FAQs About Lake of the Ozarks
What is the population of the Lake of the Ozarks?
A recent demographic profile from the Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council reports a full-time population of 92,551.
Is the Lake of the Ozarks and the Ozarks the same thing?
No. The Lake of the Ozarks is a man-made lake fed by the Osage River and is located in central Missouri. “The Lake” commonly refers to several cities and towns situated around the actual Lake of the Ozarks. “The Ozarks” is a region that covers part of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. It includes two mountain ranges and is formally known as The Ozark Mountains.
What are the seasons like at the Lake of the Ozarks?
Central Missouri enjoys all four seasons in all their glory. April showers bring May flowers is very true at the Lake. Expect lots of rain in the spring with the weather being chilly and windy one day, then sunny and warm the next.
Summer brings weeks of full sun and balmy humidity, perfect for enjoying time out on the water.
Fall cools off quickly, with surprise spots of sunny days well into the season. This is the best time to enjoy hiking and nature walks as the trees turn gorgeous, bright colors in October.
Winter can get very cold in Missouri. Most days are right around freezing, but temperatures are known to drop to 0-degrees Fahrenheit in January and February. Snow and ice are not a constant throughout winter, but it is beautiful to see the fro
While the Lake might look small on a map, it’s actually incredibly large.
North, South, East, or West? The Lake of the Ozarks is divided into these major sections, primarily by the shape of the lake itself.
Lake of the Ozarks is centrally located in the state, so there are plenty of incredible day trips to explore!
With a short drive to Springfield, you’ll find the Bass Pro headquarters and Johnny Morris’s Wonders of Wildlife Museum.
When is the best time to visit Lake of the Ozarks?
Any time! Your vision of what you want your lake life to be will determine which season is best for you. If you’re looking to avoid crowds and larger wakes on the water, late spring (April – early May) and early fall (September – early October) are the best times to visit.
Just make sure you are prepared for both warm and cold days. Several major restaurants open on the weekends starting in April and don’t close until October. The lake really comes alive with traffic on and off the water between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Where is the closest airport to Lake of the Ozarks?
The Lake of the Ozarks is centrally located between the Kansas City International Airport (2 hours, 53 minutes), the St. Louis International Airport (2 hours, 43 minutes), and the Springfield-Branson National Airport (1 hour and 31 minutes).
Enjoy a scenic drive from any of these airports and you’ll be enjoying time on the lake before you know it!
Is it really like the show Ozarks?
No! Wendy Byrde is wrong; the only good pizza isn’t served out of a gas station. (In fact, one of the top 5 restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks is a delicious pizzeria called PaPPo’s. Check it out!)
The Lake of the Ozarks is highly developed with delicious fine dining, great shopping, and tons of unique activities to enjoy. And no poppy fields…
How big can/should my boat be at LOTO?
The size of your boat depends on where you’ll be boating and how you plan to use it. If you want to boat on the Main Channel on the weekends, you boat needs to be no shorter than 40 feet in length at the very least.
The shorter your boat, the more difficult it will be to navigate large wakes on the busy weekend waters. However, if you plan on fishing in the morning on a weekday, you would do well with an 18-foot bass boat.
Is there really more coastline than the state of CA?
Yes! California has 840 miles of coastline, while the Lake of the Ozarks has more than 1,150 miles!
The Lake of the Ozarks is 84.37 square miles.