Campgrounds and RV parks near Lincoln, MO

Lincoln sits in Benton County, west-central Missouri, within a short drive of Truman Lake and the upper reaches of the Lake of the Ozarks. The town itself is small, but its position between two major reservoirs makes it a practical base for RV travel, with most developed campgrounds clustered a short drive south and southwest toward Warsaw. The closest developed camping is on Truman Lake, a 55,000-acre reservoir with roughly 958 miles of shoreline formed by the Harry S. Truman Dam on the Osage River. Harry S Truman State Park occupies a 1,440-acre peninsula jutting into the lake, and its campgrounds, including Buck Ridge, Wild Turkey Ridge, and Thorny Ridge, sit within about a mile of one another on the peninsula. The park is operated by Missouri State Parks on land leased from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Truman Lake and the nearby Truman Dam visitor center. Private options extend the choice. BEYONDER Marine at Sterett Creek combines a full-service marina with RV sites near Warsaw, and Turkey Creek RV Park offers additional lakeside camping in the same area.

Sites at Harry S Truman State Park, including Buck Ridge, Wild Turkey Ridge, and Thorny Ridge, are reserved through the Missouri State Parks reservation system. Bookings can be made up to 12 months in advance online or by calling 877-ICampMO (877-422-6766). Campgrounds are fully reservable, and unbooked sites may be available to walk-ups on a day-by-day basis. Nearby U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds around Truman Lake book through Recreation.gov, typically up to six months in advance. Private parks are booked directly. BEYONDER Marine at Sterett Creek and Turkey Creek RV Park both take reservations by phone or through their websites. For summer weekends and holiday periods, sites at Truman Lake area campgrounds can sell out well ahead, so booking early is advised.