Looking to get away and reconnect with nature? Glamping near Dorrance is the perfect choice. The Dyrt lets you enjoy a unique, rustic Dorrance experience while glamping. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the woods or a site closer to all the action, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect glamping spot.
This recreation area is part of Wilson Lake
Lucas Park Campground is located on the north side of Wilson Lake in the wide open spaces of central Kansas.
Boating is the most popular pastime on the lake, with plenty of room for water skiing, wake boarding, jet skiing, sailing and more. Populations of many game fish species have been enhanced by a stocking program conducted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. Walleye, Large and Smallmouth bass can be found in abundance in the lake, as well as White bass, Striped bass, and channel and flathead catfish. Several trails are available to visitors, including the Bur Oak Nature Trail, a 3/4-mile nature walk located adjacent to Sylvan Park. The Rocktown Hiking Trail, located in the western part of Lucas Park, is a 3-mile loop trail situated in a 305-acre wildlife area. Massive red sandstone rock formations rise 15 to 30 feet above the ground and give the visual impression of a city skyline, giving it the name Rocktown. Trail brochures are available at the trail entrance. Wilson Lake also offers hunting opportunities for a variety of game animals, including pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, whitetail deer, turkey, waterfowl and rabbit.
Wilson lake, known as the "clearest lake in Kansas," is located in the Smoky Hills of North Central Kansas--a rolling landscape of hills, buttes and hazy valleys. Also known as Post Rock Country, the area contains thousands of miles of stone fenceposts and buildings that have been constructed out of the area's local limestone. This and other unique geologic formations and mixed grass prairie lands provide an excellent scenic backdrop for recreation around the lake.
Visitors may enjoy exploring other recreation areas around the lake, such as Sylvan and Minooka Parks as well as Wilson State Park, located on the south side of the lake. The nearby town of Lucas is known for its unique artistic spirit and attractions, while the town of Wilson and other close by communities offer visitors a rich historical heritage to explore.
$18 - $350 / night
The City has a new RV Park located on the west end of the City Park on Lincoln Avenue. There are 6 individual spots available that include: 50 amp electric service & additional 20 amp outlet, water hydrant and direct sewer.
$20 / night
You won't believe you are still in Kansas! C2T Ranch is a working regenerative cattle ranch, with over 4 miles of Saline River running through it. Amazing 150' tall limestone cliffs rise above river and several spring fed creeks feed into the river. There is hiking galore in the canyons or on the cliffs, fishing in the rivers, or bird watching on the native prairie above the cliffs. Fossil hunters can find a variety of fossilized shells, as well as native septarian and calcite for the rockhounds.
Our picturesque, secluded campground has primitive and powered campsites, plus several glamping tent, all dispersed along an amazing horseshoe bend of the Saline River, each with direct river access. We're only a 20 minute drive north of Hays, Kansas and I-70, come visit us today!
$35 - $60 / night
Guide
stayed here for 2 nights . I have to say the views and campsites were excellent.
who knew that in the middle of Kansas there is a 9000 acre lake that is just breathtaking
I will be going back next time I go thru Kansas.
not anyone around as far as staff but well maintained .
7 miles from the Intestate so its easy to get to.
try and get the waterfront sites they are large with great views
Guide
Convenient location. Accommodating staff. Well lit. Good dog run. We stopped in early November and Kansas was already cold and windy!
Guide
A city maintained park in Lincoln Kansas with 30 and 50 amp plugs, dumping station, and a nice park next door. And $20! 😀
Scout
Stayed here while traveling from Rocky Mountain NP through Kansas. This is a hidden gem right on the army corps of Engineers lake Wilson.
Must stay if Traveling through the flat state of KS.
Water is crystal clear and affords people the opportunity to swim fish boat etc
TravelerBEAUTIFUL views!!! Very windy but worth it for water front. We stayed in a loop alone that could have had 3 other sites, next to beach access. Bathrooms were a bit of a walk but again, worth it!!
Thought I had seen a mirage once we pulled into the park after miles of Kansas greens and browns.
Self reg station (electronic) at the park as well as reserve early online.
