Tent and RV camping near Manhattan, Kansas centers around two main bodies of water: Tuttle Creek Lake and Milford Lake. The region features deciduous forests and open prairie with seasonal temperature variations from below freezing in winter to above 90°F in summer. Camping areas range from elevation 1,075 to 1,300 feet with some sites offering direct lake frontage.
What to do
Water recreation at Tuttle Creek: Access fishing, kayaking and swimming at the designated beach area. Tuttle Creek Cove offers water activities without traveling far. "Last 4th of July my family and friends went tent camping here. There is a nice beach area to swim, we rented kayaks and canoes for a leisurely paddle around the lake," reports David H.
Hiking trails: Find trails with wildlife viewing near Randolph — Tuttle Creek State Park. "My husband and I stayed in a site with beautiful trees and sunflowers growing all around us. The monarchs must have been migrating because they were all over the trees," shares Jessica C. Trails wind through natural areas with seasonal wildflowers.
Sunsets on the lake: Many campsites at Milford Lake offer prime sunset viewing spots, especially from the lake shore. "We happened on it thru Dyrt on our way out to Yellowstone and it fit our needs exactly. Close to I-70, but you felt away from everything," notes one camper about their experience at the Sunset Ridge area.
What campers like
Covered picnic areas: Sheltered dining spaces protect from sun and brief showers. "Each site has a covered picnic shelter and grill. The sites are nice and spacious," notes Shannon G. about Cedar Point at Milford State Park. These shelters include prep areas and sometimes double charcoal grills.
Equestrian facilities: Horse owners appreciate dedicated camping areas with appropriate amenities. "Has equestrian amenities, but sites are not limited to horse enthusiasts. Any campers welcome," explains Marti A. about Sunset Ridge — Milford State Park. These areas often include larger parking areas for horse trailers.
Convenient location: Many campgrounds sit within 15-30 minutes of Manhattan, Kansas. "It was super easy to pull off the highway and stay for the evening. We called late, about 11pm and they were great over the phone and just had a slip we filled out the next morning," shares Kelsey R. about Owl's Nest Campground.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds operate only from April to October. "This was a beautiful clean campground with a nice lake. Only complaint is that several of the restrooms were still closed due to a flood in 2019," notes Michelle S. Check operating dates before planning glamping in Manhattan, Kansas.
Online reservations: Many sites require advance booking through websites. "The check in process was severely frustrating. They only do online. So when we got there with little sun left it took 30 minutes to actually reserve the spot," reports Carter W. about Farnum Creek.
Environmental conditions: The region experiences algae blooms in summer. "Only downside is the blue-green algae made it unsafe to swim but that is not a fault of the campground," mentions Kaylyn B. about Curtis Creek. Summer camping requires insect protection as noted in reviews: "Bring bug spray, as the mosquitoes and chiggers were biting!"
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Some campgrounds include play equipment for children. "A pit toilet close by and new playground equipment in A loop. I didn't use the showerhouse, but it was a bit of a ways off outside our campground loop," mentions Mike P. about Curtis Creek.
Beach safety: Designated swimming areas provide safer water access. "The tent camping area has been closed since 2019 which is disappointing since we were there with a tent in the middle of a bunch of RVs. Still a beautiful spot," shares Carter W. about swimming areas at COE Milford Lake Curtis Creek Park.
Poison ivy awareness: Some areas have poison ivy growing near trees. "If you bring kids keep away from tree trunks as I saw some poison ivy starting to grow at the base of several trees," warns Mike P. Teach children to identify and avoid this plant.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for privacy: End sites often provide more seclusion. "I arrived pretty late, about 8:15pm, and there was no one at the gate when I arrived so I was a little worried, but I pulled up their email that had all of the information and between that and the park signs I was able to easily make my way to my campsite," shares Michelle B. about finding her site at Curtis Creek.
Highway noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise. "I would give this place 3.5 stars for the visual atmosphere, however, given the noise levels from the interstate and highway, I can't give it four. It has lots of trees but they don't seem to do much to block the constant noise," notes Jenifer L. about Owl's Nest Campground.
Reservation options: Stays range from overnight to monthly at varying rates. "Reserve online, reasonably priced. One week stay in this little park, close to Junction City and Fort Riley. Full hookups in pull-thru half circle asphalt tar or back-in sites," explains Daniel L. about facilities suitable for luxury glamping near Manhattan, Kansas.
