Best Campgrounds near Clay Center, KS

Clay Center, Kansas provides access to several established campgrounds within a reasonable driving distance, with most options concentrated around nearby Milford Lake. Huntress City Park in Clay Center itself offers basic RV and tent camping with electric and water hookups. More extensive camping facilities can be found at Milford State Park, approximately 30 miles southwest of Clay Center, which features multiple campgrounds including Prairie View, Woodland Hills, and Walnut Grove. These areas accommodate tent camping, RV sites with various hookup options, and cabin rentals. The region includes both state park facilities and Corps of Engineers managed recreation areas, with several campgrounds offering lakeside sites.

Seasonal conditions significantly impact camping experiences in this part of Kansas, particularly around Milford Lake where flooding can affect site availability. Water levels may limit access to certain campgrounds during rainy seasons, as experienced at Prairie View Campground where rising waters can reduce available sites substantially. Most campgrounds in the area provide electric hookups, drinking water, and toilet facilities, with many also offering showers and dump stations. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer months when lakeside sites fill quickly. As one camper noted, "Milford lake is a large beautiful lake near Junction City Kansas. There are 8 different campgrounds around the lake, 3 cabin areas, multiple marinas and day use areas and swim beaches."

Waterfront access represents a key attraction for campers in the Clay Center region, with multiple campgrounds situated around Milford Lake offering views and recreational opportunities. Visitors particularly value sites with lake views and good shade coverage during hot Kansas summers. Several campgrounds feature amenities such as picnic tables, fire rings, and nearby recreational facilities including boat ramps, swimming areas, and hiking trails. Wildlife viewing opportunities are regularly mentioned in visitor reviews, with one camper commenting, "We had a shelter, picnic table, toilet building, view of the lake... Raccoon couldn't wait for me to zip my tent to come out and see what we left out." While some campgrounds remain peaceful and quiet during weekdays, reviews indicate they can become busier and noisier on weekends, particularly at resort-style facilities like Flagstop Resort.

Best Camping Sites Near Clay Center, Kansas (71)

    1. West Rolling Hills

    11 Reviews
    Junction City, KS
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 784-4447

    $14 - $24 / night

    "Lake side spots. Friendly camp hosts. Great campground."

    "I did however discover the campground was locked and a sign had been placed at the entrance of the camp that it would not be opening again until April 2020."

    2. Acorn RV Resort

    5 Reviews
    Milford, KS
    20 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 463-4000

    "A very beautiful lake, this area is pristine clean and water clear. A very large lake with many areas of camping and fishing."

    "Nestled on a beautiful lake. Definitely will stay again!"

    3. Woodland Hills — Milford State Park

    6 Reviews
    Milford Lake, KS
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 238-3014

    $10 - $22 / night

    "We stayed lakeside at one of the primitive sites. Nice lake view, and quite. It was late July so pretty buggy outside the tent."

    "There are clean restrooms and shower house, a dump, and access to trails. There are group sites near by with extra long tables, volleyball,basketball,horseshoes,and trails."

    4. COE Milford Lake Curtis Creek Park

    5 Reviews
    Milford, KS
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 238-5714

    $14 - $24 / night

    "A pit toilet close by and new playground equipment in A loop. I didn’t use the showerhouse, but it was a bit of a ways off outside our campground loop."

    "I stayed here as i was driving through Kansas, so it was just a quick overnight, but it was very beautiful and peaceful."

    5. Huntress City Park

    Be the first to review!
    Clay Center, KS
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 632-3797

    6. Prairie View — Milford State Park

    5 Reviews
    Milford Lake, KS
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 238-3014

    $21 / night

    "Milford lake is a large beautiful lake near Junction City Kansas. There are 8 different campgrounds around the lake,3 cabin areas, multiple marinas and day use areas and swim beaches."

    "Great activities to do in lake and a fun splash pad for the kids. Lots of trails and equestrian trails to hike. Fishing was fun and I believe the lake is regularly stocked. Will stay here again."