RangerWhile I read up quite a bit on traveling thru Kansas, this state park is truly better than I could imagine. Very scenic, peaceful, and plenty to do( or do nothing& enjoy the solitude). It's always hard ranking campgrounds, but this is easily a top 5 for me. We drove to nearby Minooka Park,that looks great as well. This area is great. Groceries, gas,& golf nearby. Restaurants too. If considering a visit, book it and you won't be disappointed.
Guide
This is a small camp ground with electric hook ups only. Great views of the lake. What really makes this park is all the hiking, biking and horse riding trails. Literally miles and miles of trails with some of the best rock formations you will find in Kansas. There is also a larger camp ground set back from the lake, that is larger and has pins for horses.
LegendStunning views in every direction. A true diamond in the rough tucked just 8 miles from I-70 near Sylvan Grove, KS. This is a great place to enjoy the breeze as it blows across the rolling plains of eastern Kansas.
Wilson State Park has multiple camping loops with a variety of hookup options from primitive sites overlooking Wilson reservoir to full hookups with 20/30/50 amp power, water and sewer for RVs. Bring your camera, some comfortable shoes and sunscreen and enjoy plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking and fishing.
GuideThis place is incredible! Right by a lake, this campground is extremely well maintained and spacious. You can sit at a picnic table, under luscious trees overlooking the lake and the houses beyond. There are RV spots and primitive campsites, and if you go Sunday-Thursday, those primitive sites are free! They have clean bathrooms with showers and accessible water spigots. The weather was beautiful, the people were friendly, and I slept under the stars. Honestly, I could only stop for one night but I would definitely travel to Kansas again just to stay at this campsite.
Guide
We went for the weekend, mostly to do some hiking. Then realized we had found one of the nest places in Kansas! We got a perfect camp spot all to ourselves. It was not necessarily private or in the woods. But we were right up against the lake. There was sand like a beach the water was alright. I mean it's a lake. We loved the hiking through limestone. We found couple caves and climbed some rock. Would be good for mntn biking
GuideBig Bluestem Campground Site 78! Prime spot with large shade tree to block western sun. 20’ from water’s edge with path to drop kayaks in, swim or even sit lawn chairs into the water to cool off. Noted as largest saltwater and clearest lake in Kansas. 30/50A/120V and water hookups. Concrete pad. Clean showers a few hundred yards away. Trash bin in middle of loop. Marina two loops away; about 4 minute drive. Outstanding rock formations, reminds me of Utah. Water levels effect access to some formations. Great time, great weather, we’ll be back soon! T-Mobile service 1-4 bars. Streamed HotSpot for ROKU without issues.
TravelerGreat spot. There are many tent and even RV spots that are right near the water. Some parking spots require a Kansas state park passport but we were able to buy one at the park office. The water was calm enough in the morning and evenings to kayak and explore the coves. mid day when the water started getting a bit rougher we swapped the kayaks for bikes and explored the trails. the park offers several dirt trails and a few paved paths perfect for all levels of riders! To top it off the sunsets were amazing every night. only rated 4/5 because the bathrooms/showers weren’t the best.
RangerWe were traveling back to Oklahoma from South Dakota and needed a place to break up the drive. On the way up we just stopped in a Cracker Barrel parking lot. This time we wanted to enjoy a campground in the morning before pulling out on the last stretch of drive.
Lucas Park was perfect. We pulled in late. We were tired and didn’t want to do anything but sleep haha. We got on Recreation.gov and found us a spot. The spot was perfect. A pull thru that was half moon shape. We woke up to a nice view of the lake. The way they had placed the sites was in a way that most all of them had views of water.
There were play grounds for the kids. Really nice clean baths and the roads were pretty easy to push a wheelchair over.
