Table Rock State Park

I heard the birds singing yesterday, it was music to my ears!  We're also in the midst of the largest snow storm of the season for Northern Illinois.  Oh well...camping season will eventually arrive.

I recently read an article on www.campingroadtrip.com about the Ozarks so I thought I would post something about our families favorite camping spot in that area, Table Rock State Park.  I grew up in the Ozarks, I've spent time on many of the lakes in the region and time in many of the parks.  My hands down favorite is Table Rock Lake and Table Rock State Park.  We vacation there every summer.  The lake is so pretty and blue, because the bottom is rock instead of dirt, the water is clean and clear!

Table Rock State Park has two campgrounds available to campers.  We prefer campground #2.  The campsites are all relatively flat and the campground is clean and well maintained.  There are laundry facilities available for a longer stay.  There is a bike path around the park and lake access from other points besides just the marina.  The campsites are spacious so there is room for all of the gear that comes along with a camping/lake vacation.  There are family campsites, which are bigger than normal also.  We never use those, I find the regular campsites adequate for us but it is an option available for larger families.

We usually check in on a Sunday and boat Monday through Thursday.  The lake isn't as crowded during the week, making it safer for tubing, wakeboarding and skiing.  We rent our boat right there at the marina and when we have the same boat for multiple days, they allow us to store our gear right on the boat.  The campground is a 30 second drive from the marina.  We usually are dragging coolers and towels, etc. so we drive but you really could walk right from the campground to the marina.  Cliff jumping is a favorite activity for my boys when we're boating, especially the TEENAGER.  We hang out in the boat in the cove around the cliffs while they swim off and climb up the side of the cliffs and JUMP.  That usually provides a few hours of entertainment, at least as long as we're willing to sit and watch.

When we get off the lake towards the end of the week, nearby Branson provides endless entertainment.  Go Karts are usually a must do attraction.  There are some faster tracks for the older set that provide some friendly competition.  The amusement park, Silver Dollar City, and water park, White Water are lots of fun.  They are small, but just big enough for us.  There is always the bike path at the park.  You can rent bikes right there at the park if you aren't interested in transporting yours.  The anglers in the family spend a day, sometimes two, out with a guide fishing Taneycomo.  There are many guides in the area and I think they just about all pick up right there at the Park in their fishing boat.

This is always on our list of summer camping spots!  We have created so many great memories at Table Rock Lake.  It is the highlight of our summer camping and my favorite vacation spot.