Table Rock Lake, Missouri
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
When it comes to Missouri camping, you’ve surely heard of Lake of the Ozarks. The Table Rock Lake area, however, has boomed in recent years and is a fantastic camping destination for all. At an astonishing 43,100 acres, the massive lake is actually man made, created by a dam installed on the White River back in 1943.
Today, the Table Rock Lake area is one of Missouri’s most popular, thriving tourist and camping destinations. Visitors come from all over the country to enjoy a wide array of water sports and world-class fishing, as well as the extensive entertainment options in the nearby town of Branson. Whether you’re looking for pristine nature or modern thrills, Table Rock Lake has got you covered.
Visiting a big lake? Well, yeah, you’ve got to get out on the water! There are tons of marinas around (including one at Table Rock State Park) that offer boat rental for just about anything including: pontoons, ski boats, fishing boats, kayaks, wave runners, and more. The unique shape of the lake creates tons of twists and turns and little coves and fingers to explore. For a unique experience, you can even visit some lakeside restaurants by boat. Just pull your boat up to the dock and enjoy!
When you rent your boat, check with the marinas on what water sport rental gear is available. Try something new like tubing, wakeboarding, or water skiing. One thing to note, it is a great idea to take a Missouri boater education course to ensure everyone’s safety and that the local laws are followed.
Table Rock Lake is nationally-renowned as an elite largemouth bass fishery. In fact, the professional Bassmaster championship fishing circuit has held a dozen high-stakes tournaments at Table Rock. When fishing for bass at Table Rock Lake, focus on the small ‘fingers’ that break off from the main body of water and fish near shore or around structures like downed trees or rocks.
Bass aren’t the only fish you can hook into at Table Rock Lake. Enjoy a more casual ‘let it sit’ fishing experience for flathead and channel catfish (also delicious for dinner, if you like). There are also massive black and white crappie, great sportfish for the kiddos to enjoy. If you’re an angling veteran, you’ll have a rare opportunity to catch a prehistoric paddlefish in the spring.
Most of Table Rock Lake is contained within a number of state or nature parks with fantastic trail systems. Dogwood Canyon Nature Park has more than 10,000 acres to explore with both paved and unpaved hiking trails. There are also additional activities inside the park, so an admission fee is required.
Table Rock State Park also has five scenic trails. From just one mile, all the way up to 11.5, you can decide the level of experience you want. Trails are geared toward lakeside views, forest exploration, and scenic overlooks.
Just north of the lake is an underground world waiting to be explored. Head to Talking Rocks Cavern for a unique adventure that’s sure to excite everyone in your group. During your one-hour tour, you’ll learn all about the unique geological history of the area and be able to view amazing cave crystals and formations.
Afterward, there are a number of additional activities for continued fun. Play a round of mini golf, mine for gemstones at the sluice box, or hike one of the four nature trails on site. A visit to Talking Rocks Cavern makes for a whole afternoon of family fun.
Perhaps just as popular as the lake, the city of Branson has tons of modern entertainment and amenities to offer visitors. Looking for excitement? Check out the multiple amusement parks or the Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum. Culture? There are a variety of theaters that put on terrific productions of plays, musicals, and more. Food? There’s just about every restaurant you can imagine in Branson.
Honestly, there’s just too much to list when it comes to enjoying your visit to Branson. Some additional attractions include golf, shopping, distilleries, breweries, and so much more. If you’re looking to shake up the usual camping stop, hop into Branson for all the fun and excitement you can handle.
There are two different campgrounds at Table Rock State Park with more than 100 RV-friendly sites. These campgrounds are exceptionally rich in amenities compared to your typical state or national park campground. RV campers will have access to full hookup sites, if they desire, and if you opt for a premium electric site, you can also get 50-amp electrical service. Additional amenities include bathhouses, laundry, and playgrounds. Campground One contains an amphitheater where entertaining programs are periodically put on by park staff. If you would like close access to the marina, choose Campground Two.
Get the best of both worlds at Branson Lakeside RV Park. Situated on the water, the campground is also within the city limits of Branson with quick access food and fun. The campground offers 135 RV campsites with full hookup access and free Wi-Fi. Amenities include: a laundry facility, bathhouses, picnic shelters, and lakeside campsites (for an additional fee). Campers will also enjoy the free trolley that takes you to downtown Brandon and the onsite marina for your boat.
In western Branson near the theater district, the Musicland Kampground is well-situated for campers to enjoy all of town’s music shows and is also just a mile or so from the lake. The campground is fairly large with more than 100 campsites offering full hookup capability, if you desire. Guests will enjoy amenities such as the pool, camp store, rec room, laundromat, Wi-Fi, and more. As a campground guest, you will also receive a special discount for certain show tickets.
The Branson area is busy with excited tourists and campers. If you are looking for a more natural, peaceful camping experience, take a look at Indian Point Campground. Situated on a peninsula on the lake, this campground provides a much more typical camping experience. The 74 campsites are well spread out and a number even have electric and water hookups. For your convenience, the campground also offers a dump station, bathhouse, marina, and designated swimming area.
On the southern end of the lake, even farther from Branson, the Mill Creek Campground is another great option for campers looking for a more natural and peaceful option. The majority of the campground’s 67 sites are water adjacent and some offer RV campers water and electrical hookups. Lake access is a breeze from any site you choose, and guests will also enjoy the bathhouses, basketball courts, playgrounds, volleyball courts, and barbeques stationed throughout the grounds.
With large lakes like Table Rock, restaurants on the water will often have docks for you to pull your boat right up and enjoy some great food. The lake itself is massive, so you’ll have to do a little research to see which ones are actually close to your campsite. For food on the water, you’ll have choices like pizza, grills, pubs, and restaurants featuring fried catfish, of course. If you’re staying within the Table Rock State Park, there is also a cafe and a diner on site.
By far the best option for dining away from the lake has to be Branson. Apart from the plenty of southern comfort establishments, diners will also find Thai, Italian, burgers, pizza, seafood, Greek, sushi, barbeque, many bars, and much more. If you are not staying near the eastern end of the lake, your options will be far more limited, and your closest options will then likely be on the lake itself. There are a handful of chains in the Shell Knob area, however, in case that’s close to where you’d like to camp.
No matter where you stay, the expansiveness of Table Rock Lake has something new and exciting to offer at every twist and turn. Whether you spend your time quietly fishing in one the lake’s many coves or getting into all of the exciting entertainment options in Branson, a visit to the Table Rock Lake area will make a lasting impression on any camper.