Pros

  • On the lakefront with water sports, a private marina, and a yacht club
  • Connected to H. Toad’s Bar & Grill music venue
  • Large contemporary rooms with kitchenettes and balconies
  • Outdoor pool with a swim-up bar and two year-round hot tubs
  • Waterfront bar and restaurant, plus a lobby espresso bar
  • Full-service spa and hair salon
  • 24-hour business center, meeting rooms, two ballrooms, and a theater
  • Modern fitness center and game room with pool table
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • Many rooms face a noisy outdoor bar with late-night live music
  • Waterfront bar and restaurant (The Frog) is only open seasonally
  • Not all rooms have lake views
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Bottom Line

The upper-middle-range Camden on the Lake Resort, Spa, & Yacht Club is a waterfront property with gorgeous views and ample facilities. Apart from the spa, private marina, and yacht club, it has substantial event facilities, and is connected to H. Toad’s Bar & Grill, which functions not only as its main restaurant, but also as a seasonal music venue and regional party destination. A lot of the amenities are seasonal, however, including the outdoor pool with swim-up bar. Additionally, catering to groups has its downside, and depending on the time of year, the outdoor band's late-night music can be an issue. The 117 modern rooms are large and have well-equipped kitchenettes and balconies, though not all face the lake. There's nothing else like it in the area, though nearby Lodge of Four Seasons may be a cheaper and quieter alternative.

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pets Allowed
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

Camden on the Lake Resort

Scene

Upper-middle-range resort with a yacht club and large music venue

Despite its pretty lakefront setting, the resort was originally built for condominiums and unfortunately has the look of an office complex from the outside. The six-story building's front entrance actually puts you on the fourth floor as the building sits on a hill that slides down to the waterfront. Inside, wooden stools at the lobby bar and faux leather chairs around a gas fireplace add a veneer of rustic lakeside ambience -- though the apparel and jewelry store across from the front desk make it feel a bit like a shopping mall. The property attracts mostly business travelers during the week, but weekends and warmer months draw lots of families and couples. At the height of summer, the hotel takes on the vibe of an adult entertainment complex when the party at H. Toad’s Bar & Grill is in full swing with loud outdoor concerts that go past midnight.

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Location

On the waterfront overlooking Toad Cove

The hotel sits at the end of a meandering road right on the lakefront, overlooking Toad Cove. It's on an isolated finger of land, with little of interest within walking distance. Several golf courses are in the area; it's a 20-minute drive to the Osage National Golf Resort and about 40 minutes to Lake Valley Golf & Country Club. Gran Rally Go Karts and the outdoor shopping mall, Osage Beach Premium Outlets, are around a 22-minute drive, while regional subterranean attractions such as the Ozark Caverns are a 40-minute drive away. Jacob's Cave is about 55 minutes away by car in the opposite direction. St. Louis is about a three-hour drive to the east, as is the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Free outdoor parking is available.

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Rooms

Large modern rooms with kitchenettes and balconies

The hotel's 117 rooms feature modern decor that's chainlike but pleasant, including dark wood furnishings, a neutral-tone palette, and patterned carpeting. All rooms have well-equipped kitchenettes with microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, dishwashers, stovetops, and speckled granite countertops. Bedrooms have flat-screen TVs and small work desks, plus sliding glass doors that open to private furnished balconies -- though some overlook the parking lot. Roomy bathrooms have small wall-mounted TVs and large walk-in showers, as well as ample toiletries and hairdryers. Suites add lake views, along with living rooms with sofa beds and fireplaces. Some have washer/dryers and bathrooms with jetted tubs, while Executive Suites have wraparound balconies. Note that late-night music from the bar might be an issue in some rooms.

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Features

Extensive leisure and business facilities, including a seasonal outdoor music venue

The hotel caters to both its corporate and leisure guests with a variety of amenities. The resort's outdoor pool is open seasonally, and wraps around a covered swim-up bar. A fairly expansive sundeck is lined with loungers, and the two outdoor hot tubs are open year-round. The full-service spa has treatment rooms with the usual massage and facial offerings, as well as a hair salon. There's also a fitness center equipped with cardio and weight-training machines, free weights, flat-screen TVs, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the deck. 

Water sports during peak summer months include boat rentals, parasailing, fishing, and Jet Skis. The resort has its own private marina and guests can also rent water taxis to travel to numerous other docks in the area. The affiliated yacht club has covered boatslips, along with a club lounge and 24-hour security. 

