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At some point in your travels you’re bound to traverse Missouri. And what a treat that will be! Smack in the middle of the country, Missouri is a major corridor between north-south destinations, and a gateway for east-west routes.
This is a state that truly caters to RVs. The landscape is dotted with dealers and service providers. There are camping facilities every few exits. Gas stations, rest stops, and restaurants have thoughtfully provided ample parking. And the highways are like butter.
A few years back, we found ourselves in the midst of the annual Snow Bird migration. Big Class A’s by the scores were in Missouri, headed south for the winter. Our destination was Coachlight RV in Carthage, nestled in the foothills of the Ozarks, where we were scheduled to take delivery of our first motorhome. This dealer has a lovely campground adjacent to the showroom, and and we proudly pulled in with our newly bought 23’ Class B. Guided by a patient and accommodating camp host, we gingerly maneuvered into our site. Having recently crawled out of a tent, we thought our new rig was huge!
Then we glanced around. We looked like a guppy next to the whale-size Class A’s. But the full-timers couldn’t have been nicer to us. They heard it was our first RV, and spent hours showing us the finer points of sewer hook-up, fuse boxes, and general camping tips. Armed with a list of must-haves, we took advantage of the generous camp store and provisioned ourselves in style.
In Missouri we found micro-hotels along the interstate that offer RVs a pull-in overnight stay. Rates were very reasonable, and the electric service posts are illuminated so you don’t need to fumble in the dark. Missouri also boasts numerous state parks. We stayed at one near Meramec Caverns where the Jessie James gang used to hide out.
Of course no tour of the Show Me State would be complete without a stop to Branson. With year-round entertainment, Branson is a true destination in its own right. This town loves RVs, offering dozens of campgrounds and resort parks. Many have shuttle services that will deliver you downtown or to a show venue.
We found driving across the big state of Missouri to be entertaining as well. The landscape is varied enough to hold your attention through many hours of travel, from the vast prairie vistas to the spectacular Ozark Mountains. We’ll be touring the northern part of the state later this year, and I can’t wait to see what else Missouri has to show me!
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June 23, 2023
