Top Tent Camping near Hays, KS
Looking for tent camping near Hays? Finding a place to camp in Kansas with your tent has never been easier. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.
Best Tent Sites Near Hays, KS (6)
1. Mushroom Camping Area - Webster State Park
5 Reviews•15 Photos•1 Save- Pets
- Fires
- Reservable
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Picnic Table
$13 / night
2. Old Marina - Webster State Park
1 Review•10 Photos- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- ADA Access
3. Buffalo Grass - Wilson State Park
1 Review•11 Photos•25 Saves- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Trash
- Picnic Table
4. Indian Grass - Wilson State Park
1 Review•8 Photos•7 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Trash
5. Dropseed - Wilson State Park
1 Review•8 Photos•1 Save- Pets
- Fires
- Electric Hookups
- Phone Service
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
6. Hellcreek Park — Wilson State Park
Be the first to review!•1 SaveThis recreation area is part of Wilson Lake
- Tents
Recent Tent Reviews In Hays
171 Reviews of 6 Hays Campgrounds
- CCasey C.
Scout
Creek Side Resort
Clean and easy!
Clean and new facilities. Lots of spots, many pull through.
Ai-Ai T.
Guide
Wilson State Park Campground
Sunflower loop
It was beautiful at sunset, very nice campground with good hot showers.
- PPaula R.Guide
Creek Side Resort
Awesome!
Last minute reservation easily accommodated. Beautiful and super clean. Amazing bathhouse and coffee house. Cabins also available for rent. One of the nicest rv parks we’ve stayed in.
- JJohn S.Scout
Minooka - Wilson Reservoir
Great I70 overnight spot
If you are traveling I 70, this is a great spot for a night to break up the drive. Only a few miles off of the highway, clean, quiet, with water and electricity. We stop here almost every trip. Sites are spaced out nicely.
Katie L.Guide
Lakeview - Webster State Park
Lakeview Tent sites
Nice native buffalograss for tent camping and you may be the only tent camper in the park haha. If using the “non-specific primitive” sites, you’ll need to drive to access the dumpster, bathrooms/shower, and water. The Lakeview primitive sites had morning sun and were shaded in the afternoon/evening.
- LLiz R.Guide
COE Wilson Lake Sylvan Park
Beautiful camp Level pull throughs
We stayed at this COE campground on a very stormy night in June 2024. It is a well kept Corp campground and we will stay there again as we travel through Kansas.
- Dane J.Guide
Ellis Lakeside Campground
Nice spot by a lake
Ok it's more of a pond but still nice. Normal KOA esk camping. $20 in off season for pull through spots. $25 during on season.
William S.Scout
Hayland Farm's Horse Shoe Campground
Excellent camp spot. Excellent hosts.
Tom and Heddy are very nice folks. Warm and welcoming. Their property is quiet and beautiful. We hope to visit again soon.
- DDenise G.
TravelerEllis Lakeside Campground
Great stopping spot
Convenient and safe. Spent one night on our way west and was glad to find this nice relaxing, shaded place. It had water and electric for $25.
- SSarScout
Minooka - Wilson Reservoir
Beautiful sunset but windy
Love this place. Discovered it by accident trying to avoid the loud motels off I70. Love that tent sites are free during the week. It was quiet but I wasn't alone. Sunset was amazing on the reservoir. But the wind comes up quite strong as it cools down so stake that tent down!
Randall K.
RangerMinooka - Wilson Reservoir
What a gem!
This place is GREAT!
First off - Monday - Thursday this place is free if you are in a non electric standard site.
Second, the sites are really beautiful and big with great views. We were right on thr lake and it was stunning for sunrise.
Third, the facilities are fantastic. Clean vault toilets and clean shower facilities with perfect water temp and pressure.
Fourth, the host was really nice and helpful!
You can’t really go wrong here. Would love to come back and spend a few days just relaxing. Plenty of bugs (not as bad as I was expecting though) so plan to bring spray.
- Randall K.Ranger
Minooka Park
This place is great!
Perfect camping! Wide open spaces with lots of room. Beautiful views of the lake and lots of animal activity - cows, bunnies, birds and bugs. Lots of bugs! Not teeming with mosquitos but just many bugs. Some of them are HUGE.
I didn’t think the bugs were that bad just more interesting. Been to many other places with a bug problem and that didn’t seem like this to me. But it as prob enough that I wouldn’t want to hang outside and play cards.
Views in every direction and it’s absolutely stunning! Very peaceful and quiet and literally just perfect.
Plus if you are on a standard non electric tent space it’s free Monday -Thursday!
Great showers and bathrooms too! This is a hidden gem for sure!! Perfect sunrise from our site!