Business amenities include 16,000 square feet of event facilities, with several meeting rooms and two large ballrooms. There's also an indoor theater with stadium seating for 50 that guests and groups can reserve free of charge, along with a 24-hour business center. Up to two pets are allowed, for an extra daily fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

The hotel's waterfront eatery, The Frog, has a full bar with pub food such as burgers and hot dogs, but it's only open seasonally. It also has a game room with a pool table, air hockey, and a few arcade games. The next-door H.Toad’s Bar & Grill is open year-round and offers seasonal live entertainment; in addition to the big acts on its outdoor stage, there's also a smaller indoor stage with live music on weekends (summer only). This casual American restaurant draws both locals and guests alike. The hotel also has a lobby espresso bar with a small lounge. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Camden on the Lake Resort

Scene

Upper-middle-range resort with a yacht club and large music venue

Despite its pretty lakefront setting, the resort was originally built for condominiums and unfortunately has the look of an office complex from the outside. The six-story building's front entrance actually puts you on the fourth floor as the building sits on a hill that slides down to the waterfront. Inside, wooden stools at the lobby bar and faux leather chairs around a gas fireplace add a veneer of rustic lakeside ambience -- though the apparel and jewelry store across from the front desk make it feel a bit like a shopping mall. The property attracts mostly business travelers during the week, but weekends and warmer months draw lots of families and couples. At the height of summer, the hotel takes on the vibe of an adult entertainment complex when the party at H. Toad’s Bar & Grill is in full swing with loud outdoor concerts that go past midnight.

See More Scene

Location

On the waterfront overlooking Toad Cove

The hotel sits at the end of a meandering road right on the lakefront, overlooking Toad Cove. It's on an isolated finger of land, with little of interest within walking distance. Several golf courses are in the area; it's a 20-minute drive to the Osage National Golf Resort and about 40 minutes to Lake Valley Golf & Country Club. Gran Rally Go Karts and the outdoor shopping mall, Osage Beach Premium Outlets, are around a 22-minute drive, while regional subterranean attractions such as the Ozark Caverns are a 40-minute drive away. Jacob's Cave is about 55 minutes away by car in the opposite direction. St. Louis is about a three-hour drive to the east, as is the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Free outdoor parking is available.

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Rooms

Large modern rooms with kitchenettes and balconies

The hotel's 117 rooms feature modern decor that's chainlike but pleasant, including dark wood furnishings, a neutral-tone palette, and patterned carpeting. All rooms have well-equipped kitchenettes with microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, dishwashers, stovetops, and speckled granite countertops. Bedrooms have flat-screen TVs and small work desks, plus sliding glass doors that open to private furnished balconies -- though some overlook the parking lot. Roomy bathrooms have small wall-mounted TVs and large walk-in showers, as well as ample toiletries and hairdryers. Suites add lake views, along with living rooms with sofa beds and fireplaces. Some have washer/dryers and bathrooms with jetted tubs, while Executive Suites have wraparound balconies. Note that late-night music from the bar might be an issue in some rooms.

See More Rooms

Features

Extensive leisure and business facilities, including a seasonal outdoor music venue

The hotel caters to both its corporate and leisure guests with a variety of amenities. The resort's outdoor pool is open seasonally, and wraps around a covered swim-up bar. A fairly expansive sundeck is lined with loungers, and the two outdoor hot tubs are open year-round. The full-service spa has treatment rooms with the usual massage and facial offerings, as well as a hair salon. There's also a fitness center equipped with cardio and weight-training machines, free weights, flat-screen TVs, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the deck. 

Water sports during peak summer months include boat rentals, parasailing, fishing, and Jet Skis. The resort has its own private marina and guests can also rent water taxis to travel to numerous other docks in the area. The affiliated yacht club has covered boatslips, along with a club lounge and 24-hour security. 

Business amenities include 16,000 square feet of event facilities, with several meeting rooms and two large ballrooms. There's also an indoor theater with stadium seating for 50 that guests and groups can reserve free of charge, along with a 24-hour business center. Up to two pets are allowed, for an extra daily fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

The hotel's waterfront eatery, The Frog, has a full bar with pub food such as burgers and hot dogs, but it's only open seasonally. It also has a game room with a pool table, air hockey, and a few arcade games. The next-door H.Toad’s Bar & Grill is open year-round and offers seasonal live entertainment; in addition to the big acts on its outdoor stage, there's also a smaller indoor stage with live music on weekends (summer only). This casual American restaurant draws both locals and guests alike. The hotel also has a lobby espresso bar with a small lounge. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Full Kitchen

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pets Allowed

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.