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Camping near Melvern Lake

343 Reviews

Melvern Lake in Kansas hosts several established campgrounds including Outlet Park, Arrow Rock, and Eisenhower State Park. The area provides a mix of camping experiences with tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals concentrated around the 7,000-acre reservoir. Coeur D'Alene, Turkey Point, and Cedar Park campgrounds offer additional options with varying levels of amenities. Most sites feature basic facilities including fire pits and picnic tables, while more developed campgrounds provide electric hookups, shower facilities, and dump stations. Primitive camping opportunities exist at Osage State Fishing Lake, offering free sites with minimal facilities for those seeking a more rustic experience.

Reservations are required at most developed campgrounds, particularly during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. The camping season generally runs May through September, though some parks like Eisenhower State Park remain open year-round. Many campgrounds have water and electric hookups, though availability varies by location. Weather conditions can impact camping experiences, with spring often bringing higher water levels and summer occasionally featuring algae blooms. Accessibility to boat ramps and fishing areas varies depending on water levels. A camper noted that "off season free camping" is possible at some sites, though "no access to facilities, water or electric" during these periods.

The shoreline camping experience represents a significant draw for many visitors to Melvern Lake. Waterfront sites provide direct lake access for swimming, fishing, and boating activities. Campers frequently mention the quality of fishing, with multiple access points available around the lake and at the dam release area. Clean facilities receive positive mentions in reviews, with most campgrounds maintaining serviceable restrooms and shower houses. One visitor described Melvern Lake as having "beautiful well-kept park with gorgeous trails, beach, lots of shade, and quiet camping." Several campgrounds feature playground equipment for families, while hiking and biking trails provide additional recreation options. Noise levels remain relatively low at most sites, though those near railroad tracks may experience occasional train sounds overnight.

Map showing campgrounds near Melvern Lake, KansasExplore the Map

Best Camping Sites Near Melvern Lake (103)

    1. Eisenhower State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Lyndon, KS
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 528-4102

    $10 - $85 / night

    "The COE has done an admirable job developing this lakeside area for plentiful campsites and decent shade. The showers and facilities were clean and maintained well."

    "This was one of our favorite Kansas State Parks. At the end of May, it was almost empty. We had our pick of sites. We got a prime tree shaded spot on the water."

    2. Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE

    10 Reviews
    Lyndon, KS
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (785) 549-3318

    $25 - $78 / night

    "Clean facilities, quiet camping, great fishing lake, and nice bike paths."

    "Beautiful well-kept park with gorgeous trails, beach, lots of shade, and quiet camping. We’ve been here three times now and just love it. Outlet park is below the dam."

    3. Pomona State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Vassar, KS
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 828-4933

    $10 - $85 / night

    "Site a little off level, nothing a few blocks or boards couldn’t solve. 30 amps of clean 122 vac, water tucked in between two pine trees that blocked the view of the sites to the left snd right of us."

    "Its a beautiful park ,right on Pomona lake."

    4. Turkey Point

    4 Reviews
    Lebo, KS
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 549-3318

    $16 - $200 / night

    "Turkey Point is on the North side of Melvern lake. We have been going to this campground for about 10 years. The camp hosts have always been very accomodating."

    "Gravel hiking trail, too. This was our very first trip in our brand new r v. It is only about an hour away from our house, but we will be back!"

    5. Arrow Rock - Melvern Reservoir

    3 Reviews
    Fort Supply Lake, OK
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 549-3318

    "Another great place in Kansas. We managed to book this place on the start of Labor Day Weekend because of a last minute cancellation and we were extremely lucky to get this place last minute."

    "easy access to the lake. facilities can be dirty"

    6. Coeur D'alene

    2 Reviews
    Lyndon, KS
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (785) 549-3318

    $16 - $28 / night

    "They do not close the gates so you can enter but no access to facilities, water or electric. Campground slopes to the river so very few level sites."

    7. Osage State Fishing Lake

    10 Reviews
    Scranton, KS
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (620) 672-5911

    "So glad we chose this dispersed camping location as an overnight stay. It's fantastic!"

    "Pretty lake views, easy to drive in and find pretty private sites, and some fire ring"

    8. Cedar Park

    6 Reviews
    Vassar, KS
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 453-2201

    "Free and easy, and a nice change from all the flat dry Kansas fields."

    "Near the boat launch and had a quiet night. There is a pit toilet close."

