State parks and public lands surrounding Junction City, Kansas offer several tent camping options with lakeside views. Milford State Park, located just north of Junction City, features two distinct tent campgrounds: Walnut Grove and Cedar Point. Walnut Grove is a primitive tent campground with fire rings and picnic tables at each site, some positioned directly on the shoreline for water access. North Overlook Park and Outlet Park in Junction City provide basic tent camping facilities with picnic tables. For those seeking free primitive tent camping, Pottawatomie County State Lake #2, approximately 30 minutes from Interstate 70, offers tent campsites along the lakeshore.
Most tent campgrounds in the Junction City area feature basic amenities with varying levels of facilities. Walnut Grove at Milford State Park provides restrooms and shower facilities, while primitive sites at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 offer only pit toilets. Fire rings and picnic tables are standard at most locations, though fire restrictions may apply seasonally. Walk-in tent sites are available at several locations, particularly at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2, which features both drive-in and walk-in access. Weather conditions significantly impact site availability, with flooding occasionally limiting access to lower-elevation sites at Milford State Park. Campers should carry cash for self-pay stations at most locations, as card payment options are limited.
Tent campers frequently report peaceful experiences, particularly at lakeside sites. According to reviews, Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 often empties out by sunset, with one camper noting they "found the campground completely empty on a Monday night in September" with "just a few local fishermen visible." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers reporting owl sightings and beaver activity. At Walnut Grove in Milford State Park, tent campers appreciate the "trees for hammocks" and "safe cove of water away from boats." Ottawa SFL, though farther from Junction City, offers a "beautiful wooded area with no traffic sounds" where visitors can enjoy "the peaceful calls from birds and bullfrogs." Most tent campgrounds in the region provide good fishing access, making them popular with anglers.
$10 / night
"Walnut grove is a primitive campground. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Some of the sites have water views and shorelines that you could boat or kayak right up to."
"beautiful view watching sunsets over Milford lake as our camp site was right off the water."
"Lots of shade and level spots for rvs. Can’t swim but dog had fun in lake. Water smelled fishy. Lots of trash laying around. Leave no trace people!"
"Driving across Kansas can be long and tedious and I'm often looking for a place to primitive-car-camp on the cheap to get some sleep while crossing the country."
"attributable to the hiring of h/s students, of a trip that was otherwise filled with delightful accommodating people. i cannot wait to return next year and to attend other events as well. it helped me share"
"Spend three nights with the cub scouts on this lake. We had lots of success with fishing and the kids really enjoyed some of the hiking trails."
$12 - $30 / night
"The lake was my favrote part. Depending on where you went there were nice fields to play frisbee in."
"Camped and fished here many times and enjoyed it every time I went, primitive camping no electric or water. Has pit toilets and you have to take your trash when you leave."
TravelerNice spot to pull in for the night. Lots of spots on Sunday night in June. A few fisherman and kayakers out. Lots of shade and level spots for rvs. Can’t swim but dog had fun in lake. Water smelled fishy. Lots of trash laying around. Leave no trace people!
GuideWent with a buddy for tent camping 1 night this August. Clean area with plenty of firewood and a picnic table. Paid 14$ for a campsite, grass definitely could of been trimmed at our designated campsite. card only at the entrance because of COVID-19 at the moment. We camped right across from the boat ramp but was still a beautiful view
LegendThere are several areas to set up camp, each area has different advantages: proximity to vault toilets, picnic tables, privacy... The area is easy to navigate and sites are lakeside.
GuidePrimitive sites. Vault toilets, bbq, covered picnic tables and fire rings. 3 tents allowed per site. You can shower at the north Richey campground. All are close to the lake and there is a boat ramp at the entrance. Small campground with maybe 12 sites.
LegendCedar point has some very spacious primitive and tent sites. There are also some with electric and water. Some of the sites in this campground have nice water views. Most have fire rings and tables. There are restrooms, bath house, trash receptacles and a dump. There is also a swim beach and a hiking trail. It’s a very pretty area and this park has wildlife to view like the large flock of turkey vultures who live in the dead trees of cedar point.
LegendTraveling to this State Park I didn't know much what to expect. I did know that a lot of the camping was not accessible because of the recent flooding but they did maintain the self pay station for those wanting to snag the limited sites available. I can only imagine with the upcoming Labor Day weekend this will still be hot ticket!
When I checked out this campground the sites seemed larger and more spacious overall. The upper loop still had that camping neighborhood vibe with sites clumped together a bit more closely but each was shaded and had a nice pull in and included a fire ring and picnic table, in some cases more than one.
There was a nice restroom area which included showers, something many of the campgrounds did not have so this was a hot commodity for sure.
I can imagine this being a great location for RV campers with relatively even pull ins and for tents alike with lush grassy areas. This campground did offer connections and water around camp.
On the lower loop it was a Bir more secluded and felt more spacious. I preferred the short walk to the restroom to keep that privacy.
Many of these sites were located on shoreline directly or on the cliffside of the area with great views. Unfortunately these were also the ones which were more effected by the floods so only a portion of the area was able to be accessed.
