Lake Shawnee County Campground

Beautiful gated lakeside campground in SE Topeka that can accommodate almost any camper type. There are pull through and back in sites. All are gravel with a picnic table and fire ring. The sites are fairly level and easy to navigate. There is a playground, picnic pavilion, swim beach, laundry, fishing dock and 2 clean bathhouses. The sites are close together, but most will have a view of the lake.  There are 50 and 30 amp hook ups and water hook ups. No sewer, but there is a dump station on-site. Rental bikes are near the office to ride around the trail that goes 7 miles around the lake.  The whole lake area has a lot going on:  softball and baseball fields, multiple playgrounds, disc golf, golf course, tennis courts, paddle boat/canoe rentals, amazing gardens, etc. Several restaurants including fast food, pizza, donut shop, Chinese, 2 bar and grills, and Mexican food are very nearby. There is also a Dollar General, urgent care clinic, liquor store and 2 gas stations. It’s a great location just a few miles south of 1-70. Normally sites are $20/night, $18/night for seniors.  Highly recommend!

Perfect little county campground


If you're looking for a remote getaway, this isn't it.  Lots of people and just on the edge of Topeka.  It is a nice family campground though.  Fishing swimming, hiking, boating, golfing and many other things to do.  

Camping sites are fine and the facilities are well maintained.  

Nice way to introduce kids to camping!

Getaway in the city!

I was a co presenter at a KOTA conference in Topeka. Made plans to stay with a friend but that fell through. I carry the basic camping supplies with me at all times in the trunk. Opened my Dyrt app to locate an alternative to motels and found Shawnee Lake. What a gem! Had everything I need and a bonus of what I loved. This place is like a camping village inside the city.

Better than the motel.

This is a nice camp ground at a lake, right in Topeka. Close to downtown and the capital. Sections of the park are open year round. It is a busy park with lots of people around. Sites are mostly gravel and pretty close together. But the park, restrooms and shower houses are clean. Great place to stay if you need something in town. As a bonus starting the weekend of Thanksgiving through Christmas they have a holiday light display. Thousands of cars drive through each year, and you can walk through on foot. You can camp right in the middle of the display. Even though we only live about an hour away we have been up to this event and camped twice.

Right In Town

Lake view

...essentially row housing for trailers. ZERO privacy or space from your neighbors. Nice looking lake and glad to have a cheap spot to park, but not a destination for us...just passing through. Would fit the bill if looking for a local place to stay in/near Topeka, but not planning to return. Site 97 is sloped towards the lake and am barely able to stabilize the trailer. 

Nice view, but...

This was a quick stop for us the Friday after thanksgiving. 9 min off the highway. there is a Christmas light display over the holiday causing traffic entering the park around 6 pm. The camping spots were just 2 parking spaces, there were tables around and some fire pits. The bathrooms were warm and very clean. My kids enjoyed walking around and seeing the lights. The lake is beautiful. Would stop again for a quick over night and a morning fish or walk. 

Parking lot on a lake

**General:** In addition to a campground, this county park has so much to offer including a seven-mile paved path around Lake Shawnee, disc golf, a heated fishing dock, softball complex, golf course, boat ramps, tennis courts, playground, picnic shelters, arboretum, and the Ted Ensley Gardens. The office was open until 7 pm so check-in was a breeze and the staff very friendly and welcoming. 

  

**Sites/Facilities:** The campground itself has 119 sites, situated on a peninsula jutting into the lake. All have water and electric (some 30 amp and some 50 amp). Many have views of the lake but unfortunately, they are all back-in and stacked up very close to each other so there is no privacy between sites. Our site (96) was on the end, so we had privacy on one side but could easily hear people in neighboring sites. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. The fee is very reasonable ($20 or$18 for seniors). 

  

**Activities:** I saw people fishing in the lake, there is a nice playground, and there is a paved path around the lake which made for a nice walk. 

  

**Restrooms:** There are two restroom/shower/laundry facilities that were very clean (they had been cleaned by the time I went in at 7:30 am). 

  

**Conclusion:** You are not far from downtown Topeka so you will hear road noise and the occasional siren, but this campground and all facilities are a nice oasis near an urban area. I definitely recommend visiting the Ted Ensley gardens while there (no additional admission, by donation only).

So much to do and very close to Topeka

Nice place. Tight quarters and you will need to use your levelers. 

Lake Shawnee Campground 

The sites are large and reasonably priced. It is a clean, quiet and beautiful setting. Even though they do not have sewer hookups at this time they do plan to install them. Sites for tents up to large fifth wheels fit here. The staff is excellent!

Beautiful and quiet

Nice, clean campground. The bathhouse is warm, a nice plus! This is early November, so a warm bathhouse gets extra points.  The spaces are very, very close together, but the lake is pretty. Lots of open green space around the campground.  Feels safe, easy to register. A nice green oasis in a city! Great price! 

Nice place! 

Wonderful spot with lots of lake activities.  Entire lake has large path around it.  Good fishing, beach, and baseball fields.  We’re here for a tournament.  No septic at site, but central dump is clean and far from the camp sites.

Wonderful spot with a lot of lake activities 

Beautiful lake and great sunset. Tent spots are on gravel so bring a very good sleeping pad 

Great Lake views

It’s my first time solo camping (female) and i did not feel like i was unsafe whatsoever. It’s a closed campground so you can only get in with a reservation. The spots are pretty close together but no one was ever loud and there’s lots of grassy space behind. (I was on a water front spot). Pet friendly, and the staff are so nice. If you buy firewood and ice from them they deliver it to your campground for you! Easy set up with power and water hookups. I’ll definitely come back! 

Great campground! 

Stayed on the quiet side; can get busy in certain sections. Friendly staff, clean facilities. Perfect spot for our truck topper. Dog friendly (on a leash ;). About 8 hours from Denver and a great stopping point for a multi day trip. 

Well kept beside the lake

A lot of well maintained trails and a park as well as pavilions and a lake. Very quiet, I would recommend 

Quiet, clean, lots to do

This was a hidden gem that we found! It was $22 a night with very clean showers (amazing water pressure), laundry, grocery store 5 minutes away, and a lake that was so much fun to swim in. Parts of the park is closed due to them adding to it but we were told it would open my the summer. The dump station is across the street. 