US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsSurface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 70951010).
The red circle marks Pony Express Lake.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Missouri: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official MDC pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.
Fish species the Missouri Department of Conservation lists for fishing here: Sunfish, Catfish, Crappie, Black Bass.
Source: Missouri Department of Conservation page for Pony Express Lake Conservation Area (fish listed under Fishing; for areas with several lakes the list covers the whole area) and the MDC managed public waterbodies map. Acreage here can differ slightly from our mapped outline.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 70951010), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: MDC managed boat ramps and accesses. Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
We found 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Pony Express Lake. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
RVs welcome
All campgrounds & RV parks in Missouri
Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.
Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (39.7963, -94.3856). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Pony Express Lake. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.
4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pony Express Lake Conservation Area | Osborn | Missouri Department of Conservation | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 39.8032, -94.3940 |
| Pony Express Lake Conservation Area | Osborn | Missouri Department of Conservation | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 39.8011, -94.3785 |
| Pony Express Lake Conservation Area | Osborn | Missouri Department of Conservation | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 39.7916, -94.3872 |
| Pony Express Lake Conservation Area | Osborn | Missouri Department of Conservation | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | No fee | Boating | 39.7910, -94.3874 |
MDC managed boat ramps and accesses
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Pony Express Lake covers about 235 acres in Osborn, Missouri (DeKalb County).
Missouri Department of Conservation lists Black Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Sunfish.
Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Pony Express Lake Conservation Area, Pony Express Lake Conservation Area and Pony Express Lake Conservation Area. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles.
Pony Express Lake touches Osborn in DeKalb County, Missouri.
Know Pony Express Lake? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).
Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Missouri lakes & ponds · All waters in Osborn