Tips:
* Book Online or carry cash, there is no fee station currently and self pay is the only option. This does not allow you to use card.
* Check the weather in advance. There are many options for camping at the park when the weather has not been terrible but with limited sites available currently you will want to make sure you plan ahead with the weather and seek higher sites.
* Bring your fishing pole or boat, this lake is amazing for fishing and has plenty of places you can launch your water vessel of choice.
Guide2 different loops with a several waterside campsites and picnic shelters alongside each. Campsites include tent pad, shelter, picnic table and either a fire pit or an elevated grill. There is also water access that you can drop your boat into thats just adjacent for main Richey Cove campground's beach. Tent only camping allows you to get some quiet time in the out doors as its one of the least frequented of the campsites around the lake and the farthest north.
LegendWoodlands Hills campground has both primitive and electric and water sites available. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring are are nice and spacious. There are ADA sites available. This campground has water access and a beach area. I think it’s so neat how they have life jackets hanging in case you didn’t bring any. There are clean restrooms and shower house, a dump, and access to trails. There are group sites near by with extra long tables, volleyball,basketball,horseshoes,and trails.
LegendWalnut grove is a primitive campground. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Some of the sites have water views and shorelines that you could boat or kayak right up to. There are boat ramps, slips(called the Yacht club), basketball hoops, and 2.1 miles of trails. This campground also has restrooms and a shower house. The lake has excellent fishing.
Tent camping near Junction City, Kansas centers around several public lakes with shoreline access. Located in the Flint Hills region where tallgrass prairie meets woodland areas, campsites typically sit at elevations between 1,100-1,300 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, making lake access valuable for cooling off, while spring and fall camping provides milder conditions with average temperatures in the 60-70°F range.
Fishing opportunities: Council Grove Lake offers productive fishing just south of Junction City. "The lake was my favorite part. Depending on where you went there were nice fields to play frisbee in," notes a visitor to Kansas View.
Wildlife observation: Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 provides excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "We saw a beautiful owl that flew between the trees," reports one camper at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2, who also appreciated the "fire pits and nice spots next to the lake."
Hiking and trail running: Several lakes feature perimeter trails suitable for day hikes. At Pottawatomie County State Lake #2, campers mention "a few trails around the lake that were nice to run on with the pups!"
Solitude and quiet: Ottawa SFL offers peaceful natural surroundings away from traffic noise. A camper at Ottawa SFL stayed "on the Willow Loop. I was the only camper on the loop as the fishing folks came and went. Beautiful wooded area with no traffic sounds. Just the peaceful calls from the birds and bullfrogs."
Sunsets and lake views: North Overlook Park provides scenic vantage points over the water. According to a visitor at North Overlook Park, "Its a nice quiet place for a picnic with a decent playground for the kids to play. Its also a great place to watch the sunset."
Easy access for overnight stays: Several campgrounds serve as convenient stopovers while traveling across Kansas. One camper found Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 "not a huge detour from I-70 (maybe 20-30 minutes total)" and woke up "with a picnic table and a fire pit next to a calm lake with jumping fish."
Weather considerations: Milford State Park campgrounds can experience severe weather during storm season. A camper at Cedar Point — Milford State Park noted that "the state parks weather alerts could be followed online easily and there are tornado sirens in the park with shelters nearby."
Site topography: Not all tent sites are level or suitable for larger setups. At Cedar Point, one camper cautioned, "While our family loved the scenery this is not a lake for tent camping. Unless you like sleeping at an angle."
Payment options: Most campgrounds require cash for self-pay systems. A reviewer at Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 appreciated that "there were no annoying gates or camp managers or $ charges," making it "perfect for my purposes."
Playground access: North Overlook Park offers recreation facilities for children. One visitor described it as having "a decent playground for the kids to play."
Scout-friendly locations: Council Grove Lake works well for organized youth outings. At Kansas View - Council Grove Lake, a leader "spent three nights with the cub scouts on this lake. We had lots of success with fishing and the kids really enjoyed some of the hiking trails."
Water safety: Cedar Point's shoreline access varies by water level. One camper notes the campground has "spots are nice and shady. The outer spots put you right next to the lake."
Site selection for larger rigs: While some campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles, access roads can be challenging. At Pottawatomie County State Lake #2, a visitor found "plenty of camping on the lake" with "nice level sites," though another noted "gravel + washout + steep hill down to lake level."
Primitive camping with RVs: Some primitive sites can accommodate RVs despite lacking hookups. A camper at Walnut Grove — Milford State Park reported, "primitive site was a bit tight to pull a 36' fifth wheel into, but it's what we signed up for in a pinch. Great area, patrolled often, amazing fishing!"
Seasonal road conditions: Access to some camping areas deteriorates after rain. One Pottawatomie County visitor noted "some washout this summer. Pretty rough access road."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Junction City, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Junction City, KS is Walnut Grove — Milford State Park with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Junction City, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Junction City, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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