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Best Equestrian Camping near McConnell AFB, KS

40 Reviews

Boulder Bluff Area at El Dorado State Park provides horse camping options in the Equestrian Loop, where campsites are designed specifically for visitors traveling with horses. Campsites are situated near the water, allowing campers to hear waves hitting the shore throughout the night. This horse-friendly campground features back-in sites with fire rings, grills, and picnic tables, though their placement varies between sites and may not be optimally positioned relative to trailer parking. Most sites in the Equestrian Loop are primitive, with only a couple offering hookups. The parking pads are not level, requiring campers to plan accordingly for stabilizing trailers and RVs. The area offers beautiful tree coverage for shade during Kansas summers, providing a comfortable environment for both horses and riders.

Located about 40 minutes from Wichita and under an hour from McConnell AFB, El Dorado State Park provides convenient access to bridle trails for day rides from camp. The park contains multiple camping areas spread across a large property with both a man-made lake and a river running through it. Paved trails and roads throughout the campground are suitable for biking, while separate trails through wooded areas accommodate horseback riding. The park maintains primitive toilet facilities within the Equestrian Loop, with shower facilities available elsewhere in the park, though some users note these facilities are not consistently maintained. Local campers frequently use this area, particularly during holiday weekends, though the atmosphere remains family-oriented even during busy periods. Water access for horses is available near campsites, with the nearby lake providing additional options for horse watering.

Best Equestrian Sites Near McConnell AFB, Kansas (6)

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Equestrian Camping Reviews near McConnell AFB, KS

40 Reviews of 6 McConnell AFB Campgrounds

  • R
    Jul. 30, 2018

    Sand Hills State Park Campground

    Very nice low key. Easy to find. Friendly staff.

    State park. Reservations accepted. Horse friendly. Over 600 acres of equestrian trails

    tent and rv sites. Good, clean restroom/showers.

  • Brittany G.
    Oct. 4, 2020

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Peaceful stay

    My husband, our 2 dogs, and I stayed at the Equestrian Loop. We pulled in our PUP for a night sleep. The spot we chose to pop up was right near the water, and you could hear the waves hitting the shore all night long. A beautiful and peaceful sound.

  • T
    Sep. 19, 2020

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Beautiful and peaceful

    We stayed in the equestrian loop. All but a couple primitive sites are back-in. The layout of the fire rings, grills and picnic tables are all weird... Not consistent and usually on the wrong side of your trailer. The parking pad was nowhere near level, so you'll want to plan for that. The trees are lovely. You're very near the water and the breeze was beautiful. The toilet at the loop are pit. The bath house was not clean and many of the showers didn't work.. Water is lukewarm but water pressure was great. No stall doors on toilets or showers. We used the city of El Dorado dump station. The park is massive. Lots of amenities in El Dorado. And a quick jump to Wichita. We will be back.

  • Angie S.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Walnut River Area — El Dorado State Park

    Big Oak Campground

    You'd think the Big Oak Campground in El Dorado State Park would be amazing. It's shaded with huge trees, nice sized sites some of which are very spread out, a quick walk to the swim beach and a quick drive to put your boat in the water. Unfortunately these pluses are far outweighed by the negatives. First the bathrooms were horrible. I realize they are older restrooms but they smelled awful, they were never obviously cleaned, the showers were not even a tiny bit private, the door to the restroom was broken and had to be propped open with a tree branch. Just over the bridge at the swim beach they were worse and some of the doors in the women’s room were missing. Yuck! Secondly basic campground rules were not enforced at all. The site across from us easily had 30 people camping and were up until 4am with loud music and a bright light on. I’m not kidding, my daughter was up around 3 to use the restroom and we walked by twice. The family in the site next to us had at least 4 cars and 2 tents set up outside the site on the walking path in addition to their two tents in their own site. The dog free swim beach had dogs on it. We camp with our dogs, one of which loves to swim and even I don’t want dogs on a public beach. Our camping weekend was negatively affected by poor camping etiquette and a sever lack of basic rule enforcement. We won’t be back to El Dorado State Park Big Oak campsite any time soon, at least not during the busy summer camping season. Cross Timbers and Fall River are much better!

  • Angie S.
    Jul. 20, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Walnut River Area, Big Oak Campground

    You'd think the Big Oak Campground in El Dorado State Park would be amazing. It's shaded with huge trees, nice sized sites some of which are very spread out, a quick walk to the swim beach and a quick drive to put your boat in the water. Unfortunately these pluses are far outweighed by the negatives. First the bathrooms were horrible. I realize they are older restrooms but they smelled awful, they were never obviously cleaned, the showers were not even a tiny bit private, the door to the restroom was broken and had to be propped open with a tree branch. Just over the bridge at the swim beach they were worse and some of the doors in the women’s room were missing. Yuck! Secondly basic campground rules were not enforced at all. The site across from us easily had 30 people camping and were up until 4am with loud music and a bright light on. I’m not kidding, my daughter was up around 3 to use the restroom and we walked by twice. The family in the site next to us had at least 4 cars and 2 tents set up outside the site on the walking path in addition to their two tents in their own site. The dog free swim beach had dogs on it. We camp with our dogs, one of which loves to swim and even I don’t want dogs on a public beach. Our camping weekend was negatively affected by poor camping etiquette and a sever lack of basic rule enforcement. We won’t be back to El Dorado State Park Big Oak campsite any time soon. Cross Timbers and Fall River are much better!