Definitely will use this as a stopover again when going through Kansas
GuideQuiet and lovely a clean place to camp with plenty of dead and dry fire wood to be gathered. this place has up to 24 miles of hiking trails on the north side as well as being the oldest lake in the state it has some unique history from ancient Indians and the area was frequented by Buffalo bill Cody and there aresome petroglyphs you can visit from natives of the area this lake is also a great fishing destination for all types of fish native to the state if tents and hammocks are not your thing they have cabins as well for $99 a night this is one of them lakes you should visit if your not from Kansas there is so much hidden beauty here that goes unnoticed by many
LegendRanger Review: Camp Zero 10 liter cooler at Wilson Lake in Kansas Campground review-driving up to Wilson Lake you would never know you were in the middle of Kansas. There are rolling hills surrounding the lake. There is not clearly marked signs which made the area kind of confusing for us. There are so many loops with camping and 2 other parks in this same area. The lake itself is very large and lengthy. It’s beautiful-perfect for boating, fishing, or kayaking. There are not a lot of trees so the area can get pretty windy. Lots of sites face the water. Prices vary from 10-24 per night. There are also park permits and service fee you must pay. Sites range from primitive to full hook ups. Most have fire rings and picnic tables. There are plenty of trails for hiking and biking and swim beaches. The bathrooms are clean and there are showers,marinas,dump stations. Check in and out is at 2 pm. Make sure to check out the town of Lucas for all the fun art. Product Review: As a Ranger for the DRYT, I get products to test from time to time and I tested the 10 liter Camp Zero at Wilson Lake. What I love about the Camp Zero cooler is: 1: The light aluminum handle with gripping pad. Makes it easier to carry without losing grip 2: The rubber feet on the bottom makes it so it doesn’t slide around in the car or boat and get scratched or scratch up the car. 3: the molded cup holders on the top of the cooler that turns it into a much need table on the beach 4: The heavy duty rubber latches to keep the cooler latched. They are bear resistant 5: The awesome colors you can get them in I chose the bright green 10 liter cooler. The green is so fun and cheery and I know that I’ll be able to spot it where ever it is. This cooler really keeps the drinks cooler for extended periods of time. It is so heavy duty, and sturdy. The cooler is a little heavy once you put ice and drinks in it so I’ll just make my husband carry it. I’m excited to take this Camp Zero 10 liter cooler with me on all our adventures
LegendWhen traveling to Kansas there are 26 state parks to visit. It might be a bit difficult to decide which you would like to consider for your outing however I would like to encourage you to give Wilson Lake State Park a thought. There are several reasons which you might find appealing however one of the most impressive I have found is the sheer amount of camping you can find featuring a variety of options.
Wilson's Lake State Park has everything from primitive camping to Cabins and everything in between. There are sites designed for RVs both small and large offering everything from standard electric to full connections. With 240 sites on location this can quickly be considered as one of the best camping of this area.
Lake views are accessible from almost every campsite at the Park with up close and personal access in several of the loops. Prices vary from Primitive to Improved sites from $13 to $26.
I found that while some of the loops provided more primitive restroom accommodations others had very nice flush toilets and showers. There is a playground central to the park and several areas which you can launch smaller vessels such as canoes or kayaks and a larger boat ramp.
I checked out the various loops while visiting and found that many of the loops were semi even and provided various levels of shade to help you even on the hottest of days. When I visited there had been a lot of recent rains which elevated the lake levels and lessened the beach access dramatically however typically there is a very nice beach area near two of the camping loops.
The outdoor space of the park has been a point of focus and the creation of a large bike trail was constructed to allow people to get out and enjoy the surroundings. Many additionally, hike this path to see a bit more of the nature of the area which include deer, rabbits and foxes.
I really enjoyed my visit to the park. Upon meeting the camp host I learned that the booking policy for the campground is very flexible and they do encourage you to make sure you try to book in advance during peak traffic season.
TIPS:
LegendI took a detour off the flat highway land in search of the town of Lucas where I had heard great things about their art installations. As I drove along the land began to open up to large rolling hills and beautiful landscaping with a turnoff just off the main road marked by some very interesting stones and a pavilion. I took a moment to pull off and noticed a kiosk which told the history of the area and some very impressive information about Lucas Park.
I was impressed by the information and one of the signs detailing the trails which led from just outside of the campground all the way to a very special cliffside which is renowned in the state of Kansas. So naturally I had to go check it out!!
Pulling into camp it had rained recently and some of the gravel roads were a bit slick for my small car, but I did notice they had some road work signs where they are working to improve these areas. The rest of the property was well developed and had great improvements including full service restrooms which were placed throughout camp and nice playground equipment for the kiddos.
The campground is divided into two separate areas. Each with their own unique appeal. I personally liked the campground closest to the pay station as it seemed to have better overall access to amenities such as community water. There was a good mix of campsites at this location with pull through and back in options with sites ranging vastly in overall spacing.
