Basketball

Jellystone Park™ Mark Twain Lake

7 RV Sites, 33 Cabins, 12 Tent Sites, 1 Lodge

Jellystone Park at Mark Twain Lake in Monroe City, Missouri, delivers the full Yogi Bear resort camping experience on the shores of Mark Twain Lake—a 18,600-acre reservoir on the Salt River in the northeastern Missouri prairie—creating a destination that combines one of the Midwest's most comprehensive Jellystone activity rosters with the fishing, boating, and natural exploration opportunities of a major Missouri reservoir set in the landscape of Mark Twain's boyhood territory along the Mississippi River's western bank. The park's extraordinary amenity depth and the lake's recreational resources combine to make this one of the Jellystone system's most capable Midwest family destinations. The park's resort infrastructure is exceptional even by Jellystone standards: a water park with splash pad, lazy river, and pool, mini-golf, a snack bar, bar, boutique shop, general store, golf cart rentals, boat storage, RV storage, full hookup sites, and cabin rentals form the physical plant, while the activity calendar delivers gold panning and gem mining, jumping pillow, gaga ball, horseshoes, corn hole, laser tag, volleyball, basketball, biking, stargazing, live music and entertainment, and the signature Yogi Bear character experiences that define the Jellystone brand's family entertainment identity. The pond and lake access extend the fishing and non-motorized water recreation opportunities beyond the water park. Mark Twain Lake, completed in 1984 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, was named in honor of Missouri's most celebrated literary son—Samuel Clemens, who grew up in Hannibal on the Mississippi River approximately 35 miles east of Monroe City—and the reservoir's name celebrates the connection between the northeastern Missouri landscape and the American literature it produced. The Salt River's impoundment created a diverse fishery for largemouth and striped bass, white crappie, walleye, and channel catfish in a reservoir whose numerous coves and points provide structure that supports one of Missouri's most productive multi-species fishing environments. Mark Twain's Hannibal, on the Mississippi River approximately 35 miles east via US-36, is the defining pilgrimage destination for American literature enthusiasts—a small Mississippi River city where the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum, the cave that inspired Tom Sawyer's adventures in McDougal's Cave, Cardiff Hill, and the riverfront that shaped Clemens's imagination are preserved and interpreted in a heritage district that draws visitors from across the world. The Mark Twain State Park on the lake's shore provides additional fishing access, camping, and hiking in the surrounding oak and hickory woodland. Jellystone Park Mark Twain Lake operates seasonally from spring through early fall, with summer's school-vacation peak filling the water park and Jellystone activity programming from June through August and the fall fishing season extending meaningful outdoor recreation through October. The summer holiday weekends—Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day—represent the most competitive reservation periods, and families targeting these windows should book as early as the reservation system allows. The lake's consistent bass fishing, the water park's multi-activity recreation, and the Mark Twain heritage day trip create a vacation package of genuine depth for Midwest families within driving distance of northeastern Missouri.

from $25/night

Basswood Resort

57 RV Sites, 5 Tent Sites

Basswood Resort in Platte City, Missouri, offers 57 full-hookup RV sites and five tent sites 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, cable TV, and rigs accepted to 85 feet. Deluxe, premium, and standard back-in and pull-through categories join an outdoor pool, disc golf course, jumping pillow, and lake. Fifty-seven sites span standard back-in 20/30/50-amp, standard pull-thru 20/30/50-amp, standard, deluxe back-in, deluxe pull-thru, and premium back-in categories, all carrying water, sewer, and electric with cable TV and site WiFi, sized to 85 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Eighty-five feet accommodates the longest coaches with a tow. Five tent sites, cabins, and trailer rentals round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, showers, and golf cart rentals handle the practical side. An outdoor pool anchors the summer, with a disc golf course, jumping pillow, fitness center, clubhouse, gaga ball, pickleball, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, corn hole, walking trails, hiking, a lake, playground, and dog park filling the rest. Fishing and planned activities round it out, with a golf course, casino, and amusement park nearby. Platte County feels genuinely rural — livestock pastures, creek valleys, and Missouri hardwood forest — while keeping Kansas City's barbecue, jazz history, and professional sports 30 minutes away. Kansas City International Airport is close, which makes this practical for fly-in guests picking up a rig. Summer drives the heaviest demand, with spring and fall the most comfortable months. Reserve well ahead for warm-weather weekends and Kansas City event dates.

