RVing in Mid-Mo

We've stayed at three places during our time in the Columbia - Jefferson City area this summer. Ironically, we have settled in the least accessible (though most affordable) option among the three.

Our first week in the area was spent at Cottonwoods near the Boone County Fairgrounds, on Hwy 63, about three miles north of I-70 and Columbia. This park was highly rated by several sources. The Ample Traveler^© found several things to recommend it, chief among them, the clean and totally accessible shower rooms. Newly built with grab bars, seated shower stalls and benches, these facilities were open 23 hours a day with a whole hour devoted each day to keeping them spotless. The most expensive, paved sites were large enough that wheelchair lifts would be accommodated. The outdoor pool was heated, which made it more accommodating to arthritic joints.

Cottonwoods, however, lost some important points with The Ample Traveler^©. The pool was great, but it was not accessible to wheelchair and was difficult for entry for other people as well. None of the chairs at the pool were armless and they were all small and plastic, making it difficult for people of size to be anywhere but in the water. The "woods" of Cottonwoods were not to be found at this site. The lack of shade made the 90+ degree days difficult to endure with our AC maxing out the 30 amp hook-up several times (something we rarely do at other 30 amp sites).

While the rain finally provided relief to the heat, it also flooded the graveled sites. Some sites were so low that the motor homes were barely higher than the pond that formed underneath them. The Ample Traveler^© found walking in the mud a bit scary with the chance of a fall accident greatly increased.

No falls occurred, but the muddy residue in the RV was a pain to clean up and didn't help allergies at all.

Full hook-ups were nice to have, but the site failed our $20 per night ceiling even with the weekly rate (the extra person, made it closer to $22 a night).

At the end of the week's commitment, The Ample Traveler^© knew it was time to move along.

A state park was next on the list. Finger Lakes Missouri State Park lies about 7 miles north of Columbia and a couple of miles off Highway 63. Famous for the off-road vehicle dirt trails that crisscross the large park, Finger Lakes offered beautiful waterways, a clean campground, lots of bird and animal sightings, a nearby shooting range and a friendly staff. The Ample Traveler^© did not stay at the "disabled" campsites, but noted that such sites were available. The shower house had accessible doors to the front, the toilet stalls and shower stalls, but rustic was the name of the game and the floors remained wet and muddy because many of the off-roaders cleaned up there.

The sites are $14 a day with only electric hook-up. They were shaded, making the amperage issue of the week before moot. But every four days or so, the RV had to be moved to the dump station for both sewage and water. The regular sites were not wheelchair or cane friendly as the paved pads were small and the back of the sites, where the picnic tables and the grill stood, were rocky and root ridden. Missouri only allows camping for 14 days out of each month (with a 15 day break between), so at the end of our 2 weeks, The Ample Traveler^© headed for another home.

The Mari-Osa-Delta lies at the fork of the Maries and Osage rivers about 12 miles south of Jefferson City (about 45 miles south of Finger Lakes). This site is under new ownership who are making a number of changes in the off-season.

This is the most affordable site we've visited on our trip and we decided to take advantage of the monthly rate. Full hook-ups help offset some of the accessibility issues at the park.

RVing on the river at Mar-Osa-Delta The sites are large paved pads that have enough room for wheelchair lifts. Unfortunately, the gravel drive and grassy pathways would probably make it difficult for wheelchair users to leave the site after exiting the RV. Still, if you are traveling with an extra vehicle, transferring by wheelchair from the RV to the vehicle would be fairly easy on most of these sites.

The good news is that sitting at some of the sites makes for beautiful river views, though the site we were on had a deck that was difficult to get on and had some issues with rickety rails. The Ample Traveler^© suspects that the new management's commitment to improvement will include remaking the deck and making it easier to access (though maybe not wheelchair accessible) and safer to occupy.

The shower houses are newly renovated and large enough on the inside. At this time, however, they are not easily accessible from the outside with a small stair and a lip making wheelchair and some walker access difficult. The lack of a bench in the women's room makes dressing difficult as well. The men's room has a bench.

The friendliness of the staff at Mari-Osa-Delta, and the down-home concern they show for all their guests, leads The Ample Traveler^© to believe that as the new management makes improvements, the park will be more accessible. In addition, the management showed a willingness to accommodate different campers at the park and so special needs would most likely be easy to work out with them.

Of all the three parks we stayed during the summer, The Ample Traveler^© will most likely check Mari-Osa-Delta out again just to see what they've done.

RVing in Mid-Mo has been a delight this summer. We've seen plenty of animals, enjoyed beautiful rivers and lakes and had the pleasure of the company of some nice people.

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