A Big Water Playground in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

Big Water

Ozark Caverns, copyright
Lake of the Ozarks CVB

This is one big body of water -- with winding arms stretching in every direction. It takes about one hour to drive from one end to the other, so plan the location of your base camp carefully. And keep in mind: Where you stay depends on how close you want to be to the action.

Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, and Camdenton on the east side, are the most popular (and crowded!) communities. For a more laid-back visit, head to Laurie or Hurricane Deck on the west side. Wherever you set up base camp, don't worry about missing a thing. The Grand Glaize and brand-new Community Bridges make getting around a breeze; you can cross the lake to most any spot in under an hour.

Big Surf Waterpark,
copyright Lake of
the Ozarks CVB

Lake of the Ozarks also has lodging for every family and budget: 100 resorts and motels, 20 private campgrounds, and scores of condos and cottages. You can even rent a houseboat and stay on the water. (Tip: Don't attempt this unless you're traveling with a crowd; the smallest craft sleeps 10).

For day cruising, most folks bring their own boats. If you don't have one, rentals are available from marinas in Laurie, Sunrise Beach, and Hurricane Deck on the west side, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, and Camdenton on the east side.