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Water
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Established Camping

Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE

10 Reviews

Description

Overview

Outlet Campground is situated below the Melvern Lake Dam on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills of Kansas. Visitors enjoy the area's wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and hunting. Find a virtual tour of Melvern Lake at http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/melvern/tour.html

Recreation

Melvern Lake impounds nearly 7,000 acres of water on the upper reaches of the Marais des Cygnes River Valley. Boating and swimming are popular activities on the lake. Anglers will find walleye, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, as well as black, striped, white and smallmouth bass. The 18,000 acres of land surrounding Melvern Lake provide plentiful hiking and hunting opportunities. Several trails wind around the lake, including the 4-mile Tallgrass Heritage Trail, which begins in the campground. Hunters may find deer, quail, turkeys, ducks, rabbits and squirrels throughout the area.

Facilities

This large campground offers 140 family sites, many of which have full hookups for electric, water and sewer. Two group day-use picnic shelters with electrical hookups are available as well. Several family picnic sites can be used on a first come, first served basis. Amenities include flush and vault toilets, showers, drinking water and a dump station. A boat ramp, accessible dock and fish cleaning station are located on-site. Younger campers love the park's swimming beach, playground and stocked fishing pond, which is open year-round. Click Here for a Virtual Tour (http://www.photographyoptions.net/images/melvern/tour.html)

Natural Features

The Flint Hills represent America's last expanse of intact tallgrass prairie, made up of big bluestem, switchgrass and Indian grass. The rolling hills on the south side of the lake are wooded, and the campground has scattered trees and limited shade.

Contact Info

For local information, please call (877) 444-6777 or call (785) 549-3318 for general information.

Fee Info

Melvern Lake enforces the national no-show policy. If you do not check in with the park attendant within 24 hours of your reservation check-in time, you will be listed as a no-show, your site will be released and you will be charged $20 plus the first night's fee.

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Location

Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE is located in Kansas

Detail location of campground

Directions

From US-75, take the Melvern exit. Turn west onto Melvern Lake Parkway and continue 1/4 mile to the cut-off road, then another 1/4-mile west to River Pond Parkway and follow into the campground.

Address

30442 River Pond Parkway
Melvern, KS 66510

Coordinates

38.5137083 N
95.7062361 W

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Connectivity

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    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
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    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

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Detours Nearby

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Turkey Point

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9 min away

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Osage State Fishing Lake

17 min away

Drive Time

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Connectivity

Presented byT-Mobile SatelliteT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites

Contact

General Info

Reservations

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Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

10 Reviews

TThe Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed Aug. 4, 2024

Our favorite local hangout

Beautiful well-kept park with gorgeous trails, beach, lots of shade, and quiet camping. We’ve been here three times now and just love it. Outlet park is below the dam. If you’re into fishing/boating the giant lake has a marina with everything you need to get out on the water as well as a kitchen where they serve hamburgers and other food items. The Marina is currently closed as of 8-2-24 due to weather damage but will reopen.

SiteC-136
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Teresa D., August 4, 2024
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Teresa D., August 4, 2024
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Teresa D., August 4, 2024
Anna P.
Reviewed Aug. 26, 2022

Melvern Camper - Outlet Park

We had a great family trip to Melvern Lake. Fishing at the Dam release was fun but pretty difficult to reel in fish. Camp was pretty quiet, and bathrooms were pretty good (toilets, showers, and sinks with warm water). The water was pretty gross for swimming and rocky. Saw deer and turkey.

Siteoutlet park camp loop
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Anna P., August 26, 2022
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Anna P., August 26, 2022
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Anna P., August 26, 2022
  • (6) View All
j
Reviewed Oct. 17, 2021

Water side

Sites level and on the larger side. Basically the water is a large pond with a circumference road with sites off of it. Restrooms clean, virtually no road noise yet it's right near it.

Site39
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by jeff , October 17, 2021
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by jeff , October 17, 2021
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by jeff , October 17, 2021
J
Reviewed Aug. 9, 2021

Wonderful Camping Spot

Clean facilities, quiet camping, great fishing lake, and nice bike paths.

SiteC loop
Month of VisitAugust
Margo M.
Reviewed Jun. 25, 2021

Melvern never disappoints…

Beautiful as always. Loved our camp site. Shower house was cleaned regularly. Water was down a little at the beach, but didn’t stop us from enjoying it.

Site144
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Margo M., June 25, 2021
J
Reviewed Feb. 28, 2021

Favorite campground and fishing area

The outlet area below Melvern Reservoir has been our favorite camp site for over 35 years.   Full service campground, laundromat at each shower house, plenty of shade, and lots of fishing.  My husband is known as Fred the Fisherman.  The only problem is that it's very hard to get reservations, as they fill up fast.  Good luck!

Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Joyce R., February 28, 2021
  • Review photo of Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE by Joyce R., February 28, 2021
Adam M.
Reviewed Jun. 10, 2019

what you would expect

like most state lakes here in KS, it's kept well with good facilities and close enough to towns for any needs.  Good fishing and great times.

Month of VisitJune
I
Reviewed Feb. 28, 2019

Pretty good spot

I was surprised at a review of this park that seemed to suggest there was no facilities. This is a full setup park. Very clean. The camp sites vary greatly. Two loops offer all services including sewer and 50 amp. The best spots on the lake are rarely available. Last year it had some algae bloom issues mid summer.

Showing results 1-10 of 10 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping facilities are available at Melvern Lake Outlet Campground?

Outlet Park Campground offers full-service camping facilities. Two loops provide all utilities including sewer and 50-amp electrical hookups. The campground features clean shower houses with laundromat facilities, restrooms with toilets, showers, and sinks with warm water. Sites are generally level and spacious with plenty of shade trees. Additional amenities include a beach area for swimming (though it can be rocky and the water quality varies), bike paths, fishing opportunities, and a marina below the dam. The well-maintained grounds provide a quiet camping experience with beautiful trails and ample space between sites.

Is there a map of the Melvern Lake camping areas?

Yes, maps of Melvern Lake camping areas are available. The Outlet Park Campground is arranged around a large pond with a circumference road and camping sites extending from it. The layout includes two distinct loops with full hookups. For detailed maps showing individual campsites, bathhouse locations, and recreational facilities, check the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website or Recreation.gov when making reservations. You can also request a map upon arrival at the entrance station or park office to help navigate the various camping loops and amenities within the park.

How do I make reservations for camping at Melvern Lake Outlet Park?

Reservations for Melvern Lake Outlet Park can be made through the national recreation reservation system at Recreation.gov. Be aware that securing a spot can be challenging, especially for the premium lakeside sites, as this is a popular camping destination that fills up quickly. The best waterfront sites are rarely available without advance planning. For the best chance at getting your preferred campsite, book as far in advance as possible, particularly during summer months and holiday weekends.

Where is Melvern Lake Outlet Park located and how do I find it?

Outlet Park Campground is located below the dam at Melvern Lake in Kansas. The campground is situated in a quiet area with virtually no road noise despite being close to a main road. Look for the outlet area beneath Melvern Reservoir - it's a distinct camping area separate from the main lake sites. The location offers a serene environment with plenty of shade trees and is known for its fishing opportunities at the dam release area. The campground is relatively close to nearby towns for any supplies or necessities you might need during your stay.