3 campgrounds with availability this weekend
Several RV campgrounds near Meriden, Kansas provide full hookup options for travelers. Deer Creek Valley RV Park in Topeka features concrete pads with 50-amp electrical service, water, and sewer connections. Walnut Grove RV Park in Merriam accommodates big rigs across its 50 sites with gravel pull-through and back-in options. Topeka Capital City KOA offers both 30 and 50-amp service with buddy sites for those traveling together, though spacing can be tight between units. Lake Shawnee County Campground provides water and electric hookups with no sewer connections at individual sites, though a dump station is available. "The sites were easy to level. The water and sewer hookups are in the middle between sites, which can make hooking up somewhat awkward depending on the layout of your rig."
Most RV parks in the region remain open year-round, with peak season running April through October. Dump stations are available at nearly all parks, though Lake Shawnee requires using their central facility rather than offering sewer hookups at individual sites. Cell service varies considerably, with stronger coverage reported at parks closer to Topeka and Kansas City. Prairie Band Casino Resort RV Park provides an alternative option for overnight stays with 50-amp service and sewer connections. Pet policies differ between locations—most allow pets but may have breed or size restrictions. During summer months, insect activity increases significantly at parks near Clinton State Park and other wooded areas. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, travelers should be prepared for highway noise at several locations, particularly those adjacent to I-70.
"We had hoped to get in around dinner with time to enjoy the pool, but we left way later than planned. The hosts were so nice and organized…texting us late check in info."
"We just came off 2-3 weeks of hot dirty, dusty, un-level, gravelly, marginally maintained campgrounds and this campground was sheer heaven! Clean level concrete pads with hook ups that worked!"
from $40 - $45 / night
"Good area, quiet, and reasonably priced!"
from $45 - $575 / night
"Great place for a somewhat long stay. Staff are very nice and sweet, there’s free WiFi, lots of pull through spots, has a dump station and allows pets. Overall very family friendly."
"My husbands job took us to Merriam Kansas and we needed a place to stay, we made reservations at Walnut Grove. We were surprised to find it in the middle of a neighborhood."
from $62 - $131 / night
"It's located 20 miles north of Kansas City and had full hookups, and even wifi and cable. It was beautiful and well kept. We were lucky enough to get a site across from one of its 5 small lakes."
"Very clean bathhouses and property, friendly staff, nice pool, great fishing, fun family activities, nice camp store/pizza kitchen."
from $56 - $59 / night
"It is a great place to unwind and enjoy the peace and quiet. Fishing is great and kayaking was enjoyed."
from $15 - $40 / night
"We had Full hook- up with a gravel pull-through."
"Campsite was gravel with full hookups. Had to level the camper ever so slightly. Small amount of highway noise. Good cell service signal. Friendly staff."
"Wonderful pull through spots, great views, and closer to the boat ramp!"
"Nice state park on the lake can be crowded and a little crazy on weekends. Like most state parks no sewer hookups but easy access to dump station"
TravelerThe price is good. We paid just under 13usd for a basic primitive site. The bathrooms are limited and pretty rough as one might expect. Otherwise, we found it quiet, peaceful and pretty. Good location to Laurence and get a good coffee and donut.
GuideLots of big sites in Cornflower loop some shaded. Bathroom needs an update; I wouldn’t use the shower as too disgusting so can’t rate the water temperature.
ScoutWe set up our little camper trailer in one of the primitive loops, backed into the trees. Access to the white and blue trail loops from the campground either via some rickety stairs or from a trail next to the cabins. Relatively close to the bathroom and shower house for water. Campsite was great, but the campground in general could use a little bit of trash pickup and general spiffing up
RangerPretty developed, easy to find and right on the lake. Restrooms were nearby so that was a plus. There was plenty of space between sites but no real coverage for privacy. I don’t fish so I really just needed a free place to stay in nature and this was perfect for that. Bugs were… present. I called it a night quickly after the sun went down and could hear the bugs and other creatures from the inside of the car. Not my thing. The lake was super pretty and it was not difficult to drive to.
ScoutRight in the city park (St Mary's Riverside Park) are 3 "spots" to pull in and hook up. Only $10/night for electric (30 or 50 amp) and water! One site (#2) has a picnic table and grill. There were campers that just pulled into the park for the night (free) but no hook-ups.
Pros: restrooms with flush toilets (no showers), hook-ups, nice playground, grass/trees, quiet, disc golf course, good service at City Hall, just 2 blocks off Main St
Cons: have to plan ahead to make reservations (snail mail and check) if you want hook-ups OR go to City Hall during business hours to get key for electric box, mosquitoes.
Would certainly stay again!
