Council Grove is the perfect place for adventurous campers and RVers. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Kansas camping has to offer. Search nearby campsites and find top-rated spots from other campers.
"attributable to the hiring of h/s students, of a trip that was otherwise filled with delightful accommodating people. i cannot wait to return next year and to attend other events as well. it helped me share"
"Spend three nights with the cub scouts on this lake. We had lots of success with fishing and the kids really enjoyed some of the hiking trails."
$11 - $30 / night
"The lake was my favrote part. Depending on where you went there were nice fields to play frisbee in."
"Lots of shade and level spots for rvs. Can’t swim but dog had fun in lake. Water smelled fishy. Lots of trash laying around. Leave no trace people!"
"Driving across Kansas can be long and tedious and I'm often looking for a place to primitive-car-camp on the cheap to get some sleep while crossing the country."
$10 / night
"Walnut grove is a primitive campground. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Some of the sites have water views and shorelines that you could boat or kayak right up to."
"beautiful view watching sunsets over Milford lake as our camp site was right off the water."
"The upper loop still had that camping neighborhood vibe with sites clumped together a bit more closely but each was shaded and had a nice pull in and included a fire ring and picnic table, in some cases"
"Was at this area for a fishing tournament happening on Milford Lake. It was storming far to the south, but looked so neat over the lake. This campground was clean and not busy at all as it was March."
TravelerNice spot to pull in for the night. Lots of spots on Sunday night in June. A few fisherman and kayakers out. Lots of shade and level spots for rvs. Can’t swim but dog had fun in lake. Water smelled fishy. Lots of trash laying around. Leave no trace people!
GuideWent with a buddy for tent camping 1 night this August. Clean area with plenty of firewood and a picnic table. Paid 14$ for a campsite, grass definitely could of been trimmed at our designated campsite. card only at the entrance because of COVID-19 at the moment. We camped right across from the boat ramp but was still a beautiful view
LegendThere are several areas to set up camp, each area has different advantages: proximity to vault toilets, picnic tables, privacy... The area is easy to navigate and sites are lakeside.
TravelerThe relatively private campsites were mostly empty on a mid-September weekend. Plenty of shady primitive sites all along the north shore, ample parking, a small seasonal swimming beach, a boat ramp & dock, lots of fishing piers, and a decent size reservable group shelter for gatherings. The one vault toilet near the info kiosk is the only restroom facility. There is little to no light pollution out here, so enjoy stargazing and the moon set against an immense dark sky. Definitely walk across the dam from the road to the short trail to the waterfalls. The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve and the little towns of Cottonwood Falls and Strong City are just a few minutes away by car. Take a drive on the Flint Hills Scenic Byway at sunrise/sunset on Highway K-177 which stretches north to Council Grove and south to Cassoday from Cottonwood Falls. You could also check out the Flint Hills Wildlife Drive that starts just off Hwy K-177 on Sharp Creeks Road in Bazaar and goes south to Cassoday (country roads, make sure your tires are in good shape).
History: the 109-acre lake and 383-acre wildlife area were created in 1954.
Overall a beautiful location and pleasant experience. I'd go back again!
GuidePrimitive sites. Vault toilets, bbq, covered picnic tables and fire rings. 3 tents allowed per site. You can shower at the north Richey campground. All are close to the lake and there is a boat ramp at the entrance. Small campground with maybe 12 sites.
ScoutThe fivestar loop is decent for tent camping. The sites were fairly small and jammed next to each other, and half of them didn't have great tree cover, but they all have a nice firepit and picnic table. It was super duper windy off of the lake for us, so be ready for wind. Bathrooms were nice and clean and the staff were very nice.
LegendGeneral: Canning Creek is one of six camping areas operated by the US Army Corp of Engineers on Council Grove Lake. It is spread out on the lake so that all but four sites- 24, 26, 27& 28 (and the group camping areas) are directly on the water. Even though there were only a handful of people camping when we were there on a Monday in mid-April, there was an attendant on duty until 8 pm.
Site Quality/Facilities: Most sites have generous concrete pads, some of which could easily accommodate two vehicles, a concrete picnic table (covered by a shelter), a bbq, and a lantern hook. Some sites are reservable and others are not. The rates are very reasonable, as they are for all CoE campgrounds, especially for seniors. All sites have reasonable separation between them. On the map, sites 6-23 look to be very close together but they are reasonably distanced apart. Sites 1-5 (which are not reservable) have very long pull-through drives. All sites (except the group sites) have electric and water and some have 50 amp (these are noted on the map)
Bathhouse: Some loops have vault toilets (which were very clean), some have flush toilets, and some have flush toilet/shower combos. None have soap dispensers. We were in site 46 with access to one of the combos. I appreciated the hot water, especially since we woke to snow the next morning! Sites 1-23 have a vault toilet but there is a flush facility within reasonable walking distance.
Activities/Amenities: Swimming, fishing, and boating in season but we were passing through, so we did not participate. Minimal playground facilities (mostly in the loop with sites 1-23) and horseshoe pits. There was a hiking trail, but I did not explore it.
We always have a good experience at a CoE campground – they are well run, clean, affordable and, of course, located on or near water. My only beef is that check-in time is 6 pm, although if it is not crowded, you could check in earlier.
GuideSo glad we chose this dispersed camping location as an overnight stay. It's fantastic! Beautiful area, campfire rings in several locations, and our 43' Rv navigated smoothly (well, husband navigated smoothly!) Easy to drive through, well-maintained roads....leave no trace, and enjoy!
LegendCedar 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. Most have fire rings and tables. There are restrooms, bath house, trash receptacles and a dump. There is also a swim beach and a hiking trail. 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.
Tent camping near Council Grove, Kansas, offers a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various amenities and activities. With several well-reviewed campgrounds in the area, you'll find the perfect spot to set up your tent and unwind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Council Grove, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Council Grove, KS is Kansas View - Council Grove Lake with a 4.5-star rating from 2 reviews.
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