Brown State Fishing Lake provides free dispersed camping near Hiawatha, Kansas with primitive accommodations on the shoreline. Located in northeastern Kansas at approximately 1,100 feet elevation, the area experiences hot summers and cold winters with moderate rainfall. Several campgrounds within a 30-mile radius offer varied amenities from basic tent sites to full RV hookups with prices ranging from free to $20 per night.
What to do
Hiking trails: Indian Cave State Park features about 20 miles of trails through wooded terrain. "There are about 20 miles to hike in this park and there is a special camping area for folks who bring horses. I was here in the spring but was told fall is the best time because of the changes in the trees," notes a visitor at Hackberry Hollow Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Most lakes in the region support multiple fish species. "Nice lake, campground was good, there are basic sites up against the lake and the rest are electric. Basic sites are large and some of the electric are also. The majority are pull through sites. Everything is fairly level and they have nice park, picnic areas and boat ramp," reports a camper at Big Lake State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Dawn and dusk offer prime wildlife spotting times. "The lake/pond has a paved sidewalk surrounding it with plenty of benches scattered to just rest or enjoy the lake and its wildlife. You can hear the bull frogs, geese, and coyotes when the sun goes down," shares a camper at Stanton Lake Park.
Disc golf: Some campgrounds feature complete courses. "They have a frisbee golf course. The lake/pond has a paved sidewalk surrounding it with plenty of benches scattered to just rest or enjoy the lake and its wildlife," notes a visitor at Stanton Lake Park.
What campers like
Affordable rates: Budget-friendly options exist throughout the area. "Very nice campground run by the city of Horton camp host on site," notes a visitor at Mission Lake, which offers 100 RV sites with electric hookups in a scenic setting near Horton.
Clean facilities: Maintenance standards vary by campground. "My husband and I tent camped one night at this park. We arrived around 8 pm and even though the office was getting ready to close, the woman behind the counter was very kind and helpful. She helped us with finding our spot and with getting firewood. Our basic tent site was lakeside and had a fire pit and picnic table," shares a camper at Big Lake State Park.
Lake views: Many sites offer direct water access. "Sebetha lake is located a few minutes from the town of Sebetha and is a nice area for camping. The camp sites are Electric and Water on gravel. For RVers There is a group of campsites when you first come in which are not shaded very well, but there are some scattered sites around the lake that are nicely shaded. We were in site 14 with our door facing the lake. What a beautiful view!" reports a visitor at Sabetha Lake.
Pet-friendly policies: Most campgrounds welcome dogs with standard leash requirements. "This campground is mainly for RVs. The campsites are full hook ups which are $20. The sites each have a picnic table, and fire pit. They are on pavement, level, and are kind of close together. There is a nice playground away from the sites along with a fenced in sand volleyball court. They also have 2 large fenced in dog runs for the pups," notes a camper describing the dog friendly campgrounds near Hiawatha at Stanton Lake Park.
What you should know
Weather considerations: The region experiences seasonal extremes. "This state park is a unique area. It is literally a big lake in the middle of farm land. At the time of our visit, improvements were being made to the pool and restrooms. The campsites are spaced and right on the lake. Fair warning the wind blows off the lake and can be very chilly," warns a camper at Big Lake State Park.
Bathroom quality: Facilities range from modern to primitive. "There is a cement bathroom by the permit station which has vault toilets and was not something I would feel comfortable using. It looks as if they would be the Emergency shelter. It would take a really big emergency for me to go in them," notes a visitor at Sabetha Lake.
Campsite spacing: Site proximity varies significantly between campgrounds. "Small park, sites are right next to each other. Picnic tables and fire pits are on site gravel. All roads are narrow one way with the dumpstation at the back end of park with trash dumpsters there. So on a sunday you will get stuck in the dumpstation line to drop off your trash even if you don't need to dump," explains a camper at Stanton Lake Park.
Insect preparation: Bugs can be prevalent, especially near water. "Both back in and pull through sites available with electric, dump site, and fresh water fill station. Hosts are very friendly and drive around with firewood right on the back. Easy to reserve online and nice, level, shaded gravel sites, and primitive sites right by the lake. Bring your bug spray in the summer," advises a visitor at Big Lake State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature play areas. "This campground is mainly for RVs. The campsites are full hook ups which are $20. The sites each have a picnic table, and fire pit. They are on pavement, level, and are kind of close together. There is a nice playground away from the sites along with a fenced in sand volleyball court," notes a camper at Stanton Lake Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Look for campgrounds with recreational facilities. "Let me start out by saying this is an absolute beautiful city park. They have a little fishing lake, disc golf, volleyball courts, a playground, and a dog park. They do offer camping for RVs as well as tents and at a very affordable price," shares a visitor at Stanton Lake Park.
Family atmosphere: Some campgrounds are quieter than others. "Somewhat small but quaint.....very family friendly there are not a lot of 'party people' that frequent here. It is a well kept park and we love it!" explains a camper about Pony Creek Lake, one of the pet-friendly camping areas near Hiawatha.
Seasonal events: Check for special family programming. "A few years back we were told to come experience Halloween at Indian Cave State Park. I was skeptical, but once we went we were hooked and keep coming year after year. We even won the decorating contest last year-The prize is free camping, can't beat that. People come from all over to partake in this fun time," shares a visitor at Hackberry Hollow Campground.
Tips from RVers
Campsite selection: Research site dimensions before booking. "The RV spots are pretty close together so backing in can be a challenge. The Sycamore Bluff Campground to the North of the campground has pull-through spots," advises a camper at Sycamore Springs Whitetail Ranch RV Park.
Hookup availability: Electric options vary widely between campgrounds. "Wonderful sites. 30/50/20 amp power at every spot including water and sewer," notes a visitor at Big Lakes Turtle Cove Campground.
Dump station logistics: Plan departure timing around dump station usage. "Only downside, with 134 RV sites there is only one dump station, just dont get in a hurry leaving if you have to dump your RV," warns a camper at Hackberry Hollow Campground.
Cell service considerations: Connectivity varies throughout the region. "Large park over 3,000 acres, plenty of hiking trails to enjoy. I really didn't see any trails suitable for bicycling, if biking around RV sites its very hilly and hard to ride. Forget about wifi, hard to find if you can find it at all and no attena tv, your really out in the middle of nowhere, but its a nice park to get away," explains a visitor at Hackberry Hollow Campground.
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