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Best Tent Camping near Fall River, KS

139 Reviews

Fall River State Park offers multiple tent campgrounds for visitors seeking outdoor recreation in southeastern Kansas. The area contains four established tent campgrounds: Bluestem Campground, Wind Hill Campground, South Rock Campground, and Rock Ridge South Campground, all located within the state park boundaries along Highway 105 near Toronto, Kansas. These campgrounds provide varying levels of amenities specifically suited for tent campers exploring the Flint Hills region.

Fall River tent sites feature different amenity configurations depending on which campground visitors select. Bluestem and Wind Hill campgrounds provide drinking water, electric hookups, sewer connections, and shower facilities, making them suitable for campers seeking more developed tent sites. Both campgrounds are reservable and allow pets. In contrast, South Rock and Rock Ridge South campgrounds offer more primitive tent camping experiences without water, electricity, or other utilities. These sites provide greater seclusion but require campers to bring all necessary supplies including water. Most sites are drive-in accessible, allowing relatively easy equipment transport to tent pads.

The natural setting around Fall River provides tent campers with opportunities for wildlife observation and stargazing. One camper noted, "I saw a great amount of wildlife such as birds, woodland critters and even a lizard" during a stay at a nearby campground. Early summer visits often provide pleasant weather conditions and relatively uncrowded camping experiences. For tent campers seeking alternatives to Fall River, nearby options include Cross Timbers State Park's Chautauqua Hills Campground approximately 15 miles northeast, which offers similar amenities to the developed Fall River sites. Additional primitive tent camping locations can be found at John Redmond Reservoir near Burlington, though these lack basic facilities and require more self-sufficiency. Most campgrounds in the region maintain seasonal operations with limited services during winter months.

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Best Tent Sites Near Fall River, Kansas (12)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Fall River, KS

139 Reviews of 12 Fall River Campgrounds

  • S
    May. 30, 2020

    Bluestem Point Area — El Dorado State Park

    Bed bugs!!! Don’t rent Cabin 5 Larkspur

    I’m exhausted, the last 12hrs has been a dumpster fire. Last thing we expected was a bed bug infestation. Woke at midnight with a few annoying bites, on further inspection we were covered in bed bugs, urrrgghh. After picking them off our pj’s and getting over the initial shock we went home to quarantine our clothes, shower and sleep. Returned in the morning to checkout and trash our sleeping bags and pillows. Everyone is disappointed, and I’m out of pocket for 2 nights accommodation and 4x sleeping gear...whoever the host is should be ashamed of themselves, I’m trying to warn the next people, this cabin is booked solid but in reality uninhabitable! The porch is also infested with burrowing bumblebees, scary for kids and adults alike.

  • Angie S.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Walnut River Area — El Dorado State Park

    Big Oak Campground

    You'd think the Big Oak Campground in El Dorado State Park would be amazing. It's shaded with huge trees, nice sized sites some of which are very spread out, a quick walk to the swim beach and a quick drive to put your boat in the water. Unfortunately these pluses are far outweighed by the negatives. First the bathrooms were horrible. I realize they are older restrooms but they smelled awful, they were never obviously cleaned, the showers were not even a tiny bit private, the door to the restroom was broken and had to be propped open with a tree branch. Just over the bridge at the swim beach they were worse and some of the doors in the women’s room were missing. Yuck! Secondly basic campground rules were not enforced at all. The site across from us easily had 30 people camping and were up until 4am with loud music and a bright light on. I’m not kidding, my daughter was up around 3 to use the restroom and we walked by twice. The family in the site next to us had at least 4 cars and 2 tents set up outside the site on the walking path in addition to their two tents in their own site. The dog free swim beach had dogs on it. We camp with our dogs, one of which loves to swim and even I don’t want dogs on a public beach. Our camping weekend was negatively affected by poor camping etiquette and a sever lack of basic rule enforcement. We won’t be back to El Dorado State Park Big Oak campsite any time soon, at least not during the busy summer camping season. Cross Timbers and Fall River are much better!

  • Angie S.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Walnut River Area, Big Oak Campground

    You'd think the Big Oak Campground in El Dorado State Park would be amazing. It's shaded with huge trees, nice sized sites some of which are very spread out, a quick walk to the swim beach and a quick drive to put your boat in the water. Unfortunately these pluses are far outweighed by the negatives. First the bathrooms were horrible. I realize they are older restrooms but they smelled awful, they were never obviously cleaned, the showers were not even a tiny bit private, the door to the restroom was broken and had to be propped open with a tree branch. Just over the bridge at the swim beach they were worse and some of the doors in the women’s room were missing. Yuck! Secondly basic campground rules were not enforced at all. The site across from us easily had 30 people camping and were up until 4am with loud music and a bright light on. I’m not kidding, my daughter was up around 3 to use the restroom and we walked by twice. The family in the site next to us had at least 4 cars and 2 tents set up outside the site on the walking path in addition to their two tents in their own site. The dog free swim beach had dogs on it. We camp with our dogs, one of which loves to swim and even I don’t want dogs on a public beach. Our camping weekend was negatively affected by poor camping etiquette and a sever lack of basic rule enforcement. We won’t be back to El Dorado State Park Big Oak campsite any time soon. Cross Timbers and Fall River are much better!

