RV campgrounds near Lenexa, Kansas offer various camping experiences within 40 miles of the Kansas City metro area. Located in eastern Kansas at an elevation of approximately 1,070 feet, the region experiences four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds in the area remain open year-round, though summer weekend reservations often fill 3-4 weeks in advance at popular locations.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Lake Paradise Resort offers multiple fishing lakes on the property where kids often catch frogs and snails near the water's edge. According to one camper, "We camped here in September 2020. There are nice spots right by the lakes with big trees for shade. Roads going up higher past us were a little rough but made for great walks with kids."
Visit Worlds of Fun: Worlds of Fun Village provides immediate access to the adjacent amusement park and water park. A visitor noted, "The theme park offered discounted tickets when staying at the campground and parking for the parks was included. Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun are internally connected, making it easy to walk between the two."
Explore Independence: Campus RV Park puts you near historic Independence, Missouri, with its Harry Truman Library and charming downtown. "Independence has some cool stuff to check out and has a very midwestern, small-town feel to it, even though it is basically a suburb of the greater Kansas City area. There is a lot of charm and some interesting architecture in the immediate area."
What campers like
Pool amenities: Basswood Country RV Resort offers multiple water activities popular with families. One reviewer mentioned, "Basswood provides amenities that are great for entertaining children, including a swimming pool and splash park, two playgrounds, a basketball goal, and fishing. Every weekend there are organized activities such as arts and crafts, fishing contests, duck races and frozen t-shirt contests in the pool."
Convenient locations: Many campers appreciate how Campus RV Park allows easy access to downtown attractions. "This isn't our typical 'go to' type campground; we stopped here because we were having some trouble with our truck and needed to have it looked over before heading out further west. It's within walking distance of everything in town, has full hook-ups, wifi, bathrooms, and a laundry facility."
Market shopping: Cheese and wine lovers enjoy the on-site market at Owl Creek Market and RV Park. "Great camp store with selections of sausage and cheese. Also, small selection of wine," noted one camper, while another mentioned, "The cheese shop is very well appointed and included some lovely local wines which was a life saver as it was too hot to cook."
What you should know
Variable noise levels: Highway and airport proximity affects several rv campgrounds near Lenexa. At Trailside RV Park, one camper reported, "Noise. Mostly from the highway, but also trains and air traffic. Situated between two neighborhoods, the highway, and an RV dealership." Similarly, at Basswood, a reviewer noted, "The campground is on the final approach for the airport, so you get to see a lot planes flying overhead."
Space considerations: Sites vary significantly in size and privacy. At Walnut Grove, "The spaces are very tight in the travelers section and more spread out in the long term section. Many sites in the park were occupied by storage and the owners never showed up."
Seasonal considerations: Some amenities aren't available year-round. "Too late in the year for the pool to be open but looked nice," reported a Lake Paradise visitor in September, while another noted, "We stopped here on our way south for spring break. The amusement park was not open yet, so the campground area was relatively quiet."
Tips for camping with families
Look for weekend activities: Deer Creek Valley RV Park provides excellent facilities for children. "Fun little pool and awesome play area for kids. They have the property gate guarded at night which is another nice feature," noted one reviewer, adding that the campground has "wide open lots that were level."
Consider activity-focused resorts: Family-friendly amenities make a significant difference. At Basswood Resort, there are "several ponds you can fish from. My kids love that. Nice play area for kids as well as themed weekends with lots of activities planned that kids can do."
Plan for swimming options: Many campgrounds feature pools that provide relief during hot Kansas summers. At Worlds of Fun Village, "The camp ground pool is huge and fun for the kids on non park days. The campground is all paved and perfect for scooters and bikes for the kids."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: At Walnut Grove RV Park, "We did pay for the premium pull through site, so we had more room. Everything worked great, the spot was on a slight hill- but wasn't terrible to level out." Another visitor recommended, "I would recommend staying at the premium pull through sites the other back-in sites are rather small."
Connectivity considerations: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds. At Trailside RV Park, "WiFi is laughable. Phone/internet service is low average," while at Walnut Grove, one camper mentioned, "The Wi-Fi is working well as I am working online from this location."
Advance planning for holidays: Holiday weekends require early reservations at most rv campgrounds around Lenexa. At Walnut Grove, even same-day reservations can sometimes work: "Mark and Kyle at Walnut Grove could not have been more friendly and accommodating when we called to try to reserve a spot."
