The best camping near Van Meter State Park

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Van Meter State Park adventure.

Native American history comes to life in this scenic state park.  

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Community favorites near Van Meter State Park

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Top-rated campgrounds near Van Meter State Park

99%
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Selby Farm Horse Retirement

10 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Wooldridge, MO
Summary: Easy access from I-70 Great views. Usually very quiet except for wildlife sounds Portapottie at both camping areas Great star viewing. Excellent conditions for pets Hosts live nearby and are good communicators via text or phone. Hosts can direct you to several local attractions and shopping options. Hosts are happy to take questions before, during, or after your stay. Narrative about Selby Farm: Selbys have lived on this 75 acre farm since 1990. Doug and Brenda are retired from teaching at nearby public schools. Our Farm is now dedicated to boarding retired horses for their owners. Feel free to review the Selby Farm Horse Retirement webpage if you are a horse fan. We encourage you to visit our business website where you will see more farm pictures, videos, and where you will learn more about us. We practice rotational grazing for the health of the horses and the health of our pastures. The horses live in a herd as they would in the wild. Basically, they are hanging out with their friends! They also get regular care and feed and so are VERY happy. You will see and probably interact with the horses if you wish. They are guaranteed to come closer if you have treats like carrots and apples slices. Our quiet county road used to be the main road along the river. A hundred years ago it was called "Shanty Road". The shacks that were along it housed workers that harvested food from farms in the river bottom. The only evidence of those shacks now is perrenial flowers growing in unusual places. The area is inhabited by professionals working in nearby towns and cities. In fact there are only five homes along our 1.5 mile section of Copps Chapel Road. The native Americans who used this area did so because of the great diversity of wildlife and availability of water. Also the view is amazing in all directions. Was using this ridge top encampment for security, or just because the view is so satisfying? The Missouri River is on the far side of the bottoms now, but has been very close historically. There is also a large spring flowing from a cave nearby. Witness the flint chips when you walk through our barn lot. You are likely to see a broken stone tool that was once worked on by a native American. These river hills are composed of soils blown in from the end of the last ice age. Being near the river, erosion has cut down the surrounding area making the scenic topography associated with Missouri River valleys and river hills.
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$23.50
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99%
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Harmony Lake Farm Park & Playground

30 sites · RVs, Tents45 acres · Wellington, MO
Harmony Lake welcomes you to our Farm. We are proud to be a registered member of Missouri Agritourism. Agritourism connects our guests with the great outdoors via Farm Stay. We hope you enjoy your stay at Harmony Lake Farm. We are walking distance to Harmony Lake: a private 12-acre lake for fishing, swimming and paddle boats. Our lake is home to record large-mouth bass and Missouri's longest free-floating walkway leading to a private island. We are located just 15-minutes from the highway and one hour to sites and attractions of Kansas City. We are 15-minutes to Lexington historic district or Odessa. We have a variety of tent and RV sites for your party to choose from so just reach out if you would like clarification on anything. Campfires and pets are allowed and all sites have access to bathrooms, a shower, bins, and an outdoor grill house.
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$25
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Green Acres at Red Brick Farmhouse

