RV Rental Kansas City, KS

RV Rental Kansas City: Motorhome, Camper, & Trailer Rentals MO

Kansas City, Missouri, is known for its barbecue, jazz, and fountains. The city has several nicknames, such as the "Paris of the Plains" and the "Gateway to the Southwest," and Kansas Citians are a fun group of people to hang out with, which is why Kansas City RV rentals are so popular.

If you like the arts, museums, and shopping, Kansas City is the place to be. It's a thriving community with a cool urban feel. Highlights include the lively Power & Light District and the Jazz District. There's also a zoo, several comedy clubs, and other attractions to keep you entertained. Did we mention there are more than 200 fountains scattered throughout the city?

Our guide features some of the city's most popular destinations, events, campgrounds, and more to help you plan a memorable RV trip in Kansas City.

Popular RV Destinations in Kansas City

National WWI Museum and Memorial

This is America’s official museum dedicated to World War I. It initially opened as the Liberty Memorial Museum in 1926. Over the years it has been restored and expanded and currently includes an 80,000 square-foot museum and research center. The museum provides information about the Great War, including its origins, the 1918 armistice, and the Paris Peace Conference.

More than two million people have visited the museum since 2006, including former Vice President Dick Cheney, General Colin Powell, and President Barack Obama when he was the 2008 presidential candidate. Visitors enter the museum by crossing a glass bridge that features thousands of red poppies, which represent combatant deaths.

18th & Vine Jazz District

This part of the city is known for its barbecue, baseball, and music clubs. One highlight is the American Jazz Museum, which features exhibits on jazz greats, including Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, and Duke Ellington, and artifacts such as one of Louis Armstrong's trumpets. The museum also has a theater, which hosts its "Jammin' at the Gem" jazz masters concert series every year.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is located in the same building as the jazz museum, and it features memorabilia from Negro League baseball stars, including items from Josh Gibson, who was known as the "Black Babe Ruth."

A day spent visiting museums can make you hungry, and the district's Arthur Bryant's BBQ restaurant is perfect for filling your belly. Established in the 1920s, the place is known for its legendary barbecue. Other dining options include the KC Juke House Blues & Jazz Bar/Restaurant and Bayou on the Vine.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has over 35,000 works of art and 500,000 annual visitors. Its collections include art from nearly every continent and culture, including a huge representation of Asian art. Exhibits include Encore Degas! Ballet, Movement, and Fashion; Robert Blackburn & Modern American Printmaking; Abstraction: From A to B; and Teachers of Enlightenment.

Some of the collection's highlights include pieces from John Singer Sargent, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, and Robert Rauschenberg. There's also a sculpture park, which includes Claes Oldenburg’s and Coosje van Bruggen’s site-specific “Shuttlecocks.” Open six days a week, admission to the museum is free.

Kansas City Zoo

Initially known as the Kansas City Zoological Gardens, the 202-acre Kansas City Zoo opened in 1909 with a small number of animals: four lions, three monkeys, a wolf, fox, coyote, badger, lynx, and several birds. Today, it has more than 1,300 animals and is considered one of America's top zoos.

The zoo has received special recognition for “African Animals and Exhibits," “Australian Animals and Exhibits,” and “Pachyderms: Elephants, Rhinos, Hippos.” The zoo puts on a sea lion show and also has keeper chats, elephant painting demonstrations, and other types of animal encounters. Guests can participate in guided tours, classes, and campouts or take a safari boat ride across the zoo's lake in the African Plains area.

Events and Entertainment in Kansas City

Dancefestopia

One of America's biggest camping and music festivals takes place in Kansas City every September. One of the best things about Dancetopia is its atmosphere. The EDM festival is located next to a forest and a lake and features some of the world's most popular DJs. What's not to like?

There are four stages with different themes, including the Lollipop Stage, which features up-and-coming artists. There’s also the Emerald Stage that presents nationally recognized acts. 

The event takes place over three nights, and when you need a break from the party, you can camp or hang out in your RV. The festival also features art installations, pool parties, and hot air balloon rides.

Celebration at the Station

If you're in Kansas City during Memorial Day weekend, one can't-miss event is the Celebration at the Station, which is presented by the Kansas City Symphony. The symphony plays several patriotic tunes for the crowd, including the “1812 Overture” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Prior to the concert, attendees can enjoy exhibits inside Union Station (a former train station turned public attraction) and the National World War I Museum and Memorial. There are also food trucks and a family zone for children. 

