Let Mutts Loose Outdoors in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
- Luie Boone
- Jun 13
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 24
This vacation destination is a part of our second series of blog posts titled K9 Kind.
Are you looking for a getaway where you can relax, explore the outdoors, and bring your best friend along for the ride? Well, Luie Boone has found the best vacation spot for you: Lake of the Ozarks in central Missouri! With its scenic shoreline and comfortable vibe, the area blends natural beauty with pup-friendly adventures in a range of welcoming towns.
In two of the towns—Osage Beach and Lake Ozark—you’ll find lively spots perfect for people-watching, strolling near the water, and taking in all of the picturesque sights. There are wide sidewalks, open spaces, and sweeping lakefront views. This gives both you and your pal plenty of room to stretch your legs and soak up the energy of the lake! Luie Boone's hoping to do a big cannonball into it!
Just a bit farther out, the town of Camdenton offers a quieter, more local feel. It is ideal for relaxed days and unhurried exploration. If you prefer an even slower pace, other nearby towns on the western side of the lake—such as Sunrise Beach, Laurie, and Gravois Mills—deliver peaceful surroundings, calm country drives, and plenty of room for your dog to tag along on daily outings.
In the Village of Four Seasons and Porto Cima, the atmosphere turns decidedly residential. There are beautiful vistas and walkable streets, which are perfect for quiet mornings or evening strolls with your pup.
And for those craving true seclusion, small communities—such as Roach, Climax Springs, Greenview, and Macks Creek—grant lake access without the crowds. These are the perfect spots for savoring uninterrupted time in nature with your four-legged travel buddy.
Wherever you go, Lake of the Ozarks offers wide-open spaces, fresh air, and an easy pace. You and your pup can travel here to slow down and recharge together!
Paws Rest Here
Luie Boone paw-selected this perfect vacation rental for your stay in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Check it out below!
Rental Name: Boho Retreat
This rental has 4 bedrooms with 6 beds and 3 baths.
Photos courtesy of VRBO
It features the following amenities:
Peaceful no-wake zones, which are great for swimming, fishing, and kayaking
Deep cove, which is perfect for tubing, skiing, and jet skiing
Expansive upper deck is complete with a dining area, grill, and firepit
Lower covered deck, where you can enjoy a hot tub, swing, or hammock (Luie Boone wonders if he can get hoisted into the hammock! It sounds like a wonderful place to close his eyes and relax.)
Free Kayaks (2 Fishing Kayaks, 1 Youth Kayak)
Private dock, which has a swimming platform with stairs (Luie Boone will definitely be using that to get back onto dry land after all of his cannonballs!)
What does Luie Boone think of this rental? He woofed:
Want to hear about the ulti-mutt escape to the Lake of the Ozarks? My humans found a 4 bed, 3 bath lakefront retreat that sounds like pure tail-wagging heaven. There are two big decks where I can stretch out and do some sun soaking, keep watch for any trespassing squirrels, and lazily sniff the breeze. And get this! There’s a private dock just for us! I plan on splashing, lounging, and cannonballing. The host won’t be there in paw-son, but, if we'd like, they’ll send us a guide to all the best local spots from dog-friendly trails to restaurants. At the house, it’s all comfort and fun. There are memory foam beds, a hot tub, kayaks, arcade games, smart TVs, a cozy firepit, and a hammock I fully intend to get tangled in. Whether we’re out exploring or just enjoying some lazy time, this place is paws-down the best vacation spot ever. I may never leave!
Paws Venture Here
Lake of the Ozarks State Park
This park offers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of recreational activities on the lake or on shore with your pooch. Luie Boone hopes there's a good spot for doing a ginormous cannonball!
River Monkey Kayak Rentals
River Monkey Kayak Rentals delivers your kayak right to your location on the lake for a day, a weekend, or the whole week! Enjoy a relaxing paddle on the Niangua River. And if you're kayaking with Luie Boone... well, be ready for a splash, because there's a good chance you'll both end up in the water!
Ha Ha Tonka State Park
This park is a geologic wonderland with sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, sheer bluffs, and ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone castle. A series of trails and boardwalks make it easy for visitors and their canine companion to experience all the park has to offer! Luie Boone can't wait to be a King for the day.
Fiery Fork Conservation Area
Your canine companion will love this conservation area, which includes over 1,500 acres of oak and hickory forest. It was named after Fiery Fork Creek, which flows into the Niangua River. Hiking trails vary in length from 0.25 mile to 1.25 miles and offer ideal opportunities to view wildlife in its natural setting.
Rocky Top Trail
This 2.2 mile trail crosses through a ravine and reaches a north-facing slope, which then gives way to dolomite cliffs overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks. Dogs of all abilities are free to wander by their owner's side!
Coakley Hollow Fen
Here, you can walk a boardwalk with your buddy over a unique Ozark natural community known as a fen. Luie Boone just learned that fens are wetlands created when calcareous groundwater seeps out to the soil surface.
WFO Watersports
At WFO Watersports, Rover can join you for a water adventure on a pontoon boat. There is even dock dogs on-site, who are ready to greet you and your pup. Luie Boone can't wait to make some new friends!
The Hatch at Miller's Landing
At this restaurant Fido can join you at an outdoor table by the water for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have a dog menu with choices like scrambled eggs and bacon, strip steak, chicken, burger patties, and ice cream—all served with fresh water. Humans can enjoy build-your-own omelets, salads, sandwiches,and pizza.
Luie Boone's Pet Peeve about
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
There's just so much to love about this vacation destination, but there's one thing that's got Luie Boone's leash in a twist. He woofed:
I’ve never been to the Lake of the Ozarks, so I did some research. I’m both excited and a little unsure about it. There is talk of choppy waters, loud boats, and steep docks that aren’t exactly paw-friendly. Choppy water? Not a fan. A nice, still puddle is more my speed. Waves that slap you in the face while you're just trying to paddle like a good boy? That's just rude. Then there’s the whole boat situation. They sound like a vacuum cleaner and a thunderstorm had a very loud baby. I’ll probably bark at the first five boats that I see. Maybe six. Okay, definitely six! But, once I realize they’re not monsters and they’re not stealing my people, I might just hop aboard! Also, I’m not too sure about these steep docks. I mean, who designed those? Definitely not a dog. They're slippery, narrow, and way too high for comfort. One wrong paw and I’m doing an unplanned cannonball. I love a cannonball, but not an unplanned one! I might just brave it for a better view of the ducks. Speaking of ducks—oh boy—have you seen those things? They flap, they quack, they paddle like they own the place. I’ll try to be on my best behavior, but if one of them waddles a little too close, let’s just say the leash better be tight or I'm getting in a sniff. So yeah, I might bark too much, get my paws muddy, and need a towel parade every night, but I’m ready. Lake of the Ozarks, here I come with my tail wagging, ears flapping, and nose ready to sniff. Just keep the ducks in check and the vacuu—I mean, boats—at a distance for the first few hours. Deal?
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