The Ultimate Branson Campground Guide

Are you planning a camping or RVing trip to Branson, Missouri, and feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the campground options? Hopefully, this ultimate Branson campground guide will make it easier to find the best spot for your vacation!

My family lives within an hour of Branson, and we have spent a lot of time visiting over the decades. While we have done many of the tourist attractions, we are more likely to spend a weekend at the lake. No matter which flavor of Branson you enjoy most, it’s a worthwhile camping destination!

To orientate everyone to my descriptions, here’s a map my sweet husband, Russell, drew:

Things to Know about Camping in Branson

• There are dozens of great campgrounds, so this is not a definitive list.
• Most campgrounds are pretty comparable in quality, as long as you read the reviews.
• State parks and Army Core of Engineers (COE) campgrounds will book up far in advance, but since there are so many private campgrounds, you can generally get last-minute accommodations somewhere.
• More than focusing on picking the right campground, I recommend picking the right location for the type of experience you desire and the amount of driving/walking you wish to do.

Attractions on The Strip

Highway 76 is the main route through the Branson attractions, also known as “76 Country Boulevard” or “The Strip.” While the Branson region and the surrounding lakes have been a tourist destination for over a century, the Strip mainly grew up in the 1980s as the traditional Ozarks music shows (like The Baldknobbers and The Pressleys) were joined by nationally known stars like Andy Williams, BoxCar Willie, and Roy Clark, creating a live music destination with nearly 50 theaters, mainly classic country, located along what came to be known as The Strip.

While the music shows of the Theater District are still a part of Branson, today’s attractions appeal to the whole family, with a variety of over-the-top museums, go-kart tracks, mini-golf courses, theme parks, and more. If you’ve been to Gatlinburg, Myrtle Beach, or other tourist destinations, Branson’s Strip has similar offerings, all competing to attract your attention with neon signs and wild exteriors creating a Midwest Las Vegas.

Campgrounds on The Strip

Pros

• Close to everything
• May be walkable to some attractions and restaurants

Cons

• Must deal with traffic congestion to reach them
• Tighter spaces

Branson Musicland Kampground

Filled with trees, this campground can feel like an oasis while being right off the Strip. It receives great reviews for its cleanliness and walkability. Since it’s built on a hillside, larger RVs may have a hard time navigating, especially the back-in sites.

Branson KOA

Located just off the Strip, it has easy access to attractions and may be reachable with less congestion. It has all of the amenities you’d expect in a KOA. Kids will love the small slide on the pool. Book a Premium or KOA Luxury Patio site for more room and great furnishings. The standard sites are mainly gravel and are pretty tight.

Attractions Near Old Branson & The Landing

Before there was the Branson Strip with massive attractions and aging country stars, Branson was a small town on Lake Taneycomo. Today, the old downtown is still a great spot for a stroll, with traditional tourist shops. Satisfy your sweet tooth with fudge or ice cream, take the kids to Dick’s 5 & 10, or enjoy traditional country cooking at one of the decades-old restaurants downtown.

In 2006, the waterfront area was redeveloped as Branson Landing, which offers mall-like shops and big-name restaurants, anchored by a large Bass Pro Shop. If you haven’t visited a Bass Pro, they aren’t your average sporting goods store…it’s worth a stroll to check out the humungous aquariums and wildlife displays. Don’t miss the fire and lights music show along the waterfront.

Campgrounds Near Old Branson & The Landing

Pros

• Close to good areas to explore
• Some have lake views

Cons

• Less convenient to further end of The Strip
• Road noise from nearby highways is prevelant
• Lake Taneycomo is not a swimming lake, with cold waters that hover around 50 degrees

Branson Lakeside RV Park

This city-owned campground is a long-time favorite for locals. While the older interior sites are smaller, the park recently opened large patio sites along the waterfront. Aside from being within walking distance to downtown Branson and the Landing, this park also gives visitors free tickets to the Branson AquaPlex, a city-owned waterpark. Plus, the campground has a trolly stop for the free downtown trolley named Sparky.

Lakeshore RV Park

Recently opened, this park is outside of the Branson congestion, while still being convenient to many attractions. The back-in waterfront sites offer beautiful views. It has access to the lake for fishing and kayaking (White River Kayaking offers rentals nearby), but there aren’t other amenities onsite yet. We’ve stayed a couple of times and enjoyed it! In nearby Hollister, the Downing Street Pour House is one of our favorite local restaurants.

