Baxter

Baxter is a spacious and sunny campground that sits along the White River Arm of Table Rock Lake. The highly productive fishing waters of the White River Arm will appeal to anglers, while the Baxter full-service marina offers everything a boater needs, from fuel to fishing licenses. Picnicking, swimming, scuba diving, boating, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing are all popular pastimes at the park. Water sports including tubing, wakeboarding and water skiing are extremely popular on the deep, clear, beautiful waters of Table Rock Lake, and the Baxter marina provides rentals from ski boats to life vests. While the lake boasts an abundance of crappie, catfish and bluegill, Table Rock is most famous for bass, and is acclaimed as one of the best bass fishing lakes in this hemisphere. The Table Rock Lakeshore Trail, about 2 miles long, runs from the Dewey Short Visitor Center to the Table Rock State Park Marina. During the spring hikers will see dogwood, serviceberry and redbud trees in bloom as well as many wildflower species, and during the autumn months visitors are treated to nature's colorful fall foliage. The trail also offers beautiful views of Table Rock Lake. Other hiking and mountain biking opportunities are available at the Mark Twain National Forest, parts of which are easily accessible from the campground. Baxter Campground offers 54 reservable sites. Hot showers, drinking water, a dump station and electric hookups create a comfortable camping experience, and a swim area, boat ramp, playground and the nearby full-service marina make the campground perfect for family trips. Table Rock Lake is a beautiful body of water surrounded by a forest of oak and hickory trees, its waters winding down through the valleys and hollows of the Ozark Mountains from Branson, Missouri to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Originally built for flood control, the Table Rock Dam has created a lake that boasts 779 miles of shoreline for the public to enjoy. The Dewey Short Visitors Center at the south end of the dam offers three educational films — on the history of the dam, the story of Lewis and Clark, and the history of eagles and their endangerment in Missouri — plus exhibits on the natural history of the area. Baxter Campground is only 23 miles from Branson, which offers grocery stores, gas and additional tourist attractions.