Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Norton, KS

I should have paid more attention to this park. I didn't realize there was a frisbee golf course. Plenty of hiking, biking and horse riding trails. I read later there's pond there to fish in. The place is called a state park but it's actually run by the city of Oberlin, Kansas. We were just driving through and needed a place to stay and found this little gem. We were the only ones in the park. It's free if you aren't using electricity. Otherwise there is an honor box for those using RV electric hook ups. We are van living and didn't need any hook ups. Lots of trees for shade around. There's a shelter house. Wish I took some pics. It was a pretty little spot.

Nice little spot in beautiful NW Kansas. Conveniently located on the intersection of Hwy 83 and Hwy 36. Like everyone in this town, the owners are helpful and friendly. Full hookups available in all (6 or 7 total) RV spots. Back in only in all but end spot, with relatively level gravel pads. There is a gazebo on site with seating, and a fire pit and barbecue. It's open for all guests, including motel guests. I give 4 stars because of 2 drawbacks. Hotel WiFi is hit and miss, and the RV spots are small. We couldn't put out our awning without invading the neighbors. But good value for the money ($30/night). I recommend. Oh and do yourself a favor, go downtown and get the best pizza ever at the ReLoad Bar and Grill.

• FCFS
• May 15 - Sep 15
• No reservations
• 14 day limit 
• Generators allowed 24/7
• Trash
• Pit toilets
• Picnic tables
• Fire ring
• No designated sites
• Dispersed camping

This camp is located below the dam on a gravel road.  Road is wash board and I am sure that on weekends ATV will abound.  There is an ATV staging area just down the road.  This will be a great location for hunting camps during the fall.

The campground is located just off Corp Road A next to the dam.

This area offers any fisherman a great opportunity to catch a great selection of walleye, wipers, white bass, northern pike and channel catfish fish species. The hunter will also gather an abundance of game animals to include pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, white-tailed and mule deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and squirrel. The lake offers a variety of hiking trails of varying length and style, as well as one equestrian trail a short drive away. An off-road vehicle trail is located in nearby Republican City.  Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. Mature tress giving most areas nice shade. There are several water sites and even the sites that are not on the water you will still have a view of the water.  Harlan County Lake is set in a very rural area. Roads are what I would consider secondary. Rather narrow, especially if you meet a vehicle pulling a boat and you are in an RV so be prepared. Harlan County Lake is set in the rolling plains of south central Nebraska where farming is very important to Nebraska and to the United States. The Republican River begins in eastern Colorado and flows 453 miles through the states of Nebraska and Kansas. Harlan County Lake is the second largest lake in Nebraska and provides year round recreation such as fishing, hunting, and all types of watersports. A claim to fame for Republican City is that it is the "Only" town by this name in the world. Republican City has a population of less than 200 people. It was founded in 1871. The Republican River supplies the lake. Republican City was devastated by "the big flood of 1935" and due to the flood the Corp of Engineers(COE) designed a dam to cross the valley. The town had to be moved to higher ground. The town was moved to higher ground in 1951-52. Homes were loaded onto trucks and placed on foundations already constructed. French traders in the late 1700's named the indigenous people along the river the Republican Pawnee in the mistaken belief that they had a republic type of government. Everything in the area was so named because of that misnomer. Harlan County and an additional almost 18,000 acres of land that surround the lake is managed by the COE. There are six parks which provides the area with a plethor of recreation campsites. When you turn off the main highway there is a liquor store and just down from that is a bait shop where I would guess you could pick up some supplies. There is a market in Alma, Nebraska. Make sure you purchase your supplies before arriving.  Enjoy bird watching, fishing, hiking, fishing and other water activities.

Notice to all that bring watercraft. All watercraft pose a threat of AIS Aquatic Invasive Species to the waterways in Nebraska and waterways in other states. Watercraft is the primary source of AIS they must be prepared with an accepted means of ensuring no AIS will enter local waterways. CLEAN DRY Non residents must obtain the AIS decal and apply to watercraft. If a boat is launched from a Nebraska boat facility a AIS decal must  be obtained.

Please buy your firewood locally.