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents185 acres · Higginsville, MO
A quiet country retreat nestled in the picturesque rural outskirts of Higginsville, Missouri. Our yard consists of 3 acres of a 180-acre farm in which we have three RV sites with water and electric hookups, two camping sites and one on-site travel trailer for rent. Wifi is available at all sites, except for Site 3. Green Acres at Red Brick Farm is located just 50 miles east of Kansas City off of I-70 at Exit 49. Once you are off of I-70 your drive is less than 8 minutes away on all blacktop roads. At Exit 49 there is also a Pilot Station for RV fuel ups. Site 2 is on gravel with 30 amp hookup and water, preferably best for RV’s and trailers 25’ and under. Site 1 and Site 3 are on gravel with a 20/30/50 amp hookup and water, best suited for larger RV’s and trailers. We would prefer your travel trailer or RV length to be 35’ or under. You may choose your site location, but due to the small amount of sites we have we may have to alter your choice. This is so we can accommodate our guests in the best way possible, depending on the size of each rig. If you are towing a vehicle or pulling a trailer your total length should be 55’ or under. We will not accept Triple Axels. Site 4 and site 5 are for tents, pop ups, very tiny trailers and are in flexible locations. A 20 amp standard outlet can be provided for site 4 and site 5. For your use is a shower, toilet, and bathroom sink in our farmhouse basement. Please arrive before dusk, so you don’t disturb other campers. Site 6 Is the on-site travel trailer, ‘Ain’t She Cute’. No Pets are allowed when reserving ‘Ain’t She Cute’. The vintage style travel trailer is completely renovated and decorated with collectibles and antiques and is available for booking. It is furnished with a queen size bed, tiny kitchen, TV, wifi, and full size, not trailer size, bathroom. The trailer is for 2 guests, but an additional guest may sleep on the daybed, preferably a child or small adult. We live onsite in our 1920’s Prairie Style home which is also Red Brick Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast with three Guest Rooms available for booking. To find out more about our other lodging choices, contact us at Red Shanty Cafe in Higginsville, Missouri. At your disposal, is the use of our outdoor furniture, a large yard to walk around in, a fire pit, a BBQ grill, and even a tire swing. You are welcome to take a stroll along the winding country road or sit and relax and view the landscape with our dozens of mature shade trees, and surrounding row crop fields and pastures. Our restaurant, Red Shanty Cafe and BBQ, is located in the town of Higginsville, about 5 miles from Red Brick Farmhouse. Red Shanty Cafe is open Weds and Thurs, 11am - 8 pm and Fri and Sat, 11am - 9pm. There is also a great little breakfast diner, called Michelle’s Place located just 3 miles from the Farmhouse in Mayview, Missouri. Interested in sightseeing we are a short drive from Confederate State Park, Missouri Veteran's Cemetery, and several Civil War sites. In addition to historic sites, numerous of Missouri's finest wineries and orchards are just a 10 to 30 minute drive from our location. You may also want to take a drive or ride on the Old Trails Scenic Byway, Route 24 for a car or motorcycle tour that will reset your pace from city life. We truly hope you enjoy midwest living when visiting Green Acres at Red Brick Farmhouse. For the skilled driver of a RV or travel trailer, going around our circle driveway has not been a problem. We have witnessed a 55 foot truck and travel trailer combination do it with ease. When departing your stay please go slow, swing wide and stay on the gravel. Also have your companion help guide you around the circle drive. More about us: The proprietors of Red Brick Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast, ‘Ain't She Cute' and Green Acres at Red Brick Farmhouse RV and Campsites are Annette Meinershagen Dittmer and also on the broom closet staff is her husband, Kenton Dittmer. After working in several restaurants and becoming a Home Economics teacher, she came to the realization that she loved teaching Foods. Annette gained much inspiration from her mother and father in developing her gift for hospitality; preparing and serving meals for events and parties over the years. Along with her husband, Kenton, (a very talented building contractor) they have done much renovating of their 100 year old prairie style home and their original restaurant, Red Shanty BBQ and Roadside Cafe, located in Higginsville. Since opening the restaurant in 2008 Annette wanted to fulfill her dream of running a Bed and Breakfast, so in 2015 the venture began. In 2016 she added ‘Ain’t She Cute’ and the RV and camping sites. Annette and Kenton, natives of Higginsville, live on the property. More about the farm: Our quiet country retreat, in the picturesque rural outskirts of Higginsville, Missouri, has been in our family for four generations. Currently farming the land has been minimized just to row crops, but there was a time when there was a team consisting of a mule, named Jamie and horse, named Dan that tilled the soil for the crops. There were milk cows and the generations before me used a separator for the cream and milk. They had pigs, chickens, and another horse named Clipper that my mother road to school. They had several vegetable and fruit gardens and even planted peanuts. There are remnants of the old buildings that once stood on the farm. The old chicken house foundation is located near the current fire pit and a hand dug well is covered by an old tractor tire we use for our compost. The small shed in the back corner of the yard was once a pump house, a playhouse, then a chicken house and now a Junque house. There once was a barn, a silo, a feed lot, an outhouse, and a hog shed. There were old tires, iron wheels, brick piles, and a gas tank on stilts. There was a screened in porch, beautiful hydrangeas and still a wonderful front porch. There were lots and lots of large pecan and walnut trees. At one point there were over 60 wonderful shade trees in the yard. We have lost some, but still enjoy many of the trees my grandfather planted. My mother, her siblings and parents moved here in the early years of WWII. During that period of time her brother died flying over Germany fighting for us. Our children lived all their grade school and high school years in this Red Brick Farmhouse. Some winters were so terribly cold in this old house it was almost miserable. I love this old house and it is truly been a labor of love. Again, Thank you, Kenton and Annette
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$35
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Treloar Ranch