- Randall K.Ranger
Ellis Lakeside Campground
Meh at best
This is prob a little gem for rv rigs. Almost all sites are set up for this. There are some tent sites. Right on a creek - super buggy and just in a slightly strange area of town. Not bad or anything like that - you have the creek on one side and old broke down commercial buildings on the other.
I just can’t see what the point of staying here is at all. This is only a place you’d stay for a night and a car/tent camper is rather save my money and sleep at a truck stop.
I feel bad giving it such a harsh review and to be fair - we did not stay here. Took a few loops around and decided it was just kind of depressing. Again I think in an rv passing through it would be fine. But for a tent/car it just didn’t sit right with me (however there was a tent set up at the very end). And to note it’s kind of busy. There was at least 15 rvs there on a Tuesday night. It’s not scary or anything it’s just why?
Did see some cool birds though.
Betsy T.TravelerWilson State Park Campground
Like an Oasis
BEAUTIFUL 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.
- mmathisScout
Creek Side Resort
Clean and easy
A nice layout, clean site and bathrooms. The trees are young but the over all camp is great.
Alex D.GuideMinooka Park
Lake camping meets farm life!
What a beautiful camp site. The ground has plenty of sites, almost all that have a beautiful lake front view. We stayed during the week and it was pretty quite - cows moooin’ were the loudest noise all night! There are walking trails, beaches, a boat launch, and bathrooms. We stayed at a non-electric but there are plenty of hookups to go around too. Happy camping!
Jay B.GuideMinooka Park
Fantastic campground
Pleasantly surprised at pulling into this great spot after many hours driving cross country. Pick your site then pay online, super easy. Verizon service was great. Very well kept grass and stone site pads. Got a spot right on the lake. We were tempted to spend a second night it was so nice.
Adriana D.TravelerEllis Lakeside Campground
Nice place on the way to colorado
Quiet, and very clean just what we needed for an overnight stay. Worth 25 dollars for a nice shower!
- Wendy O.Traveler
Minooka Park
Beautiful
Best site I’ve had on my 2 week road trip! Would for sure come back here if I’m ever needing a campsite in Kansas.
- Mike D.Traveler
Wilson State Park Campground
Great Camping a Few Miles Off the Interstate
We've camped at Wilson State Park three times now on eastbound road trips and I can't recommend it enough! There are sheltered sites on green lawns where tent campers can spend a quiet night. Trees provide shelter from wind and thunder storms. Depending on where you camp you can walk to swim in the reservoir. And the Switchgrass MTB is surprisingly fun! Just be careful to let it dry out before you ride since that wet sand can wreak havok on your drive train. I've only camped at Wilson on weekdays and it's never crowded.
JOANNA M.Guide
Wakeeney KOA
Welcome Respite for our family
Our young family of six stayed for 2 nights during our cross country drive and wow what a welcome respite it was from driving! My kiddos LOVED the pool. We spent the entire day lounging and enjoying the basketball court, corn hole, park, ice cream social, and of course, the swimming pool! We stayed in site 4 which was super accessible, complete with picnic table and full hookups. I was really happy with the cleanliness of the park in general including the laundry facility, bathrooms, grounds, and shop. The laundry facility was very well priced and very efficient. The owners were incredibly kind and welcoming and obviously take pride in this campground. We would be happy to stay again if we are ever in the area again! Highly recommend!
- aangelia B.Scout
Ellis Lakeside Campground
Nice
Quick in - quick set up. Pretty setting right near a large creek - large trees for shade. Bathroom and shower but very old and a little sketchy. A lot of locals driving through - hoping that will stop after dark. Fairly level sites - a few spots for tents and pull throughs with gravel pads for RV’s with power and water. Dump station. Picnic tables and grill and/or fire ring
- SSherylle O.Traveler
Ellis Lakeside Campground
Super easy and convenient
We arriving across country and found the perfect little campground! It's super quiet and so relaxing! The river behind the site was perfect
- SSeth S.Scout
C2T Ranch and Campground
Absolute Diamond.
This place is an incredible continuously working Ranch since 1884. It is also the site of the first recorded Buffalo Soldier conflict out of Fort Hays (25 miles away). So history? Check! The views both day and night? Stunning! Our hosts? The best part of our stay. They were extremely accommodating and welcoming. We will be back. Soon! And I live in Detroit…
- EErinGuide
Ellis Lakeside Campground
Calm & Convenient Place To Stay The Night
Nothing fancy, but it was a great place to stop for the night. Both times I've stayed I arrived after dark and was only passing through, so I opted not to set up the tent and instead slept in my crossover, which is set up to sleep in. The area was well lit at night, and I felt very safe.
