Rating: 
Location:  Peculiar, MO.
Site Quality / Amenities: Asphalt roads and gravel sites. Some sites have trees for shade but most do not. Restrooms and showers, self-service laundry, activity room for card playing, puzzles, or darts. This is an old KOA park but it has been updated and is nicer than most KOAs.
Type: Commercial Park
Access: Easy access 27 miles south of downtown Kansas City along Interstate 49.
Staff: Friendly family owned park.
Cellular/Wi-Fi: Good AT&T and Verizon service. There was high speed WiFi per the park but we didn’t use it.
Restaurants: We ate at Merle’s American Tavern in Peculiar at the recommendation of the park staff but only found the food to be so-so. We’d probably look elsewhere if we stay in the area again.
Nearby parks: We didn’t look at any other parks in the area.
What we liked: Clean, well run park.
What we didn’t like: Sites are somewhat close together and are gravel. Some of the interior roads are a bit narrow but were doable even with a large rig. Our truck alarm went off several times although I don’t believe anyone was actually doing anything to it. This is only the second time something like that has happened.
Verdict: This is a nice park for a one or two night stopover when travelling through the area and we’d stay here again.

In December of 2005 the original campground was destroyed when millions of gallons of water rushed down Proffit Mountain after a dam failed at a hydroelectric reservoir above the park. Luckily the campground was empty at the time but the flooding caused major damage to the park and the habitat. Over time they have rebuilt the park and restored the habitat to nearly what it was before. The campground was rebuilt about a mile across from the state park entrance and shut-ins. We enjoyed long walks daily all through the campground and park. The campground store serves a huge helping of ice cream in one scoop! Yummy!

The reason we ended up at Johnson’s Shut-Ins was because of Jan and Chris, Jerry’s sister and hubby. We were supposed to camp with them here as they were about to begin their full-time RV life. Unfortunately, their fifth wheel was destroyed in the recent tornado in Jefferson City. Thank goodness they were still in their home and not living in the RV yet so they are not hurt. However, they have faced the worst, shown remarkable strength by moving forward with their plans and have already purchased another RV! We are so thankful for them and their lesson in grace, strength and fortitude. We were not able to camp together (YET!) but they came for the day and brought huge steaks! Needless to say, we had a wonderful lunch and a great visit!

Rating: 
Site Quality:  Asphalt roads and concrete pads.
Type:  State Park
Access: We came up to the park from the south from US-60 via MO-21 which is somewhat narrow and hilly particularly as you get further north and closer to the park.
Staff: The staff were friendly and helpful. They frequently patrolled the park but did not seem overly picky about things.
Amenities:  50A power with full hookups. Each site had a picnic table, lantern holder and a fire ring. There were restroom/shower facilities that seemed to be modern and clean. Large laundromat and campground store.
Cellular/WiFi:  Verizon was nonexistent but we did have very slow (1-2 Mbps) AT&T service with amplification.
What we liked: Lots of opportunities for hiking. Relatively new campground so everything was in good shape and the sites were spacious. The shut-ins area offered good places to swim.
What we didn’t like: Due to trees we weren’t able to get satellite TV but the shade helped keep down temperatures so it was kind of a wash. They otherwise created a beautiful sight out our windows. Ticks were a big problem and we both had one or two become attached to us. We never were able to create an account on the Missouri park site to make reservations. That could be a problem next time we want to stay in a Missouri State Park.
Verdict: This was our first time to stay in a Missouri State Park and we really enjoyed it. Loop 2 was the only full hookup area but any of the sites there big enough for us would be good, particularly on the north side of the loop. The pull through sites on the north side of the loop were some of the largest we have seen and they would be great for us if we return.

