Camping spots near Lawrence, Kansas range from state parks to Corps of Engineers facilities on area lakes. Located in northeastern Kansas with an average elevation of 866 feet, the region experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures often exceeding 90°F. Several campgrounds offer waterfront sites for fishing and boating access, with Clinton Lake and Perry Lake serving as the primary bodies of water for outdoor recreation.
What to do
Disc golf courses: Clinton State Park offers disc golf alongside other recreational options. As one visitor noted, "Solid large state park, great hikes. Visiting in non peak is as easy as driving in, finding a spot and paying your fees. Full bath houses, disc golf, archery range, a d an abundance of hiking all around the camps" (Prairie Clover Campground).
Kayaking and paddleboarding: Lone Star Lake provides excellent conditions for water sports in a smaller, more manageable setting. "Great little lake. Good fishing, great locations for kayaking and paddle boarding" (Lone Star Lake Park).
Archery range: Clinton State Park's uncommon amenities include archery facilities. "Rolling hills and lots of green with many of trails and recreational facilities including more unusual things like archery. Lake is surprisingly big, good wildlife and birding" (Prairie Clover Campground).
Wildlife watching: The area's diverse ecosystem supports various animals. At Clinton State Park, one camper reported, "Saw eagles, turkey vultures, and possible osprey" (Prairie Clover Campground).
What campers like
Secluded sites: Woodridge Park offers more isolated camping experiences. "Woodridge is never over crowded unless it's a holiday, so more often than not you could camp the whole weekend and potentially not see another person" (Woodridge Park).
Hammock camping: Some sites are specifically designed for alternative camping setups. At Perry State Park, "The primitive sites and RV sites are extremely close (especially the RV sites) other than that they have dedicated hammock sites!" (Perry State Park).
Accessibility to water: Many campers value proximity to fishing and boating. At Bloomington East, "Site 246 was at the bottom of the hill, right on the lake. Looks like there had been heavy rains, so evidence of a lot of run-off through these lake-front sites" (Bloomington East).
Primitive camping options: For those seeking a more rustic experience, several areas provide basic sites. At Woodridge Park, "There's a gravel loop with some picnic tables and a couple hike-in sites dispersed along a trail. Site 4 is right on the lake and had a beautiful view of the sunrise."
What you should know
Site reservation systems vary: Some campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis. At Clinton State Park, "Website is little to no help unless visiting in peak season, but the camp hosts and park rangers are the tops. Visiting in non peak is as easy as driving in, finding a spot and paying your fees" (Prairie Clover Campground).
Train noise: KOA campsites near Lawrence experience railroad disruptions. "There was a train passing through, and the person I spoke to offered to throw in a pair of ear plugs and a night mask. Now I know why. There was a light from a nearby cabin lighting the whole tenting area, and the trains were one right behind the other… ALL NIGHT LONG!!!!!" (Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA).
Flooding potential: Heavy rains can impact lakeside sites. At Bloomington East, campers noted evidence of significant water runoff affecting waterfront locations, while another at Clinton State Park mentioned, "Another disappointment was that with all of the recent rain, we had a huge puddle separating our pull-through from our picnic table and fire pit."
Bug populations: Insect activity fluctuates seasonally. One Clinton State Park visitor reported, "While I've been here in early July and the bugs made me want to scream, in late July it seems they are better or at least being more in the open helped. A few flies and mosquitos. Nothing too bad."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Lake Shawnee offers family-friendly amenities. "The park offers so many things- golf, disc golf, fishing with a heated dock, swim beach, boating, several playgrounds, tennis courts, and places to walk and bike, even a botanical garden" (Lake Shawnee Campground).
Safe layout for children: Some campgrounds feature designs that allow kids more freedom. At Bloomington East, "The layout made it easy for children to move freely and safely among campsites and to restroom facilities and the playground."
Swimming areas: Several campgrounds maintain designated swimming locations. Lone Star Lake Park features "a great dock and beach. Views of the lake are fantastic."
Activity planning: Jellystone Park provides structured entertainment options. "My kids love camping here, we came in an RV and we're barely ever inside it until we were ready to sleep. So much fun activities for the kids to do to keep them entertained and occupied, giving the adults time to do things like conversations and hanging out without kids interrupting" (Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park).
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Be prepared for uneven terrain at some campgrounds. At Clinton State Park, one RVer noted, "The campground we stayed at was called Campground #3. Look at or near Site 411 for spacious, wooded, and more spread out campsites."
Water access: Different campgrounds offer varying hookup options. Perry State Park provides "Water on each site which is a luxury."
Dump station locations: Sewer hookups aren't universal. As one camper at Perry State Park noted, "Like most state parks no sewer hookups but easy access to dump station."
Reservation recommendations: Popular seasons fill quickly. At Clinton State Park, "Electrical sites sold out weekends so mid week may be your best bet."