The event concludes with the city's largest fireworks display of the year. Around 50,000 visitors attend the event, which honors the men and women who died while serving in the nation's armed forces.

Kansas City St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Irish immigrated to Kansas City in the mid-1800s, and their customs, music, dancing, and food has made a big mark on the city. Thousands of people take part in Kansas City’s St. Patrick's Day parade, which is one of the country’s largest. 

The parade lasts three hours and features floats, marching bands, and leprechauns. The festivities are geared towards families as well as adults, who don’t have to work too hard to find green beer.

Festivities kick off during the weekend preceding St. Patrick's Day and include a carnival, children's activities, and a cookoff. There's also a four-mile run, an Irish breakfast, and other events for all members of the family to enjoy.

Campgrounds and Parks in Kansas City

Worlds of Fun Village 

If you love amusement parks, then Worlds of Fun Village in Kansas City is a great place to stay. You can walk to the Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun (and gain entry with discounted tickets) and experience thrill rides such as the Boomerang, Fury of the Nile, RipCord, and Bamboozler.

After you complete a long day at the theme park, you can hang out at the campground and enjoy the pool and hot tub. The campground has both back-in (55 feet long) and pull-through (100 feet long) sites with sewer, water, and electric 20-, 30-, and 50-amp service. Other amenities include Wi-Fi, satellite TV, outdoor patios, charcoal grills, and picnic tables. 

Campus RV Park

The Campus RV Park in Independence is about 20 minutes from Kansas City. There are several nearby attractions in the area, including the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Fort Osage National Historic Landmark, Arabia Steamboat, Woodlands Racetrack, and Riverboat Casinos.

Independence is a great place to visit if you are a history buff and want to see what life was like as a pioneer or to learn more about Civil War-era history in the area. 

The campground is big-rig friendly and features full hook-ups, 30- and 50-amp service, Wi-Fi, concrete pads, picnic tables, showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, a dump station, and a recreation field. Pets are allowed.

Trailside RV Park

Located in Grain Valley, Trailside RV Park is less than 30 minutes from Kansas City and its dining, shopping, and major league sports. Other nearby attractions include the Monkey Mountain Nature Preserve, Blue & Gray Park, Kansas Motor Speedway, Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The name “Trailside” comes from a section of agricultural land on the highway from Grain Valley to Kansas City. The park's amenities include pull-through and full hookup sites, electric and water, laundry facilities, a swimming pool, restrooms, showers, Wi-Fi, picnic tables, a playground, an on-site snack store, and a dump station.

RV Storage and Dumpstations in Kansas City

Traveling in an RV can be a lot of fun, but you may need to store it for a short period of time during your travels. There are several facilities in Kansas City that can accommodate your needs, such as:

• SubTropolis Storage
• KCI RV Storage
• AA/Northland StorAll
• Interstate Self Storage

At some point during your travels, you will need to dump your gray and black water. Kansas City has several dump stations located in the metro area for your convenience, including the following:

• TA – Petro Stopping Center Oak Grove, Oak Grove
• Basswood Country RV Resort, Platte City
• Watkins Woolen Mill State Park, North Lawson
• Jones Travel Mart, Cameron
• Missouri State Fair RV Park, Sedalia

FAQs

1. What are RV rentals?

If you rent a camper or motorhome, you can get a feel for the RV lifestyle without spending a lot of money. You don’t have to pay the costs associated with ownership, yet you reap many of the same benefits.

2. How much are RV rentals?

RV rental prices vary depending on several factors, including the size of the vehicle. Smaller campers and trailers can cost between $75 and $150 per night, while larger RVs can cost upwards of $250 per night. You can save money if you rent the RV for a longer period of time.

3. Do I need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Kansas City?

In general, you need to be 25 years old to rent an RV. Some owners and businesses may rent to younger individuals, but there may be an additional fee.

4. Do I need insurance when I rent an RV?

Yes. Insurance will protect you in the event of an accident.

5. Do I need to return my rental RV with a full tank?

Check the rental agreement. Some businesses may require a full tank upon return, while others may not. 

6. Are RVs pet-friendly in Kansas City?

Many RV rental companies allow users to bring pets with them on their travels. However, you may need to leave a deposit or pay an extra fee.