  • Angie S.
    Jun. 21, 2020

    Timber Road Campground — Elk City State Park

    Park is Great. Camping, well...

    Elk City State Park is great. It's full but not crowded, hiking is about as good as it gets in Kansas, dedicated Mountain Biking trails which I rarely see and it's rather pretty. Swimnarea is muddy but the kids didn't mind. Comfort Cove camping is adequate. Shower house is clean (by KS State Park standards), quiet hours respected and my kids enjoyed the playground. Our site is miniature. No place for a clothes line, no fire pit to speak of even though everyone else has one. We are boxed in tighter than a KOA and we feel it. There are sections more spread out with more room per site but not Site 243. Also, very little shade and very few shades sites which is weird in an area abundant in big giant shade trees.

  • N
    Oct. 4, 2021

    Casner Creek Campground — Fall River State Park

    Beautiful State Park!

    Fall River has some huge primitive sites so you can really spread out! There is fishing, beautiful views of the lake, and the huge playground is centralized and close enough to let my kids go while I cook dinner. We camped in the rain (it poured!) but the terrain didn’t flood or hold huge puddles. Nice wide, open trails!

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 25, 2021

    Timber Hill

    A Walk on the Hill Side

    .• 20 Non electric

    • No hookups

    • FCFS•$10.00

    • Boat ramp

    • Drinking water

    • Dump station

    • Pit toilets

    • Boat Trailer Parking

    • Campfire Rings

    • Dock

    • Drinking Water(peak season)

    • Grills

    • Hitching Racks

    • Horseback Riding Trails

    • Lake Access

    • Non-Potable Water

    • Parking Area

    • Paved Roads

    • Paved Sites

    • Picnic Tables

    • Table& Benches

    • Trailhead Parking

    • Trailheads

    • Trash Collection

    • Vault Toilets

    • Water(Seasonal)

    • Accessible Drinking Water

    • Accessible Parking

    • Dump Station

    • Paved Parking

    • Pets Allowed

    • Horse Staging Area

    Part of this drive will be on a gravel road but it is well maintained. This is a small and very quiet campground and had very few campers. Sites are small and heavily forested which will make for a very shady stay.

    Located on Bill Hill Lake outside of Cherryvale, Kansas and set in the gently rolling prairie with a large scattering of trees. The area considers itself as Kansas “Little Ozarks.” It is a beautifully serene setting dotted with campgrounds and day use areas. The Bill Hill Lake is a reservoir and holds 1,240 acres of water with 367 acres available for use by the public. The park is nestled in the rolling, wooded countryside with thick oak-hickory forests surrounded by prairie and farmland, the lake shore supplies a variety of habitats for birds and mammals. Cherryvale Park offers a relaxing atmosphere with plenty of trees for shade, and the lake is only a short walk away from the campsites. Campers can venture onto several hiking and equestrian trails including Big Hill Lake Horse Trail, a 17-mile trail with a variety of terrain for all ages to explore. The trail winds along a scenic hardwood ridge that offers gorgeous views all along the way. Big Hill Lake is known as a trophy lake for fishing. Principal species of sport fish include largemouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill, walleye and smallmouth bass. The lake is also popular for fishing tournaments. Almost all of the land around the lake is open to public hunting, except for parks and areas around the dam and control structures. Principal species hunted are whitetail deer, turkey and squirrel. Families with kids will enjoy visiting the sand-covered beach nearby for cooling off from the summer heat and enjoying a picnic Campers can venture onto several hiking and equestrian trails including Big Hill Lake Horse Trail, a 17-mile trail with a variety of terrain for all ages to explore. The trail winds along a scenic hardwood ridge that offers gorgeous views all along the way. Big Hill Lake is known as a trophy lake for fishing. Principal species of sport fish include largemouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill, walleye and smallmouth bass. The lake is also popular for fishing tournaments. Almost all of the land around the lake is open to public hunting, except for parks and areas around the dam and control structures. Principal species hunted are whitetail deer, turkey and squirrel. Families with kids will enjoy visiting the sand-covered beach nearby for cooling off from the summer heat and enjoying a picnic. 

    Getting Here Latitude 37° 17' 43.8324" N Longitude 95° 26' 51.8352" W From Dennis, KS go south on Gray Rd to 21000 Rd and turn right. Follow signs to park. 