No fireworks

LNT

Leave it better than when you found it

Stay safe  Travel safe

• Pit toilet
• Dispersed camping
• Trash
• Beach

Upon turn off follow road to the right and it will lead you to a parking lot and a swimming beach.  There is a pit toilet.  Road to the swimming beach is pave and in good shape.

To reach the camping area head on down the road after you turn off the main road, that will have you going to the left.  There will be another pit toilet and parking area.  By the pit toilet are signs stating no parking.  The road up to this pit toilet is rather rough.  Grass needs to be mowed.

If you continue to head down the road you will come to a beach area which we were able to drive on without problems.  It makes for a nice picture of the lake with a dirt cliff on the right.  There is not a sign showing camping but the sign on the highway shows a tent.  A small trailer, van, or pop up would be great here.  It is very primitive, no fire rings, grills, etc.

Great spot to put in a kayak or canoe and dip a line in for walleye, wipers, white bass, northern pike and channel catfish are the most sought-after fish species. Want to go hunting during the many seasons this would also be a great spot to set up camp and hunt for game animals which include pheasant, quail, prairie chicken, white-tailed and mule deer, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit and squirrel. The lake offers a variety of hiking trails of varying length and style, as well as one equestrian trail a short drive away. An off-road vehicle trail is located in nearby Republican City.  

• Don't Move Firewood: Protect your forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. 

Roads are what I would consider secondary. Rather narrow, especially if you meet a vehicle pulling a boat and you are in an RV so be prepared. Harlan County Lake is set in the rolling plains of south central Nebraska where farming is very important to Nebraska and to the United States. The Republican River begins in eastern Colorado and flows 453 miles through the states of Nebraska and Kansas. Harlan County Lake is the second largest lake in Nebraska and provides year round recreation such as fishing, hunting, and all types of watersports. A claim to fame for Republican City is that it is the "Only" town by this name in the world. Republican City has a population of less than 200 people. It was founded in 1871. The Republican River supplies the lake. Republican City was devastated by "the big flood of 1935" and due to the flood the Corp of Engineers (COE) designed a dam to cross the valley. The town had to be moved to higher ground. The town was moved to higher ground in 1951-52. Homes were loaded onto trucks and placed on foundations already constructed. French traders in the late 1700's named the indigenous people along the river the Republican Pawnee in the mistaken belief that they had a republic type of government. Everything in the area was so named because of that misnomer. Harlan County and an additional almost 18,000 acres of land that surround the lake is managed by the COE. There are six parks which provides the area with a plethor of recreation campsites. When you turn off the main highway there is a liquor store and just down from that is a bait shop where I would guess you could pick up some supplies. There is a market in Alma, Nebraska. Make sure you purchase your supplies before arriving.  Enjoy bird watching, fishing, hiking, fishing and other water activities.

Notice to all that bring watercraft. All watercraft pose a threat of AIS Aquatic Invasive Species to the waterways in Nebraska and waterways in other states. Watercraft is the primary source of AIS they must be prepared with an accepted means of ensuring no AIS will enter local waterways. CLEAN DRY Non residents must obtain the AIS decal and apply to watercraft. If a boat is launched from a Nebraska boat facility a AIS decal must be obtained.

LNT

Leave it better than when you found it

Stay safe Happy travels

It is small! There are about 10 sites, 9 of which where taken buy local workers. We took a chance and grabbed the 1 spot left. The sites are very small but had level cement pads, great water pressure and what looked to be new electrical source. Even during a thunderstorm the lights flickered but did not go out. There is also a dump station by the frisbee golf. It's not glamorous but at $15 dollars on a hot summer evening it fit the bill.

Great little campground in the corner of a city park. Flat, surrounded by trees. On a disc golf course with a full children’s playground nearby. Amenities were near full service for RVs. Bathrooms needed cleaning, but were well stocked. I didn’t try the showers. I had some minor obstruction issues with Starlink, but I’d rather have the trees than the perfect connection. No reservations, so it is first come first serve. Also didn’t appear to have any time limits. I loved the envelope/dropbox check in/payment system.