    9. Carbolyn Park

    4 Reviews
    Vassar, KS
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 453-2201

    $14 - $20 / night

    "Shady and close to towns."

    10. Arrow Rock

    1 Review
    Lebo, KS
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 549-3318

    $16 - $22 / night

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Recent Reviews near Melvern Lake

343 Reviews of 103 Melvern Lake Campgrounds

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 12, 2025

    Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA

    Kansas City trip

    This campground is about 35-40 mins outside Kansas City City. The town that it is located in has a lot to do as well! Campgrounds is clean and well kept! We visited in November so not many people.

  • cThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 5, 2025

    Chase County Fishing Lake

    Camp on the water

    Not a bad spot and mostly clean. Dispersed camping directly on the lake. I didn’t fish, but there are big fish jumping. Downsides are that you can hear the highway and there isn’t much for hiking or running trails.

  • Freya
    Oct. 16, 2025

    Quail Run Campground — Hillsdale State Park

    Relaxing place to camp and enjoy nature

    All in all I really enjoyed tent camping at one of the primitive sites! My dad and I used two separate tents, each of which are six person tents, and it was easy to fit both on the campsite. I didn’t love the fire ring because the wall was pretty high and the grill part didn’t have adjustable height so that limited the height of the fire we could build when we wanted to cook over it. The nearby vault toilet was just OK, it was about as clean as a vault toilet could be but there was no way to use hand sanitizer or wash your hands nearby. The shower house with flush toilets, which was a little further away, was clean but didn’t have any hand soap, it only had hand sanitizer which was a disappointment.

    Those were really the only drawbacks to this campsite though! Everything else was lovely. I liked that there was a small camp store nearby with firewood for purchase during operating hours. The scenery was very nice and even though there were a lot of RVs in their section of the campground, I didn’t hear any noise coming from their air-conditioning thanks to the distance between that section and the primitive section.

    Being almost completely surrounded by the lake was so serene and we got to hear and see a lot of wildlife. The only other thing to know about this spot on the campground is that if you’re going to the primitive sites, you will have to park nearby and then walk the rest of the way with your gear. At the site I was in that was only a couple of yards but other ones were further away.

    Also, a note about spiders: there were way more than I’ve ever seen while camping before, so if large amounts of them bother you I suggest you not camp here in October! Most of them were small, but seeing them so often was still kind of gross. Such is life when camping though!

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 7, 2025

    Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA

    Good overnight.

    Easy check in friendly folks. Level site. Pull through FHU everything worked as expected. Would stay her again.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2025

    Richey Cove

    Richey Cove Camp Grounds.

    Reasonably priced at 23$ per night…including electricity.Covered picnic table and trees😁 A view of the lake from just about every site. Clean enough showers and toilet facilities. Camp just was very nice and helpful.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 22, 2025

    Cedar Park

    Beautiful area.

    Great area, friendly guests even the kids showing up on the weekends were well behaved. One vault toilet they maintain the best they can. Area is patrolled by Park Rangers and law enforcement, not sure if local, county, or state. While there the park placed plaques marking site numbers and eventually they will add a kiosk that will have a QR code for payment, they were not sure what the fee would be (free for now). The sites are huge and not right on top of each other, they offer a picnic table, fire ring, and a gravel parking spot for your camper or grassy areas for tents. Very dusty roads getting here but worth it. Watch out for wildlife, deer, turkeys, and vultures are always on the roads including the pup that chases you're truck, just down the road from here, lol. Hope this helps, Happy camping you all!

  • robert B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 16, 2025

    Osage State Fishing Lake

    Nice lake view

    Just got to the site, so far so good. Easy in for a Ford transit.

  • j
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Lake Shawnee County Campground

    So much to do here

    Topeka KS Lake Shawnee Co. Park Campground This campground is a gem nestled in a beautiful county park. All the sites are paved, level and have full hookups. They include nice picnic tables and fire pits. We had a pull thru site with a nice view of the lake. There are 87 FHU sites, tent sites and two modern bathhouses and laundry facilities. The park offers so many things- golf, disc golf, fishing with a heated dock, swim beach, boating, several playgrounds, tennis courts, and places to walk and  bike., even a botanical garden.. We paid$46

Guide to Melvern Lake

Camping near Melvern Lake, Kansas, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Fishing: Melvern Lake is a great spot for fishing. One camper at Outlet Park mentioned, "Fishing at the Dam release was fun but pretty difficult to reel in fish." So, bring your gear and enjoy the challenge!
  • Hiking: Explore the trails around the lake. A visitor at Woodridge Park shared, "The 4.5-mile trail was a nice activity for the scouts during the morning." It's a perfect way to enjoy nature.
  • Swimming: Outlet Park has a beach area, although one camper noted, "The water was pretty gross for swimming and rocky." Still, it’s a nice spot to cool off on a hot day.