Branson Attractions Off The Strip

Venture down any of the twisting, curving side roads, off the Branson Strip, and you’ll continue to find numerous attractions dotting the hills and valleys. The largest of these is Silver Dollar City theme park, which wins accolades for its thrill rides set amidst a homespun atmosphere. It’s a sister park to Dollywood, as both are owned by the same company.

Other Campgrounds in the Surrounding Area

Pros

• May find campgrounds near the off-Strip attraction of your choice, like Silver Dollar City
• May find larger sites

Cons

• May or may not have traffic, depending on the location

Table Rock Lake State Park

Just 15 minutes from the Strip and right on the lake? Is this THE campground for Branson? It certainly offers the best mixture of convenience, scenery, and amenities. The hardest part may be booking a spot at this popular state park. We enjoy walking the Table Rock Lakeshore Trail. You can even rent a boat and other watercraft at the onsite State Park Marina.

Silver Dollar City Campground

If Silver Dollar City is a highlight of your visit, consider this campground since it provides free shuttles to the park, which is a major plus on busy days. It has ample trees and a large pool. The cabins look extra charming since they have old-time Ozarks-style log exteriors.

Branson’s Table Rock Lake

You may notice I mentioned Table Rock Lake State Park above instead of in this section. That’s because the state park is located very close to Branson’s main attractions. However, at 43,000 acres, Table Rock is a massive lake, with branches stretching hundreds of miles across Missouri and Arkansas.

On a map, a campground on Table Rock may not look far from Branson attractions, but the curvy roads may add time to your drive, so always use a map app to calculate your distance.

While less convenient to the attractions, campgrounds on Table Rock Lake offer a taste of the true beauty of the Ozarks far from the dazzling lights and road traffic of the Branson Strip. Plus, the warm, clear waters of the lake are perfect for all kinds of watersports, including swimming, kayaking, fishing, boating, and even snorkeling.

Corps of Engineers Table Rock Lake Campgrounds

Pros

• Incomparable beauty!
• May have water views and easy access to watersports
• Less congestion while driving to campground
• Cheapest prices

Cons

• Often booked up far in advance
• Least likely to have full hookups
• May have a 20-40 minute drive to reach attractions
• Remote locations may be far from restaurants/stores

Old Highway 86 COE Campground

This is one of our all-time favorites. The waterfront sites are huge, with amazing views. We enjoy taking our kayaks and being able to launch them right from our site. The location is relatively remote, but the scenery and serenity make it a top choice. Top of the Rock is nearby, with a cave, nice restaurants, golf, and other attractions.

Mill Creek COE Campground

Located in Lampe, this is quite a ways from the heart of Branson, but if you want to soak in the peace and natural beauty of the Ozarks, it is a great choice. Some of the waterfront sites are literally right on the water — you can practically hop in from your trailer steps. Nearby, you’ll find Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. Though pricy and accented by some less-than-natural waterfalls, this is a nice spot for a nature tour on tram, foot, or wheels.

Indian Point COE Campground

Unlike the other two COEs on this list, you don’t avoid the congestion with a stay here since it’s located on the same peninsula as Silver Dollar City, which can have miles of traffic on busy days, but this is a scenic place to relax after a busy day in Branson and to enjoy easier access to the attractions than you’ll find from the other COEs on my list.

More Branson Campground Options

Here are a handful of additional campgrounds to consider:

• Bull Creek RV Park: Far from the Branson bustle, this park is located on a creek that’s perfect to play in during the summer. Plus, the family game area is a great place to hang out.
• Tall Pines Campground: Reviews are always mixed on the management of this park, but the pull-through sites at the back of the park are nicely spaced and have lots of shade.
• The Embers Glamping & RV Resort: This one is brand new and has beautiful modern glamping accommodations and nice-looking RV sites.
• Camp Long Creek at Big Cedar Lodge: For a luxurious, non-RVing camping destination, this place offers lakefront glamping tents that average $400 a night…but for that cost, you can expect a grand experience. Plus, the resort has a plethora of over-the-top amenities and activities.
• Landing View Campground: Newly built, this location has a modern glamping vibe with campsites and accommodations surrounded by tall trees. Kids will love the cool pool with water features and a lazy river.

Final Thoughts on Camping in Branson

Whether you are heading to the Branson Strip for family fun or seeking a relaxed lake stay, you can find it in Branson, Missouri. You’ll also find abundant campgrounds!

Have you camped in Branson? If so, where did you stay, and would you recommend it? What attractions are your favorite?