RangerSites were nicely spaced and generally close to level. Paved roads. Our site 168 was surfaced with reclaimed asphalt. Lots of shade and clean. Many sites are electric only with 30 amps with water available in several locations in park. Good Starlink at my site.
GuideI stayed at Doud Campground inside the state park. It was a peaceful site facing the lake, with a few hay bales and a well maintained trail.
September was a good month to stay because it was cooler outside. I recommend using the bathhouse facilities at BlackJack campground right next to Doud as they are more updated.
ScoutGood area, quiet, and reasonably priced!
GuideStayed at Cedar Ridge campground. Originally planned a 2 night stay. Ended up extending for total of 7 nights.
Pull thru and back-in sites, all are paved and level.
Clean bathrooms and good laundry room too.
Really nice place. Lots of shade or more sunny sites are available.
Army Corps of Engineers does it again.
RV parks near Meriden, Kansas sit at elevations between 950-1200 feet with seasonal temperature fluctuations from below freezing in winter to humid 90°F summers. Most campgrounds remain accessible year-round, though campers should prepare for Kansas thunderstorms from April through September. Cell service varies significantly by carrier, with Verizon typically providing the strongest coverage throughout the region.
Fishing opportunities: Perry State Park Campground offers multiple fishing locations around its lake. "We had a wonderful stay! Wonderful pull through spots, great views, and closer to the boat ramp!" notes a camper about the Lake View Loop area, which provides convenient water access.
Urban exploration: Visit downtown Lawrence from Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA. A reviewer points out its convenient location: "It's not the best I've ever been to, but it's a great family campground with beautiful views." The campground provides easy access to both Lawrence and Kansas City attractions.
Museum visits: Several unique museums lie within short drives of Meriden area campgrounds. A camper at Deer Creek Valley RV Park highlighted the "Central Topeka location minutes from the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District, the Capitol, the Topeka Zoo, and the Evel Knevel Museum."
Wide RV sites: Many RV parks in the Meriden area feature spacious sites. A camper at Deer Creek Valley RV Park states, "Great spot, the pull-thru RV pads are huge and the grass in between is sizable for each." This makes setup easier for larger rigs.
Clean facilities: Campground cleanliness ranks highly with visitors to Walnut Grove RV Park. "A little hidden Gem...Clean 24-7 bathrooms, showers and laundry facilities. A re-visit and stay is a must. Close to stores, eats and fuel for RV's," reports one reviewer.
Pet amenities: Dog owners appreciate designated pet areas. A Deer Creek Valley visitor noted, "Huge grassy enclosed dog run which is priceless traveling across country with two dogs. The price was very decent and it served us well for an easy nightly stop."
Train noise: Several campgrounds experience railroad disturbances. Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA receives consistent mentions: "This is a lovely campsite but we'll sadly never stay here again - because trains passed by really loudly all night long - it finally stopped at about 5am."
Site spacing: Proximity between sites varies significantly. At Topeka Capital City KOA, a camper reported, "Tight spots. Nice pool and game room. Pretty pond. Friendly staff. Our spot backed to I-70. Also some plane noise."
Seasonal events: Some campgrounds offer regular activities. At Basswood Country RV Resort, "Every weekend there are organized activities such as arts and crafts, fishing contests, duck races and frozen t-shirt contests in the pool, and a Saturday evening outdoor movie."
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. A family staying at Basswood Country RV Resort appreciated that it "provides amenities that are great for entertaining children, including a swimming pool and splash park, two playgrounds, a basketball goal, and fishing."
Water activities: Pools provide welcome relief during hot Kansas summers. A Deer Creek Valley visitor shared, "Kids loved playing on the playground in the morning while we packed up. Plenty of grass and a little dog run area too for our pup. We'd definitely stay here again!"
Entertainment options: Game rooms and organized activities keep children occupied. According to a Topeka Capital City KOA guest: "They have a saltwater Swimming pool. They also offer a weight room and an adorable activities room with air hockey, a library, & a pool table. There is also a scenic walking trail."
Site leveling: Many RV parks feature level sites with concrete pads. A reviewer at Deer Creek Valley mentioned, "Clean level concrete pads with hook ups that worked! A pool that was warm enough to get all the way into (but still truly refreshing!)."
Hookup positioning: Consider utility layouts when selecting sites. At Perry State Park Campground, "Water on each site which is a luxury. Super easy to pull in and set up. Plenty of spots."
Premium site options: Some parks offer upgraded sites with more space. At Walnut Grove RV Park, one camper explained, "We stopped here for the night and had a great stay. 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. Would stay here again."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Meriden, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Meriden, KS is Deer Creek Valley RV Park with a 4.9-star rating from 10 reviews.
What is the best site to find RV camping near Meriden, KS?
TheDyrt.com has all 76 RV camping locations near Meriden, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
