Milford Lake and Tuttle Creek Lake areas provide the most accessible cabin options near Fort Riley, Kansas. Located within a 30-minute drive from the military installation, these water-centric destinations offer various cabin accommodations ranging from primitive to modern amenities. The region experiences hot summers with temperatures frequently exceeding 90°F from June through August, making cabins with air conditioning particularly valuable during peak season.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At West Rolling Hills campground, visitors can enjoy shoreline fishing with diverse catch possibilities. "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 one camper at West Rolling Hills.
Swimming beaches: Milford State Park offers designated swimming areas with family-friendly amenities. "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," a Prairie View camper reports.
Water sports: Tuttle Creek Cove provides opportunities for boating and paddling activities. "Last 4th of July my family and friends went tent camping here. There is a nice beach area to swim, we rented kayaks and canoes for a leisurely paddle around the lake," shares a visitor.
Hiking trails: Several camping areas feature walking paths for nature exploration. At Cedar Point in Milford State Park, one camper mentions, "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."
What campers like
Waterfront cabin sites: Many visitors appreciate cabins with lake views. At Acorn RV Resort, a camper notes, "A group of friends rented a cabin at Acorns Resort. the cabins are spacious and well maintained and we had one right down from the water! Went fishing off the docks."
Resort-style amenities: Some properties provide extra facilities beyond basic cabin features. One Acorn Resort visitor mentions, "Has a pool marina and bar/restaurant. Lodging from yurts to big cabins."
Covered picnic areas: Sunset Ridge at Milford State Park offers enhanced outdoor living spaces. According to a reviewer, "Sunset Ridge is a small tenting campground along side sunset cabins. Sunset ridge is nicely shaded. Each site has a covered picnic shelter and grill."
Wildlife viewing: Several cabins provide opportunities for animal observation. A visitor to Walnut Grove notes, "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."
What you should know
Seasonal flooding concerns: Water levels can affect cabin and campsite availability. At Prairie View campground, a visitor warned, "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."
Reservation requirements: Most cabin facilities require advance booking, particularly during summer. A Cedar Point visitor shares, "This was a beautiful clean campground with a nice lake. Only complaint is that several of the restrooms were still closed due to a flood in 2019."
Cabin amenities vary widely: Kitchen facilities and bathroom access differ between properties. At Hickory Hollow, a camper reports, "Hickory Hollow is a mostly shaded campground with full hook ups. Some are on cement pads the inner loop sites are too close for my liking but the other loop is ok."
Off-season limitations: Some facilities close during winter months. A West Rolling Hills visitor explains, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several cabin areas feature play structures for children. At Tuttle Creek State Park, a visitor notes, "Tent camping. RV camping. Great pull through spots and lots of full grown trees for big shade. Great grounds and many many lakes side spots."
Water safety precautions: Swimming areas vary in supervision and safety features. One Cedar Point camper advises, "We were able to find a lovely primitive camp site for hammock camping!"
Spacing considerations: Some cabin areas offer more privacy than others. A visitor to Walnut Grove explains, "We were secluded from other campsite for some privacy but still near restrooms if we needed it and the camp host was friendly!"
Recreational variety: Different properties offer various activity options. A River Pond camper mentions, "The lake is amazing and it has some great trail access. Manhattan is a college town and with it can bring some more wild campers and some wild people on the lake."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: At West Rolling Hills, RVers note the generous campsite dimensions. "The host was very friendly and helpful. The lake is peaceful. The sites are far apart, some have large trees, and all seemed to be by the lake," reports a visitor.
Access considerations: Some cabin areas have challenging terrain for larger vehicles. A Walnut Grove camper notes, "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!"
Utility hookup availability: Electric and water connections vary by location. At Hickory Hollow, a reviewer states, "Hickory Hollow is a mostly shaded campground with full hook ups. Some are on cement pads the inner loop sites are too close for my liking but the other loop is ok."
Seasonal access: Weather conditions affect RV site usability throughout the year. A West Rolling Hills visitor cautions, "I was looking forward to staying here in early November, but it was closed. All the Corps campgrounds close for the winter."
