Stockton State Park
RV Guide
Introduction
Stockton State Park is a great place to bring your RV, serving as the perfect destination for some fun at Stockton Lake. Many people have been enjoying this area of Missouri for a long time, and by a long time, we mean for over 10,000 years. That’s right, there is evidence that points to humans living here as far back at 10,000 years ago. In the 1600s, the French discovered the Osage Indians living here, and as more and more European settlers came to America, more Indians made their way to this area. Today when you visit, you can still get a feel for Native American history. Fast forward many years to 1970, and that is when Stockton Lake first came to life. It was built from a dam that the military put up against the Sac River, creating the 24,900 acres of lake water for people to enjoy. When you visit Stockton State Park, you’ll get to enjoy fun activities such as boating, fishing, swimming, and even scuba diving. You can also enjoy hiking and picnicking in the scenic nature. Enjoy views of rolling prairie hills and wooded forests filled with oak, hickory, dogwood, red cedar, and redbud. Bring your RV and enjoy amenities such as electric hookups, showers, and restrooms at the campgrounds.
RV Rentals in Stockton State Park
Transportation
Driving
Stockton State Park is located in Cedar County, Missouri, and you should have no problem reaching the park in your rig. Once inside, getting around should be really simple too. There shouldn’t be any issues such as one way roads, narrow or curvy roads, or even low bridges - just a straight shot to your campsite. You should be able to just set up your RV at the campsite and drive around wherever you need to go in your car. There is plenty of parking located all through the park, including at the campground, the marina, the restaurant, and more. Other forms of transportation include hiking, biking, and even boating, as there are a lot of things for you to discover here. There are over 17 miles of trails for you to hike and bike on, and 24,900 acres of Stockton Lake for you to boat on. That includes motor boating, canoeing, kayaking, and even sailboating.
Parking
Public Transportation
Campgrounds and parking in Stockton State Park
Campsites in Stockton State Park
Reservations camping
Springfield / Route 66 KOA
During a visit to Springfield/Route 66 KOA, enjoy the history of old Route 66 along with the lush scenery of the beautiful Ozarks, close to lakes and historic battlefields. Big rig friendly, with long pull-through sites with patios, guests can have all the comforts of home at this park. Want some pizza? Have it delivered right to the campsite! Summers feature ice cream socials, and four-legged friends love Kamp K-9, an off-leash playground for the pups. Rent a bike and explore this historic, beautiful region. Crystal clean bathrooms and private hot showers offer all the amenities of home.
East Campground
East Campground is not that much different than West Campground, except for its location and its lack of walk-in and non-electric sites. For those bringing an RV though, those differences probably won’t matter too much. However, there is a laundry facility, a dump station, firewood, and an amphitheater in this area that you can take advantage of. Enjoy electric hookups, family sites, and wheelchair accessible sites any time of the year here. Just remember that water and showers are only available from April to October. If you need any extra parking space, there is a parking lot located at the entrance of the campground.
West Campground
This campground offers plenty of sites with 30 and 50 amp electric hookups for your RV. If you find that you need more space than your campsite allows, there is extra parking located near the walk-in sites at the end of the campground. There are also family sites available that are bigger, and if anyone in your party has a wheelchair, there are accessible sites as well. The campground is open all year long, and reservations can be made at any time. Keep in mind though that certain amenities such as drinking water and showers are only available during the peak season, which goes from April to October. Vault toilets are available year-round, though. You can also enjoy a playground, as well as a trailhead nearby.
First-come first-served
First-Come, First-Served
If there are any sites that haven't been reserved they may become available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, this is not guaranteed, so it's always safest to reserve a site ahead of time.
Seasonal activities in Stockton State Park
Off-Season
Metal Detecting
There aren’t many state parks that allow metal detecting. Stockton State Park is one of 12 parks in the state where you can go metal detecting on the beach. With that news, you’ll definitely want to bring your metal detector with you in your camper or trailer. Remember though that you will need to register first before heading out onto the beach to search for some treasure. If you find anything that looks like it might be a historical artifact, be sure to turn it into the park so they can preserve it.
Picnicking
There are two picnic areas in the park where you will find lots of picnic tables and grills for you to use as you wish. If you wish to have a more private picnic, these same amenities can be found at your campsite. If you would like to reserve a picnic shelter for a group, there are two that you can choose from - the North and South Shelters. The North Shelter is a bit bigger and has a few more benefits, such as having a lakeview, electricity and water. The South Shelter has boat ramp access though, so it just depends on what you’re looking for.
Hiking
This park has a variety of trails for you to explore. Some of them are fairly short, with Campground Spur Trail only being less than half a mile, and Nyblad Trail coming to right at half a mile long. Others are more length, like Lakeview Trail, which is nearly eight miles long. If you want something that falls somewhere in between, Sortor’s Bluff Trail is just a little over three miles long. There are plenty of options to choose from.
In-Season
Swimming
What better way is there to cool off from the summer heat than to dive into Stockton Lake? On the northern side of Stockton State Park, you will find the perfect spot to dip into the water, as they have a gravel beach just for this purpose. Keep in mind though that there are no lifeguards on duty, so be sure to use proper swimming safety precautions and keep an eye on the children at all times.
Fishing
Many people like to take the boat out to go fishing, but you can also just find a good spot along the edge to dip your pole in the waters of Stockton Lake. However you choose to go fishing, you can expect great catches that include bass, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and walleye. Just don’t forget to pack your fishing gear and permit in your campervan when you choose to come stay at Stockton State Park.
Boating
Within Stockton State Park, you will find the Marina. Here is where you should go if you would like to take a boat out on Stockton Lake. If because you had to lug your big rig along with you on this trip, you couldn’t bring your boat as well, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the fun. You can rent a variety of boats from the Marina, from fishing boats and pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes, and even sail boats.