The campground: It's small, mostly quiet, flat, and had a decent amount of shade. The area I stayed in had pull through spots that faced the water (a reservoir, I believe). There's a small dock on the water. My site included a picnic table, grill, and water spigot. I'm not sure about electric hookups and dump stations, since I have no need for those things. The bathrooms were clean, and had both toilets and showers.
Booking: The campground does not take reservations, which I think is great, as it allows me to be a little more spontaneous. There's a self-pay station in front of the bathrooms near the entrance to the campground. I stayed here on a Monday night in late October, and had no problem getting a site. The cost depends on if you're there in the off-season or not, but I believe the most expensive fee is $25 for RVs.
The area: Ellis is a small town. If you're arriving later in the evening I would recommend stopping to eat somewhere prior to arriving in Ellis. In the morning, I made a quick detour down the main street and saw a café, a pizza place, and a Mexican restaurant. There's also a railroad museum. The campground is pretty close to the highway; right off the highway are a couple gas stations with fast food places inside.
Cell Service: I have Verizon, and my service was good enough to stream a live hockey game. The campground said it had WIFI, but I didn't try it out.
ulavale685 H.Scout
Bluffton Area Campground
Nov trip
Stopped by in Nov at 11pm. Self pay. Power hookup and dump site. Great spot.
Justyn R.Scout
Triple J RV Park
Great for a night!
Awesome little stop on my X-Country route, host was very sweet, I told her I know the spots are close but I like to be isolated when I can and she gave me a great site away from everything with a fire-ring. Just what I wanted. T Mobile service is Very Good opposed to the rating I saw of Poor
Guide to Hays
Camping near Hays, Kansas, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a peaceful spot by the water or a family-friendly campground, there are plenty of options to explore.
What to do
- Hiking and biking: Many campgrounds, like Wilson State Park Campground, have trails for hiking and biking. One camper mentioned, "The Switchgrass MTB is surprisingly fun!"
- Fishing and swimming: At Minooka - Wilson Reservoir, you can enjoy fishing and swimming. A visitor noted, "We were right on the lake and it was stunning for sunrise."
- Wildlife watching: Campers at Cheyenne Bottoms Campground enjoyed the sounds of nature, with one saying, "The marshlands exploded with sound. Frogs, crickets, owls, foxes, coyotes, and more wildlife sounds than I could identify."
What campers like
- Clean facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms and showers. One review for Ellis Lakeside Campground stated, "Worth 25 dollars for a nice shower!"
- Scenic views: Many campgrounds offer beautiful views. A camper at Lucas Park said, "You can park with a water view nearly everywhere."
- Quiet atmosphere: Campers enjoy the peacefulness of the area. A visitor at Sheridan State Fishing Lake mentioned, "It was just me and one other person."
What you should know
- Mosquitoes can be a problem: If you're camping near water, be prepared for bugs. A camper at Cheyenne Bottoms Campground warned, "Watch out for mosquitos. It’s by a lake so this time of year it’s nasty!"
- Limited amenities at some sites: Some campgrounds, like Triple J RV Park, may not have all the amenities you expect. One reviewer noted, "The grounds could be cleaned up as well as there are pieces of trash and dog poop in the grass."
- Reservations may be required: Popular spots like Wakeeney KOA can fill up quickly, especially during peak season. A camper mentioned, "We were tent camping and as we were driving in, they sent us a message to warn us about rain."
Tips for camping with families
- Look for family-friendly activities: Campgrounds like Wakeeney KOA offer amenities like a swimming pool and playground. A family shared, "My kiddos LOVED the pool."
- Choose sites with easy access: Sites that are close to bathrooms and showers can make things easier for families. A camper at Ellis Lakeside Campground appreciated the "clean showers a few hundred yards away."
- Plan for outdoor fun: Many campgrounds have open spaces for kids to play. One camper at Wilson State Park Campground noted, "It was beautiful at sunset, very nice campground with good hot showers."
Tips from RVers
- Check for full hookups: If you're traveling in an RV, look for campgrounds with full hookups. A visitor at Creek Side Resort mentioned, "Nice pull through, full hookup."
- Be prepared for noise: Some campgrounds, like Triple J RV Park, are near highways, which can be noisy. One camper said, "The noise is exceptionally loud and it was difficult to get a good night's sleep."
- Use online reservations: Many campgrounds allow you to reserve your spot online, making it easier to plan your trip. A camper at Creek Side Resort appreciated the "easy online reservation and communication."
Camping near Hays, Kansas, has something for everyone, from scenic views to family-friendly activities. Just be prepared for the bugs and check the amenities before you go!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Hays, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hays, KS is Mushroom Camping Area - Webster State Park with a 3.8-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Hays, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Hays, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.