Is Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Can I see photos of campsites at Campground before I book?

Yes! Campground has 19 campsite photos on Outdoorithm, contributed by campers who've stayed there. Browse real photos of individual sites to see what to expect before you reserve. You can also add your own photos after your trip to help the next family plan theirs.

What is the best time to visit Campground?

Campground is open On-season typically Apr 1 through Oct 31; Off-season Nov 1 through Mar 31 (seasonal services such as water and showers are generally available in on-season).. The best time to visit depends on your preferences—summer offers the warmest weather and most activities, while spring and fall provide fewer crowds and milder temperatures. Check current conditions before your trip.

Are there showers at Campground?

Yes, Campground has shower facilities available for campers. Check the amenities section for details on hours and any fees.

How many campsites does Campground have?

Campground has 76 campsites. Sites vary in size, privacy, and amenities. Check availability online to find the best site for your needs.

Are dogs allowed at Campground?

Yes, pets are allowed at Campground. Dogs must typically be kept on a leash (usually 6 feet or shorter) and under control at all times. Be sure to clean up after your pet and check for any breed or size restrictions.

What amenities are available at Campground?

Campground offers: Restrooms, Showers, Electrical Hookups, Water Hookups, Sewer Hookups, Pets Allowed. See our detailed campground page for the full list of facilities and features.

What activities can I do at Campground?

Popular activities at Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Campground

4.03

37 reviews

204 Lake Shore Drive, Craig, MO 64437-7181, United States

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

76 campsites

Season

On-season typically ...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Full HookupsShowers

Book on Missouri State Parks Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

76 campsites

Season

On-season typically ...

Cell

No Service

Pets

Pets Allowed

Full HookupsShowers

Book on Missouri State Parks Official Website

Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Nightly camping rates vary by site type and season; reduced camping rates are available for citizens 65+, people with disabilities, and military...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Missouri State Parks

Provider

660-771-6341

I manage this campground

Plan a trip to Campground

Compare with similar sites, watch availability, and build a packing list — Camp Sage handles all of it.

Campground Map

204 Lake Shore Drive, Craig, MO 64437-7181, United States

No map location available

Weather at Campground

Best Time to Camp at Campground

The park comes alive from spring through early fall, with the official season running April 1 through October 31. Late spring brings wildflowers and migrating birds, while summer heats up with families enjoying the swimming pool, anglers pulling in catches, and boats dotting the lake's surface. Weekends draw the biggest crowds during these warm months, so consider a weekday visit if you're seeking more solitude among the cattails and calm waters.

Best

Summer (Jun-Aug)

Peak season with warm weather, perfect for water activities. Book early.

Planning Tips

Operating Season: On-season typically Apr 1 through Oct 31; Off-season Nov 1 through Mar 31 (seasonal services such as water and showers are generally available in on-season).

About Campground

Discover Big Lake State Park, a 407-acre haven wrapped around Missouri's largest oxbow lake—a crescent-shaped wonder left behind by the ancient Missouri River. Whether you're casting a line from your boat, spotting bald eagles from the shoreline, or settling into one of our campsites or cozy camper cabins, you'll find yourself immersed in one of northwest Missouri's most unique wetland landscapes.

The park includes a developed campground with sites for tents and RVs, premium camper cabins and facilities suitable for family or group gatherings.

Historical Significance

Big Lake is an oxbow lake formed by a former Missouri River channel; no further historical or cultural details are provided on the official park page.

Weather and SeasonsThe park comes alive from spring through early fall, with the official season running April 1 through October 31. Late spring brings wildflowers and migrating birds, while summer heats up with families enjoying the swimming pool, anglers pulling in catches, and boats dotting the lake's surface. Weekends draw the biggest crowds during these warm months, so consider a weekday visit if you're seeking more solitude among the cattails and calm waters.

Natural Features and SceneryBig Lake's shallow waters and sprawling marshes create a landscape unlike any other in Missouri. Instead of rolling hills and dense forests, you'll find yourself surrounded by vast open skies, glassy water reflecting passing clouds, and gentle marsh grasses swaying at the lake's edge. Mature shade trees dot the shoreline, offering perfect spots to watch for the incredible variety of waterfowl and migratory birds that call this wetland refuge home. Bald eagles are frequent visitors here, their white heads often visible perched in the cottonwoods or soaring overhead—a sight that turns an ordinary afternoon into an unforgettable memory.

