accommodation, stay at one of the primitive tent sites. There's plenty to do without ever leaving the campground, including karaoke, paddle boat rides and numerous scheduled events throughout the year, but the surrounding area offers even more compelling attractions. Mark Twain Landing is less than 30 minutes from the birthplace of its namesake author. At the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site, tour the cabin in which he was born and the adjoining museum, which houses handwritten manuscripts and other artifacts. Just five minutes away, Mark Twain Lake -- Missouri's largest reservoir -- provides virtually unlimited opportunities for boating, swimming and water sports of all kinds.
Campsites at Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park range from primitive to full-hookup, and you can choose between roughly 80 shady, secluded sites. Campfire rings and picnic tables are located at each site, and drinking water, hot showers and modern restrooms are available. This southeastern Missouri park straddles the banks of the East Fork of the Black River, a winding, rocky stream where the water carves out a natural water park, complete with wading pools and water slides. If you're in the mood to do some exploring, the 8,500-acre park also includes miles of hiking trails, many of which are also open to mountain biking and horseback riding. Options include the 10-mile Coggins Mountain Equestrian Trail and a 35-mile section of the rugged Ozark Trail. Horseback riders can camp out at one of the park's equestrian campsites.
Pitch a tent or park your RV at one of the 150 campsites at southwest Missouri's Table Rock State Park. Many campsites include electricity, water and sewer hookups. The campsites are footsteps away from Table Rock Lake, a vast 43,000-acre reservoir. Table Rock Lake is one of the best bass fishing lakes in Missouri -- "Bassmaster Magazine" ranks it among the top 50 in the world -- with abundant populations of largemouth, smallmouth and Kentucky spotted bass, along with catfish, crappie and numerous other game fish. Fish from shore or launch your boat at one of the paved boat ramps. Boat rentals, docks, fuel, bait and tackle are available at the park's full-service marina. You can also go swimming in the park, although there are no lifeguards or designated beach areas. For anyone who prefers to stay on dry land, several miles of trails traverse the park, including the 1.5-mile Chinquapin Trail, which is accessible directly from the campground.