from $47/night

Pin Oak RV Resort

144 RV Sites, 5 Cabins

Pin Oak RV Resort in Villa Ridge, Missouri, is a full-hookup resort with cabin rentals, an outdoor pool, a lake with a beach, a recreation center and mini-golf, 40 miles west of St. Louis on the historic Route 66 corridor. Sites take rigs up to 65 feet, and each site allows a maximum of eight people. Full-hookup RV sites accommodate rigs to 65 feet. Cabin rentals serve guests traveling without an RV, and personal mailboxes and on-site laundry support the longer-stay and seasonal guests the resort draws. A general store stocks camp basics, propane fills and firewood are available, and bathrooms and showers are on site. WiFi reaches the property. No wristbands are required to use the amenities; visitors pay $10 per car and check in at the office, and they are welcome to use the pool and other facilities. On-site recreation is the resort's strength. An outdoor pool and a lake with its own beach cover the swimming season, and fishing is available on the property's lake and pond. Mini-golf, a ball field, sports courts, basketball, volleyball, horseshoes and shuffleboard spread across the grounds, with an arcade, ping pong and a craft room in the recreation center for indoor days. Walking and hiking trails run the property, a playground and a covered pavilion serve families and groups, and a fenced dog park is on site. Pets are welcome. Meramec Caverns is 10 miles east in Stanton — a 4.6-mile cave system with five stories of limestone formations and the barn-billboard advertising legacy that made it Route 66's most pre-advertised roadside stop. The Meramec River sustains one of Missouri's most actively paddled float corridors, and Hermann's German-heritage wineries are 35 miles west. Pin Oak operates year-round. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for Route 66 driving, cave touring and Meramec floating, and the winter months carry steady snowbird traffic using I-44 south. Reserve ahead for summer peak and for the April-to-October float season.

from $40/night

Sun Retreats Rock River

142 RV Sites, 52 Tent Sites, 7 Cottages

Sun Retreats Rock River in Hillsdale, Illinois, offers 142 RV sites, seven cottages, and 52 tent sites on the Rock River, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 55 feet behind a gated entrance. Deluxe waterfront and 50-amp pull-through categories join a splash pad, beach, mini-golf, and fitness center on concrete pads with patios. One hundred forty-two sites span deluxe water-and-electric 30-amp, deluxe water-and-electric 50-amp, deluxe water-and-electric 50-amp pull-through, and deluxe waterfront categories, carrying water, sewer, and electric where noted with site WiFi, sized to 55 feet, with fire pits, picnic tables, and BBQ pits. Seasonal concrete-pad sites with patios are the property's signature. Seven cottages and 52 tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, laundry, propane fills and exchange, restrooms, showers, firewood, RV storage, and boat storage handle the practical side. The property was formerly Sunset Lakes RV Resort. An outdoor pool and splash pad anchor the summer, with a lake, beach, and boat docks supporting boating, paddle boats, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Mini-golf, a fitness center, craft room, library, jumping pillow, gaga ball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, and corn hole fill the grounds, with walking trails, a playground, dog park, snack bar, and on-site dining besides. Pets are welcome. The Quad Cities sit 15 minutes south, with the Rock River's limestone bluffs framing the property. Summer is the season. Reserve well ahead.

from $49/night

Candy Cane RV Park & Campground

9 RV Sites, 3 Tent Sites

Candy Cane RV Park & Campground in Steelville, Missouri, offers nine full-hookup RV sites and three tent sites three minutes from downtown, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 45 feet. An outdoor pool, mini-golf, and a family-owned operation that charges nothing extra for the shower house or dump station make this an intentionally small-scale Ozarks stop. Nine sites carry water, sewer, and electric on 30-amp back-in and 50-amp pull-through configurations, sized to 45 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. Three tent sites cover simpler camping. Laundry, restrooms, showers, a dump station, and WiFi handle the practical side — and the shower house and dump station carry no charge, which small family-owned Ozark campgrounds maintain as a point of hospitality. An outdoor pool anchors the warm months, with an 18-hole miniature golf course, sports courts, basketball, volleyball, and a pavilion filling the grounds. Swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking run from the area, with live music through the season and a state park nearby. Pets are welcome. Steelville sits in the Meramec River valley at the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, where spring-fed streams, float rivers, and karst geology of the Salem Plateau created Missouri's float-trip camping culture. The Meramec River is five miles away and Meramec Spring Park — with its natural spring, trout hatchery, and trail system — is ten minutes out. Downtown Steelville's restaurants, including Rich's Famous Burgers and the Spare Rib Inn, are three minutes from the sites. Float season drives summer demand. With nine sites, reserve well ahead for any warm-weather weekend.