    Need to Know• Check in and out is 3pm. Campsites are reservable online or by phone at recreation.gov or 877-444-6777. No pay station at park. 

    Contact Information Mailing Address 19065 Cherryvale Parkway, Cherryvale, KS 67335 Physical Address 20013 Timberhill Parkway, Cherryvale, KS 67335 Phone Number For campground inquiries, please call: 6203362741 

    Need to Know• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited within the Mound Valley Swimming Beach Area

    Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Visit Dontmovefirewood.org for further information. 

    Upon arrival at Big Hill Lake a visitor may choose from a plethora of fun activities. Camping with and without electricity, boat launches, ball field, swimming beach and so much more. For trails you will find the Big Hill Lake Horse Trail which surrounds¾ of the lake and is 17 miles long. It provides a variety of terrain for all ages. The trail provides amazing views and riders will enjoy tethering areas and three parking areas along the trail. The parking areas are equipped with limited facilities that can be used for overnight camping by the trail riders. Riders will have the opportunity for wildlife viewing. For those that wish to hike you will find the Ruth Nixon Memorial Trail. The trail enjoys blue bird houses that were set in honor or Ruth Nixon. It is about one mile and offers the hikers the chance to observe local wildlife. The scenery along the way is spectacular. This trail links the Overlook Day Use Area and Cherryvale Recreation Area. There are rest areas along the way so take advantage of those inviting stops to enjoy the lake views and just take in the scenery. Big Hill Lake is one of the clearest lakes in Kansas and considered a trophy fishing lake. Sport fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill, walleye and sunfish. Hunters will find about 800 acres of project land that is managed for wildlife. Game species are lardge and varied around Big Hill Lake. Hunters will find bob white quail, rabbit, grey and fox squirrels, mourning dove, migratory waterfowl, wild turkey and white tailed deer. Hunters may also utilize another 1350 acres of land located about½ mile from the project. Wildflowers are in abundance in the spring and fall along with the beautiful trees such as persimmon, osage orange, redbud and dogwood. Swimming on the sandy beaches along the lake is a joy. Alcohol is not allowed on the beach area. Glass containers are also not allowed on the beach or in the water. 

    Boats that are propelled by a motor of any kind or a sailboat must be numbered and registered with the state of Kansas or legally registered with another state. 

    The Cherryvale area present day is a farming/ranching rural area with Friday night football the big excitement. In the 19th century Kansas was a bloody place. Before the “Civil War” you would have different groups battling for control. After the civil war the pioneers began their westward journey through the many trails that crossed the plains. In 1870 a group of five families settled in western Labette County. Cherryvale had not been established. This group stands out because of one particular family. The Bender family, a normal– mother– father– son– daughter from Germany. John Bender, Sr., his wife Ma Bender, son John, Jr. and daughter Kate. Now I am not going to get involved in their story but I will touch on some of the highlights and let you know the story includes an inn, a store, a hammer, a trap door, lonely single male travelers, haunted property and the only place where a mass murder is celebrated by a state historical marker. Google the Bender family in Kansas and enjoy a bit of the old west

    LNT 

    Better than when you found it

    Stay safe– Happy Travels

  • Dionna F.
    Jul. 2, 2019

    Bluestem Point Area — El Dorado State Park

    You know you’ve been camping too much when....

    ....the camp host offers you dog food and asks if your homeless....haha

    Bluestem Point Rocks & Rolls! My SOBF (significant other boyfriend) and I have camped here over six times. We didn’t even leave when they had the semi-floods and crazy lightning storms in May & June 2019 (and we only live 30 minutes away). The picnic tables are great because they are shaped like a sail and you can turn them to block the wind or sun. You can also put a tarp on top and block out the rain. The camp hosts (Bob and Jean) are so friendly and accommodating. They also keep the place spic and span.

  • T
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Beautiful and peaceful

    We stayed in the equestrian loop. All but a couple primitive sites are back-in. The layout of the fire rings, grills and picnic tables are all weird... Not consistent and usually on the wrong side of your trailer. The parking pad was nowhere near level, so you'll want to plan for that. The trees are lovely. You're very near the water and the breeze was beautiful. The toilet at the loop are pit. The bath house was not clean and many of the showers didn't work.. Water is lukewarm but water pressure was great. No stall doors on toilets or showers. We used the city of El Dorado dump station. The park is massive. Lots of amenities in El Dorado. And a quick jump to Wichita. We will be back.

  • Levi H.
    Mar. 21, 2023

    Big Hill Lake Mound Valley Recreation Area

    Clean, Spacious & Weekenders Paradise

    Stayed 22 days in Site 21 in the NLOO Loop, close to bathrooms, in July and August 2022. No Showers in this loop so beware. Bathrooms were clean. Showers in the other two loops were always clean and rarely used. 

    I was working in the area, so I needed to stay an extra eight days beyond the COE 14-day limit. Ranger was easy going and granted me an extra 10 days no problem. 

