Camping near Kirwin, Kansas offers visitors open prairie landscapes with elevations around 1,800 feet above sea level. The region experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs regularly reaching 90°F and winter lows dropping below freezing. Wind conditions can be particularly challenging for campers, with gusts frequently reaching 25-35 mph across the open terrain.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Webster State Park provides excellent lake access for anglers. One camper at Lakeview Campground — Webster State Park noted, "Lake access for fishing and water recreation. Water is low, but it is still possible to put in a boat."
Disc golf course: The course at Phillipsburg City Park runs through the camping area, creating convenient recreation. A visitor mentioned, "Great little campground in the corner of a city park. Flat, surrounded by trees. On a disc golf course with a full children's playground nearby."
Archery range: Located at Webster State Park just past the day use area near Lakeview Campground. As one camper observed, "A shower house is located at a day use area just past the campground as well as an archery range just past that."
What campers like
Unique mushroom shelters: The distinctive campsite structures at Mushroom Campground — Webster State Park provide shade and weather protection. A camper described, "Feel like you're camping like a smurf, almost. Mushroom camping area are a series of campsites which have a mushroom like shelter over each sites picnic tables."
Lakeside camping: Sites directly on the water at Webster State Park are highly valued. One reviewer noted, "Lake View Campground is a small campground right along the shore of the Webster Reservoir. This campground has ten sites with water and electrical hook ups, plus an additional 7 or 8 primitive sites."
Geological features: The area offers interesting rock formations worth exploring. A visitor to Rock Point Campground — Webster State Park shared, "I am always looking for a cool spot to see geology (especially in Kansas), the only downside to this place, is it can be difficult to find."
What you should know
Facilities and amenities: Most campgrounds offer basic services with varying levels of accessibility. At Mushroom Campground, "There is a vault toilet in the area, but it is only really conveniently located near two of the sites. These sites are spaced far apart from each other. No water available in the camping area."
Pricing structures: Costs vary significantly between campgrounds, with some visitors noting concerns about value. One camper at Mushroom Campground reported, "$5/vehicle. $12.75/tent. No change. My buddy and I stopped here for a night while crossing the state. One primitive camping spot for two adults in two vehicles. We each had to pay per car and per rent."
Site selection timing: The most desirable sites at Stockton City Park and other area campgrounds fill quickly, especially those with shade. Arriving early is recommended, particularly on weekends from May through September when temperatures exceed 85°F.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature children's play areas within walking distance of campsites. At Phillipsburg City Park, there's "a full children's playground nearby" according to one reviewer.
Site spacing considerations: Look for campgrounds with adequate distance between sites for children to play. At Camp Kirwin, the 11 RV sites with hookups provide more compact spacing, while primitive areas at Webster State Park offer "plenty of grass around them for your tents."
Weather protection: Summer heat can be intense in this region, making shade critical for families. A tent camper noted the Lakeview primitive sites "had morning sun and were shaded in the afternoon/evening," providing relief during peak heat hours.
Tips from RVers
Power reliability: Electrical service at campgrounds remains stable even during storms. One RVer at Phillipsburg City Park shared, "Even during a thunderstorm the lights flickered but did not go out."
Site leveling: Many campgrounds feature concrete pads that minimize setup time. A visitor to Phillipsburg City Park mentioned, "The sites are very small but had level cement pads, great water pressure and what looked to be new electrical source."
Water pressure variation: Expect significant differences in water quality and pressure between campgrounds. As one RVer observed, "We pulled in picked our site filled out the envelope paid 20.00 and put it in the drop box and the receipt in the window. Site 7 the power was fine. The water was good pressure and site was nearly level."