10 sites · RVs, Tents28 acres · Bates City, MO
We can’t wait to welcome you to Treloar Ranch. We have 28 beautiful acres for you to enjoy. RV electric and water hookups are available towards the back of our property. Enjoy the evening sitting under a tree lit with lanterns and a fire pit. You will have a view of our horses and donkey in the pasture with a sunset backdrop. Come enjoy the peaceful country not far from the major highways!
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$30
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95%
(42)

Big River Ranch

8 sites · RVs, Tents1600 acres · Lexington, MO
At Big River Ranch, you'll always find something to do. From fishing to enjoying the 20 miles of riding trails the Ranch has to offer you'll never get tired of it. - Enjoy views of the Missouri River from the 100 foot elevation of the bluffs. - Over 20 miles of horse riding and UTV trails. - Diverse habitat of deciduous forests, cedars, and pines, wildflowers, ponds, streams, and rolling hills.
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$20
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(12)

Green Goat Cottage

1 site · Lodging40 acres · Fayette, MO
The cozy cottage has thick walls built of straw bales and plaster; many windows; wood stove; window air conditioner; electricity; hot/cold water; full kitchen with large refrigerator, electric stove/oven, double sink, and dishware; bathroom with full tub/shower, sink, compost toilet and washing machine. The upstairs has two bedrooms - one with two extra long twin beds that can be joined as king size (bedding supplied). Bring your queen air mattress or sleeping bags for the other bedroom. Access to upstairs is a firmly fixed leaning ladder. There are fields and ponds to explore. An outdoor fire pit is available for those cool nights under the stars. If you want bring your horses there is a fenced area for boarding and water available. You may park trailer on property. Extra $10 @ night per horse. Numerous Conservation Areas within 15 to 30 minutes with multiple trails, lakes and more.
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$55
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(13)

The Pocket

4 sites · Lodging, RVs30 acres · Columbia, MO
A literal 30 acre pocket of paradise tucked away just minutes North of Columbia, MO. Here you’ll find a private lake with fishing access, rolling hills with stunning sunrises and sunsets and complete privacy (other than the hosts that live on the property) perfect for a glamping getaway. Level spot with electric and water for an rv, or stay in our 28’ bunkhouse (sleeps 6) RV. Our rentable 24’ yurt will be available soon. Picnic tables, fire pit and grill available. Pet friendly, fiber Wi-Fi coming soon. Come play yard games, swing, fish, bring your kayak or paddle board, kids can play or swim on our sandy beach, or just walk our 1 mile perimeter trail, a perfect place to rest, rejuvenate and recharge. Farm fresh eggs are available as is any extra firewood. We look forward to meeting you and sharing our little pocket of paradise.
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$50
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(23)

Old Goat Farm

1 site · Tent5 acres · Bates City, MO
Learn more about this land:Pitch a tent in our pasture with our cute friendly goats and enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside. Or, if you prefer, RV camping is available close to the main road. there is one 30 amp hook up available with water no sewer. We are a small goat dairy with chickens and ducks and lots of wildlife with a peaceful countryside to enjoy. Campers are welcome to join in with farm chores and activities or just sit back and enjoy the peace and quiet.
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$20
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(2)

Camp Mara Wanna

2 sites · Lodging, Tents10 acres · Warrensburg, MO
🌲 Welcome to Camp Mara Wanna! 🌲 (Mara Wanna Consumption is always an Optional choice, never a requirement to reserve.) Nestled on 10 acres just South of Warrensburg. This Stay-Cation offers private "Back Country" style camping with a Mara-Wanna friendly vibe. Whether visiting to unwind in nature, indulge in some good Kush & Relaxation, or maybe you just yearn for a bit more privacy while visiting your favorite local attractions...we've got you covered. 🍃 Immerse yourself in the great outdoors and let your worries drift away. Camp's landscape features a few "bite size" walking tracks, a quiet little creek, the soothing sounds of nature, and plenty of space for fun outdoor games or some quiet meditation and yoga. Speaking of nature, it can sometimes catch us off guard with its Snakes, Ticks, Chiggers, and Poison Ivy. SO, Please consider this one of the many kind reminders you will receive throughout your stay to tread cautiously and pack all of the lotions and potions necessary to detour bugs and the Sun's UV Rays. New to the area? There are countless locations to explore outside of Camp. Bring your Bike, Bestie, and Bud to experience the beauty and versatility of the Katy Trail, the longest developed rail-trail in the country. Fishing, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking and Hiking Lovers - Truman Lake might just be your spot. Interested in the timeless artistry and quality of Amish Craftsmanship? Windsor aka "Amish Country", along with many other interesting places like Powell Gardens (a 970-acre botanical garden,) the Lone Jack Battlefield Museum (a historical battle site,) are all within a mere 30 minutes from Camp. Uninterested in straying too far from Camp. No problem! This area offers a charming small-town feel while still providing many of the comforts of a bigger city. There is bowling, night life, antique stores, artisan shops and more, all within a rocks throw away. AND OF COURSE...we CAN NOT forget our local dispensary...located 5 miles from Camp; you can choose to pick it up, or there is the possibility to have your green delivered. We are excited to have you join us this Camping Season and discover why Camp Mara-Wanna is the ultimate destination for chill vibes and relaxation. 💚Mara-Wanna Friendly Camping 📍 Warrensburg, MO 🏕️ BackCountry Style Camping 🏞️ Private 10 Acres 🌳 Partially Wooded 🖼️ Picturesque Scenery 🫣 Limited Campsites 👨‍🍳 Chef Onsite 🧘🏽‍♀️ Yoga Instructor Onsite 🍭 Licky’s and Chewy’s 🚫 25+ (w/ Valid ID Only) ⛺️ B.Y.O. Tent 🌱 B. Y. O. Bud
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$15
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The Sacred Valley Community

