Elk City State Park and surrounding lakes provide camping sites near Independence, Kansas at around 850 feet elevation. The region features oak-hickory forests interspersed with native prairie, creating diverse habitats for wildlife. Summer temperatures regularly climb into the 90s with high humidity, while spring and fall offer milder temperatures in the 60-70°F range with frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
What to do
Backpacking trails: The Table Mound Trail at Elk City State Park offers a challenging 14-mile route popular with experienced hikers. "A group of friends and I hiked the little over 14 mile trail over 2 and a half days it was awesome!" reports Megan C., who completed the full trail.
Fishing opportunities: Montgomery State Fishing Lake provides free dispersed camping with excellent bank fishing. "Saw several deer across the lake at dusk, eating grass. Beautiful spot not far off Highway 75," notes James B., who stopped for an overnight stay.
Water sports: Big Hill Lake near Cherryvale offers clear water ideal for swimming and boating. "Big Hill Lake is one of the clearest lakes in Kansas and considered a trophy fishing lake. Sport fish include largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill, walleye and sunfish," according to visitor reports.
Archery range: Elk City State Park's Prairie Meadow Campground maintains a dedicated archery range for target practice. "Plenty to do with a great playground for the kids, kids fishing pond, basketball and volleyball courts, and even an archery range," notes jeremiah K., who gave the facilities five stars.
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: The Timber Road Campground area at Elk City State Park offers more seclusion than lakefront sites. "The last two times we've stayed up in the Timber Road area which we just love. It's quiet, shaded and just beautiful. You can walk to the Table Mound Trail quite easily if you're in this area," shares Denise D.
Level camping pads: Prairie Meadow Campground features particularly flat sites for easy setup. "Fantastic hiking along the lake bluff will be sure to wear out your legs! All RV sites are water and electric and most are pull through. It's the most level site I have ever had," reports one visitor.
Hammock camping: Sunset Point Campground offers trees spaced perfectly for hammock setups. "We were surprised at how nice and lovely this place was. Put up the hammocks, persisted through some high winds, then had a peaceful and lovely time," shares Jeremy G., who recommends the spot for hammock enthusiasts.
Wildlife viewing: The lakeshore at Montgomery State Fishing Lake attracts deer and waterfowl, especially at dawn and dusk. "Stopped for an overnight on the way home. The spots are pull offs, circles and small lots of gravel. The area was actually very clean. Saw several deer across the lake at dusk, eating grass," reports a recent visitor.
What you should know
Seasonal flooding: Some campsites at Sunset Point experience flooding during heavy rain periods. "The campground itself is beautiful, but recently part of it had been submerged in water which was problematic for us tent campers. Sunset Point is beautiful, but I'd recommend it only in the summer and on weekends when there is no chance of rain," advises Katherine M.
Site spacing variations: Comfort Cove Campground has inconsistent site sizing with some being very compact. "Our site is miniature. No place for a clothes line, no fire pit to speak of even though everyone else has one. We are boxed in tighter than a KOA and we feel it. There are sections more spread out with more room per site but not Site 243," notes Angie S.
Water pressure issues: Water systems occasionally experience pressure drops or outages. "Lost water pressure for a couple days and lost all water for 1/2 a day. With low pressure I just filled my tank and ran off the pump so wasn't an issue," reports Justin L. about his stay at Comfort Cove.
Cell service variations: Reception strength varies significantly between campgrounds. "Cell phone for Verizon was 3 bar 4g LTE," reports a camper at Card Creek, while others note spotty service in more remote locations around Elk City State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly fishing: Big Hill Lake features a dedicated children's fishing pond with easier catches. "My family camps here throughout the year. Love getting together and enjoying nature and the scenery at big hill," shares Kristen, who regularly visits with her family.
Playground access: Card Creek offers camping with nearby play areas. "Great camping with and without electricity (both rv and plug) clean water spouts and hiking trail. Clean(ish) bathrooms and shower with hot water and changing area! Riverside with dock and boat ramp, basketball court and play area for kids," notes Sarah.
Best times for swimming: The swimming areas are most comfortable from late June through August when water temperatures reach the mid-70s. "A typical COE campground. Very clean and well kept. The site are good with plenty of space. Most any size rig will find a spot here," reports Doug W.
Family hiking options: Shorter trail sections near campgrounds provide manageable outings for children. "Family hiking was much enjoyed. We loved the view from the overlook! Park appears well maintained. We love exploring!" reports Kristen about her family's experience.
Tips from RVers
Pull-through availability: Walter Johnson Park in Coffeyville offers spacious pull-through sites at budget prices. "Nice quick in and out overnight stop or longer if needed. Big rig friendly large pull though sites and smaller back in sites with 30 and 50 amp and water no sewer but dump station is close by. Self service campground $8.00 a night," notes Jake M.
Site leveling challenges: Some camping sites near Independence, Kansas require significant leveling. "Camping spot was very unlevel from to back but level side to side. Had to set the tongue of the camper on the ground and back was up almost 3 ft. Most of the other spots looked fairly level," shares Justin L. about his experience at Comfort Cove.
Water access locations: Campgrounds offer varying proximity to water sources. "The sites are spaced well apart from each other and I never heard much of my neighbors. You can only book this campground through recreation.gov," advises a regular visitor to Outlet Channel Campground.
Winter camping considerations: Walter Johnson Park remains open year-round with affordable rates. "It's mid January. The daytime temperatures vary from highs of 25-60° and nighttime lows of 0-30°. This is a big, sprawling park that has over 60 camping sites," reports Ricky R., who stayed during winter months.
