ABOUT LAKE WAPPAPELLO STATE PARK: The Ridge Campground at Lake Wappapello State Park is one of two named campgrounds at this Park. There is also a hike-in, backpack campsite area. The Park offers many trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and backpacking and camping. The trails range from ¾ of a mile in length to almost 13 miles in length. Detailed trail maps and information are available at the Park Office. Other Park amenities include a park store, an amphitheater, a very large lake with a boat ramp, a nature center, a picnic area and picnic shelter, vault toilets, equestrian parking, swimming, and playground. The State Park is about 35-40 minutes from Mingo National Wildlife Refuge.
The Asher Creek Campground is open April thru October. We’ve never been to this Park during those months so have not stayed in this campground. We did drive through it, though, on one of our previous visits. Even if it was open, we much prefer the Ridge Campground. Asher Creek offers 26 campsites with lake views. To get to the campground
you do travel down an extremely steep hill; ditto when leaving the campground. All but four of the campsites have electric hook-ups (half of them are 30 amp & half of them are 50 amp). This campground has a boat launch and parking, a trash dumpster, a dump station, a vault toilet, restrooms, a showerhouse, and fresh water.
The Ridge Campground is where we’ve stayed each of our four visits. Our favorite campsites (in order of preference) are #41, #18, #42, and #9, but we could fit well in almost all the sites. This campground is open all year except for campsites #37 thru #47 which close during the winter. Ridge campground offers 54 campsites, 4 of which are camper cabins. All campsites have electric hook-ups; 21 are 50 amp. Six sites are handicapped accessible. Two sites are “family sites” which are two campsites right next to each other, the second site is only a few dollars per night. 17 sites are pull-through sites, easy in, easy out. Almost all campsites have views of the Lake through trees – the Ridge Campground sits at the top of a big hill. Some campsites are not level. This campground also offers a playground, parking, a trash dumpster, dump station, vault toilet, laundry room, showerhouse, restroom, and frost-free water in addition to regular spigots. The four times we’ve camped here were off-season and the park was almost empty. It’s very quiet with nice views and everything is very well maintained.
We paid $10 per night which includes a $2 per night senior discount. These are off-season rates. An amazing deal for what you get! We have never needed reservations because of the time of year we are here. Lake Wappapello State Park, 8005 State Highway 172, Williamsville, MO 63937; (573)297-3232; www.mostateparks.com.
- 2018 – 3/11-3/13, 4/10-4/15
- 2019 – 3/22-3/27
- 2021 – 11/20-11/24
- 2022 – 10/20-10/24