Timber Road Campground — Elk City State Park

When we moved from Oregon to Kansas, we wanted to find a good place to camp! The first place we camped was Elk City and we’ve camped there three times now - it’s a great spot. The first time we had a spot in lower Comfort Cove - it was a lovely shaded spot with lots of space for our boys to explore. Anywhere down close to the lake is fairly busy and can be loud, though. So the last two times we’ve stayed up in the Timber Road area which we just love. It’s quiet, shaded and just beautiful. You can walk to the Table Mound Trail quite easily if you’re in this area. Timber Road area only has pit toilets but they tend to be pretty clean.

Elk City State Park is great. It's full but not crowded, hiking is about as good as it gets in Kansas, dedicated Mountain Biking trails which I rarely see and it's rather pretty. Swimnarea is muddy but the kids didn't mind. Comfort Cove camping is adequate. Shower house is clean (by KS State Park standards), quiet hours respected and my kids enjoyed the playground. Our site is miniature. No place for a clothes line, no fire pit to speak of even though everyone else has one. We are boxed in tighter than a KOA and we feel it. There are sections more spread out with more room per site but not Site 243. Also, very little shade and very few shades sites which is weird in an area abundant in big giant shade trees.

A group of friends and I hiked the little over 14 mile trail over 2 and a half days it was awesome!