  • Jason S.
    Apr. 14, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    Fun Area

    This Park is closer to home so just took my son on a quick fishing/camping overnigh for his birthday. Stayed at the Walnut River Area, the Blue stem area was still closed down for winter in April. Lots of good places to fish on this reservoir, fish weren't biting so we spent quite a bit of time riding our bikes around the area. There is a large playground for kids, a nice swim beach away from the main lake, an archery range, and they are building a pistol/ rifle range next to the ranger station for public use.

  • Z
    May. 27, 2018

    Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park

    El Dorado State Park Bluestem for an easy, laid-back weekend!

    Restrooms with showers and dumpsters (for you campsite garbage) are widely available during camping season. The designated swim areas are great for the whole family because there is a wide and far out area that doesn't get too deep while being roped off. NO STICKERS IN THE GRASS AT THE DESIGNATED CAMP SITES!!!!! At some sites, you can fish just feet from your tent. Beware at the box turtle camp site though, a channel runs 3-4 feet out from the shore and drops about 12 feet QUICK so don't swim there! The general store and bait shop at Bluestem is wonderful. If you visit Kansas State Parks frequently, it pays to purchase an annual vehicle permit early in the year when they are discounted rather than pay per day every time you visit.

Guide to McConnell AFB

El Dorado State Park spans over 4,000 acres with distinct camping areas around a 8,000-acre reservoir. The park sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging in the 90s. Multiple camping loops accommodate different preferences, with equestrian facilities located in the Boulder Bluff area approximately 45 minutes from McConnell AFB.

What to do

Horseback riding trails: El Dorado State Park features extensive bridle paths connecting to the equestrian camping area. "There's plenty of options (primitive, water/electric/sewer, picnic use, boat ramps). My experience over the holiday weekends has usually been that's when the rowdy crowd shows up but this campground was comfortable and family-oriented," notes a camper at Boulder Bluff Area — El Dorado State Park.

Explore the waterfall: Cowely County Fishing Lake offers unique waterfall features not typically found in Kansas parks. "It has a waterfall feature," shares one visitor, while another notes, "At the time I was there, the waterfall was dried up and I was able to take a trail down to the bottom and see everything up close." Visit during spring for best water flow at Cowely County Fishing Lake.

Biking on paved trails: The park system includes multiple paved paths suitable for cycling throughout the campgrounds. "There are lots of paved trails and paved roads in the campground that are nice for biking. There are some trails through the woods also," explains a visitor about the trail system at El Dorado.

What campers like

Lakeside camping spots: Several campsites throughout the region offer direct lake access. "Very nice primitive campsite. Several spots beside the lake or built a little peninsulas surrounded by water on three sides. More spots higher up on the bluff overlooking the lake," describes a visitor at Cowely County Fishing Lake.

Family amenities: Many campgrounds have facilities designed for families. "Three nice campgrounds, large playground, fishing and a swim beach. Worth the stop with the kids," states a review about Walnut River Area — El Dorado State Park.

Convenient location: The proximity to Wichita makes these campgrounds practical for weekend trips. "We will stay here for overnight trips since it's only about 40 minutes from home. We usually stay on the Walnut River side as there is a large playground with tent sites close enough to keep an eye on the kiddos," shares a camper about Walnut River Area.

What you should know

Facility conditions vary: Bathroom and shower facilities receive mixed reviews throughout the region's campgrounds. "Showers were nice. They were over run with bugs but that was to be expected since it's early May," reports a camper at Sand Hills State Park.

Weekend crowds: Holiday and summer weekends bring higher visitor numbers and occasionally parties. "Only a couple other campers on the weekday I was there, very quiet but there was some trash look like there might be some partying on the weekends," notes a Cowely County Fishing Lake visitor.

Site levelness: Many campsites throughout the region require leveling equipment. "Park was a little unlevel so definitely need to bring extra wood to level correctly," advises a Sand Hills State Park visitor about site conditions.

Tips for camping with families

Multiple swim areas: El Dorado offers designated swimming beaches separate from boat traffic. "There's a large playground, fishing and a swim beach," states a Walnut River Area visitor, while another adds, "There is a large playground for kids, a nice swim beach away from the main lake."

Playground proximity: Select sites near recreational facilities for easier supervision. "We usually stay on the Walnut River side as there is a large playground with tent sites close enough to keep an eye on the kiddos. They also have a swim area on this side," recommends a parent who frequents Winfield City Lake.

Off-peak visits: Consider weekday camping for a quieter experience. "This lake tends to get a little rowdy on the holidays/weekends," warns one camper about Winfield City Lake, suggesting families might prefer non-peak times.

Tips from RVers

Hookup variety: Campgrounds offer various hookup configurations. "There is a convenient store down the road and the office does sell a few things like ice and minnows. Need better roads way to much dirt and only one bath house that we would use and it needed to be cleaned," explains a reviewer at Winfield City Lake.

Dump station availability: Plan tank emptying accordingly as not all parks have on-site facilities. "Stopped here early in February 2021 for one night, on the way home to Missouri from Arizona. Needed a quiet place to get a nights sleep and drain the tanks before putting the RV back in storage for the rest of the winter," shares an RVer about Kansas State Fair RV Park.

Site length considerations: Horse campers with large trailers should verify site dimensions. "It's a small lake but big enough to go fishing and do your boating fun on like skiing, tubing and etc. There is camping around the lake with RV hookups in spots around the lake. A few full hookups, water & electric hookups and many just electric spots," notes a camper about site options at Winfield City Lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near McConnell AFB, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near McConnell AFB, KS is Winfield City Lake with a 3.2-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find equestrian camping near McConnell AFB, KS?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near McConnell AFB, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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