14 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Horse camping near Leavenworth, Kansas is limited, with most nearby campgrounds lacking dedicated horse corrals or equestrian facilities. Several state parks within driving distance accommodate camping but require horseback riders to bring portable containment systems. Weston Bend State Park Campground, located about 15 miles northeast of Leavenworth in Weston, Missouri, offers shaded campsites in a wooded setting with electric hookups and clean facilities. The campground features hiking trails but does not provide dedicated horse corrals, requiring equestrians to make appropriate arrangements for their animals. Camp hosts are friendly and knowledgeable about the surrounding trail systems.
Trails in the region vary in their suitability for horses, with some offering better footing and width for mounted riders. Perry State Park Campground, situated south of Leavenworth near Perry, Kansas, provides boat-in and drive-in access with basic amenities for campers but no specialized equestrian facilities. Both campgrounds maintain policies requiring proper management of horses, including waste disposal and designated areas for tethering. Horse owners typically bring their own portable corrals or high-line systems when staying at these locations. Sites fill quickly during peak season, particularly on weekends, making advance reservations essential for equestrians planning overnight trips with their horses. The mature trees throughout most campsites provide good shade for horses during summer months but may limit satellite connectivity.
"The site is long but has a 1/4 moon turn so we had to pull back around to get better positioned on the pad so we could disconnect our 39’ 5th wheel and F450 for our 3-night stay."
"Hiking and overlooks nearby. This is a nice campground to visit Leavenworth from. Very clean showers. Price 2024: About $15 for non electric sites."
from $15 - $52 / night
Check Availability"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."
"We love taking our horses to Crows creek, there is an amazing barn with stalls and it’s withing viewing distance of your camper/tent so you don’t have to worry."
"The bike trail is about 3 steps away from our site. only downside is it is only electric hookups. ( only a downside if you are a travel trailer/rv)"
"Some sites close to water. Great fishing, hiking, and 18 hole golf course close by."
"Close to Kansas City so it makes a great quick getaway. Clean, friendly, and right next to Smithville Lake. Our pick for a short trip."
"These RV spots have great shade, are spaced nicely apart, and are a quick walk to the lake! Amazing sunsets! You can rent a boat for a half day or full day with advanced notice!"
"Watkins mill SP is located a short distance from Kansas City off I-35 near Kearney. The park has a large lake that you can fish and boat as well as multiple hiking options."
"There's a lake but it's not anything to brag about, and the swimming beach is closed often due to bacteria in the lake."
from $15 - $46 / night
Check Availability"Quaint campground an hour outside of Kansas City. Beautiful fall foliage. The last weekend in October they have a lot of great activities for kids. Pumpkin Carving games."
"Great MO state park, close to the city with easy access to 35 N. Trails, lakes, camping, great spot! If you don’t want/need electric, try campground 1, the spots are tucked into the trees."
from $15 - $29 / night
Check Availability"Nice little campground tucked away just outside Kansas City. Close to everything but far enough that it’s still really camping. Cell service on AT&T and Verizon are great."
"Just a walk away from a beautiful lake and your stay here is a perfect get away from the city lights!"
"Nice state park on the lake can be crowded and a little crazy on weekends. Like most state parks no sewer hookups but easy access to dump station"
"Only complaint, cold shower in facility near marina. I would recommend a spot closer to marina if you're not In an RV. We were a rooftop tent and could heat distant trains all night."
"The woman that runs the place told us about a big lake that was close to us. We went there for a couple of days and have more fun it’s a beautiful big lake."
from $49 - $600 / night
Check Availability"This campground is close to home for us, but we love it as a quick get away. It has beautiful, tree-covered campsites that offer direct access to the lake. "
"We often find ourselves in a field with port-a-potties instead of lakeside with views. Not bad for what it is, I do wish they had more options."
from $10 / night
Check Availability
RangerThis campground has a nice and open space in the center, with campsites all along the edge. There are trees that offer shade at nearly every site, and there are plenty of areas to tie off and/or enclose horses. There is a playground, picnic shelter, two designated manure piles, and access to horse-friendly and dog-friendly trails right in the campground!
