The camping cabins near Blue Rapids, Kansas are situated in the northeastern region of the state, where the Big Blue and Little Blue Rivers converge. This area experiences hot summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F and cold winters with occasional snowfall. Cabins in this region typically sit at elevations between 1,100-1,300 feet above sea level, providing visitors access to wooded shorelines and lakefront views.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At River Pond State Park Campground, visitors can access multiple fishing locations. "The lake is amazing and it has some great trail access. Manhattan is a college town and with it can bring some more wild campers and some wild people on the lake. Still a fun place to visit," notes one camper who gave the park 4 stars.
Water activities: Tuttle Creek Cove offers kayaking and swimming during the warmer months. A visitor describes, "Last 4th of July my family and friends went tent camping here. There is a nice beach area to swim, we rented kayaks and canoes for a leisurely paddle around the lake. Our camp site had plenty of over head cover from the sun."
Hiking trails: The trail system at Tuttle Creek State Park provides options for various skill levels. "Explored some of the trails/hunting areas with my puppy! The scenery was just beautiful and so serene. Enjoyed the seclusion from rest of the state park at this outlet of the lake," writes a reviewer who spent time exploring the natural areas.
What campers like
Spacious sites: River Pond Campground — Tuttle Creek State Park features generously sized camping areas. "For the price you can't beat the great location, views, and resources this place has to offer. Plenty of nice people who come and go year round and have plenty of privacy for camping and fishing," notes a 5-star review.
Shoreline access: Many campsites at Cedar Point — Milford State Park sit directly on the water. "Cedar point has some very spacious primitive and tent sites. There are also some with electric and water. Some of the sites in this campground have nice water views," explains a camper who appreciated the lakefront options.
Wildlife viewing: The parks around Blue Rapids offer opportunities to observe native species. "It's a very pretty area and this park has wildlife to view like the large flock of turkey vultures who live in the dead trees of cedar point," remarks one visitor about the bird watching opportunities at Cedar Point.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: During peak season (May through September), advance booking is essential at most locations. "This area looks fabulous. I was looking forward to staying here in early November, but it was closed. All the Corps campgrounds close for the winter. This info wasd not on their website," cautions a visitor to West Rolling Hills.
Seasonal closures: Some facilities have limited operating seasons. "We stopped for one night. $40, had full hook up, pretty level gravel site. Bathroom shower houses are OK did well for what we wanted," explains a camper who visited Mill Creek Campground during its operational period.
Flood potential: Water levels can affect site availability. "This campground is prone to lower sites flooding when rains are abundant. However no one could have prepared for massive rains which took an already vulnerable large campground and turned it into a very small limited access site," explains a camper about Prairie View Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Mill Creek Campground provides recreational facilities for children. "We love this spot, for tent or cabin camping, Mill Creek is a minute walk away, you can swim, kayak, fish, or just lounge around. They have a little restaurant and it's reasonable priced and delicious," shares a 5-star reviewer.
Swimming beaches: Several parks offer designated swimming areas with sand beaches. "This was a beautiful clean campground with a nice lake. Only complaint is that several of the restrooms were still closed due to a flood in 2019," notes a visitor to Cedar Point who still enjoyed the swimming facilities.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience train or highway noise. "The only drawback is that you can hear trains passing through during the night about three or four times. It didn't bother me since I love the sound of trains, but it does wake you up since the tracks are so close to the campground," explains a visitor to Mill Creek Campground.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through site options: Walnut Grove — Milford State Park has sites that accommodate larger vehicles. "Great fishing, primitive site was a bit tight to pull a 36' fifth wheel into, but it's what we signed up for in a pinch. Great area, patrolled often, amazing fishing! Will be back!!" reports an RVer who gave the park 4 stars.
Hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary across campgrounds. "Pull throughs are not too level and services are on the wrong side so make sure your hose and electric cable are long enough. Could never connect to the WiFi. 4g signal was pretty strong," advises an RVer who stayed at River Pond State Park.
Dump station access: Most parks provide sanitary dump stations, though locations may limit availability. "There are only a half dozen or so full hook up sites and they are generally always full during camping season. There are two dump stations on site," notes a camper about the facilities at River Pond State Park Campground.