34 sites · Tents71 acres · Prairie Home, MO
Introducing your own rural retreat in the heart of Missouri! Spread across 71 acres, this property is a nature lover's haven, featuring a tranquil spring-fed creek weaving through the landscape, inviting you to unwind and reconnect with nature. Whether you're craving open spaces for picnics or wooded trails for adventurous hikes, this property offers it all. And with the added bonus of being a regenerative produce farm, you can indulge in farm-to-table dining while soaking in the serene surroundings.
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$20
 / night
Booked 2 times

SundanceKC Ranch

6 sites · Lodging200 acres · 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.
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$210.87
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Herb Farm Glamping Couples Retreat

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Huntsville, MO
My name is Connie and I own and operate a medicinal herb farm. My husband and I added bell tents for a glamping experience three years ago, to share the beauty and serenity of this place with others. Guests will have access to approximately five acres of hammock and seating areas, volleyball net, outdoor theater with a 150 inch screen, firepit, and trails. Nice private outhouse and shower stall are a short walk from the tent area. Hot water on demand. Towels and robes provided for the hot tub. Guests can choose one movie per stay to be shown on the night of their choice at sundown. Light towels and mosquito repellants are provided at the tent. See photos of all areas for details.
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$80
 / night

The best camping near Van Meter State Park guide

Overview

About

While scenery and outdoor recreation serve as focal points at many state parks, Van Meter has those and a fascinating history, as well. This park preserves remnants of a Native American village located along the Missouri River. The onsite Missouri’s American Indian Cultural Center tells the story of several tribes through displays and interpretive programs. After a robust history lesson, head outside to find hiking trails, which cross through marshlands and woodlands and past historic sites, including earthen mounds. An 18-acre lake provides a scenic spot for fishing, boating, and paddling.

Notable Camping Spots

  • Best for privacy: Van Meter Campground’s sites on the outer side of the loop offer the most privacy.
  • Best for big rigs: Van Meter Campground has a handful of sites with 50-amp hookups.
  • Best for novice campers: Van Meter Campground offers several pull-thru sites, making it easy to park your rig.

Tips for snagging a campsite

  1. The campground consists of a small loop of just over 20 sites. The outside sites back into the woodlands and offer the most privacy.
  2. Reservations may be made up to 12 months in advance; however, this park may have walk-up sites regularly available.
  3. Reservations may be made on the Missouri State Park phone line or website.
  4. The campground is open year round, with reservations available April 15 through October 31.
  5. Water and showers are available April 15 through October 31. 
  6. This park has basic and electric campsites. No water or sewer hookups are available.

When to go

With year-round camping and the indoor cultural center, this park is a year-round destination. Fall is especially scenic, as the landscapes will pop with color, peaking in October. Spring and fall alternate between chilly days and pleasant ones, while summer is more predictable, with highs sometimes topping the 90s. If camping in winter, go prepared for occasional freezing temperatures and precip, as well as limited onsite facilities.

Know before you go

  • Campsites do not have sewer hookups, nor is there an onsite dump station. 
  • Sites 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 may be flooded or muddy after heavy rains.
  • Kayak and canoe rentals are offered at the camp store.
  • Grand Pass Conservation Area is nearby and located directly on the Missouri River.
  • The small town of Marshall is 15 minutes away, offering shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and more.
  • Due to the wetlands, mosquitoes may flourish, especially in summer months.

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