What campers like:

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms. A review for Lake Shawnee County Campground stated, "The lake is beautiful and the campground is clean and neat."
  • Quiet camping: Many enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. One visitor at Eisenhower State Park said, "Spent the weekend here and glad we had reservations prior as it was full even though it was the end of October."
  • Wildlife: Campers love spotting animals. A review for Clinton State Park Campground mentioned, "PLENTY of wildlife. Bunnies, raccoons, and plenty of deer."

What you should know:

  • Crowded during peak season: Some campgrounds can get busy. A camper at Topeka / Capital City KOA noted, "We had a 'deluxe RV site' that backed up to the highway. So tons of highway noise all night."
  • Limited amenities: Not all campgrounds have showers or stores. A visitor at Bloomington East - Clinton Lake mentioned, "The host shack was closed four of the five days we stayed."
  • Reservations recommended: Many campgrounds fill up quickly, especially on weekends. A camper at Eisenhower State Park said, "We had our pick of sites."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose family-friendly campgrounds: Look for places with playgrounds and activities. A review for Topeka / Capital City KOA highlighted, "They have a playground. They also offer a weight room and an adorable activities room."
  • Plan for bugs: Be prepared for insects, especially in warmer months. A camper at Clinton State Park Campground mentioned, "The bugs were horrible here. Swarms of gnats and mosquitoes."
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Some campgrounds may not have stores nearby. A visitor at Lake Shawnee County Campground noted, "Grocery store 5 minutes away."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check site size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A camper at Deer Creek Valley RV Park said, "The pull-thru RV pads are huge and the grass in between is sizable for each."
  • Be mindful of noise: Some sites can be close to highways. A review for Topeka / Capital City KOA mentioned, "We had a 'deluxe RV site' that backed up to the highway."
  • Bring extra hoses: Water and sewer hookups can be awkwardly placed. A visitor at Topeka / Capital City KOA advised, "A longer water hose and sewer extension are a good idea."

Camping near Melvern Lake, Kansas, has something for everyone. Just be prepared for the quirks and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping options are available at Melvern Lake in Kansas?

Melvern Lake offers several camping options to suit different preferences. Turkey Point on the north side of the lake provides well-maintained sites with some right on the water, featuring clean facilities and reasonably spaced campsites. Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE offers another option with toilets, showers, and warm water sinks. Additionally, the area includes primitive camping spots and RV-friendly sites with various amenities. Most campgrounds around the lake provide access to fishing, swimming, and water recreation, though swimming conditions can vary depending on water levels and clarity.

How do I make camping reservations at Melvern Lake?

Reservations for Melvern Lake campgrounds can be made through Recreation.gov for Corps of Engineers sites or the Kansas State Parks reservation system for state-managed areas. Most campgrounds accept reservations up to six months in advance. For Coeur D'alene and other reservable sites, it's recommended to book early, especially for summer weekends and holidays. Some areas like Arrow Rock may offer first-come, first-served sites as well. Reservation requirements typically include payment information and details about your camping equipment and group size.

What campgrounds are located around Melvern Lake?

Several campgrounds surround Melvern Lake, each offering unique features. Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE provides camping with bathroom facilities and fishing access near the dam. Turkey Point sits on the north side with well-maintained facilities and waterfront sites. Other options include Coeur D'alene with reservable sites and water access, Carbolyn Park near Vassar with boat-in and drive-in access, and Arrow Rock near Lebo. For free camping in the general region, Osage State Fishing Lake offers primitive sites with toilet facilities.

Are cabin rentals available at Melvern Lake?

Cabin rental options directly at Melvern Lake are limited. While the primary campgrounds around the lake focus on tent and RV camping, nearby alternatives exist. Lake Miola City Park in the region offers additional facilities that might include cabin-style accommodations. For those seeking indoor accommodations, consider checking with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism or exploring private rentals in nearby communities like Lebo, Melvern, and Vassar. If cabins are unavailable, Carbolyn Park offers alternative camping options with amenities like water access and big-rig-friendly sites.

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