Looking for the best options for tent camping near Manhattan? The Dyrt helps you find campsites near Manhattan with tent camping. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Primitive camping is allowed in the designated areas.
The 179 acres surrounding the lake is a wildlife refuge, predominately riparian timber with some native grass on the upland area. Primitive camping is allowed on the west side of the lake. Boating is restricted to fishing only. The lake population includes Channel Catfish (which are stocked during the summer months thanks to funding from the Urban Fishing Program), Black bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Flat-head catfish, and Walleye.
North Overlook Park is a one of the many day use parks at Milford Lake with two shelters available for reservations, great fishing access, and a playground. Also within walking distance of the shelters is a baseball field, horseshoe pits and a volleyball court. With these features offered, North Overlook Park is sure to have something for the whole family. Click here for the Milford Lake Virtual Tour.
Activities at Milford Lake include boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing and biking. Milford Lake is known to have great sail boating opportunities as well.
Each shelter has picnic tables and grill available for use. Shelter 2 also has a sand volleyball court and horseshoe pits available. And there is a playground, vault toilet and baseball field located between the two shelters.
NATURAL FEATURES: Milford Lake is nestled on the edge of the Kansas Flint Hills and is fed by the Republican River. Milford Lake stands as the largest man-made lake in Kansas, with a surface area of 15,700 acres and 163 miles of shoreline. Milford Lake is also the home of the states third largest wetland and is known to a variety of wildlife.
The Milford Nature Center and Fish Hatchery is nearby just below the dam. There you can find live animal exhibits as well as learn about the ecosystems of Kansas. A golf course is adjacent to the nature center on the north end of the Dam and the town of Junction City is approximately five miles from North Overlook Shelter.
$25 / night
Outlet Park is a day use park at Milford Lake located just below the Milford Dam. With one shelter available for reservation, those visitors interested in angling and wildlife observation will enjoy its location near the Outlet Pond, a popular fishing pond and wildlife attractor. Inside the park is also a great fishing areas and access to the Riverwalk Trail. Click here for the Milford Lake Virtual Tour.
Activities at Milford Lake include boating, swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking, wildlife viewing and biking. Milford Lake is known to have great sail boating opportunities as well.
The shelter has a vault toilet and grill available for use and also has a playground, horseshoe pit and sand volleyball court nearby. The shelter is located by a fishing pier which offers great fishing access.
Milford Lake is nestled on the edge of the Kansas Flint Hills and is fed by the Republican River. Milford Lake stands as the largest man-made lake in Kansas, with a surface area of 15,700 acres and 163 miles of shoreline. Milford Lake is also the home of the states third largest wetland and is known to a variety of wildlife.
The Milford Nature Center and Fish Hatchery is nearby just below the dam. There you can find live animal exhibits as well as learn about the ecosystems of Kansas. A golf course is adjacent to the nature center on the north end of the Dam and the town of Junction City is approximately five miles from North Overlook Shelter.
$25 / night
Kanza View Picnic Shelter is located at the east end of Council Grove Dam just off Kansas Highway 177. It offers some of the most scenic views of the lake.
Although Council Grove Lake has excellent fishing and boating opportunities, access to the water limits these activities at Kanza View. Picnicking and tent camping at Kanza View's primitive sites are this location's primary activities.
The park sits on top of a hill adjacent to the lake offering breathtaking lake views. Although the park has many open grassy areas interspersed with large Cottonwood and Oak trees, access to the lake is limited due to the steep, rocky terrain.
Multiple developed campgrounds surround Council Grove Lake in the near vicinity. The town of Council Grove affords an array of historic sites and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is 18 miles south on Highway 177.
$25 - $30 / night
This recreation area is part of Milford Lake
This recreation area is part of Milford Lake
Guide
We stopped for one night. $40, had full hook up, pretty level gravel site. Bathroom shower houses are OK did well for what we wanted. Only thing that might bother some people is there is a train track right beside the campground. This could be charming and rustic, or just annoying noise, depending on your point of view. It was warm, we had the AC on, didn’t bother us. It’s an older campground and it shows, but we were pleased.
Guide
It's a quaint little campground that has been around for 60 years. It's just down the street from President Dwight D Eisenhower presidential museum and library. The entrance is marked with a square blue sign I found difficult to read when approaching the campground. Our site was very level with about 15-18 foot swath of grass on either side.
If you get the chance visit the early 1900's wooden Carousel and old Abilene historic buildings. Check out the The Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad heritage railway. Ride the Flint Hills Express on track built by the Rock Island Railroad in 1886! M&R Grill had good food, reasonable prices, and generous portions. Staff was friendly and helpful.
Guide
Easy access from highway. Most sites are 30 amp back in with 4 30/50 posts marked with pull thru. Showers and restrooms at swimming pool a block north. Dump at entrance of campsite. Water hydrants but not at all sites. Would stay again for quite overnight stay. August 10, 2024 $15 night Dropbox
Guide
Kansas has over 40 state fishing lakes with free camping. Lots of fishermen. I’d say over a dozen camping sites. We had a shelter, picnic table, toilet building, view of the lake. We rode our motorcycles here to tent camp. Raccoon couldn’t wait for me to zip my tent to come out and see what we left out.
Scout
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. Close to Hwy 70 with some noise. Laundry/shower area available.
TravelerCamp site was fine. Just disappointed in the amount of trash surrounding. Easily filled up a large trash bag at the single site I was on. Could be so much better if maintained.
TravelerCampsite is clean and peaceful. Beautiful lake with a waterfall a little more north. The highway nearby is a little noisy but not off putting. Regular drive bys from locals but completely normal.