Rating: 1/2
Site Quality:  Asphalt roads and gravel pads (short term stays). Apparently for stays one month or longer they may put you in some of their nicer sites with concrete pads and trees. These appear to be older mobile home sites and some are rather rough for an RV. For a long term stay it would be nice to be able to pick your site. Short term sites are a combination of pull through and back in sites.
Type:  Commercial
Access:  Relatively easy access from the James River Freeway (Highway 60) in southeast Springfield.
Staff: The staff were friendly and helpful. When we arrived on a Sunday with the office closed they came immediately to help us when we found a car parked in our site and no one around to move it.
Amenities:  50A power with full hookups. There were 2 storm shelters within the park which could be helpful since this area of the country frequently gets bad weather. There are restroom/shower facilities as well as a laundry although we didn’t use any of them. The office area was clean and well maintained so the other facilities likely were as well. There is a playground, dog run and a swimming pool.
Cellular/WiFi:  Verizon and AT&T were decent (2-3 bars) without amplification. Data speeds were somewhat slow at times and usually below 8 Mbps.
What we liked:  Although the park is older bit it and most of the mobile homes in the park are fairly well maintained. People living in the park were friendly. Lots of stores and restaurants nearby. Less expensive and overall quieter than the Springfield KOA where we have stayed in the past. The park was large enough to take a 30 minute daily walk. Walmart and other stores as well as restaurants are within walking distance.
What we didn’t like: No train noise although there is occasional road noise as well as some industrial noise nearby that frequently occurs between 3 and 4 in the morning (dumpster service). The pull through sites were basically a parking lot of gravel. Pull through sites are close together.
Verdict: Very close to relatives in Springfield. This is not a destination stop but is a good, safe place for short stays when travelling through the area or visiting relatives. We would stay here again and prefer this to the KOA in town.

We stayed here for two weeks in mid-September 2018 to be close to Anna’s uncle who lives in Springfield and to take some time enjoying the Ozarks. Cooper Creek is on the shores of Lake Taneycomo – in this area it’s more like a river than a lake with a strong current and narrow waterway. Since the water comes from the bottom of Table Rock Lake it is quite cold (averaging 48°F).  We started out in site #84 because a lot of rain was expected and site #8 collects water when it rains hard. Site #8, while not on the water was as close as you can get without being in a premium waterfront site (#1 through #7). A drawback was that it is right by a trash dumpster and across from the store. In early September the park was only about half full with most sites closer to the water being filled. In general we would prefer being further away from the water to get more open space. Sites 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 27, 65, possibly 75 through 79 although these look closer together, and 84 look best and all have 50A power. When this area was full, it was a bit more cramped with our picnic table being right beside our neighbor’s unit including sewer connection although there was a bit more space than other parks we have seen. This was a great park and we would definitely stay here again.

During our stay here we took in several nearby attractions (be sure to see the pictures below). First, we took a short trip over to Table Rock Lake and visited the Visitor Center there where we got an overview of the construction of the dam as well as some close up views of the dam and the lake. 

We also went to the Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Drama.  This is an action-packed live reenactment of the famous historical novel by Christian minister, Harold Bell Wright.  Published in 1907, this beautiful story tells of life in the rugged Ozark Mountains of Missouri in the late 1800’s. 

Of course we had to visit some local restaurants while we were there so we stopped in at The Farmhouse on our first day – it was pretty good, particularly the Blackberry cobbler which Anna had been waiting for months to find. We also stopped at her mother and uncles favorite – Clockers which was also good (although I liked the cobbler at the Farmhouse a little better :-)). We also had to stop at Cantina Laredo in the Branson Landing shopping area. Yes, it’s a chain but we wanted some mexican food we could trust. Branson Landing features a scenic boardwalk along the Taneycomo Lakefront. At the heart of the Landing is a vibrant town square terracing down to the $7.5 million spectacular water attraction that features the first-ever merging of water, fire, light and music. 

While in the area we also took a look at some of the other RV parks and here is some thoughts about those should we come back this way:

Branson Lakeside RV Park – This park is run by the City of Branson and is right on the shore of Lake Taneycomo adjacent to the Branson Landing shopping center and about a mile from the old downtown area (close enough to walk). We likely won’t stay here as the sites were very close together. For example I noticed one awning nearly touching the neighboring RV. There were less trees for shade here as well. Other than that, it probably wasn’t too bad.

Escapees Turkey Creek RV Village – This is an Escapees park and with membership the rates were very low – particularly for a month. This park is also on the shores of Lake Taneycomo and although a bit farther away is still within walking distance to Branson Landing and the old downtown area (a bit over a mile walking). This park was not bad but it appeared to be a bit more dated. Some sites were back to back and would be too short for us. There was a bit more space between sites than at Branson Landing.

