Best Dispersed Camping near Gardner, KS
Two state fishing lakes near Gardner, Kansas provide opportunities for primitive lakeside camping. Leavenworth Kansas State Fishing Lake offers designated camping areas with lake views and basic pit toilets. The area remains generally quiet with few campers, even on weekends. Roads include gravel pull-offs and a lakeside gravel road, though access may be difficult for larger vehicles. A 7-day camping limit is enforced by park officials.
Osage State Fishing Lake provides free dispersed camping with multiple waterfront sites. The lake features both main camping areas near toilets and more private loops along the shoreline. Basic amenities include pit toilets and some fire rings, but no trash receptacles, drinking water, or hookups. Campers must pack out all waste. The area accommodates both tents and RVs, with one visitor noting "our 43' RV navigated smoothly" on the well-maintained roads. Both locations offer peaceful settings for boondocking, with one camper describing Osage as "beautiful and quiet" with "pretty lake views."
