Camping

Mark Twain Lake offers a variety of camping opportunities ranging from primitive, hike-in sites to developed sites with water, sewer, and electrical hook-ups. Primitive campsites can be found along both Lick Creek and Joanna Trails, several of the hunter/fisherman access areas, and at the Indian Creek Hike-In campground.

To see where the following campgrounds are at Mark Twain Lake, please visit our Interactive Map and click on the Lodging tab. There are numerous privately-owned campgrounds and lodging options around the lake as well, and we encourage you to visit our Advertisers Directory to find the lodging option that best suits your needs.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Campgrounds

The Mark Twain Lake Project office has announced that all facilities, their opening dates, and availability are subject to change or cancellation due to COVID-19 or similar situations.
The USACE would like to thank visitors for their patience, cooperation and commitment to maintaining social distancing protocols while enjoying Mark Twain Lake as we work through these unprecedented issues together.

Additional information on modifications, closures, openings or other restrictions related to USACE facilities at Mark Twain Lake will be announced as these situations are reevaluated.

For more information, call the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at 573-735-4097, follow them on Facebook at MarkTwain Lake – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or email at: marktwaininfo@usace.army.mil.

The Mark Twain Lake Project Office has offered tips for reserving campsites, picnic shelters and group campsites.

All reservations for those facilities are made through Recreation One Stop by calling toll-free: 1-877-444-6777; or on the internet: www.Recreation.gov.

Reservations may be made a maximum of 6 months and a minimum of 1 day prior to arrival for individual campsites. Group camp reservations may be made a maximum of 12 months and a minimum of 1 day prior to arrival.

Shelter reservations may be made a maximum of 12 months and a minimum of 2 days prior to arrival. Individual campsite reservations are accepted for all of Ray Behrens, Indian Creek and Frank Russell recreation areas.

Campsites are 100% reservation only.

Camping fees are charged by campsites, not by camping unit. Eight people per site is the maximum number allowed.

The total number of camping units per site is limited to one recreational vehicle or trailer and three additional tents. If no recreational vehicles or trailers are on the site, a maximum of four tents will be permitted.

Indian Creek Beach and the campground boat ramp are for campers of the Indian Creek campground only.

The horse corral at Frank Russell recreation area is available to Frank Russell campers only.

Day Use fees are charged at Spalding Beach and the following ramps: Ray Behrens, Spalding, Robert Allen, South Fork, Stoutsville and Indian Creek West Ramp. Day use fees do not apply to registered Corps campers.

For more information, or to make reservations for the following campgrounds, visit Recreation.gov. ALL Corps of Engineers campsites MUST be reserved online. Reservations cannot be made at the lake, they must be made through the reservation service listed above. Gate Attendants will not be available to make reservations on-site for campers. All reservations must be made prior to arrival.

Frank Russell Campground

  • 65 campsites with electrical hook-ups
  • 1 waterborne shower building
  • 6 car/boat trailer parkingspaces
  • 1 vault toilet
  • 2 playgrounds
  • 1 amphitheater
  • 1 horse corral (for campers only)
  • 7 equestrian sites
  • Archery park

Frank Russell Campground Map

Indian Creek Recreation Area

  • 249 total campsites (190 campsites with electrical hook-ups, 65 campsites with full hook-ups, 25 group campsites with electrical hook-ups and 12 without, 20 hike-in campsites without electrical hook-ups)
  • 207 car/boat trailer parking spaces at four-lane boat ramp
  • Picnic shelters; 18 picnic sites
  • 7 water-borne restrooms
  • 6 shower buildings
  • 4 playgrounds
  • 1 amphitheater
  • 2 one-lane boat ramps (one at marina)
  • 1 marina (Indian Creek – includes boat rentals, concessions, gasoline and restaurant)
  • 1 group picnic site (shelter house)
  • 1 swimming beach area(campers and boaters only)
  • 1 four-lane boat ramp
  • 1 two-lane high water ramp
  • 2 fish cleaning stations

Indian Creek Campground Full Map 
Indian Creek East
Indian Creek West
Indian Creek Group 
Indian Creek Hike-In

Ray Behrens Rec Area

  • 165 campsites with 50-amp electrical hook-ups
  • 51 camp-sites with full hook-ups170 car/boat trailer parkingspaces
  • 15 picnic sites
  • 5 water-borne restrooms
  • 4 shower buildings
  • 4 playgrounds
  • 1 amphitheater
  • 1 group picnic site (shelter house)
  • 1 marina (Blackjack Marina– includes boat rentals, concessions and gasoline)
  • 1 four-lane boat ramp
  • 1 fish cleaning station

Ray Behrens Campground Full Map 
Cedar Ridge
Deer Run
Little Blue Stem

John C. “Jack” Briscoe Group Camp

  • 20 campsites with electrical hook-ups
  • 1 shelter house
  • 1 shower building
  • 1 playground

Mark Twain State Park Campgrounds

Mark Twain State Park offers basic and electric campsites, a special-use camping area and a group camp. For a little extra space, try one of the park’s family campsites in Coyote Campground. On-season (April through October) services include modern restrooms, a dump station, showers, water, laundry and firewood. Current nightly camping fees can be found by clicking here.

Badger and Puma campgrounds feature electric campsites. Coyote Campground offers basic and electric campsites.

All three campgrounds are open and reservable year-round. For weekend reservations, there is a required two-night minimum stay of Friday/Saturday.

During the off-season (November through March), potable water is available at the frost-free spigot near campsite 1.

This campground is operated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. For more information or to make reservations, click here.

  • 265 car/boat trailer parking spaces
  • 99 campsites with electrical hook-ups
  • 30 picnic sites
  • 4 group campsites
  • 6 camper cabins
  • 3 vault toilets
  • group camp
  • 2 shower buildings
  • 2 four-lane boat ramps
  • 1one-lane boat ramp
  • 1 multipurpose building
  • 1 picnic shelter
  • 2 hiking trails
  • 2 fish cleaning stations

Mark Twain Lake State Park Campground Map
Badger Loop
Coyote Loop
Puma Loop