As a tent camper, I typically look for shaded areas which provide a little shelter from the elements and they did have several of these in this campground. Water access to the lake was also very close by although I didn’t see a swimming beach at the time of my visit. This could have been in part due to the rains and the lake levels or it could be that there indeed was not one in this area.
I had decent cell signal at this campground on AT&T.
**TIPS: **
RangerSite was very sparse, no shade unless you brought it with you. Cabins right next to our site. Bathroom wasn’t close- quite a hike away. We drove due to handicap member. Shower house was even further away in the opposite direction, which meant another drive. Both facilities were not only extremely dirty but terribly kept. Rusty and no bench or hooks to place your clothes on while showering. If you are going to be engaged in water activities you will have a good time though.
TravelerLots of campsites for tents and for RVs! We like to fish and kayak - sometimes fishing from the kayaks, and we always have good luck at Wilson. We try to get a campsite with water access so we can easily get the kayaks in and out if the water. There are so many sites near the water at Wilson, so finding such a site is no problem at all! Kayaking over to the rocky cliffs is beautiful! Highly recommended! We tend to camp on the marina side of the lake, but the other side has a playground and swim beach - possibly more family friendly. Facilities are nice, at least the ones we’ve used. No complaints there!!
TravelerWonderful spot close to sandy beaches, great for little kids. Good clear water at 3 feet deep. Sparse T-Mobile cell service.
88 great spot
GuideWe really enjoyed our time here. We had only one neighbor in our area of the park and were right on the water. The lake was busy during the day and quieted down in the evening. Bathrooms need a refresh but I can only imagine how much use they get each year. Overall we highly recommend this place. Before entering the park grab some firewood and last minute supplies from the local bait shop, 2nd right after getting off the main road.
GuideWilson State Park is truly a hidden gem. It is surrounded by miles of rolling farmland, so it is like an oasis when you see this beautiful lake as you enter the park. We stayed in Foxtail Loop in Site 61. It couldn't have been more perfect. We pulled-in at sunset and discovered that our site had a completely unobstructed view of the sunset over the lake. We stayed for two nights and couldn't have been happier with it. There are several hiking trails throughout the park to explore. We were surprised by the warm weather when we got there in early October 2020, it was 94 degrees! That said, we would absolutely go back and definitely recommend it.
RangerWhat a lovely campground and state park. It’s 16 minutes off I70 and feels so remote and peaceful- no highway traffic noise. We pulled in late at night on a Monday in October after many hours in the road and were thrilled at how peaceful and clean it was. We stayed at campsite 17 right on the lake in the loop with electric and water hookups, picnic table, fire pit(but no firewood available- gotta buy it at a local fish and tackle store outside the park) No need for leveling blocks, easy to settle in and cook dinner. In the morning we hiked some of the trails and showered in the shower house. Beautiful views of the lake from the trails. We could have stayed another night and will return on another cross-country trip. Lovely!
TravelerLoved this place!
LegendThis was our second time camping here and we loved it just as much as the first! We stayed on Wheatgrass loop site #57. The sites are huge! This back-in site was easily 50-60ft long. Water and electric hookups were conveniently located and the site was mostly level side to side. And that view! chefs kiss
Now for the downsides, and this isn’t something to fault the park for, but more of a campground etiquette thing: because this site is on the way to both the nearby beach and the trash dumpsters, other campers were constantly walking through our site. Something to be mindful of if you decide to camp on this loop, but it wouldn’t stop me from camping here. We will definitely be back!!
GuideOnly stayed one night during our road trip. Lake was really beautiful and our campsite was in a great location. We stayed in a tent in one of the Coneflower primative spots. We had a great view, a little shade and a trail down to the lake. Bathrooms were decent, but very hot. Breeze off the lake was perfect but we had to secure the tent pretty good to keep it from blowing away.
The marina sells firewood, ice, and other goodies. Staff were all very friendly.
We will definitely come back here when we have more time!
ScoutAmazing primitive camping with driving access to shower in park. Beautiful lake view. We are tent campers with 2 old dogs it was perfect
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Dorrance, KS is Wilson State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 27 reviews.
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