Reservation Guidelines

Camping Reservation Guidelines at Smithville Lake

406 campsites are available at Crow's Creek Campground off E Highway at Smithville Lake. We offer 134 unimproved sites, 181 sites with electric hookups (50 amp), and 91 sites with water and electric hookups (50 amp), accommodating a variety of camping units.

346 campsites are available at Camp Branch Campground off Collins Road at Smithville Lake. We offer 146 unimproved sites and 200 sites with electric hookups (50 amp) accommodating a variety of camping units.

• Many sites are located along the shoreline with easy access to hiking, biking, and walking trails
• Playgrounds are centrally located at each campground
• Shower houses are conveniently located in each campground
• A dump station is located at the entrance to each campground
• Easy access to boat ramps located nearby
• Crow's Creek Picnic Arm and shelter areas
• Camp Branch Swim Beach
• Camp Branch Marina for boat rentals, gas & fishing supplies
• Handicap Fishing Dock near Crow's Creek Campground
• Tornado shelters located at Camp Branch Marina and Little Platte Park

Online Reservations

The Online Reservation System is available 24 hours a day.

Phone Reservations / Customer Support

Monday through Friday
8 am to 5 pm

Call: 816-407-3400

Camping Fees

You may make reservations six months to one day in advance of arrival. There is a limit of five campsites reservable per account per day.

Campsite reservation is subject to the following fees in addition to the camping fees:

• Reservation Fee:
  $2 per site per reservation; double site $4 per site per reservation (non-refundable)
• Change/Transfer Fee:
  $2 per site per reservation; double site $4 per site per reservation (non-refundable)
  • Online:
    Possible up to 48 hours prior to arrival/beginning of the stay
  • Per phone:
    Possible Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm - call 816-407-3400

• Cancellation Fee:
  $2 per site per reservation; double site $4 per site per reservation

  • Online:
    Possible up to 48 hours prior to arrival/beginning of the stay

  • Per phone:
    Possible Monday through Friday 8 am through 5 pm - call (816) 407-3400

  • Cancellations on weekends subject to terms and conditions

Check-in/check-out times

We ask that you honor our check-out times promptly to minimize any hardship for the next guest. The check-out times will be strictly enforced.

Monday through Saturday
Check-In: 1 pm
Check-Out: 11 am

Sunday
Check-In: 5 pm
Check-Out: 3 pm

If the following Monday is a holiday:
Sunday Check-Out: 11 am
Monday Check-Out: 3 pm

Cancellation/Refunds

• Reservations may be canceled online up to 48 hours before arrival, or by calling 816-407-3400 by 5:00 pm CST/CDT on the day before arrival. Reservation fees will be refunded through your payment processor, minus the reservation fee and cancellation fee. Please allow the usual processing time for the refunds.
• For refund requests outside this policy, esp. when requested on the day of arrival or during your stay, the following applies:
  • Requests must be submitted in writing to the Park Office at Clay County Parks:
    Attn: Parks Office
    17201 Paradesian
    Smithville, MO 64089
    • Must include camping/vehicle tag if leaving early or receipt with the letter
    • All requests will be subject to approval. If approved, please allow 30 days for refund checks to be issued.
    • Camping is an outdoor activity and weather is unpredictable. We will not issue any refunds due to inclement weather.

Reservation

• Any non-reserved campsites will continue to be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis for walk-in campers.
• Same-day walk-ins may stay one night during weekends and holidays regardless of the type of site.  same day walk-in is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Customers who arrive after hours without a reservation are advised to contact clay county parks in the morning to minimize the possibility of a conflict with a reservation that may have occurred in the meantime. If scheduling conflicts do occur, reasonable efforts will be made to ensure the best outcome for both parties. If this is not possible for any reason, the customer without a reservation may have to be relocated. In order to avoid this possibility altogether, please use the online reservation system.
• We accept cash, checks (must provide driver's license number, valid phone number, and address if different than on check), visas, MasterCard, and Discover.
• We do not accept America the Beautiful passes or the Interagency Senior Passes or Interagency Access Passes formerly known as the Golden Age Passes.
• Discounts: senior discount (62 years and older): purchase 3 consecutive nights paid in advance and get the 4th night free.
• A minimum stay of two nights will be required for weekend reservations; must contain Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday. Partial cancellations will not be allowed.
• Minimum stay for a recognized holiday is five nights. Stays during a recognized holiday can only be canceled as a whole, not in parts. Recognized holidays are Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day.
• The maximum length of stay is 30 days in any 60-day period in a campground for any camper, regardless of the person(s) paying or staying and the camper must be removed from the campground at the expiration of the 30-day limit. Campers may stay at Crow's Creek for 30 days, then switch to the camp branch for 30 days or vice versa.
• Reserving an ada campsite is only permissible for or by people with disabilities. Proof of disability (placard, license plate) will be required at check-in time.
• Maximum allowed occupancy is six persons per site, two tents, or one tent and one camper. Patrons with needs exceeding the maximum allowed occupancy will be required to purchase additional campsites. Campers are allowed three axle units per site.
• Quiet hours are from 10 pm through 6 am. Running generators during quiet hours will be allowed unless they are bothersome to your neighbors; if so, you will be asked to shut them off.
• Winter camping: due to the danger of water pipes freezing, we will be shutting the water off at Crow's Creek campground on or around November 1st (weather dependent); at this point, there will be limited access to restrooms, shower house.  The dump station at Camp Branch will remain available during the off season.
• Camp Branch Campground will shut down on October 1st, for the winter and will reopen for business on April 1st.