Best Tent Camping near Kansas City, KS

A campsite not to far from Kansas City but had a feeling far removed. The campground was super clean and well maintained. Out site was great near the entrance but on top a hill and the perfect tree coverage for shade. One of the best shaded spots in the campground.

I was looking for a decent place to camp near Kansas City during the weekend and found this spot on Smithville Lake. When I camp, I typically do it while on vacation and checking out a national park. This obviously isn't an experience like that. This was the first time I've camped over a weekend in years.

The campsites are very spacious and there are even places with covered picnic tables. The bathrooms are also clean. If you're not the most adventurous type, you'll like this campground.

The thing I enjoyed most about this campground was the trail around the lake. The trails are fairly low traffic and there wasn't too much noise coming from boats on the water. It was a peaceful location to camp and enjoy views of the lake.

Overall, I recommend this as a quick place to go during a weekend if you're in the area and feel like camping. I probably wouldn't stay here for an extended period of time.

We’re from Kansas City and there are very few options when it comes to Campgrounds. This is by far our favorite and their rates are very reasonable. We enjoyed our stay, staff was very friendly and the park was clean and easy to get in and out of. You’re also very close to Hillsdale State Park, but this location has a tornado shelter 🤣

The park: great store, laid out well, gravel sites. Some are back in but most are pull through. Full hook ups- power/water/sewer.

72 Sites: 30' wide, 60' long and level 24 Sites are pull thru All have 30 & 50 amp service

You are within 40 minutes of southern Overland Park, and within approximately an hour (depending on traffic) to Kansas City.

Amenities: Laundry Storm Shelter Showers Meeting room available for RV Rallies (Must Schedule) Fishing Lake

Cellular: service was good, able to stream video, work, Facebook, etc.

Rates as of April 2020 (from their site):

-DAY RATE: $45.00 -CLUB RATE: $40.00 (Good Sam's, FMCA, AAA, Military) -WEEKLY: $215 -MONTHLY: $575 Back In $700 Pull Through (if not paid by due date, Day Rate will apply.)​

Tent site was nice.

It was on ok place to put up a tent. But a lot of rain runoff on tent sites

Stayed for a one nighter on a tent site. Area was clean and maintained. There is no restroom close to tent sites but it is just up the hill at the rv side.. also when I decided to camp here showers were not listed as an amenitie but there are showers in the restroom which was a present surprise. My kid enjoyed the playground near the lake and I enjoyed the disc golf course on site. Bring cash for your fees to put in the drop box.

Camped here many times. Even before had camper and was still tent camping. Great fishing not far. Boat ramp close. Have left boat in water on bank.

This park is convient to I-29 but far enough off the highway to be quiet and peaceful. Tent sites, full hookups as well as rooms and cabins are available. As a point of interest, this used to be a favorite fishing spot of President Harry S. Truman, check out the Mother in Law cabin—built at his request.

This campground has it all! Plenty of sites with both shade and sunshine. Big sites for big RVs as well as some perfect hidden little tent sites. You can also rent cabins if you please. Close access to trails and disc golf, plenty of bathrooms, picnic shelters, and gorgeous prairie views! It was a rainy day, but that didn’t stop me from loving it!

We live near Crow’s Creek, and enjoy making spur of the moment camping trips here throughout the year. There are many spacious tent sites with great views of the lake. Miles of paved walking/biking trails around the water offer for a nice activity!

Tip: Before choosing your site number, ask which loop is furthest from the horse camping as there can be some noise from the barn at night. The park staff has typically made this suggestion to us when we arrive!

I’m in my 30s traveling solo and this stop was a great place to regroup and take advantage of their amenities like shower, laundry, etc. The bathrooms were clean and the staff was very friendly. If you are traveling with kids this is a terrific place to stop because there are lots of things to keep kids busy like a playground and pool. The sites aren’t very private and road noise from the nearby highway can be heard throughout the night if you’re tent camping but it didn’t really bother me.

• Dyle

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In the home of Amelia Earhart, you will find Warnock Lake, a small lake property with big opportunities for camping!!

The lake itself is smaller and allows you to fish or take out small kayaks or paddle boats for recreation although you must provide your own. Swimming is also an option and there is a small dock which can be access from the side of the camping area or the entry.

A large special earthworks is on property, created to honor the likeness of Amelia Earhart herself, although viewing it from above is suggested as the viewing platform leaves much to be desired. And continuing with the legacy of the famous aviator, a park called the Forest of Friendship allows you a get away with a unique atmosphere. It is here that you will find the bicentennial dedication from the city of Hutchison to the US honoring the many trees from around the world in addition to some very famous people which have made it possible.

In addition to all of these amazing things rests a camping area designed to cater to those who are looking for a day away. Offering both RV and tent camping options the space is nice and has large shade trees. RV offerings are equipped with 30 amp connections and shared water spigots. Primitive tent camping is located a bit further down the roadway and is spaced much more loosely with common areas for trash collection and water.

I noticed that pets are allowed at the campsites which makes it great for the entire family.

Pricing for stay is very inexpensive and there are roll over campsites available outside of the main camping loop with a bit less privacy from the traffic of the roadway. The community itself is only a short drive from the campsites and it wasn’t crowded even on a summer day.

Great place to relax if you are in this area of Kansas!!

Great place, near Kansas City.

This is not a campsite I will go back to. When we drove into the park and paid the entrance fee, we were told to find a place that wasn't occupied then go get a tag from the host. We found a site and started getting our stuff out of the car and pretty soon the campground host came by and told us we had to leave. She assigned campsites when people drove in, which is not what we were told. After telling her we wouldn't leave, she left, then came back and said we could stay. 

The campground itself was pretty, but a lot of people in RV's (we tent camp) who were there to fish and party, so I thought it was noisy.