Campgrounds and RV parks near Huntsville, MO

Water recreation anchors the area. Long Branch State Park sits on a 2,430-acre reservoir with a sand swim beach, an accessible fishing dock, a marina store, and three hiking trails through some of the last remaining savanna and prairie in northern Missouri. Boaters can bring their own craft or rent from the marina. Finger Lakes State Park, built on 1,138 acres of reclaimed coal-mining land, is one of only two Missouri state parks that allow off-road vehicle use, with more than 70 miles of ATV trails, a motocross track, a pump track, and a 4.5-mile paddling water trail connecting the strip-mine lakes. Mountain bikers ride the Kelley Branch Trail. Anglers target bass, catfish, and crappie in the lakes around both parks.

The camping season in this part of Missouri runs strongest from April through October, when water and showerhouses are turned on in the state parks. At Finger Lakes, water to the campground and the showerhouse operate April 1 through October 31, and potable water is available at the park office during the off-season. The park gate closes at 10 p.m. from April through October and at 9 p.m. from November through March. Long Branch State Park normally offers electric, basic, walk-in, and boat-in sites, plus a special-use group area, but travelers should confirm campground status with the park office before planning a trip because construction closures have affected the campground. Summer weekends and holidays fill fastest, and reservations well in advance are recommended, particularly for electric sites. Spring and fall bring cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and good conditions for hiking, though spring rains can leave trails muddy. Winter camping is possible at Finger Lakes but comes with limited services and the chance of freezing temperatures and snow.

Finger Lakes has 35 campsites, of which 16 offer electric hookups with a mix of 30-amp and 50-amp service, along with picnic tables, fire rings with grates, vault toilets, hot showers, drinking water, and a dump station. Sites can accommodate rigs up to about 46 feet, though several campers note uneven ground that calls for leveling blocks. Long Branch offers basic and electric sites, family sites with paired layouts, walk-in tent sites, and boat-in sites with fire ring, lantern post, and picnic table. Shoemaker RV Park near Bevier is a large private park with 30/50-amp service, full hookups, pull-throughs, laundry, showers, a small fishing lake, and a playground, and it accepts big rigs. Expect ATV and motocross noise near the Finger Lakes campground.