The best bell tents near Lake Lotawana

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With a name that translates to “sparkling waters,” the town of Lake Lotawana is named for Missouri’s largest private lake. It is far enough from Kansas City to feel like a relaxed retreat, while still offering easy access to the city for sightseeing and more. To access the 400-acres of water, you’ll need an invitation from a resident, though a number of upscale restaurants offer waterfront views. To the north and west, Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit are extensions of the KC suburbs, offering some private RV parks with amenities like full hookups and free wifi.

94% (44)

Top-rated campgrounds

Inntirety Forest Healing Center

1. Inntirety Forest Healing Center

98%
(47)
33mi from Lake Lotawana · 5 sites · Lodging · Edwardsville, KS
Transform Your Story Into A Fairytale. Reawaken Your Inner Child & Reconnect With Your Authentic Self In A 5-acre Enchanted Forest. The Inntirety Healing Center is a wilderness retreat and glamping area in Kansas City, KS. It offers a path for awakening your body, heart, and mind and restoring harmony with life through self-discovery and emergence into the senses. Inntirety is a forest restoration project powered by love, and it will forever be a work in progress! The camping areas and trails leading to them are groomed, finished, and regularly maintained. Please consider that Inntirety is not in the 'luxury' camping category, as this is not our intention. We try to integrate into the natural setting and provide an intimate and immersive experience by combining earthing, exploration, play, and discovery. We have beautiful and unique amenities, including a forest barrel sauna, a wood fire-heated clawfoot tub flower bath experience, a mini zipline, an outdoor shower, and hanging tree pods. Finally, enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast, which you can self-prepare! We supply homemade waffle mix, oatmeal, coffee, and tea. This land holds so much history, and unfortunately, prior inhabitants used a small area within this beautiful forest as a dumping ground for old appliances, car parts, and other retired debris. We are carefully working on removing and restoring this space as we can. As a nod to the prior inhabitants of this land, we are carefully collecting any artifacts found and reintegrating them into our building projects or transforming them into found-object art pieces. 10 minutes from The Legends, Speedway, and American Royal(coming soon). 10 minutes from Azura Amphitheater & Renissance Festival Grounds. 20 minutes from Downtown Kansas City, Historic River Market KC, The Crossroads. 20 minutes from Overland Park Convention Center. We are a substance, alcohol-free area for many reasons. A bottle of wine or something to sip on by the fire is acceptable, but Inntirety is a place of healing and exploration. Thank you for observing this request. We live on the property in the main house. Google Maps is mildly accurate, but it is like saying we are located at our neighbor's property. The house is green and has a wrap-around deck. If you aren't sure, please feel free to text me. We want to acknowledge that Inntirety Healing Center is on the traditional, ancestral, and current home of Native Americans, Indigenous, and First Nations people. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the many tribal groups from our area, including the Jíwere, Kaw/Kansa, Otoe-Missouria, Shawnee, and Kickapoo tribes. We honor the elders, both past and present, and this calls us to continue to learn their stories and how to be better stewards of the land we occupy. Camping/Glamping Sites We have four glamping areas: two bell tents, a vintage pop-up camper, a tiny treehouse cabin, and a more primitive camping area with a tee-pee-style tent. Each site has a firepit or chiminea. If it is unsafe to burn, we will let you know. If conditions are dangerous for burning, each site has a mini BBQ grill. It is very important to keep your door zipped or shut. We try our hardest to keep bugs out so you are comfortable within. Each site has insense, and this is a magical bug detourant. Inntirety Cafe / Lounge Mini-Kitchen Area If you don't feel like cooking or preparing your morning coffee at your site, you can use the community mini-kitchen area in the Inntirety Cafe. There are cooking utensils, a 2-burner electric stovetop, a French press, an electric kettle, and pots and pans. There is also a water station within the kitchen area. There is complimentary coffee, tea, creamer, sugar, butter, cooking oil, and a few other items for cooking. Please clean up the area if you decide to use the community mini-kitchen. * We do not have running water inside the community area, but a sink is set up near the Forest Sauna for washing dishes. Inntirety Lounge Our community lounge is located within the Inntirety Cafe. Inside, you will find books, games, art supplies, and more. You are welcome to cool off, chill out, and relax during your stay. If you would like to borrow a book, game, etc., to return it to your campsite, please return it upon leaving. Solar Shower Just outside of the Forest Sauna is a solar shower with a small changing area. We have a water warming station near the outdoor sink to use for your shower. Inside the cafe, there is a laundry basket you can place your laundry in after you are done. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are in a basket by the shower. Solar Shower Instructions: If you want a warm shower, plug in the water heater near the sink. It takes about 1 hour to heat the water. Fill the white bucket with water. Walk over to the solar shower area and place it on the cinder blocks. Put water pump in the bucket. To turn on the pump, press the button for 3 seconds first and then once to activate. Groomed Trails The Inntirety forest has a groomed trail about a 3/4 mile loop. If you go off the trail, please be aware that you will probably get poison ivy, ticks, and other things you might not want to bring home as a souvenir. Please stay on the trails. Zip Line We have a 100ft zip line that guests are free to use. Please sign a waiver in the lounge before usage. Forest Spa Add-Ons: Wilderness Barrel Sauna Please let us know if you would like to use the sauna. It takes some time for it to heat up. Further instruction is at the sauna. We will ask that you sign a liability release if you want to use the sauna.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$33
 / night
SundanceKC Ranch

