Best Glamping near Halstead, KS

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.

Yep, we saw bald eagles every day of our stay. Majestic!

This campground is large and spread out. We road our bikes over every inch and clocked 12 miles. If you do mountain bike, you would enjoy the 9 + mile trail ( we walked it). It's flat and not challenging, but really nice, secluded and if you bring a lunch, there are 3 picnic tables on the lake that can only be reached by boat or the trail. Boating, fishing, birding, 18 hole disc golf course, swimming, biking or just relaxing, this place is great.

There are several loops within this State Park. The Gapher loop is for tents. If you are a tenter, you are in for a treat. Sites right are right on the water. The restroom water was on in this loop only.

Smarsh is a loop that is not on the lake side, but the only w/e loop that had water turned on during off season. It looks older and is low land. A large area of standing water was by the road. Even though it is older, has giant Cottonwood trees shading the sites.. one of the 10 modern bathhouse was conveniently located at the entrance to the loop. A playground and walking trails are across the main road. The longest trail runs through this loop.

The Hobie Loop has no services, but the amazing views make up for it. Half the sites are right on the water. Kayaks, Canoes, SUP can be launched right from the sites or just across the road. You pass a HUGE boat launch area before you get to this loop.

The last 2 loops ( North and South) are w/e loops, but water was off for the season. You could fill tanks at the vacant host site or the dump station.

The sites are all gravel or grass with the exception of handicap sites. I wouldn't they were level, but all doable.

It was WINDY every day so I couldn't kayak or SUP. I think it is just Kansas, though. I was sad to see so much trash on the road and the most remote part of the long hiking trail. Some could be from windy blowing stuff around, but the bad of empty beer bottles discarded on th me trail was not. We reported it.

A small store is just outside the entrance and Witchita is only 30 minutes away. Hutchinson is maybe 15 mi.

We actually camped at Bemis Campground about a mile and a half south of this campground. Right off of the main road. There was about 15 or 20 spaces all with electric. I believe there was vault toilets only but no dump station. We had to come up to the blue stem area to dump. Nice little campground right on the lake but downside was that it was right next to the road so a little bit of traffic noise and not really any place to hike or walk. Spaces were fairly level and nicely spaced apart. Probably would recommend taking a back in spot rather than a pull through spot as the pull through were all pretty small and had no shade.

We only picked this location based on our cross country road trip. We only needed one night, but had to pay for two nights (it was on a weekend, but this place was no where near full, so the demand isn’t there to warrant a 2 night requirement). On top of that, we had to pay another $5 just to enter the park to get to our campsite. Campers near us looked like they were living there full time. The sites in the grass by the lake seemed to be much nicer when we drove by. Our gravel site was filled with any hills and micro trash. Campers 2 sites down from us was full of kids throwing their empty caprisun drinks on the ground (not the parks fault). Also the bathrooms are extremely dated and gross. Not sure what they are using the entrance fee for, but it doesn’t appear to be for upkeep.