Scout
In June of 2023, my husband& I decided to move into our 42' toy hauler. We searched& searched within a 30-minute radius of our property that we had bought for a campground with great amenities and where we would feel safe with our 2 babies. Walt's is by far the safest, friendliest, fun-filled campground compared to any of the others we visited around. We were greeted with friendly faces and welcoming staff from our very first day of move-in. They made sure we got settled& hooked up ok and have continued to make us feel right at home. My husband is a truck driver so isn't always home when things go wrong with the camper. The staff has always been there to help when something happens especially when we have had issues with propane leaks, or the heater not working during the colder temps. This campground offers put-put course, swimming pool with poolside pub, horseshoes, catch& release fishing, walking trail, small dog park, playground for children, shower houses/restrooms, laundry facility, on site gas station, a country store with made to order pizzas, sandwiches& tex mex! They do several family friendly events throughout the year. At the country store they have anything of convenience that you may need from toiletries, drinks, snacks, ice cream, games, books, alcoholic beverages, etc. We absolutely love staying here. The sites have been freshly graveled. During the summer the lawn, gardens, pool, etc. Were maintained regularly and they are constantly doing updates weekly here. The best part it is also right off I-70. For long term campers that are truckers they do have a small area for semis. They also have a rentable party room inside the country store as well as outdoor areas for party rentals!
Scout
A sweet little city park in a sweet little city. Electric hookups. Water available at a central pump. Bathrooms were closed for the season Nov. 20 when I was here.
RangerWe stayed for three nights while staying close to Nebraska for a wedding and work obligations. Quiet lake, we were the only campers there. Little traffic through the park. Can sometimes hear the highway 77 noise but not really inside the camper. Great free spot.
ScoutPark is free. With hookups. Cute little town. Lots to see. Wish there were more of these out there
GuideMultiple spots are available on the lake, and there are a couple in a grassy wooded area. They have picnic tables and fire pits already there. I stayed in the grassy wooded area and enjoyed the night. Road noise dies down around 8 or 9 and then you only hear occasional cars if you are awake... didn't bother me much. Had a dog and she had a good time.
Scout
Beautiful campground! It had pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Solid free camping! Other campers were sort of rowdy, but it was a holiday weekend.
Guide
Sites are nice; although very exposed to the neighbor and close together. It was really windy. Almost all sites in the b loop on the lake. Bathrooms clean. Not sure if there is a shower somewhere.
RangerAs you enter the park off of 10th street the bathroom and dump station are on the right. 3 spots have electric. 2 were taken when we arrived. Donations accepted ( how could you not) there were a couple of potable water spigots available. Previous reviews were spot on. Great little town. For the tent campers there are 5 spots with 20 amp power plugs also.
TravelerClose to the highway was our only downfall. Kinda loud when trying to fall asleep at night. Other than that it deserves 5 stars from us! Easy pull off of I-70. Very friendly staff, big snack shop with pizza, ice cream, adult beverages! Lots of things to do for kids- putt putt, playground. The pool is being worked on but will be up and running soon. Very happy about our stay!
TravelerVery nice place, sites are not well marked. You have to climb the curb to get to the site, and its dirt, with some grass, and lots of nice trees. We had electric at our site and they did have water available in March, dump station is nearby as well. Bathrooms where closed.
Guide
COE did a great job providing cozy site with lake access. Covered picnic table, lake view, good fishing.
Out of the way but close enough to town to get supplies. Poor cell coverage with Verizon
GuideFound this spot and had to share! Plenty of tent spots and places to park an RV. Vault toilets available. Boat ramps available. Best part is its FREE!
TravelerNice place off of 70 for a night. Level sites a plus.
Traveler
There’s a sewage dump station the next camping loop over (Hickory Hollow) if you can’t stay at a space with a sewage hookup. Pull through and back in spaces, decent amount of shade at almost every spot, primitive and RV/Camper sites. There’s even a firewood crate ($7). Close to trails and we even saw 2 deer on our way to park. Gorgeous fall leaves this time of year (October). Water has a slight sulfur smell, but who’s sink in KS doesn’t.
Guide
Beautiful setting. 3 sites with water & electric. If not using electric then free. Bath house with hot water & heat & flush toilets. No showers.
TravelerThere are a few designated camping areas with fire pits and picnic tables, but you can park and camp anywhere around the lake. Perfect for fishing, exploring, camping, boating, fishing and more. Campfires and leashed pets are allowed. Don’t forget to visit the waterfalls (entrance on State Lake Rd).
Traveler
While traveling from Alabama to Colorado I stopped at West Rolling Hills. Since it was Labor Day weekend the campground was crowded. I ended up in my tent next to R.V.'s. Despite these things I enjoyed the stay so much I made it two nights. The facilities were clean, showers and bathrooms were well maintained. Folks were friendly. I'd recommend this as a good spot to stay if traveling.
Guide
Has a pool marina and bar/restaurant. Lodging from yurts to big cabins.
GuideWe went kayaking and playing on the beach. We booked the buddy sites to have an extra large site beside the beach area and it was worth it. All sites seemed well kept and level. Only downside is the blue-green algae made it unsafe to swim but that is not a fault of the campground. Boat ramp was close and boats were able to anchor on the beach at night for campers to easily launch near the campground.
GuideIf you’re just passing through and looking for a place to camp it’s a little far off 70 but lots of space and a very nice place to stay for being free and on a lake.
Tent camping near Manhattan, Kansas offers a variety of scenic spots where nature lovers can unwind and enjoy the great outdoors. With options ranging from serene lakeside views to shaded areas, there's something for every camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Manhattan, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Manhattan, KS is Pottawatomie County State Lake #2 with a 4.2-star rating from 13 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Manhattan, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 tent camping locations near Manhattan, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
