Lake of the Ozarks' state parks rank top picks in the Midwest

A snow-covered path at Ha Ha Tonka State Park.

File Photo

According to AAA Midwest Traveler magazine, the Lake of the Ozarks is home to two of the top three state parks in the Midwest.
Table Rock Lake State Park in Branson claimed top honor amongst AAA Midwest Traveler readers. Lake of the Ozarks State Park settled for second place silver, and Ha Ha Tonka State Park finished third in the voting.
The magazine asked its readers to vote for their favorite places to visit, eat and shop. In the spring of 2010, more than 2,500 readers cast ballots for their favorite places to visit in the Midwest.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park Superintendent Bill Arnold said he believes the diversity is what makes the park so popular.
“I think it’s the beauty of the park and all the facilities the park offers with the group camps and the camper cabins. We have miles and miles of trails, both equestrian trails and bike trails,” Arnold said.
The park is also home to two public beaches.

Ha Ha Tonka State Park is best known for its castle ruins, but visitors also enjoy trails, fishing and picnic areas.
“The park is such a fascinating collection of karst features and wonderfully diverse landscapes,” Ha Ha Tonka Superintendent Nancy Masterson. “People can come to the lake for vacation. They can come to Ha Ha Tonka and spend a cost-free day hiking and enjoying the scenery.”
AAA Midwest Traveler reaches more then 500,000 readers bimonthly. Readers live in Missouri, parts of Indiana, Illinois and Kansas. In addition to the best state park, the publication asked for reader input in 19 categories such as best small hotel, best large hotel, best barbeque and best food festival.