Happy Trails RV Park Lebanon Missouri

We have been slowly making our way west toward California.  The weather has not been very cooperative and we allowed plenty of time to get there, so we only travel on days without freezing rain or snow.  We spent New Year’s Eve at Happy Trails RV Park in Lebanon Missouri, and then, because Oklahoma was forecast to have freezing rain, we also spent New Year’s Day.  I enjoyed having the day to watch the Rose Parade and then all the football games.  I especially enjoyed watching Oregon beat Florida State and Ohio State beat Alabama.

Our nice, level site
The office, built in typical KOA style
Lots of sites to choose from
Some of the empty sites
The fishing pond
The camping cabins
The plain but functional playground
The abandoned house next door
Thanks for coming and don’t forget your spouse when you leave!

Happy Trails was a nice place to stay for two nights, mostly because it was open.  One of the challenges of living in the RV and traveling in the winter has been finding open campgrounds.  In Missouri they close all the state park campgrounds and most of the private campgrounds from the end of October through March.  We had this problem when we went east before Thanksgiving and faced it again heading west.

Happy Trails used to be a KOA – about 20 years ago.  It is now owned by the RV dealership next door and managed by a nice couple who were very helpful and friendly.  There were only five RVs staying at the park, and three of them looked like they were parked long-term.  We were invited to pick any open spot, so we found one that was level and easy to get in and out of.

We spent a little time walking around the campground.  There were some trails through the woods and around a pond.  We found an abandoned house next to the campground and a dirt road that looked like it went to some farms.  Happy Trails had a laundry room and clean restrooms and showers.  Everything was a little run-down, but the price was reasonable and we spend most of our time in the RV.  The managers stay in a house on-site and they are avid auction-goers, which meant that the campstore had some things you generally don’t find in a campstore!  There were also camping cabins to rent and a nice tent area.  Happy Trails gives a Good Sam discount.

While we were at Happy Trails we went into Lebanon to eat and to get diesel.  Lebanon is a town that has seen better days but it is home to Tracker Boats.  Our impressions might have been tinted by the dreary January weather while we were there.  Lebanon is along historic Route 66 (so is Happy Trails RV Park) and consequently has lots of antique stores – don’t ask me why they go together.

We enjoyed out time at Happy Trails RV Park.  Eventually I hope to get the tune out of my head.