Lake of the Ozarks State Park

The short version

This is the big park on the lake, more than 17,000 acres with more than 80 miles of lake frontage, and it's where to go for a free beach, a real hike, or a campsite on the water. The official address is 403 Highway 134 in Brumley, near Kaiser.

If you have one day, swim at Grand Glaize Beach in the summer, walk the Rocky Top Trail in the morning or evening, and take the cave tour if it's running.

The beaches

The park has two public beaches. Public Beach 1 is off Highway 134. Grand Glaize Beach, also called Public Beach 2, is off Highway 54 just west of the Grand Glaize bridge. Both have restrooms, changing houses, picnic shade and playgrounds close by.

There are no lifeguards, and pets aren't allowed on either beach. Missouri's Department of Natural Resources tests the water at state park beaches every week from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend and posts the results on its beach status page. Both beaches are closed for the season right now.

Trails

The park lists 13 trails. Most are short loops, and two are long enough for a full day.

Ozark Caverns

Ozark Caverns is part of the park, near Linn Creek. The tour runs about an hour and covers a half mile round trip, and you carry a handheld lantern instead of walking under electric lights. The cave stays 56 degrees, so bring a light jacket even in July.

The highlight is Angel's Shower, a steady fall of water that seems to come straight out of the rock ceiling.

Tours run on a short season: weekends from May 15 to 31, daily from June 1 to August 15 (11 a.m., 12:30, 2 and 4 p.m.), Tuesday through Saturday August 16 to 31, and weekends September 1 to 15. The park lists $13 for adults, $10 for teens, $8 for kids 6 to 12, and free for kids under 6.

Camping, cabins and yurts

The campground has four sections with basic, electric, and full-hookup sites, and it's open all year. Showers and water run April 1 through October 31. Section 4 reopened in August 2025 with 25 new full-hookup sites, and the site numbers changed, so double-check yours if you camped there before.

There are also 8 log cabins that sleep six and 6 yurts that sleep five. Both rent year-round and need to be booked ahead. Reservations go through Missouri State Parks online or at 877-422-6766, up to 12 months out, with a two-night minimum on weekends.

Boats and marinas

Two marinas, at Grand Glaize Beach and Public Beach 1, rent boats and slips and have small stores. The Grand Glaize boat ramp is open all year. The Pa He Tsi ramp is open March through October and closes when the lake drops below 658.5 feet, so check today's lake level before you go.

Hours and rules

The park is open from sunrise to a half hour after sunset. Anglers can use the boat ramps outside those hours. Dogs are welcome on a leash of 10 feet or less, but not in buildings or on the beaches. Some lodging units allow dogs through the park's Cabins for Canines program.

The park closes parts of the campground, trails and the Public Beach 1 area for a managed deer hunt each December. Check the park's advisories before a trip that week.