LegendGetting to the state park off I 29 and through the countryside was easy as the route had Weston Bend SP signage. We followed the SP signs to the campground(CG) where the gate was not manned so we headed to get water, but someone was sitting in the dump station waiting for another person to arrive so we went around this one-loop CG to see if there was a convenient spigot. There are spigots but with a larger rig, you will block the road, and/or you will be on a hill. We went back around and the person moved so we could get water. After that, we headed to pull through site 28 with electric(50/30/20 AMP) only. The site is long but has a 1/4 moon turn so we had to pull back around to get better positioned on the pad so we could disconnect our 39’ 5th wheel and F450 for our 3-night stay. There were tree branches overhead that we could not avoid. RVers next to us in site 30 had just arrived as well and were having trouble getting their travel trailer unhitched and leveled due to the pad’s slight incline and unlevel asphalt. They got their trailer positioned so they could get somewhat level. We got a solid two bars on both Verizon and T-Mobile. Due to our proximity to Kansas City, we got a lot of OTA channels. A satellite connection would be iffy in most sites here due to the number of mature trees. The trees in a lot of sites would also scrape the top of larger rigs. There’s a variety of sites with most being good for regular trailers versus tall rigs, and tent sites. They have a nice shower house with 1 washer and 1 dryer both for$1.50. There are also vaulted toilets here and there. There’s a 1.7-acre fenced dog park that includes one large area for large dogs and two other areas with one dedicated to smaller dogs. The dog area is at the front park entrance away from the campground and it would be a long walk to get there, so we drove up. There are a lot of hiking trails here plus an old tobacco barn that’s worth a look.
ScoutNice little campground tucked away just outside Kansas City. Close to everything but far enough that it’s still really camping. Cell service on AT&T and Verizon are great. Only negative is that some sites are right on the road, so kids can dart out at any time...just be careful!
GuideClose to Kansas City so it makes a great quick getaway. Clean, friendly, and right next to Smithville Lake. Our pick for a short trip.
LegendWatkins mill SP is located a short distance from Kansas City off I-35 near Kearney. The park has a large lake that you can fish and boat as well as multiple hiking options. The historical site is a neat step back in time to the 1800'. The campground is broken up into 3 different areas with plenty of space for campers, RV's and tents. Park features include an updated showerhouse, large playground for the kids and helpful and friendly park staff. Thanks to the staff for giving us an heads up on the raccoons that are bold! Reservations are recommended on holiday weekends.
TravelerWe 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!
LegendWeston Bend, MO 9/24: As of early September 1/2 of the campground is closed for construction. I understand that some sites will be upgraded to full hookups. (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(72 yr olds in 27’ trailer.)
Overall Rating: 5 for a state park . Hiking and overlooks nearby. This is a nice campground to visit Leavenworth from. Very clean showers. Price 2024: About $15 for non electric sites. $25 for electric sites Security: Gate w code for night time entry Usage during visit: Very full during weekends. Plenty of free sites during the week Visual Privacy Between Adjacent Sites: Some more than others Site Spacing: Very good Pad surface: Blacktop Reservations: Yes Campground Noise: Pretty quiet Outside Road Noise: None Through Traffic in campground: No reason for Electric Hookup: All sites but # 3 and 26. Sewer Hookup: Coming to some sites by 2025 Dump Station: Yes Potable Water Available: Yes, at dump stations and some scattered spigots Generators: Allowed Bathroom: One building with flush toilets. One pit toilet near site #26 Showers: Yes. Clean and nice. Pull Throughs: 1 or 2 Cell Service (AT&T): 2 bars Setting: Thick deciduous forest Recent Weather: Some 90 - 100 degree days in late August Solar: # 3 has better solar than the other non-electric site shady #26. Insects: Not bad Host: Great Rig Size: large rigs Sites: #3 and # 26 are non- electric. #26 is the most private.
GuideSooo many things to do!!! We love taking our horses to Crows creek, there is an amazing barn with stalls and it’s withing viewing distance of your camper/tent so you don’t have to worry. Trails start directly from your campsite, you can also take your bikes, paved and mountain bike trails. You also can’t forget the wonderful lake and the beautiful views.
Guidevery beautiful campground with views of the lake. nice beach just a short 5 min drive away. also horse trails and facilities to accommodate if you’re into that. $5 bundle of firewood was weak at best but got the job done. will be back!!
