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Facilities

Established Camping

Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park

Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park, near Wilson Lake, Kansas, is a fantastic spot for campers looking to unwind by the water. With spacious sites that come equipped with picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for roasting marshmallows and sharing stories under the stars.

This campground offers water and electric hookups, making it a comfortable choice for both tents and RVs. Visitors have raved about the beautiful lakeside views, with one camper noting, “Our site was right on the water and it was so beautiful and peaceful.” The area is surrounded by rolling hills and striking rock formations, giving you a taste of Kansas's hidden beauty.

If you’re up for some exploration, Wilson State Park has multiple campgrounds to check out, each with its own unique charm. Just keep an eye out for the signs; they can be a bit tricky to follow. Whether you’re here for a quick overnight stay or planning to kick back for a few days, Big Bluestem is a solid choice for a relaxing getaway.

Description

State Park

Wilson Lake

Welcome to Wilson State Park, one of Kansas' premier recreation hot spots to fish, hike, water-ski, or just enjoy the outdoors. Wilson State Park is located on the south side of Wilson Reservoir and is divided into two areas: Hell Creek and Otoe. For licenses, permits, and other information, visit the park office(located at the Hell Creek area entrance) or the self-pay stations at the entrance to each area. Vehicle, camping, and utility permits are required year-round. Brochures on regulations and area attractions are also available at the park entrances.

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Location

Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park is located in Kansas

Detail location of campground

Directions

Wilson State Park #3 State Park Rd. Sylvan Grove, KS 67481 Wilson is located 60 miles East of Hays and 55 miles West of Salina on I- 70. Take exit 206 North on I-70 and follow 232 North for 7 miles then West on Shoreline Rd. Cross Hell Creek Bridge, turn at the first right and follow the road to Wilson State Park Office.

Coordinates

38.91167019 N
98.50167018 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Good
  • AT&T
    Unknown
  • T-Mobile
    Unknown

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Cabins

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • ADA Access
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Water Hookups

Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

4 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 23, 2022

Oasis in the middle of KS

Great stop for a night or more! Nice campsite on lake’s edge, level, concrete pad and spacious, staggered sites. Would give it a 5 with full hook-up (elec. & water here).

Site71 - Big Bluestem
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Beverly W., September 23, 2022
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Beverly W., September 23, 2022
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Beverly W., September 23, 2022
Reviewed Oct. 26, 2021

Hidden gem

Who knew Kansas was so beautiful?! We sure didn’t. Loving out lake side campsite on Wilson Lake. There are multiple different campgrounds within the park. We chose Big Bluestem bc it has water and electric (not all do) and was right on the water. Be warned that signs directing you around are not all that easy to see or follow. I used the map on my phone mainly to direct us. We originally chose site 78 but upon arrival realized it would be too difficult to get our 40ft MH into. Ended up staying in site 80.

Site80
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Mandy B., October 26, 2021
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Mandy B., October 26, 2021
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Mandy B., October 26, 2021
Reviewed Oct. 18, 2021

Great sites right on the water

We just randomly chose this campground since it was not a big detour off the highway during our road trip across the country. We arrived at night so did not fully understand how beautiful of a spot we were in until the next morning. Our site was right on the water and it was so beautiful and peaceful. It was a quick overnight stay so can't say much more about it than that...

Wilson State Park has a bunch of campgrounds. I feel like they would normally be considered loops of one campground but here, each loop is it's own campground.

  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Sarah S., October 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Sarah S., October 18, 2021
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Sarah S., October 18, 2021
  • (10) View All
Reviewed Oct. 23, 2020

Popular campground

Big Bluestem is a popular campground at Wilson Lake. The outer loop is facing the water with pull thru sites. Best site is 77 right at the tip. The inner loop is mostly back in. The sites are water and electric and have a fire ring and table. They are roomy and have pretty views. The area has rolling hills and beautiful rock formations. You would never believe you are in the middle of Kansas. I was surprised to not find much algae in the lake. Bonus 😊

  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Shannon G., October 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Shannon G., October 23, 2020
  • Review photo of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park by Shannon G., October 23, 2020
  • (9) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park has water hookups.

  • What is the elevation of Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park?

    Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park is located at 1625 feet.

  • Are fires allowed at Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Big Bluestem — Wilson State Park?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.