Best Tent Camping near Iola, KS

If you're looking for a place to pitch your tent near Iola, look no further. The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Iola with tent camping. Search nearby tent campgrounds or find top-rated spots from other campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Iola, KS (15)

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Showing results 1-10 of 15 campgrounds

Recent Tent Reviews in Iola

126 Reviews of 15 Iola Campgrounds


  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Wilson State Fishing Lake Dispersed
    Nov. 19, 2024

    Wilson State Fishing Lake Dispersed

    Nice spot

    When I got here it was very windy and the spot directly across the lake from here ended up being better and a little more out of the wind since there were more trees. Couldn’t find any rules for camping for camping in this area but ended up staying for several days without a problem. Had between 5-10 cars drive by each day so barely any traffic. Most of the spots on this lake are good in size and some have a nice open view of the sky for solar and Starlink which was great.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from South Owl Lake
    Oct. 6, 2024

    South Owl Lake

    Great stop with hookups and wifi!

    This campground was a nice surprise for the area. Near a golf course, allowed fires and had restrooms (no showers). Also had a boat ramp and dock along with playground. WiFi, even though we didn't use, was a nice bonus.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Outlet(melvern)
    Aug. 4, 2024

    Outlet(melvern)

    Our favorite local hangout

    Beautiful well-kept park with gorgeous trails, beach, lots of shade, and quiet camping. We’ve been here three times now and just love it. Outlet park is below the dam. If you’re into fishing/boating the giant lake has a marina with everything you need to get out on the water as well as a kitchen where they serve hamburgers and other food items. The Marina is currently closed as of 8-2-24 due to weather damage but will reopen.

  • Chad A B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Mann's Cove — Cross Timbers State Park
    Jul. 20, 2024

    Mann's Cove — Cross Timbers State Park

    Nice Boondocks Sites

    This area is filled with trees. It blocks the full lake view you could have and probably blocks the sun from helping you with Solar power, but it very beautiful and quiet. Noone was there when we were. Completely empty.

  • James B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Norman No.1 Museum RV Park
    Apr. 15, 2024

    Norman No.1 Museum RV Park

    Overnight stop

    Overnight stop on way from Texas to Nebraska. Full hookup sights for $25. Have 37 foot 5th wheel and fit fine. Pads are gravel but level. Nice quiet stay with minimal traffic noise, etc. there are trash cans with water and sewer.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Coeur D'alene
    Feb. 13, 2024

    Coeur D'alene

    Off season Free Camping

    Stayed here off season for free. They do not close the gates so you can enter but no access to facilities, water or electric. Campground slopes to the river so very few level sites. Some noise from the road but otherwise peaceful as nobody was there.

  • Angie A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Quarry Bay Campground — Fall River State Park
    Oct. 17, 2023

    Quarry Bay Campground — Fall River State Park

    Awesome find!

    What a beautiful, peaceful place! Toilets, fire pits, picnic tables, and dumpsters for trash on site. We had the whole place to ourselves! Easy to get off from Rt 400. Sites pretty level. Glad we found this place! Great view of the lake!

  • Teresa R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Sun Dance
    Aug. 1, 2023

    Sun Dance

    ???Is it really closed for good??? Would make a great dispersed campground.

    Herd this campground is closed even though I read it's 10$ a night no hook ups. Anyone knows different it would be nice to know. My son lives in Lebo and he said it's closed due to flooding a few years ago. Emailed the lake and COE and got no response.

  • r
    Camper-submitted photo from Pony Express RV Park LLC
    Jul. 6, 2023

    Pony Express RV Park LLC

    An Outstanding RV Park

    100 glorious acres. A little rustic but beautiful. Pull-Through and Back-In sites. MOST shave Electric, Water and Sewer. Tent Sites are available. Terri Karper is a wonderful Hostess.

  • WThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Turkey Point
    Jun. 28, 2023

    Turkey Point

    Hidden gem

    We camped in our RV at Turkey Point. The grounds are well-maintained, bathrooms were clean, hosts were friendly. No problems with water and electric hookups. Sites are well spaced, include fire rings, and almost all have shade. Gravel hiking trail, too. This was our very first trip in our brand new r v. It is only about an hour away from our house, but we will be back!

