Army Corps of Engineers · Harry S. Truman Lake · Clinton, MO

Bucksaw

Bucksaw Campground sits on the Grand River Arm of the Harry S. Truman Lake in the hills of western Missouri. The campground is an excellent destination for all types of water recreation.

More like this: electric hookups in Missouri · full hookups in Missouri · reservable in Missouri · big rigs in Missouri · pets allowed in Missouri

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Bucksaw Campground BeachBUCKSAW5BUCKSAW4BUCKSAW
Photos courtesy of USACE · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Standard with electric129
Standard, no hookups17
Host/management2
Most sites here open on Recreation.gov six months ahead, at 10 a.m. Eastern. Sold out is not final: cancellations come back into the pool, most of them two to three days out. How to catch one

Site guide

Will my RV fit

The longest site here provides 83 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.

Have the trailer VIN? It carries the trailer length.

146 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopTypeEntryFits, ftSurfaceShadePowerWater / sewerPeople / vehiclesFiresAccessible
A013AElectricBack-in50GravelPartial50 ampYes / Yes10 / 3Yes
A014AElectricBack-in50GravelPartial50 ampYes / Yes10 / 3Yes
A015AElectricPull-through48GravelPartial50 ampYes / Yes10 / 3Yes
A029AElectricBack-in65PavedPartial30 amp10 / 3YesYes
A030AElectricBack-in59PavedPartial30 amp10 / 3YesYes
A031AElectricBack-in50GravelPartial30 amp10 / 3Yes
A032AElectricBack-in50GravelPartial30 amp10 / 3Yes
A033AElectricBack-in45GravelPartial30 amp10 / 3Yes
A034AElectricBack-in50GravelPartial30 amp10 / 3Yes
A035AElectricBack-in50GravelPartial30 amp10 / 3Yes

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 6:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

HookupsElectric, water, sewer
Max vehicle length83 ft
EquipmentRVs & trailers, Tents
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed, subject to restrictions
AccessibilitySites A029, A030, B009, B013 and 4 more are listed accessible

This large campground offers 146 campsites total. 45 sites are 30-amp; 70 sites are 50-amp with water; 14 sites are 50-amp with water and sewage; and 17 sites are primitive. Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water, laundry facilities and a dump station. A boat ramp, playground and swimming beach offer additional recreational opportunities.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Bucksaw30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 1.75 inches of precipitationFebruary: 2.14 inches of precipitationMarch: 3.04 inches of precipitationApril: 4.60 inches of precipitationMay: 5.52 inches of precipitationJune: 5.24 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.70 inches of precipitationAugust: 3.96 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.11 inches of precipitationOctober: 3.45 inches of precipitationNovember: 3.06 inches of precipitationDecember: 1.97 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 32.2°F averageFebruary: 36.0°F averageMarch: 45.4°F averageApril: 55.7°F averageMay: 65.6°F averageJune: 74.9°F averageJuly: 79.6°F averageAugust: 78.0°F averageSeptember: 70.1°F averageOctober: 58.1°F averageNovember: 46.5°F averageDecember: 36.5°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Truman Dam & Rsvr, 10 miles from the campground at 754 feet, station USC00238466 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year.

Getting there

From Highway 7, take Highway U south for 3 miles. Turn left at SE 803. Stay on the paved road and follow signs into the campground.

Nearest townClinton, Missouri
Coordinates38.2600° N, 93.6056° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

RV sales & serviceShow Me RV ↗13 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Bucksaw Campground on Truman Lake.

Worth a stop

Bucksaw Marina

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Natural features

Bucksaw is located on a peninsula with primarily flat terrain and excellent lake views. Campsites are well-shaded, while expansive grassy areas are spread throughout the campground. Wildlife such as whitetail deer, turkey, hawks, ospreys, eagles, and many different water birds can be found in and around the park. An abundance of fish such as crappie, bass, walleye, paddlefish, blue and channel catfish can also be found in Harry S Truman Reservoir. Approximately 8,800 acres of standing timber were left in the lake to provide quality aquatic habitat.

Recreation

Popular activities in the area include wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, swimming, hiking and boating. For an enjoyable short hike, be sure to check out the mile long hiking trail located across the road from the A & B loop's shower house. Bucksaw is an excellent fishing location. Anglers find crappie, largemouth bass and blue and flathead catfish. Truman Lake is also a popular destination for tournament fishermen. Bucksaw Point Marina is also located next to the park.

Guidebooks for Missouri

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Best Tent Camping - Missouri and the Ozarks
    Steve Henry, 2014
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Rail-trails Iowa & Missouri
    Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • The Ozarks: 43 spectacular hikes in Arkansas and Missouri
    Jim Warnock, 2017
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Bucksaw?

Sites at Bucksaw are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Bucksaw?

Check-in 6:00 PM, checkout 6:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Bucksaw have?

148 sites, including 129 standard sites with power and 17 standard sites without power.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Bucksaw?

Recreation.gov lists no practical vehicle capacity limit for the largest site here, which usually means pull-through or open parking. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Does Bucksaw have hookups?

Yes, electric, water, and sewer hookups at some sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there showers or a dump station at Bucksaw?

Amenities include flush and pit toilets, showers, drinking water, laundry facilities and a dump station.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Bucksaw?

Yes, pets are allowed at Bucksaw. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I have a campfire at Bucksaw?

Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are there accessible sites at Bucksaw?

Sites A029, A030, B009, and B013 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 8 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Bucksaw?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Bucksaw?

Popular activities in the area include wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting, swimming, hiking and boating. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Bucksaw?

Clinton, Missouri. Bucksaw Marina

Source: Getting there