Horse camping options near Leavenworth, Kansas extend beyond the immediate area, with multiple equestrian-friendly locations within driving distance. Many parks maintain hiking and biking trails that connect to larger regional trail systems. Several campgrounds in the region sit at elevations between 800-1,000 feet above sea level, positioning them for good drainage during spring rains.
Lake activities at Smithville Lake: Crow's Creek Campground offers multiple water recreation options near Leavenworth. "The best part is the view of and access to the lake! So beautiful and relaxing. We had a nice gravel site with fire ring and picnic table. We could walk right down a grassy hill to the trail along the lake," notes Julie B., who visited in June 2020. The paved trails within the campground create safe zones for family biking.
Hiking trails at Wallace State Park: Located about 40 miles from Leavenworth, this park provides varying difficulty levels of hiking trails through wooded terrain. "The trails around Wallace are fantastic. From a casual stroll around the lake to a more vigorous hike up the hill this park provides it all," says Chad K. The park is notably clean with well-maintained facilities.
Historical exploration at Watkins Mill: "There is a couple historic sites not far on the side of the lake, quick little drive," writes Jason C. about Watkins Mill State Park Campground. The park combines camping with educational opportunities, making it suitable for families wanting to mix outdoor recreation with historical learning about the region.
Privacy between sites: At Weston Bend State Park Campground, campers appreciate the thoughtfully designed layout. "Site 26 is relatively isolated. It's big too. There's a vault toilet close by. It was clean and roomy," writes Barbie G. This site is one of the few basic sites without hookups but offers more seclusion than others.
Clean facilities: Perry State Park Campground maintains well-kept bathroom and shower facilities. "We had a wonderful stay! Wonderful pull through spots, great views, and closer to the boat ramp!" notes Caitlin R. The park offers both water access and camping amenities that receive regular maintenance.
Helpful staff: Camp Branch Campground staff receive consistent praise from visitors. "The camp hosts were very polite. We had a short walk to the lake for fishing, and the loop had a restroom. We were able to enter the swim beach without having to pay extra," shares Nikki S., who reserved three sites for a family camping trip.
Seasonal water access: At some campgrounds, water access changes with the seasons. "We stayed in October and due to unseasonably cold weather they shut off water with no notice and halfway through our stay. Ended up leaving early since we had no water and also no sewer at site," reports Bridget U. about Crow's Creek Park.
Gate closure times: Weston Bend State Park enforces nighttime security measures. "Entrance gate closes at 9 pm," notes Renee H., who appreciated the quiet campground with its spacious sites and good amenities despite limited hookups.
Construction periods: Some campgrounds undergo periodic improvements that may affect availability. "As of early September 1/2 of the campground is closed for construction. I understand that some sites will be upgraded to full hookups," writes Roger W. about his September visit to Weston Bend.
Playground access: Smith's Fork Recreation Area provides family-friendly amenities close to campsites. "Great place to fish.kayak. Bike ride. Clean campsites and bathrooms," notes Will E. The recreation area maintains play areas for children within walking distance of camping loops.
Lake swimming spots: Hillsdale State Park offers family-oriented water access. "Campgrounds are clean and aren't too overly cramped. Trails for hiking and riding bikes and they offer canoe/kayak renting," writes Maria M. The park's beach areas provide supervised swimming during summer months.
Avoid peak season crowds: For families seeking quieter experiences at horse-friendly campgrounds near Leavenworth, timing matters. "We love it when it is still kind of off season like Easter weekend and after labor day. We have small children and it can get pretty rowdy during the summer," advises Robin R. about Crow's Creek Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Be prepared with leveling equipment at some parks. "Our spot was 13" unlevel. Luckily we had several blocks of wood to help level our camp out," reports Caitlin R. about Camp Branch Campground. Many campgrounds in the Leavenworth region have varying site conditions that may require adjustments.
Full hookup locations: RVers seeking complete services should note site selection implications. "Full hookup sites don't have a view of the lake. This is why we chose an electric only site and used a spigot in the campsite to fill our tank," explains Julie B. about her strategy at Crow's Creek Park, demonstrating the trade-offs between amenities and views.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Leavenworth, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Leavenworth, KS is Weston Bend State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 36 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Leavenworth, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 equestrian camping locations near Leavenworth, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