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Whitehall Bay
    Jun. 1, 2023

    Whitehall Bay

    A little unknown gem

    It's absolutely beautiful. I camp here often because of the serenity. The best part of Whitehall Bay is the sewer is directly at your campsite, so no dumping afterwards. A big plus for me!!! Camp Hosts are awesome. You won't be disappointed

  • Levi H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Hill Lake Mound Valley Recreation Area
    Mar. 21, 2023

    Big Hill Lake Mound Valley Recreation Area

    Clean, Spacious & Weekenders Paradise

    Stayed 22 days in Site 21 in the NLOO Loop, close to bathrooms, in July and August 2022. No Showers in this loop so beware. Bathrooms were clean. Showers in the other two loops were always clean and rarely used. 

    I was working in the area, so I needed to stay an extra eight days beyond the COE 14-day limit. Ranger was easy going and granted me an extra 10 days no problem. 

    This place is pretty busy with locals on the weekends between June and August. Completely clears out Sunday evening and it is mostly dead empty until around Thursday. Clearly a popular camping spot for people in the region, but really didn't see a lot of out-of-county or even out-of-state tags camped. 

    Cherryvale is about 6 miles west of the lake and has a Dollar General and Casey's Convenience Store as well as a Redbox, and Parsons is about 20 minutes northeast of here if you need something more substantial than DG or Casey's offers. 

    My AT&T signal didn't work here at all until I set up my WeBoost.

  • Ryan H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Crossroads RVs and Cabins
    Dec. 21, 2022

    Crossroads RVs and Cabins

    Upgraded RV & Cabins campground - very peaceful!

    I stayed in one of the airbnb cabins this past summer and it was super comfortable. Everything I needed for a great stay. Awesome managers and such a peaceful surrounding. I know there are new pedestals and hookups for RVs and they have been working on the swimming pool for 2023. The A-frame cabin is being renovated for a new laundry facility and new showers/bathrooms too.

  • Russ  G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Jayhawker RV Park
    Oct. 22, 2022

    Jayhawker RV Park

    Decent stay over spot

    The Jayhawker has well laid out spots and is off season friendly. Hosts are good honest people and will work with you around your schedule. Great place for a stopover or extended stay for work.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Quarry Bay Campground — Fall River State Park
    Oct. 9, 2022

    Quarry Bay Campground — Fall River State Park

    Great, relaxing location!

    We stayed in mid-October and while chilly, we had an amazing time. We chose the Quarry Bay Area, which is located on the far side of the dam from the rest of the park. It's about a 5-6 minute drive back to the main park area which is were you'll need to pay fees, but in our opinion, very much worth the drive for the seclusion. The spaces on this side of the park are very spread out and create a lot of privacy. 6 of the sites in this area (401-406) have 'mushroom' shelters that provided a nice area to prep food and escape a brief rain shower. Our location (site 405) also provided direct access to the Cat Claw trail head, was near the end of a dead-end road, and had great views of the lake framed in by a very well kept grassy area and mature trees. Cell service on Verizon was consistent, allowing basic web browsing and social media, but loading video was spotty at best. T-mobile service was a step down from Verizon and varied between 1 bar and no-service based on where you sat at the site. Not a big deal for us as we were there largely to disconnect, but if you need to entertain kids, make sure you download content before leaving home! We had a wonderful time and look forward to returning again!

  • Cindy K.
    Camper-submitted photo from Eisenhower State Park Campground
    Oct. 2, 2022

    Eisenhower State Park Campground

    Beautiful views and lots to do

    Beautiful campgrounds with so many activities available! The general store is super helpful, as they sell firewood and ice, and have kayak and canoe rentals. There are a few swim beaches, and plenty of sand to sit in and relax. Our actual campsite was great and came equipped with a firepit and picnic table, and we could walk to the lakeshore. We will be back!



Guide to Iola

Tent camping near Iola, Kansas offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With several campgrounds nearby, tent campers can find the perfect place to set up camp and explore.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

Tips for tent camping near Iola

  • Be prepared for limited amenities at places like South Owl Lake, which lacks showers and trash services, so plan accordingly.
  • Bring your own firewood and picnic supplies, as many campgrounds, including Hickory Creek East, do not provide these essentials.
  • Check the seasonal availability of campgrounds like West Wingwall, which is open from early April to late October.

Tent campers should check out Cross Timbers State Park

  • This well-reviewed campground features electric hookups and allows fires, making it a comfortable choice for tent campers.
  • With a variety of hiking trails and beautiful scenery, Cross Timbers State Park Campground is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore.
  • Families will appreciate the playground and picnic areas available at Fall River State Park, providing fun for all ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular tent campsite near Iola, KS?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Iola, KS is Cross Timbers State Park Campground with a 4.8-star rating from 4 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find tent camping near Iola, KS?

    TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Iola, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.