Dispersed camping options near De Soto, Kansas center around Leavenworth Kansas State Fishing Lake, which offers primitive sites with minimal facilities but greater privacy. This 160-acre lake provides campers with free overnight stays along gravel pull-off areas. Winter camping in the region typically sees temperatures between 20-40°F, with summer highs averaging 85-95°F during peak camping season from May through September.
What to do
Archery practice: Clinton State Park features a dedicated archery range among its recreational facilities, letting campers practice their skills. A visitor noted, "The park has undergone some improvements with Prairie Clover Camping Loop {#1} showers and bathrooms clean and newly painted... We ended up in the primitive loop in the trees overlooking the Clinton Marina inlet #60... Saw eagles, turkey vultures, and possible osprey."
Lake activities: At Bloomington East - Clinton Lake, campers enjoy access to boat ramps, fishing docks, and a large sandy beach area. One camper shared, "Paved roads are great for taking a walk or riding bikes and make it easy to move from one place to another within the campground. Our camping spot offered significant shade and a large grassy area for setting up chairs, cooking equipment, and outdoor games."
Disc golf course: For those who enjoy casual sports, Clinton State Park offers a disc golf course within walking distance of the campground. A visitor explained, "Visiting in non peak is as easy as driving in, finding a spot and paying your fees. Full bath houses, disc golf, archery range, and an abundance of hiking all around the camps."
Hiking trails: Woodridge Park features secluded hiking trails that lead to lakeside camping areas. A visitor mentioned, "The trail is probably easy to moderate and there are an endless number of areas to explore. There are several campsites in the parking lot area and then there are 15 more primitive sites along the trail."
What campers like
Free primitive camping: Woodridge Park offers no-cost primitive camping with surprising privacy. A camper reported, "Beautiful free camping. There's a gravel loop with some picnic tables and a couple hike-in sites dispersed along a trail. I was here over Labor Day weekend and didn't see a single other person on the 1/2-ish mile hike to Primitive Site 4, where I spent the night."
Clean facilities: Weston Bend State Park Campground maintains exceptionally clean bathroom facilities. A recent visitor commented, "These are the cleanest bathrooms and facilities that I have been to I think maybe ever. The camp hosts were super nice stop by to make sure that I was all set up and didn't need any help."
Spacious sites: Some campgrounds in the region offer more room between neighbors. At Blue Springs Lake Campground, a camper noted, "The sites were well kept up, with many prime locations near the playground for our kids. Campground staff were beyond friendly and accommodating. Only downside was the lack of big trees for shade through part of the park."
Wildlife viewing: Clinton State Park provides opportunities to view wildlife in natural settings. One visitor shared, "Rolling hills and lots of green with many trails and recreational facilities including more unusual things like archery. Lake is surprisingly big, good wildlife and birding. Popular place for bike and road races, that's what brought us here."
What you should know
Train noise concerns: Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA has frequent train traffic that can affect sleep quality. A camper advised, "The staff is very nice, the camp is clean the bathrooms are clean the laundry is clean the pool is clean overall a very pleasant little camp. The only two negatives are one there are probably not enough shade trees and two there is a train that comes by every couple of hours."
Site spacing variations: At many area campgrounds, proximity to neighbors can vary significantly. A camper at Walnut Grove RV Park observed, "The spaces are very tight in the travelers section and more spread out in the long term section. Many sites in the park were occupied by storage and the owners never showed up."
Seasonal flooding: Area lakes can experience high water levels affecting some campsites. One visitor to Bloomington East shared, "Most lakes in the area were flooded. And Clinton was no exception. My site was a muddy mess but I just joined up with a friend and we used his single site for both our teardrops."
Site leveling needs: Many campsites in the region require leveling equipment. A camper at Blue Springs Lake Campground explained, "The site slopes to the passenger side and downhill toward the road, so we used a few levelers. Many sites here are sloped. The premium cement pads seemed to be more level than gravel sites."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Blue Springs Lake Campground offers sites near play areas for families with children. A parent mentioned, "The sites were well kept up, with many prime locations near the playground for our kids. Campground staff were beyond friendly and accommodating."
Swimming options: Hillsdale State Park provides water recreation opportunities for families. A visitor noted, "There are kayaks and canoes to rent, there is a great marina, fishing, and tons of water access opportunities for private kayaks. The people are friendly and so fun! Truly a great place to come camp."
Hammock-friendly sites: For families who enjoy hammock camping, Woodridge Park offers suitable tree spacing. One camper shared, "One of my favorite not the typical slice of pie camping great for hammocks," while another added, "Best campsite we've been to since moving to KS 7 years ago—wooded, private, spacious, feels very secluded."
Secure camping: Some campgrounds offer security features for family peace of mind. A visitor to Blue Springs Lake mentioned, "We felt very safe here since they require an access code to get into the gate," while another noted the campground is "quiet and I will stay again!"
Tips from RVers
Premium pull-through sites: At Walnut Grove RV Park, RVers recommend booking specific types of sites. A camper advised, "We stopped here for the night and had a great stay. Only 10 minutes away from Joe's original Kansas City BBQ (super delicious). We did pay for the premium pull through site, so we had more room. Everything worked great."
Site selection for larger rigs: Site placement can impact the RV experience. An RVer at Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA shared, "Easy check in friendly folks. Level site. Pull through FHU everything worked as expected. Would stay here again."
Internet access: Working RVers should consider connectivity options. One camper noted at Walnut Grove RV Park, "I like the location it's close to where I was working and close to downtown so lots of things to do in the area. The Wi-Fi is working well as I am working online from this location."
Dump station access: When exiting parks, RVers should plan for dump station traffic. An experienced RVer suggested, "As you exit the park, if you have a big rig, you'll want to stay to the left side of the dump station for a wider right turn out of the park."