    7. Walnut Grove — Milford State Park

    4 Reviews
    Milford Lake, KS
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 238-3014

    $10 / night

    "Access to the water. Safe cove of water away from boats. Big area. Near trails"

    "beautiful view watching sunsets over Milford lake as our camp site was right off the water."

    8. Flagstop Resort and RV

    1 Review
    Milford, KS
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 463-5537

    "Our RV spot was nicely shaded and a walk away from the sandy beach lake area. The showers are ok, and we even saw a really fat raccoon. Fireflies were out and beautiful."

    9. Sunset Ridge — Milford State Park

    4 Reviews
    Milford Lake, KS
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 238-3014

    $10 - $95 / night

    "Covered pavilion with a view of the lake. We happened on it thru Dyrt on our way out to Yellowstone and it fit our needs exactly. Close to I-70, but you felt away from everything. Highly recommend."

    10. Cedar Point — Milford State Park

    4 Reviews
    Milford Lake, KS
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 238-3014

    "The outer spots put you right next to the lake. We love camping here."

    "I can imagine this being a great location for RV campers with relatively even pull ins and for tents alike with lush grassy areas.   This campground did offer connections and water around camp."

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Recent Reviews near Clay Center, KS

201 Reviews of 71 Clay Center Campgrounds


  • Zach L.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Calvin's RV & Tent Camping

    Calvin's RV

    A small RV park on the east edge of Wamego KS. Full electric (30A,50A, and 120V), water, and sanitary dump. Most sites are paved pull through sites. Booking online through Rover Pass was simple and affordable. There is a guest bathroom in the basement of the office building. We were greeted by the owner and the grounds are well maintained and quiet. Just 20 min from Manhattan.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 6, 2025

    Salina Campground

    Great stop over on our way west

    Very friendly check in. Full hook ups. Clean laundry room. Playground for the little ones. Right off the highway so the noise is expected but it’s a good price for a safe stop.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Smoky Hill RV Park

    Great one night stay

    Well-maintained campground. Very close to Highway 70 (you can hear the vehicles) and services (gas, restaurants, Walmart). Ideal for an overnight stay on the road. The sites are long (several large RVs on site), with services and picnic tables on cement patios. No fire pits on the sites (there is one in a common area). Modern bathrooms and showers. Everything is very clean. Laundry room ($0.25 required).

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 25, 2025

    Pottawatomie State Fishing Lake

    Nice and secluded!

    Not many insects, nice and secluded. Beautiful scenery, nice lake. Everything is perfect here. The only thing that make it better is if they had trash cans, potable water and a grey water dump.

  • tThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 11, 2025

    Airport Park Campground

    Better than Walmart, same price

    Municipal park near airport. Second time here. Quiet both times. 15 or so spots. Some pull thru. Most with electric some with water. Nice dog park. Donation box near bathroom

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2025

    Pottawatomie County State Lake #2

    Thumbs up

    Nice place by the lake. Has a worn out picnic table and a fire ring. Can’t beat free campground tho.

  • B
    Jun. 16, 2025

    Airport Park Campground

    Awsome Park

    First come basis fills up fast donations for first 7 days then $150 a week water/electricity pull throughs no sewerage but there is a free dump station great place to stay and well kept huge dog park and very friendly town make sure and visit the orphan train museum while here it’s a very interesting story and happier ending for most of the children than you would think and also the prisoner of war camp museum a very interesting tour and piece of history you won’t want to miss

  • papa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2025

    Acorn RV Resort

    Beautifull lake

    A very beautiful lake, this area is pristine clean and water clear. A very large lake with many areas of camping and fishing.

  • papa T.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2025

    River Pond State Park Campground

    Love this place

    Rocky ford campground is the most awsome in the area.very shady and many activities, rent a conoe, kayake stand up boards, very good fishing.


