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Best Tent Camping near Norton, KS

85 Reviews

Norton, Kansas provides several tent camping options within Prairie Dog State Park, which offers three distinct campground areas for tent campers. Meadowlark Campground features drive-in tent sites with amenities including drinking water, electrical hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The park also offers Cottonwood and Leota Cove campgrounds, both accommodating tent campers with similar amenities. These established campgrounds provide showers and toilets, making them suitable for campers seeking basic conveniences while tent camping in northwest Kansas.

Most tent sites in the Norton area require payment, with fees typically ranging from $12-15 per night. Prairie Dog State Park campgrounds provide accessible drive-in sites with level camping areas. Fire rings are available at most locations, and fires are generally permitted when no burn bans are in effect. Potable water is available at the main campgrounds, but primitive areas may require bringing your own supply. Tent campers should be prepared for potentially windy conditions typical of the Kansas plains. As one camper noted, "Crazy storms rolling over the plains" can occur, so securing tents properly is essential.

The camping areas around Norton provide access to Keith Sebelius Lake for fishing and water activities. Sites at Prairie Dog State Park are described as having "a lot of trees" in some loops, providing shade that's valuable during hot Kansas summers. A camper review mentioned that the park offers "nice, simple relaxing on your road trip" with "very short trails" for hiking. Tent campers looking for more primitive experiences might consider the basic sites at Keith Sebelius Lake Recreation Area, though these offer fewer amenities than the state park campgrounds. The dispersed nature of the tent sites throughout Prairie Dog State Park provides reasonable privacy between campsites, though the park can become busier during summer weekends and holidays.

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Best Tent Sites Near Norton, Kansas (6)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Norton, KS

85 Reviews of 6 Norton Campgrounds

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Mushroom Campground — Webster State Park

    Camp like a smurf

    Feel like you're camping like a smurf, almost.  Mushroom camping area are a series of campsites which have a mushroom like shelter over each sites picnic tables (except for one that has a different shaped structure)  Each covered area sits on a concrete pad and has two picnic tables.  Site also has a metal fire ring.  The spots all have plenty of grass around them for your tents.  These sites are listed as primitive so cost only $12.75 for the night.  Their is a vault toilet in the area, but it is only really conveniently located near two of the sites.  These sites are spaced far apart from each other.  No water available in the camping area, but you can get it and other services from some of the other campgrounds in the area.  Most of the sites sit out in the open.  The site I stayed at did have two trees which I was able to use for my hammock.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 22, 2021

    Lakeview Campground — Webster State Park

    Lakeside camping

    Lake View Campground is a small campground right along the shore of the Webster Reservoir.  This campground has ten sites with water and electrical hook ups, plus an additional 7 or 8 primitive sites.  A couple of the primitive sites are along the shore, but most are at the edge of a large grass area.  Their is an vault toilet at the entrance to the campground, a bit of a walk from the primitive campsites.  A large shelter is also available at the site.  A shower house is located at a day use area just past the campground as well as an archery range just past that.  All sites have picnic tables and metal fire rings

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2021

    North Outlet Camping

    Archery is the Game

    FCFS. May– Sep. 24 sites Archery range. Toilets, flush. Showers. Water sites.

    Picnic table. Mature trees. Swim beach(rocky). Playground Water. Trash. Fire ring. Boat ramp

    This campground is a bit of a third choice unless you want to practice archery. The archery range is the best thing about this campground making me wish I had my bow.

     The campground is small, with small sites, no electric. It has a very sad swim beach which is covered in gravel. Another pro would be the fact that it is on the lake and would be less crowded.

     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. 

    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.

     GPS 40.086231.      -99.213833

     Phone 308-799-2105 

    Directions: Drive one mile southeast of Republican City by way of Corps A Road

     LNT

     Better than when you found it

     Stay safe Happy travels

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2021

    Harlan County Lake - COE/ North Outlet Park

    Primitive

    • May– Sep

    • Primitive camping

    • No designed sites $12.00

    • FCFS

    • May run generator 24-7

    Basketball goal   Fire ring/grill  drinking water  Picnic area  Playground   Pit toilets   Picnic table  Trash

    You will probably have this site to your self unless it is hunting season.  When we were there we were the only ones.  If you do not need services you will have it made.