    This place is pretty busy with locals on the weekends between June and August. Completely clears out Sunday evening and it is mostly dead empty until around Thursday. Clearly a popular camping spot for people in the region, but really didn't see a lot of out-of-county or even out-of-state tags camped. 

    Cherryvale is about 6 miles west of the lake and has a Dollar General and Casey's Convenience Store as well as a Redbox, and Parsons is about 20 minutes northeast of here if you need something more substantial than DG or Casey's offers. 

    My AT&T signal didn't work here at all until I set up my WeBoost.

Guide to Fall River

Fall River State Park tent camping offers distinctive experiences in the Flint Hills ecoregion of southeastern Kansas. The park contains approximately 2,700 acres of tall grass prairie and woodland terrain at elevations ranging between 900-1,100 feet. Sites experience typical four-season continental climate patterns with hot summers, cold winters, and spring/fall transitional periods marked by significant temperature fluctuations. Camping areas provide access to Fall River Reservoir, a 2,350-acre impoundment that serves as the centerpiece for water-based recreation.

What to do

Water activities: Fall River Reservoir provides multiple access points for boating, fishing, and swimming during summer months. Bluestem Campground offers convenient water access with boat ramps located within walking distance of tent sites. The reservoir contains populations of largemouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and walleye.

Wildlife observation: The diverse habitats surrounding tent campsites near Fall River, Kansas support extensive wildlife viewing opportunities. The prairie-forest transition zones harbor deer, turkey, and numerous bird species. Early morning and dusk provide optimal observation times. Park roads and trails offer strategically positioned viewing areas.

Hiking trails: The park maintains a network of moderate difficulty trails through varied terrain. The Overlook Trail provides scenic vistas of the reservoir and surrounding woodlands. Wind Hill Campground connects directly to trail access points, allowing tent campers to begin hiking directly from their sites without driving to trailheads.

What campers like

Natural setting: Fall River tent camping areas maintain substantial buffer zones between sites, particularly in the more primitive campgrounds. The mixed hardwood forests provide natural screening and wildlife corridors throughout camping areas. One regular visitor noted the "beautiful, early Summer, Oklahoma weather and gorgeous night sky" visible from nearby Caney Bend.

Fishing access: The reservoir provides fishing opportunities directly from shore near several camping areas. Multiple fishing platforms accommodate anglers without boats. Seasonal crappie runs in spring attract significant numbers of campers.

Low crowd density: Fall River camping areas rarely reach capacity except during major summer holidays. Most weekends provide ample site availability without advance reservations. This allows for last-minute planning flexibility not available at more heavily visited Kansas parks.

What you should know

Seasonal considerations: Fall River facilities operate with reduced services during winter months. Water systems in most campgrounds undergo winterization from November through March. Campers visiting during cold-weather periods should prepare for self-sufficient camping with limited amenities.

Wildlife awareness: The campgrounds exist within active wildlife habitats where encounters with various species are common. One camper at West Wingwall reported seeing "birds, woodland critters and even a lizard" during a typical stay. Proper food storage practices help prevent unwanted wildlife interactions.

Water levels: Reservoir levels fluctuate significantly based on seasonal precipitation patterns and upstream conditions. During drought periods, water access points may become unusable or require longer walks to reach water. Check current conditions before planning water-based activities.

Tips for camping with families

Best campgrounds: Families with young children typically prefer camping at sites with more developed facilities. Rock Ridge South Campground provides the most balanced combination of natural setting with basic amenities needed for comfortable family camping. Sites accommodate family-sized tents with parking nearby for easy gear transport.

Swimming areas: Designated swimming areas operate during summer months with varying levels of facilities. No lifeguards patrol these areas, requiring direct parental supervision. The swimming beach at Fall River Reservoir features gradually sloping entry points appropriate for younger children.

Insect preparation: Spring and summer camping requires comprehensive insect protection strategies. Mosquitoes become particularly active during evening hours near water. Tick prevention measures remain essential throughout warm months, especially when hiking through tall grass areas.

Tips from RVers

Site selection: While primarily designed for tent camping, several Fall River campgrounds accommodate small to medium recreational vehicles with limitations. South Rock Campground provides the most level parking areas but lacks hookups. RVs exceeding 25 feet encounter significant maneuvering challenges on interior campground roads.

Generator restrictions: The park enforces generator usage hours to preserve natural soundscapes. Operation hours typically restrict to daytime periods between 8am-8pm. Tent camping areas maintain stricter noise regulations than designated RV sections.

Dump station access: No permanent dump stations exist within the primitive campgrounds. RVers must utilize facilities at the more developed camping areas or at nearby Cross Timbers State Park approximately 15 miles away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Fall River, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Fall River, KS is Bluestem Campground — Fall River State Park with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Fall River, KS?

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