2. SundanceKC Ranch

93%
(7)
29mi from Lake Lotawana · 6 sites · Lodging · Excelsior Springs, MO
Come enjoy our beautiful 200-acre national park-esque ranch fringed in gorgeous limestone boulders surrounding a spring-fed 15-acre private lake. Make lasting memories with your family and friends swimming, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding and, of course, excellent fishing! From glowing tree houses floating above ephemeral streams to Bedouin-style canvas tents perched above rugged stone valleys, this is the way to experience nature at it's finest. With a choice of unique and magical rustic "camp" sites or beautiful, modern accommodations, our serene landscape offers outdoor activities for every skill level and all the amenities one could desire. Located just minutes from Kansas City we are an excellent location for your next stay-cation! Inspired to merge with the unparalleled beauty of our rugged, serene landscape, our unique accommodations reflect a simple, yet sophisticated ambiance. Surround yourself with the comfort of plush bedding and relaxed furnishings, all enhanced by a warm palette of sunny colors that welcome the dawn of the new day. Charm meets modern convenience with complimentary Wi-Fi and a flat-screen television lakeside in the common area.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$211
 / night

With a name that translates to “sparkling waters,” the town of Lake Lotawana is named for Missouri’s largest private lake. It is far enough from Kansas City to feel like a relaxed retreat, while still offering easy access to the city for sightseeing and more. To access the 400-acres of water, you’ll need an invitation from a resident, though a number of upscale restaurants offer waterfront views. To the north and west, Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit are extensions of the KC suburbs, offering some private RV parks with amenities like full hookups and free wifi.

94% (44)

Top-rated campgrounds

Inntirety Forest Healing Center

1. Inntirety Forest Healing Center

98%
(47)
33mi from Lake Lotawana · 5 sites · Lodging · Edwardsville, KS
Transform Your Story Into A Fairytale. Reawaken Your Inner Child & Reconnect With Your Authentic Self In A 5-acre Enchanted Forest. The Inntirety Healing Center is a wilderness retreat and glamping area in Kansas City, KS. It offers a path for awakening your body, heart, and mind and restoring harmony with life through self-discovery and emergence into the senses. Inntirety is a forest restoration project powered by love, and it will forever be a work in progress! The camping areas and trails leading to them are groomed, finished, and regularly maintained. Please consider that Inntirety is not in the 'luxury' camping category, as this is not our intention. We try to integrate into the natural setting and provide an intimate and immersive experience by combining earthing, exploration, play, and discovery. We have beautiful and unique amenities, including a forest barrel sauna, a wood fire-heated clawfoot tub flower bath experience, a mini zipline, an outdoor shower, and hanging tree pods. Finally, enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast, which you can self-prepare! We supply homemade waffle mix, oatmeal, coffee, and tea. This land holds so much history, and unfortunately, prior inhabitants used a small area within this beautiful forest as a dumping ground for old appliances, car parts, and other retired debris. We are carefully working on removing and restoring this space as we can. As a nod to the prior inhabitants of this land, we are carefully collecting any artifacts found and reintegrating them into our building projects or transforming them into found-object art pieces. 10 minutes from The Legends, Speedway, and American Royal(coming soon). 10 minutes from Azura Amphitheater & Renissance Festival Grounds. 20 minutes from Downtown Kansas City, Historic River Market KC, The Crossroads. 20 minutes from Overland Park Convention Center. We are a substance, alcohol-free area for many reasons. A bottle of wine or something to sip on by the fire is acceptable, but Inntirety is a place of healing and exploration. Thank you for observing this request. We live on the property in the main house. Google Maps is mildly accurate, but it is like saying we are located at our neighbor's property. The house is green and has a wrap-around deck. If you aren't sure, please feel free to text me. We want to acknowledge that Inntirety Healing Center is on the traditional, ancestral, and current home of Native Americans, Indigenous, and First Nations people. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the many tribal groups from our area, including the Jíwere, Kaw/Kansa, Otoe-Missouria, Shawnee, and Kickapoo tribes. We honor the elders, both past and present, and this calls us to continue to learn their stories and how to be better stewards of the land we occupy. Camping/Glamping Sites We have four glamping areas: two bell tents, a vintage pop-up camper, a tiny treehouse cabin, and a more primitive camping area with a tee-pee-style tent. Each site has a firepit or chiminea. If it is unsafe to burn, we will let you know. If conditions are dangerous for burning, each site has a mini BBQ grill. It is very important to keep your door zipped or shut. We try our hardest to keep bugs out so you are comfortable within. Each site has insense, and this is a magical bug detourant. Inntirety Cafe / Lounge Mini-Kitchen Area If you don't feel like cooking or preparing your morning coffee at your site, you can use the community mini-kitchen area in the Inntirety Cafe. There are cooking utensils, a 2-burner electric stovetop, a French press, an electric kettle, and pots and pans. There is also a water station within the kitchen area. There is complimentary coffee, tea, creamer, sugar, butter, cooking oil, and a few other items for cooking. Please clean up the area if you decide to use the community mini-kitchen. * We do not have running water inside the community area, but a sink is set up near the Forest Sauna for washing dishes. Inntirety Lounge Our community lounge is located within the Inntirety Cafe. Inside, you will find books, games, art supplies, and more. You are welcome to cool off, chill out, and relax during your stay. If you would like to borrow a book, game, etc., to return it to your campsite, please return it upon leaving. Solar Shower Just outside of the Forest Sauna is a solar shower with a small changing area. We have a water warming station near the outdoor sink to use for your shower. Inside the cafe, there is a laundry basket you can place your laundry in after you are done. Body wash, shampoo, and conditioner are in a basket by the shower. Solar Shower Instructions: If you want a warm shower, plug in the water heater near the sink. It takes about 1 hour to heat the water. Fill the white bucket with water. Walk over to the solar shower area and place it on the cinder blocks. Put water pump in the bucket. To turn on the pump, press the button for 3 seconds first and then once to activate. Groomed Trails The Inntirety forest has a groomed trail about a 3/4 mile loop. If you go off the trail, please be aware that you will probably get poison ivy, ticks, and other things you might not want to bring home as a souvenir. Please stay on the trails. Zip Line We have a 100ft zip line that guests are free to use. Please sign a waiver in the lounge before usage. Forest Spa Add-Ons: Wilderness Barrel Sauna Please let us know if you would like to use the sauna. It takes some time for it to heat up. Further instruction is at the sauna. We will ask that you sign a liability release if you want to use the sauna.
Potable water
Toilets
Campfires
from 
$33
 / night
SundanceKC Ranch

