Mark Twain Lake is a recreational lake in Ralls County, Missouri, named after the great American author who was born in the village of Florida at the lake. Tucked between the bluffs of the Salt River Valley, it was built as a way to prevent the flooding of the Salt River and forms part of the Clarence Cannon Dam (previously known as Joanna Dam).
The 18,600-acre Mark Twain Lake is a popular destination for outdoor recreation - both on the water and the shores of the lake. Popular activities include swimming, boating, fishing, horse riding, hiking, picnicking, and hunting. A variety of facilities, including picnic shelters, swimming beaches, boat launch ramps, and two full-service marinas make it an obvious choice for camping or day tripping.
Nature lovers will be in their element at Mark Twain Lake. Numerous hiking and horse riding trails snake their way around the lake, offering something for all abilities. There are many wildlife blinds, food plots, and ponds scattered throughout the park where you can keep an eye out for deer, bluebirds, and other interesting creatures.
RV camping is available in three U.S Army Corps of Engineers camping areas, notably at Mark Twain State Park as well as at several private recreation areas scattered around the lake. Facilities differ at each site, but most offer modern sites that are easily accessible for large RVs as well as quieter primitive RV camping.
Mark Twain Lake is located 28 miles (45 km) southwest of Hannibal, Missouri. It’s easily reached via the U.S Highways 24 or 36 from the north, State Highway 154 from the south, State Highway 15 from the west, or County Road J on the east.
Located off Highway 107, the roads to Mark Twain Lake are mostly paved so you shouldn’t have any problems getting a big rig down here. Make sure you stick to the roads; off-roading on the land administered by the Corps of Engineers is not permitted.
Once you’ve set up your RV camping site, you can get around the area on foot, bike or horseback. Various boat launch ramps also make boating around the lake easy.
Parking is available at several locations around the lake, including at the visitor center, boat launch ramps, day-use areas, and at the Army Corps of Engineers camping sites if you’re staying overnight.
Badger Campground offers a choice of electric campsites in Missouri. It is open all year-round, but some of the facilities are seasonal. Reservations are available between April and October.
Facilities include ADA-accessible sites, drinking water taps, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, an RV dump station, firewood, and parking.
Badger Campground is fully reservable in advance; if the sites are not booked then they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Coyote Campground offers unserviced and electric campsites. It is open all year-round, but some of the facilities are seasonal. Reservations are available between April and October.
Facilities include ADA-accessible sites, drinking water, vault toilets, parking, and an amphitheater.
Coyote Campground is fully reservable in advance; if the sites are not booked then they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Puma Campground offers unserviced, electric and family campsites. It is open all year-round, but some of the facilities are seasonal. Reservations are available between April and October.
Facilities include ADA-accessible sites, drinking water, restrooms, showers, parking, a boat launch ramp, and a kids’ playground.
Puma Campground is fully reservable in advance; if the sites are not booked then they are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ray Bahrens Campground is one of the Corps of Engineers parks. It offers a campground and recreation areas on the southeastern shores of Mark Twain Lake.
Three camping loops (Deer Run, Little Bluestem, and Cedar Ridge) offer 165 campsites with electric hookups for RVs, 51 with full hookups, and 170 parking spaces for boats and vehicles. Sites accommodate sites up to 100 feet in length.
Facilities include restrooms with showers and flush toilets, a marina and children’s playgrounds.
If you love fishing, you’ll love camping at Mark Twain Lake. Aside from the 18,600-acre lake itself where you can enjoy both boat and shoreline fishing, there are also various stocked ponds and coves you can make use of if you don’t have a boat. Try your luck fishing for channel, blue and flathead catfish, largemouth bass, white crappie, bluegill, walleye, and sunfish. In fact, fishing at Mark Twain Lake is so popular they hold regular bass and crappie fishing tournaments here!
With more than 18,000 acres of water, Mark Twain Lake is an obvious choice for water sport enthusiasts. Bring your own boat along to enjoy water skiing, tubing, and fishing on the lake, or rent one at one of the full-service marina. Canoeing, kayaking, and jet skiing are also popular on Mark Twain Lake.
Campfire programs are run throughout the summer months at the Army corp campgrounds. Visitors are able to learn more about the natural and cultural history of Mark Twain Lake and the surrounds. COE parks staff also work with school or scout groups as well as fishing tournaments. Alternatively, you can visit the burial grounds in the area, near the village of Florida.
This sprawling campground on the north side of Mark Twain Lake has nearly 200 sites available for use. 25 of those have electrical hookups, while the rest are suitable for boondocking. there are also 20 walk-in unserviced sights for those who prefer to do some tent camping.
With a boat ramp, a beach, restrooms and a playground for kids, Indian Creek makes for an extremely comfortable place to stay.
Located close to the dam, Frank Russell campground offers easy access to the lake. If you came to do some riding, this could be the campground for you, because there are horse stalls available. This campground has 72 sites, all of which have electrical hookups and a fire pit.
The campground is also close to an amphitheater which hosts weekly events in the summer.
The banks of Mark Twain Lake are a natural habitat for all sorts of wildlife and birdlife. Nature lovers will be in their element here. As you stroll around the lake, you’ll find wildlife blinds, food plots and small ponds that attract a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer and bluebirds. Don’t forget to pack your binoculars!
Hunting at Mark Twain Lake is a popular activity during the offseason. Most of the hunting is for wild turkey and there are miles and miles of prime hunting land to explore. Please make sure that you stick inside the designated hunting areas, nowhere near a campground or public use area. Hunting guides are available at the visitor center. Please ensure you have the necessary hunting permits.
Active visitors will love a trip to Mark Twain Lake. There are miles and miles of hiking trails around the lake. While you’re walking the lakeside trails, keep an eye out for interesting wildlife and birds. Special wildlife blinds and food plots attract wildlife and offer a great way to view them without disturbing nature. Pack a picnic to enjoy and make a day of it – there are plenty of picnic shelters around Mark Twain Lake.