Guide to Clay Center

Camping sites near Clay Center, Kansas offer a mix of prairie and lake environments with elevations ranging from 1,150 to 1,300 feet above sea level. The area experiences hot summers with average July temperatures of 90°F and cold winters that can drop below 20°F. Many campgrounds in the region experience seasonal closures, with most Corps of Engineers sites shutting down from October through April due to weather conditions.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: West Rolling Hills Campground provides multiple spots for anglers with lakeside access. "This is a great place to spend the day. It has easy access for fishing, a nice little playground for the kids and a decent beach for swimming," notes Alyn M. about the West Rolling Hills facilities.

Water recreation: Curtis Creek Park at Milford Lake offers swimming and boating options with dedicated beach areas. A visitor mentioned, "We went kayaking and playing on the beach. We booked the buddy sites to have an extra large site beside the beach area and it was worth it. All sites seemed well kept and level." The park has convenient boat launch facilities near camping areas.

Hiking trails: Milford State Park offers multiple trail systems for day hiking. "Great activities to do in lake and a fun splash pad for the kids. Lots of trails and equestrian trails to hike. Fishing was fun and I believe the lake is regularly stocked," reports Kaylyn B. about the Prairie View area.

What campers like

Lake views: Campers consistently mention the water views as a highlight at Walnut Grove campground. "Beautiful view watching sunsets over Milford lake as our camp site was right off the water. We were secluded from other campsite for some privacy but still near restrooms if we needed it and the camp host was friendly!" shares Kaitlin M. about her experience at Walnut Grove.

Wildlife viewing: The area offers opportunities to spot various birds and animals. Shannon G. reports from her stay at Prairie View, "We were able to see a few blue heron and a Golden and a bald eagle. We will definitely be back as it was very peaceful."

Spacious camping sites: Cedar Point offers well-sized camping spots with good separation. Crystal C. observed, "When I checked out this campground the sites seemed larger and more spacious overall. The upper loop still had that camping neighborhood vibe with sites clumped together a bit more closely but each was shaded and had a nice pull in and included a fire ring and picnic table, in some cases more than one."

What you should know

Flooding concerns: Several campgrounds experience seasonal flooding that can limit 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," warns Crystal C. about Prairie View Campground.

Limited tent camping options: Some areas have few level spots for tent campers. Leigh M. notes about Cedar Point, "While our family loved the scenery this is not a lake for tent camping. Unless you like sleeping at an angle. Very limited tent camping as well. This lake is made for those with RVs."

Seasonal closures: Many Corps of Engineers campgrounds close during winter months. One camper reports, "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 was not on their website, so I drove out there."

Tips for camping with families

Playground facilities: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. About West Rolling Hills, a visitor noted, "This is a great place to spend the day. It has easy access for fishing, a nice little playground for the kids and a decent beach for swimming."

Life jacket stations: Some beach areas provide safety equipment for children. Shannon G. observed at Woodland Hills, "This campground has water access and a beach area. I think it's so neat how they have life jackets hanging in case you didn't bring any."

Splash pads: Beyond swimming beaches, some parks offer additional water features. Kaylyn B. mentions, "Great activities to do in lake and a fun splash pad for the kids. Lots of trails and equestrian trails to hike."

Tips from RVers

Site accessibility: Several campgrounds offer pull-through sites for easier parking. "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!!" shares Timothy P. about Walnut Grove.

Full hookup options: Acorn RV Resort provides complete services for RVers with additional amenities. Sandi F. reports, "Totally awesome resort - everything you need... from cabin, rv, tent or yurks! Nestled on a beautiful lake. Definitely will stay again!"

Level sites: Woodland Hills offers well-maintained, level camping spots. A visitor commented, "The spots are fairly small and close together, but the camp hosts were really nice people! we had a super pretty view near the water, pets allowed, decent price, and it was pretty quite!"

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Clay Center, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, Clay Center, KS offers a wide range of camping options, with 71 campgrounds and RV parks near Clay Center, KS and 2 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Clay Center, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Clay Center, KS is West Rolling Hills with a 4.3-star rating from 11 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Clay Center, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Clay Center, KS.

What parks are near Clay Center, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 15 parks near Clay Center, KS that allow camping, notably Milford Lake and Tuttle Creek Lake.