Smithville Lake — Attraction in Smithville

Scenic drive to this lovely area from Independence. Crow's Creek has nice facilities (flushing toilet) at the park shelters with a great playground plus a short walk down to the lake where you can walk right in for fishing or splashing around with the kids. A wide paved bike trail winds around the lake. This year the lake seems muddy from all the rain perhaps. We have gone to this spot for 3 years and the water is usually quite clear and about 5 feet lower than this year. We also went to the swimming beach this year for the first time. Decent sand cover but definitely some more muddy areas near the edge, again probably due to all the excessive rain this year. Definitely a nice spot near KC for a bit of fresh...

We stayed at Camp branch the weekend of 28 July 2017. Our campsiteon had plenty of space for a 29 foot camper and two vehicles with 30 amp hook up conveniently located. It was a beautiful site overlooking Smithville Lake. The public use area at Camp Branch has a Sand Beach but is overcrowded during the day and is very dirty. There was a even mixture of families getting away to enjoy the outdoors and your evening beer drinkers parting it out till 1 o'clock in the morning. Luckily our site was far enough that the loud music and yelling was drownded out by the air-conditioner in our camper and did not keep the kids up. All in all we had a good time and we will...

Has been better. Way to many people in the midst of a pandemic. Each lot as in one, had about 20-50 people on it. Kis were unattended. People were asking if we're seen there kids. Bathrooms where the younger kids were hanging out. Could use a stall or to even wash your hands. They were being used as a playground. Cartwheels, handstands etc.. within a span of 4-6 lot spaces during the day and visiting. Each day there were ast least 500 people. So much so you couldn't enjoy yourself. Between the noise, things missing, kids, trash everywhere. If you expect to camp and enjoy some relaxation this is not the place. Not ast this...