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Established Camping

Canning Creek

6 Reviews

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Canning Creek Cove Campground will be closed beginning at 3PM on Septmeber 17th until 4PM of September 18th for an educational water festival. Reservation holders for September 18th should arrive no earlier than the standard 4PM check-in time.

Canning Creek, near Council Grove, Kansas, is a charming campground that offers a relaxing escape right by the water. With sites that are mostly positioned directly on the lake, you can wake up to stunning views and the soothing sounds of nature.

The campground is well-equipped with concrete pads, picnic tables, and fire pits, making it easy to settle in and enjoy your stay. Many visitors have praised the cleanliness and maintenance of the facilities, including the vault and flush toilets, which are kept in good shape. One camper noted, “This is a small park... It is a very nice campground,” highlighting the overall quality of the experience.

For those who enjoy outdoor activities, Canning Creek has plenty to offer. Swimming, fishing, and boating are popular during the warmer months, and there are hiking trails nearby for those looking to stretch their legs. The campground is also conveniently located just a short drive from Council Grove, where you can find gas and groceries if you need to stock up.

While some sites are reservable, others are first-come, first-served, so plan accordingly. The friendly atmosphere and helpful campground hosts make it a welcoming spot for families and solo travelers alike. Whether you're just passing through or planning a longer stay, Canning Creek is a solid choice for a peaceful getaway.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Council Grove Lake

Overview

Canning Creek Cove Park is located on the 3,310-acre Council Grove Lake in the green expanses of eastern Kansas.

Recreation

Boating is a popular pastime at the lake, and two boat ramps are located in the campground for visitors' convenience. The lake is known for its fishing opportunities, with crappie and catfish being the most abundant. Council Grove was also the first lake in Kansas to receive stocking of Saugeye. Hunters will find populations of quail, prairie chicken, wild turkey and deer on the nearly 2,700 acres of public hunting land surrounding the lake. Hiking trails wind along the lakeshore and into the forest. Pioneer Nature Trail is known as the most scenic trail, with plenty of wildlife, greenery and wildflowers creating a beautiful background. Council Grove is also a starting point for the Flint Hills National Scenic Byway. This byway travels through the best of the remaining remnants of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem in North America. Along the byway and 25 miles south is the National Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, where visitors can spot colorful wildflowers in the spring and array of autumn colors in the fall.

Facilities

Canning Creek Campground offers 43 reservable campsites, including three group sites that can accommodate 40, 75 and 100 guests. Electric hookups, flush toilets and other modern amenities are provided. The campground has plenty of shade, along with open grassy areas for games and recreation.

Natural Features

Council Grove Lake sits in the rolling, grassy prairie of east Kansas, known as the Flint Hills. The lake was created by a dam built in 1964, and now offers recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Historically this area is where the Osage Indians signed a treaty to establish the Old Santa Fe Trail. A marker in the town of Council Grove indicates the place where the treaty was signed.

Nearby Attractions

The town of Council Grove, located about 2 miles southeast of the lake, is a National Historic District, with seven Santa Fe National Historic Trail sites in the community.

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Location

Canning Creek is located in Kansas

Detail location of campground

Directions

From I-70, take Highway 177 south for 30 miles. Turn west across Dam Road, then turn right on to City Lake Road and continue for 2 miles. Campground entrance road is on the right.

Address

1130 City Lake RD
Council grove, KS 66846

Coordinates

38.6924722 N
96.5373056 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Market
  • Trash
  • Picnic Table
  • Firewood Available
  • Phone Service
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time

Reviews

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6 Reviews

Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Apr. 28, 2021

Not a bad site in the entire campground!

General: Canning Creek is one of six camping areas operated by the US Army Corp of Engineers on Council Grove Lake. It is spread out on the lake so that all but four sites- 24, 26, 27& 28 (and the group camping areas) are directly on the water. Even though there were only a handful of people camping when we were there on a Monday in mid-April, there was an attendant on duty until 8 pm. 

Site Quality/Facilities: Most sites have generous concrete pads, some of which could easily accommodate two vehicles, a concrete picnic table (covered by a shelter), a bbq, and a lantern hook. Some sites are reservable and others are not. The rates are very reasonable, as they are for all CoE campgrounds, especially for seniors. All sites have reasonable separation between them. On the map, sites 6-23 look to be very close together but they are reasonably distanced apart. Sites 1-5 (which are not reservable) have very long pull-through drives. All sites (except the group sites) have electric and water and some have 50 amp (these are noted on the map) 

Bathhouse: Some loops have vault toilets (which were very clean), some have flush toilets, and some have flush toilet/shower combos. None have soap dispensers. We were in site 46 with access to one of the combos. I appreciated the hot water, especially since we woke to snow the next morning! Sites 1-23 have a vault toilet but there is a flush facility within reasonable walking distance. 

Activities/Amenities: Swimming, fishing, and boating in season but we were passing through, so we did not participate. Minimal playground facilities (mostly in the loop with sites 1-23) and horseshoe pits. There was a hiking trail, but I did not explore it. 

We always have a good experience at a CoE campground – they are well run, clean, affordable and, of course, located on or near water. My only beef is that check-in time is 6 pm, although if it is not crowded, you could check in earlier.

Site46
Month of VisitApril
  • Review photo of Canning Creek by Lee D., April 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Canning Creek by Lee D., April 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Canning Creek by Lee D., April 28, 2021
  • (15) View All
Lindsay W.
Reviewed Oct. 7, 2020

Great View

This was a just an overnight for us as we were traveling but really enjoyed it! Loved seeing the lake out the window in the morning. Had a covered picnic table, hook ups, shade, and fairly spaced out sites. Little town was nearby for gas and groceries.

  • Review photo of Canning Creek by Lindsay W., October 7, 2020
Judith B.
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2018

Small, quiet COE on the lake

This is a small park - 43 reservable sites with electric and water hookups. Most sites face the water and are shaded. They have fire pits and a covered cerment picnic table. Sites are fairly level and good size with a gravel pad. It is a very nice campground

Site16
Month of VisitSeptember
Brad H.
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2018

Kansas Corps of Engineers Canning Creek Lake

Clean, well maintained and patrolled. This campground has a beach and has great views of the lake. There's group sites, primitive sites and sites with electric, water and sewer hook ups. There's a marina store that covers basics and the town of Council Grove is 10 minutes away.

SiteSite 44
Month of VisitAugust
Kim C.
Reviewed Aug. 18, 2018

Epic

Spent three days here this week. even with rain, it was a great camp ground. Corp of Engineers lake. Very clean, large private showers, with enough hot water. Daily trash pick up. Shade on most sites. Very helpful camp ground hosts. Saw 15 turkeys at the wild like area. Would have stayed longer, but more storms promised all night rain. Will return soon.

Justin R.
Reviewed May. 22, 2018

Great family get away

We took the kayak down with us and drive around the lake to the beach area and had a great time. Everyone camping near by was nice. The host were awesome.

Lots of places to walk to and relax.

Great camping pads with covered picnic tables and built in grills.

Month of VisitSeptember
Showing results 1-6 of 6 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Canning Creek?

Camping at Canning Creek can cost between $17.00 and $225.00 depending on the site.

Does Canning Creek have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Canning Creek has 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

What is the max vehicle length at Canning Creek?

Canning Creek allows vehicles up to 120 feet.

Are fires allowed at Canning Creek?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Canning Creek, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Canning Creek have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Canning Creek does not have wifi.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Canning Creek?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Canning Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Canning Creek, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Canning Creek?

There are 48 campsites at Canning Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

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