Best Dispersed Camping near Hillsdale, KS
Osage State Fishing Lake and Leavenworth Kansas State Fishing Lake provide free primitive camping options near Hillsdale, Kansas. Both sites allow tent and RV camping with minimal amenities on state-managed public lands. Campers can access these areas via drive-in routes, with some sites offering boat-in, hike-in, and walk-in options at Osage State Fishing Lake. These primitive camping areas feature lakeside locations where visitors can enjoy fishing and water views without developed facilities.
Access roads at both lakes are primarily gravel with limited maintenance. Most sites accommodate smaller vehicles, though Leavenworth is noted as not suitable for larger RVs. Osage State Fishing Lake has better navigation for larger vehicles according to visitor reports. Neither location provides drinking water, hookups, or trash service. Both sites offer basic pit toilets, though maintenance quality varies. Fire rings are available at designated spots, and fires are permitted when no bans are in effect. Camping at Leavenworth appears to have a 7-day limit rather than the more common 14-day limit at many Kansas public lands.
The waterfront sites at Osage State Fishing Lake create opportunities for fishing directly from camp. The camping areas feature varying levels of privacy, with some secluded spots available in forested sections away from the main area. A recent visitor noted, "Camp in main area to be near toilets, otherwise there's lots of loops near the water where you can find sites with more privacy." Both locations become busier on weekends but remain relatively quiet during weekdays. Cell service is reported as decent with Verizon at Osage State Fishing Lake. Some visitors have mentioned concerns about maintenance of facilities, particularly regarding the pit toilets at Leavenworth which one camper described as "a little rough but manageable."
