We are trying to plan a trip to LOZ during the week before school gets out so we can avoid crowds. We have boys (11, 8, 6) and a baby girl (1) so we actually LIKE the toursity type stuff like cave tours, family friendly resturants, kids activities.
My question is, can anyone recommend a campground with a large boat ramp so we can eaisly put our 22ft boat in with our class A MH...that is also somewhat close by water, via the boat, to "stuff" to do like resturants, activities. I have not been to LOZ for three decades, so I have no idea if there is even a place (by the dam? or otherswise) where we could boat from a campground to the "activities" and then dock the boat (without worry) to go do the fun stuff then boat back to camp?? I suppose we could always take a cab to the camp tours if we didn't want to drive the RV but if we could boat to some type of "pick up" point for that type of thing it would be ideal!
Any info is greatly appreciated! :-)
Ted
07 Coachmen Mirada bunk floor plan 34ft new in 2008, Ford V10
22ft Deck Boat,
Me, Dear Wife, 3 Boys (11,8,6) & Baby Girl (1)
ttymeg the only campground that I know about that has a boat ramp would be Lake of the Ozarks State Park. You can get info on the park and pictures of each site at www.mostateparks.com. I'm sure some of the restaurants around the lake are accessible by boat, but I don't know which ones. Good luck and have fun!!
There are a few campgrounds/RV parks on the water and many, many restaurants that you can boat to. One of our favorite restaurants is Captain Ron's which is at the 33-34 MM on the Osage Arm of the Lake. They have a nice sandy beach for the kids to enjoy and tons of beach chairs on the sand also. In the evening (weekends) they also have live music. There are many restaurants in this area to boat to.
Another Restaurant with a sand beach is Frankey and Louies which is around the 11MM. They also have a campground at this one called Deer Valley. they have a boat ramp and boat slips for your boat.This is on Lake RD 5-41
The nearest campground to Captain Ron's would be Red Oak which is on Lake RD. 5-65. They also have a launching ramp and boat slips. They may also be able to launch your boat for you so you wouldn't have to use your RV. Red Oak has an inground swimming pool.
The Lake traffic will be much higher at Frankie and Louies but through the week should not be a problem.
If you have any more questions I will be happy to answer them. All of these places have a website. If you have a problem finding any of them let me know and I will get them for you.
Shirley
Ron & Shirley
2005 Itasca 37B Suncruiser W24 Workhorse Chassis To Discover New Oceans We Must Lose Sight Of The Shore
Thanks for all the input folks, keep it coming if any of you have other suggestions, espceially if you've camped/boated in the area with little ones.
Shirley, so am I to understand that Red Oak, close to Capt Rons is also close to several other "stuff" to boat to for the kids to do? Like is there any toursity shopping we can boat up to and dock and go get tee shirts or souviners etc? If they have in out service that is great! Just wonder if they are convenient to the "main drag" whatever that is...and how far would that be by boat...are we talking 2 miles or 12 approximately? When I was there LONG ago, the dam area I thought had most of the stuff, but I have no idea if you could "boat up to that area and dock" to go do the "stuff".
ttymeg wrote: Thanks for all the input folks, keep it coming if any of you have other suggestions, espceially if you've camped/boated in the area with little ones.
Shirley, so am I to understand that Red Oak, close to Capt Rons is also close to several other "stuff" to boat to for the kids to do? Like is there any toursity shopping we can boat up to and dock and go get tee shirts or souviners etc? If they have in out service that is great! Just wonder if they are convenient to the "main drag" whatever that is...and how far would that be by boat...are we talking 2 miles or 12 approximately? When I was there LONG ago, the dam area I thought had most of the stuff, but I have no idea if you could "boat up to that area and dock" to go do the "stuff".
Thanks!
Ted
Ted,
The Dam would be 33 miles by water from Red Oak. Very doable during the week if you love boating as much as I do. Yes, you can dock your boat at the Dam and walk to a lot of stuff to do. Also Tshirt shops, bumper cars, etc. Captain Ron's also sell lots of stuff in their "souvenier store". Another thought would be to rent a car for part of the time you are here.
Tan-Tar-A resort has an indoor Water Park the kids would enjoy. That is at the 24MM by water. So that would be 9 miles from Red Oak. They also have Burger King there which is accessable by boat... Tan_Tar-A.
Bridal Cave is on 5 Highway between Red Oak and Camdenton. It is on the 10MM of the Niangua arm so that would be about 13 miles by boat.
Great info, thanks Shirly. Ok, I love boating 33 miles worth, but I'm not sure the 1 yr old can handle that much (she doesn't like the wind at 40mph for too long and it would take us all day at 12mpg :-)
So, maybe I should be looking at Deer Valley and Frankie and Louies...as it appears to be closer to the stuff? Is the dam mile 0 and then goes up from there?
ttymeg wrote: Great info, thanks Shirly. Ok, I love boating 33 miles worth, but I'm not sure the 1 yr old can handle that much (she doesn't like the wind at 40mph for too long and it would take us all day at 12mpg :-)
So, maybe I should be looking at Deer Valley and Frankie and Louies...as it appears to be closer to the stuff? Is the dam mile 0 and then goes up from there?
Yes, the Dam is mile "0". Frankie and Louie's is definitely closer to the Dam by water. With the "new Bridge" it is not all that far by road.
Shirley can probably give you a better opinion than me, but I have spent every summer for the last 20 years at LOZ. We are considering camping at the State Park this year while the rest of our family stays at the house on Turkey Bend. The park is pretty nice, but I don't recall any sites being on the water where you can pull a boat up to. I tried to run our 32' tri-tune up to a camp site and struck bottom 10' from shore.
I noticed you had a 22' boat. You will have a very rough ride on the weekends since the lake is over run with 35' speed boats. They create some major waves and we have a tough go in our 32' tri-pontoon on busy weekends. Go early, find a nice large cove and enjoy the beautiful lake.
Section 4 - Site 139 is on the water and you can pull your boat up there. The site is a little tight, so you gotta be a good backer to get in there. We had our 22 foot pontoon boat down there last year in the Grand Glaize area of the lake - on a weekend - and with all of the big boat traffic, didn't feet it was very safe. - we are probably too cautious, but I don't think we'd do it again. Just my opinion
Grandma and Grandpa
Odessa, Mo
Ford F250 with 2006 Sierra 305 RLW
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