Lake of the Ozarks Family Vacations

Who needs an ocean for your family vacation when you have Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks? With more miles of shoreline than the Pacific Coast of California and nearly 60,000 acres of water, the Lake of the Ozarks is one of the Midwest's premiere family vacation destinations. If it can be done on water, they do it at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Located about 160 miles from Kansas City and 130 miles from St. Louis, the Lake of the Ozarks is smack dab in the middle of the Show-Me State, slightly south of the capital of Jefferson City. Not to be confused with Branson, Mo., also located in the Ozarks, but in the southwest corner of Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks encompasses a number of small communities including Osage Beach, Camdenton, Laurie, Gravois Mills and Lake Ozark.

The Lake of the Ozarks is man made, a result of the Niangua and Osage Rivers being dammed for hydro-electrical purposes in the 1930s. Because the lake meanders around the hills and river channels, the result is 1,150 miles of shoreline and hundreds of marinas, waterfront restaurants and an all but endless choice of accommodations suitable for families of all sizes.

There are two state parks adjacent to the water with more than 1,800 campsites and three of Missouri's finest show caves. Missouri is, after all, The Cave State.

So let Missouri show you its Midwestern hospitality and prices in the heart of America.