from $25/night

Jellystone Park™ Monticello

188 RV Sites, 8 Cabins, 9 Tent Sites

Jellystone Park Monticello in Iowa offers 188 RV sites, eight cabins, and nine tent sites on the Maquoketa River, with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, ADA-accessible sites, and rigs accepted up to 120 feet. Premium riverside, full hookup, and electric-only categories join a splash pad, disc golf course, and beach in Jones County. One hundred eighty-eight sites span 20/30-amp electric back-in, 20/30/50-amp electric back-in, 30/50-amp full hookup back-in, 30/50-amp full hookup pull-through, and premium riverside categories, sized to 120 feet, with fire pits and picnic tables. The 120-foot capacity is exceptional, and the electric-only tier gives self-contained rigs a lower rate. Accessible sites are available. Eight cabins and nine tent sites round out the lodging. A general store, boutique shop, laundry, propane fills, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side. Day use runs $10 per person, with WIBIT passes $20 Sunday through Friday. A splash pad, outdoor pool, and inflatable water toys anchor the summer, with the river and lake supporting boat rentals, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and a beach. A disc golf course, jumping pillow, basketball, gem mining, golf cart rentals, a playground, on-site dining, and a bar fill the rest, with live music and planned activities through the season. Pets are welcome. Monticello sits between Dubuque and Cedar Rapids, near Maquoketa Caves State Park. Summer is decisively the season. Reserve well ahead.

from $31/night

Fishing Tales Resort

11 RV Sites

Fishing Tales Resort in Lebanon, Missouri, provides a cabin and full hookup RV resort experience in Laclede County's Ozark hill country just miles from Bennett Spring State Park, where one of Missouri's most beloved spring-fed trout fisheries draws dedicated fly fishers and trout stocking enthusiasts to the Niangua River corridor in the heart of the Ozark Plateau. The resort's strategic position in the Bennett Spring fishing community serves the dedicated angling visitors whose Lebanon-area stays are structured around the daily hatchery-release fishing at Bennett Spring alongside the broader Ozark outdoor recreation landscape of rivers, state parks, and the clear-sky stargazing that remote Laclede County's low light pollution makes genuinely spectacular. The resort's amenity package serves both fishing-focused and broader outdoor recreation visitors: cabin rentals for enclosed group accommodation, full hookup RV sites, an outdoor pool, hot tub and sauna for post-fishing relaxation, general store for tackle and essential supplies, laundry, showers, playground, and Wi-Fi provide the complete infrastructure for extended angling and outdoor recreation stays. River and stream access through the property connects guests directly to the Ozark waterway system that defines the region's recreational character, and the stargazing enabled by Laclede County's distance from major metropolitan light pollution creates evening recreation of genuine quality alongside the basketball court's daytime social activity. The bird and wildlife watching in the surrounding Ozark woodland adds naturalist appeal to the fishing-centered itinerary. Bennett Spring State Park, approximately 12 miles west of Lebanon via MO-64, is one of Missouri's most intensively visited fishing destinations and the site of Missouri's annual opening trout season on the first Thursday of March—a cultural tradition in which thousands of anglers gather at the spring before dawn to participate in the season's first stocking release in a communal fishing event unique in the American fishing calendar. The park's crystal-clear spring, discharging an average of 100 million gallons of cold water daily at a constant 56 degrees, creates a year-round trout habitat in a natural spring branch of exceptional clarity and beauty that has been Missouri's most popular trout fishing site for over a century. The Gasconade River, Missouri's most consistently productive float fishing stream for smallmouth bass, flows through Laclede County and the surrounding Ozark counties in a clear-water float corridor that canoe outfitters have served from the Bennett Spring area since the mid-twentieth century development of float fishing as the Ozarks' dominant recreational water activity. Lake of the Ozarks, approximately 25 miles northeast of Lebanon, provides the Ozarks' largest reservoir with marinas, boat rentals, and the entertainment infrastructure of the Lake of the Ozarks community that supplements the Lebanon area's natural outdoor recreation with commercial lake resort amenities. Fishing Tales Resort operates year-round in Laclede County's Ozark climate, with the Bennett Spring trout season from March 1 through October 31 driving the most intense fishing-related demand and the March 1 opening day creating the resort's single most anticipated reservation window of the entire year. Summer's warm Ozark temperatures make the pool and hot tub the most popular on-property recreation, and fall's foliage season in October transforms the Ozark ridges surrounding Lebanon into a hardwood color display that extends the resort's appeal beyond the dedicated fishing community to the broader Ozark outdoor recreation visitors who follow the season's color progression south from Missouri's northern counties.