Geological RegionOxbow lake / river-bottom floodplain wetlands (Big Lake is Missouri's largest remaining oxbow lake)

Scenic ViewsMany campsites offer direct lake access or clear lake views, with expansive sunrise and sunset vistas over the water and good night‑sky viewing where campsite lights are off.

Best Campsites

Curated by campers, for campers

Reveal picks

Reserving a campsite

Stay Limit

Camping is limited to any 15 days within a 30-consecutive-day period at any one park. A two-night minimum stay on weekends (Friday-Saturday or Saturday-Sunday) is required at Big Lake.

Tents

Tents are allowed

RV vehicles

RV vehicles are allowed

Primitive

Primitive camping is not allowed

Reservable

Reservations are allowed

Reservation PlatformsMissouri State Parks online reservations (UseDirect-based)

Total Campsites76 campsites

Best CampsitesLakeside basic sites provide the best direct lake access and views; renovated electric and full‑hookup sites (notably some in the 50-series) offer newer concrete pads and full utilities for RVs.

Need help booking Campground?

Reservation tips, booking windows, and free cancellation alerts.

When to Book

Find your booking window

Cancellation Alerts

Free alerts for this campground

Amenities available

Park offers a campground, camper cabins and a day‑use area with picnic sites/shelters and playgrounds. Renovated campsite pads, restrooms and shower houses, and a staffed campground with camp hosts are reported in visitor sources. Some RV sites include full hookups and there is an on‑site outdoor swimming pool.

Showers

Electricity hookups

Water hookups

Sewer hookups

Flush toilets

Picnic tables

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Activities center on Big Lake (boating and fishing) and family recreation at the campground and day‑use areas, including a pool, playgrounds and camper cabins. The lake and wetlands support bird‑watching and wildlife viewing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsThe park and campground are located in a floodplain and have experienced flooding that can cause temporary closures. The lake is shallow and most swimming occurs at the park pool rather than in the lake; visitors should exercise normal watercraft and shoreline safety.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

Set an AlertGet notified when sites open up Check WeatherHistorical weather data Gear for This TripMatched gear recommendations Packing ListCustomizable checklist

Questions & answers

Researching this campground? Ask anything — other campers and our team will weigh in. No visit required.

Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

4.0

37 reviews

Satisfactory

Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitor feedback is largely positive: reviewers praise renovated, spacious lakeside sites, clean restrooms/showers, friendly camp hosts, family‑friendly facilities (playgrounds and pool), and good birding and lake views. A minority of reviewers report noise issues and occasional staffing or access problems.

Review Summaries

Based on 37 reviews

What Campers Love

Renovated sites with concrete pads and full hookups at some sites; many campsites offer lakefront views and easy lake access; clean restrooms and shower houses; friendly and helpful camp hosts;...

Based on 37 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Reserve campsites for summer weekends (two‑night minimum applies on some weekend stays). Choose lakeside basic sites for scenery or upgraded 50‑series sites for full hookups and larger concrete pads....

Based on 37 reviews

Camper Quotes

“Nice & clean campground right off a lake, clean bathrooms & showers.” — visitor review. “Site 53 was a huge concrete pad with 50‑amp and full hookups and a beautiful view of Big Lake.” — visitor...

Based on 37 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

Be the first to review this campground

Every adventure creates another. Share what you learned so the next camper feels a little more prepared heading out.

Go if

RV campers who want lakefront views with concrete pads and full hookups should look at the 50-series sites; families get a pool and playground on top of the birding and fishing.

Skip if

Train and highway noise reaches the sites after dark, and there's no dump station, no potable water hookup at every site, no cell service, and no hiking beyond campground loops, hikers and remote workers will be frustrated.

Campgrounds

Big Lake State Park

Campground

About Folsom S. Canal Rec. Trail

Context for the broader area surrounding Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

The 69 mile long Folsom South Canal originates at Nimbus Dam on the American River in Sacramento County and extends southward, paralleling and to the east of State Highway 99 through San Joaquin County. Canal bikeway is open year round, and can be accessed at many locations. Call for details.

Directions

Nimbus Dam on the American River in Sacramento County and extends southward, paralleling and to the east of State Highway 99 through San Joaquin County.