2. SundanceKC Ranch

93%
(7)
29mi from Lake Lotawana · 6 sites · Lodging · Excelsior Springs, MO
Come enjoy our beautiful 200-acre national park-esque ranch fringed in gorgeous limestone boulders surrounding a spring-fed 15-acre private lake. Make lasting memories with your family and friends swimming, kayaking, or stand-up paddle boarding and, of course, excellent fishing! From glowing tree houses floating above ephemeral streams to Bedouin-style canvas tents perched above rugged stone valleys, this is the way to experience nature at it's finest. With a choice of unique and magical rustic "camp" sites or beautiful, modern accommodations, our serene landscape offers outdoor activities for every skill level and all the amenities one could desire. Located just minutes from Kansas City we are an excellent location for your next stay-cation! Inspired to merge with the unparalleled beauty of our rugged, serene landscape, our unique accommodations reflect a simple, yet sophisticated ambiance. Surround yourself with the comfort of plush bedding and relaxed furnishings, all enhanced by a warm palette of sunny colors that welcome the dawn of the new day. Charm meets modern convenience with complimentary Wi-Fi and a flat-screen television lakeside in the common area.
Pets
Potable water
Toilets
from 
$211
 / night

Stories from the community

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best bell tents near Lake Lotawana guide

Where to go

Lake Jacomo and Blue Springs Lake

Though Lake Lotawana is a private lake, there are plentiful public options nearby, offering wider accessibility. Lake Jacomo and Blue Springs Lake have 1700 acres of waters, with Fleming Park being a great jumping-off point for boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, and paddling. Three public campgrounds are operated by Jackson County Parks & Rec, including Longview Campground, Blue Springs Campground, and Jacomo Campground. Each offers basic and electric tent camping and RV sites, and some full hookup campsites are available.

Kansas City

Downtown Kansas City is just over 30 minutes west of Lake Lotawana. Head into town for big-city attractions, culture, history, nightlife, and more. Private RV parks are found across the metro region and through the suburbs, offering free wifi and full hookups. Venture outside of the city proper to find public campgrounds and outdoor recreation at Watkins Mill State Park and Weston Bend State Park, which have basic and electric tent and RV campsites.

Knob Noster State Park

The closest state park to Lake Lotawana is Knob Noster State Park, which showcases two lakes and a variety of recreational opportunities, including paddling, fishing, biking, and hiking. The onsite campground has RV and tent sites, both with and without electric hookups. The McAdoo Trail offers backpackers trailside primitive camping, as well.

When to go

If the lakes are your destination, summer is a best bet, though temperatures can rise into the 90s and above. Humidity is to be expected, but the cool waters provide a refreshing contrast. Spring is generally pleasant, though lake waters remain chilly late into the season. While fall isn’t best for swimming, it is a scenic time for a drive or hike, with good weather and colorful landscapes.

Popular Lake Lotawana glamping styles