from $50/night

Wilder Park

52 RV Sites, 6 Tent Sites

Wilder Park in Allison, Iowa, offers 51 RV sites and six tent sites across 88 acres, with 30 and 50-amp service and rigs accepted to 50 feet. Full-hookup and water-and-electric categories in both back-in and pull-through join two fishing ponds, a disc golf course, mini-golf, and a storm shelter. Fifty-one sites run in 30/50-amp water-and-electric back-in, water-electric-and-sewer back-in, and water-electric-and-sewer pull-through categories, sized to 50 feet, with fire pits and site WiFi. Six tent sites round out the accommodations. A dump station, restrooms, showers, and firewood handle the practical side, and a storm shelter sits on the grounds — a genuine safety feature in Iowa. The recreational range is unusually broad for a park this size. Two fishing ponds support angling and paddle boats, with a boat ramp for canoeing and kayaking. A disc golf course, mini-golf, ball field, sports courts, volleyball, basketball, pickleball, walking trails, hiking, biking, a playground, dog park, library, and community fire pit fill the 88 acres, with planned activities through the season. Off-roading is nearby. Pets are welcome. Allison sits on Iowa Highway 3 in Butler County, and the park works as both a genuine destination and a practical overnight for travelers crossing the state. The J&C Grocery, Allison Variety Store, and municipal swimming pool are in town, with Waverly 25 minutes away, Cedar Falls 35, Mason City 60, and five golf courses in the area. Summer is peak. Reserve ahead for warm-weather weekends.

from $16/night

Whitetail Bluff Campground

46 RV Sites, 5 Cabins

On the bluffs above the Mississippi River in Grant County, Wisconsin, Whitetail Bluff Campground and Resort occupies one of the most visually commanding positions of any campground on the upper Mississippi corridor—elevated above the river, with hiking trails that lead to views across the valley floor and the bluffs of the Iowa shore beyond. The combination of a well-equipped family resort operation and direct access to the Mississippi River's natural and recreational resources makes Whitetail Bluff an especially well-positioned destination for families and couples who want both camp-resort amenities and a genuinely spectacular natural setting. In the Grant County bluff country, the scenery earns its billing. The campground's 47 sites include 32 full hookup configurations, five electric-only sites, and 10 primitive tent sites, with deluxe and sleeping cabin rentals available for guests who prefer enclosed accommodation. A zero-depth beach-entry swimming pool is the warm-weather gathering point, complemented by a swimming pond with large inflatable attractions that give the aquatic recreation a different character for different moods. A jumping pillow, playground, basketball court, volleyball court, and pedal carts provide land-based activity options. The family-friendly clubhouse with its restaurant, bar, and game room functions as the campground's social hub, with live music programming through the summer season adding an entertainment dimension. Laundry, a dump station, WiFi, and a camp store handle the practical needs of an extended stay. The bluff-top setting translates directly into hiking trail quality. Trails from the campground wind through the forested blufftops and descend to river-level terrain, providing views of the Mississippi that reward the elevation change with the kind of panoramic river-valley perspective that explains why this stretch of the Great River Road is consistently ranked among the most beautiful drives in America. Wildlife is abundant—bald eagles, great blue herons, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys are daily presences in the bluff-and-floodplain ecosystem—and the river itself is an enduring backdrop to every activity. The Grant County region extends the experience beyond the campground property. Kayak, tube, and canoe rentals on the Grant River provide additional paddling access to the river system just downstream from the Mississippi confluence. The Potosi Brewing Company—one of Wisconsin's most celebrated craft breweries, occupying a beautifully restored historic building in the river town of Potosi—is a short drive for guests who appreciate a well-made beer in a genuinely historic setting. The Dickeyville Grotto, one of Wisconsin's most distinctive folk art sites, provides a remarkable roadside attraction of national significance. Wyalusing State Park, a few miles away, adds state park hiking and camping infrastructure to the region. Whitetail Bluff Campground operates through the Wisconsin camping season from spring through fall. Summer weekends fill the campground quickly, with live music weekends and holiday weekends booking fastest. Fall foliage on the Mississippi bluffs is among the most spectacular in the upper Midwest—the combination of river valley hardwoods and the bluff-top perspective produces color displays that bring leaf-peepers specifically to the Grant County corridor each October. Book early for fall weekends and summer holidays, pack the kayak gear, and let the Mississippi River bluff country deliver what it promises.