    This primitive camping site is on the north side of the Republican River about 2 miles south of Republican City by way of Corps Road A and Reservoir Road. Phone 308-799-2105

    GPS 40.072998-90.210250

    LNT

    Better than when you found it

    Stay safe  Happy travels

  • Katie L.
    Jul. 15, 2024

    Cedar Ridge Campground — Prairie Dog State Park

    Great birds, busy park

    Stayed one night in a tent. Was able to find a site tucked in the trees that felt separate from the other campsites and it was perfect! Had a range of sites from primitive (picnic table and fire ring) to full hook up. Huge, busy campground but not overwhelming—there’s enough space to accommodate. Verizon works great.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 28, 2021

    Old Marina Campground — Webster State Park

    Relaxing RV campground

    Old Marina campground is mostly a RV campground, but plenty of grass behind each side for a tent.  This campground is in two areas, if you turn left as indicated by the sign you enter a loop that has numerous sites all pretty much right next to each other.  All these sites are perfectly level.  A small shelter is at the end of the loop.  A playground is in the middle of the loop and restrooms/showers are on the north end of the loop.  If you turn to the right you will come to a large parking area for the boat launch, and another set of campsites, you are just parking in a parking lot with numbered spots containing your hook ups and picnic tables with covers.  All sites in either section have picnic tables and metal fire rings as well as water and electric hook ups.  An RV dump is located on the road just before the turn to Old Marina.  Several dumpsters are in the area.  The loop section has large trees providing shade.  A sign on the restroom indicates that WIFI is available.

  • J
    Aug. 13, 2019

    Sheridan State Fishing Lake

    Cool fishing lake, with lots of free camping

    We got here very late, and the place was empty. There was a stack of firewood next to the forepit, and the tent site was very even. Weather was gorgeous, and we didn't mind the mooing cows in the distance. There was a picnic table, and though the road was a bit rough on the minivan, it was a well maintained campsite.

  • Dexter I.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 27, 2021

    Hill Top Campground — Webster State Park

    Nice campground but lacks toilet

    Hill Top Campground is a nice level open campground, appear to be fairly new.  Great spot for the RV set as all sites have electric and water hook ups as well as picnic tables and metal fire rings.  Campground sits on a high spot in the State Park and overlooks the lake.  Sites are very large and nicely spread apart, but are in the open.  The big draw back to this campground in Webster State Park is the lack of a restroom.  You will need to go to the near by Old Marina Campground a 1/4 mile away for restroom and showers.  Old Marina also has a playground.  An R/V dump and dumpster is located between Hill Top and Old Marina Campground.  Boat launch is just down the road.  All sites can be reserved.

  • NThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2021

    South Outlet Camping

    Dam View

    • 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

Guide to Norton

Norton, Kansas, offers a variety of tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy the beauty of the plains and nearby lakes.

Tent campers should check out Meadowlark Campground

  • This campground features numerous loops with plenty of trees, providing a shaded and relaxing environment for tent campers.
  • Meadowlark Campground is known for its fishing opportunities, making it a great spot for those looking to cast a line during their stay.
  • Visitors have noted the friendly caretakers who offer helpful recommendations for local attractions and even delicious pie.

Some prices for tent camping range from $13 to $13

  • Camping at the well-reviewed Branded Cedar Campground is priced similarly, offering a comfortable experience with amenities like 30-amp hookups.
  • Leota Cove provides a more primitive experience, allowing tent campers to enjoy the natural surroundings without the need for reservations.
  • Keith Sebelius Lake RA is another affordable option, though it lacks some amenities like firewood and picnic tables.

Tent campers like these nearby activities

  • Fishing is a popular activity at both the Meadowlark Campground and Branded Cedar Campground, where anglers can enjoy the serene waters.
  • Hiking trails are available near the Mushroom Campground, providing a chance to explore the scenic landscapes of Webster State Park.
  • Birdwatching and wildlife observation are popular at Keith Sebelius Lake RA, where visitors can enjoy the diverse local fauna.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Norton, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Norton, KS is Meadowlark Campground — Prairie Dog State Park with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Norton, KS?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Norton, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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