RV camping near Hiawatha, Kansas offers several convenient options within a 50-mile radius. Situated in the rolling hills of northeastern Kansas and northwestern Missouri, this region experiences four distinct seasons with humid summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though travelers should note that during nuclear plant outage periods every two years, availability becomes extremely limited at certain locations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The Auburn city fishing lake near Auburn Inn and Long's RV Park is regularly stocked with trout for visitors. "The nearby lake has good fishing and is annually stocked with trout," notes camper Charles C.
Walking trails and gardens: At R U Lost - RV Lots, guests can explore the beautiful gardens. "Aside from a vegetable garden, there is a beautiful garden of flowers and plants that you can walk through. It smells so nice! It is lit up beautiful at night!" shares Jody J.
Family recreation: Recreational facilities abound at some parks, particularly for families. "There is a skating rink, tennis courts, basketball court, mini golf, and small park for children. You have to buy an activity pass for everything which is $10 a day. If you're camping you get one activity pass for free," writes Bryan R. about Sycamore Springs Whitetail Ranch RV Park.
What campers like
Friendly owners: Many campers praise the personable service at smaller campgrounds. "This was truly a very pleasant camping site for us! Owners- Colleen & Jim- are so kind and helpful!" reports a guest about R U Lost RV Lots. "We arrived in the area, and she greets us with a smile and welcomes us to 'R U LOST- RV lots,'" adds another camper.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks high on visitor priorities. "Very well cared for site. It's been well established for many years," writes Julie H. about AOK Campground & RV Park. "Very, very clean bathrooms and laundry. Hosts present and helpful," adds Katy M.
Garden sharing: Some parks offer unique amenities like garden access. "She shows us our campsite, lets us set-up then we pay for our nights... vegetable garden looks delicious and 'you can have as much as you want, just leave me one!'" reports a visitor at R U Lost RV Lots.
What you should know
Highway noise: Proximity to highways can affect the camping experience. "A bit of freeway noise but not too bothersome," notes Julie H. about AOK Campground. Another camper explains, "The only reason it isn't getting 5 stars is the proximity to the freeway, you can hear it very clearly (jake brakes and all) continuously."
Nuclear plant outages: Every two years, camping availability becomes severely limited. "This year is an Outage shut down so the Campsite and others around the plant is very minimal. You need to call if anything is open for your stay. The outage (Nuclear shut down) happens every two years," explains a reviewer at R U Lost RV Lots.
Site spacing concerns: Beacon RV Park and other locations can have tight spacing. "A lot of full timers here, not really anywhere to park (have room for about 1 vehicle). Owner had to have the neighbors move their vehicles just to be able to back into spot," reports Adam D.
Tips for camping with families
Activity passes: Some campgrounds require additional fees for amenities. At Sycamore Springs, "Children 5 and under are free as well. Sundays are free as well," for activity passes according to a visitor.
Pool availability: AOK Campground & RV Park offers family-friendly water recreation. "The pool was small but was clean and fenced," reports Brenda L. The campground also features "a playground, a sand volleyball area, and a basketball area," according to Shannon G.
Tent options: For families preferring tent camping, AOK provides dedicated spaces. "The tent area was nice with lots of room between them," notes Shannon G. Another camper mentioned, "Site A was really tucked into the back and had lots of vegetation and privacy."
Tips from RVers
Cell service: Connectivity varies by location and carrier. "AT&T and Verizon worked best for us. Our T-Mobile Mifi was hit or miss," reports Jody J. about R U Lost RV Lots.
Leveling challenges: Check site conditions before setting up. At Love's RV Hookup-St. Joseph, one camper noted, "We quickly found out when we auto-leveled that site 1 was not a level site as our passenger side tires were off the ground."
Hookup locations: The placement of utilities can create challenges. "The utilities are at the far backside of the pad and based on our rig's configuration with the wet bay towards the front, we needed 25' or more of hose and electric cord," explains an RVer at Love's RV Hookup, highlighting the need for extended hookup equipment.