Branson Stagecoach RV Park – Nothing special here, most sites are very close together and it appears there are quite a few full time residents. Some RV pads were concrete, most look to be too small for our RV. The park was pretty full compared to some others. Likely only a choice if some of the better parks are not available.

Table Rock State Park – We did not go through this park but it looks like this could be a great option if you made reservations early. Only less desirable sites were available when we booked. Some sites are close together and without trees for shade while others are more secluded and tree covered. None of them seem to be within view of the lake.

Branson KOA Holiday – This is a very large park with mostly pull through sites. There are trees but most sites are not that shady. The park was probably less than half full in early September so it should be somewhat easy to get a spot. Best access is from 165 and Animal Safari Road. From 265, the road was narrow and with steep hills and would not be good for a big rig.

Branson Treehouse Adventures – This was a gorgeous park with cabins, treehouses and RV sites. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine navigating the park with a big rig. Getting out of the park is also difficult as there is a blind hill in highway 265 at the exit. It was dangerous with just the truck and would have been really tricky pulling a rig.

Other highway 265 parks – Several nice looking parks were in highway 265 between Silver Dollar City south to Animal Safari Road. They would need to be investigated to be sure they can handle big rigs. Also 265 is hilly and somewhat narrow with numerous curves so it could be challenging pulling a big rig. It’s probably not any worse than Fall Creek Road that goes to  Cooper Creek but it is a much longer drive. As previously mentioned, it’s best to avoid going from 265 down Animal Safari Rd toward 165 with a big rig.

Bar B RV Park – This park was away from Branson near Forsyth and Bull Shoals Lake. It looked promising and was cheap but in driving through it wasn’t really a place we would feel comfortable staying at with our rig. To make matters worse, there was bridge work going on near the road to the park and the road was down to one lane with lights controlling the flow. It would have been difficult navigating this with a big rig.

Aunts Creek – There are actually two campgrounds here – a commercial RV park and a COE park. The commercial park likely wouldn’t accommodate our trailer as it would be difficult navigating within the park. The COE park would be a better option although it is only open from April 1’st to mid-September. Also only 5 sites out of 55 are long enough for us. The road going down to the park could be slightly challenging with lots of curves on a narrow road and some 7% grades.

We stayed here for six nights while in Springfield Missouri visiting Anna’s Uncle. We had also stayed overnight here when returning from Indiana with our RV when it was new. While we were here this time, our daughter Amanda, got us tickets to see the Springfield Cardinals vs The Tulsa Drillers minor league baseball teams play. It was a perfect night to take in the game with temperatures in the upper 70’s with a light breeze. Unfortunately, Springfield’s pitching wasn’t up to Tulsa’s batting and after 4 inning without a hit Tulsa ended up winning 7 to 1.

During our stay we also took a day trip to the town of Dora in south central Missouri. This is where Anna’s mother and uncle were born and grew up on a farm there. We stopped at Sweeton Pond Cemetery in Dora where her mother, great grandparents (Deupree side) and a great Uncle and Aunt are buried. We also stopped at Anna’s second cousin’s place to visit with him for a while. He suffered a fire that destroyed his home about a year ago but is doing surprisingly well at 92.

While in the area we also took a look at a couple of the other RV parks and here is some thoughts about those when we come back this way:

Ozark Highlands Mobile Home Park (3.9 stars on Google) – This is primarily a mobile home park with some RV sites embedded within. This park seems to be mostly for longer term stays and that seems to be backed up by comments talking about the vetting process for new guests although they do list daily rates as well as weekly and monthly. Rates are about $10 less per night than KOA. Several comments about the RV sites being very narrow and in fact one of the pictures on the web site seems to show this.

Cook’s RV Motor Park (4.4 stars on Google) – Reviews show new owners a couple of years back who are working hard to improve the park, they also indicate the park is quiet (there are no nearby train tracks). The park included gravel roads and pads with no picnic tables or fire rings, some sites are tree covered with the trees looking a bit overgrown. I would want to look a bit more into the safety and security of the area before staying here.