Best Campgrounds near Osage City, KS

Osage City, Kansas provides multiple camping destinations centered around reservoir recreation areas including Melvern Lake and Eisenhower State Park. These locations offer established campgrounds with facilities ranging from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV areas and cabin rentals. Most developed sites include basic amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings, while several areas provide electrical hookups, water access, and shower facilities. Eisenhower State Park features lakeside camping with both primitive and developed sites, while Turkey Point and Carbolyn Park offer additional water-oriented camping options around the reservoirs.

Reservations are recommended for most developed campgrounds, particularly during summer months when waterfront sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, with some facilities like Carbolyn Park open only from May through September. Winter camping is available at select locations including Eisenhower State Park, which remains open year-round. Most campgrounds feature gravel pads and maintained access roads suitable for standard vehicles. Primitive camping areas like Osage State Fishing Lake provide free options with limited amenities. "Clean campground, good facilities, open space," noted one visitor about Eisenhower State Park, highlighting the well-maintained nature of the area.

The lakeside camping experience dominates the region, with multiple reservoir-based recreation areas providing water access for fishing, boating, and swimming. Campsites along the water receive consistently positive feedback for their views and recreational opportunities. "Lots of space and good fishing. Secure camping and clean on-site bathroom facilities. Close enough to town for convenience but far enough away you get to see a lot of stars," reported one camper about Eisenhower State Park. Shaded sites are available at several campgrounds, including Turkey Point where visitors mention spacious waterfront sites with trees suitable for hammocks. Facilities throughout the area typically include clean restrooms, with many campgrounds featuring shower houses and dump stations for RVs. Wildlife viewing opportunities include owls, bats, and seasonal bird migrations around the lake areas.

Best Camping Sites Near Osage City, Kansas (102)

    1. Eisenhower State Park Campground

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

    $10 - $100 / 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
    10 miles
    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
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (785) 828-4933

    $10 - $100 / 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. Osage State Fishing Lake

    9 Reviews
    Scranton, KS
    12 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"

    5. Turkey Point

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

    $16 - $200 / night

    "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!"

    "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."

    6. Carbolyn Park

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

    $14 - $20 / night

    "Shady and close to towns."

    7. Cedar Park

    5 Reviews
    Vassar, KS
    12 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."

    8. Arrow Rock - Melvern Reservoir

    3 Reviews
    Fort Supply Lake, KS
    10 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"

    9. Coeur D'alene

    2 Reviews
    Lyndon, KS
    11 miles
    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."

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Recent Reviews near Osage City, KS

329 Reviews of 102 Osage City Campgrounds


  • Zach L.
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Calvin's RV & Tent Camping

    Calvin's RV

    A small RV park on the east edge of Wamego KS. Full electric (30A,50A, and 120V), water, and sanitary dump. Most sites are paved pull through sites. Booking online through Rover Pass was simple and affordable. There is a guest bathroom in the basement of the office building. We were greeted by the owner and the grounds are well maintained and quiet. Just 20 min from Manhattan.

  • 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

  • John G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Eisenhower State Park Campground

    Eisenhower SP spaciousness

    This was our first visit and we chose a campsite on-line. 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. The camp store is minimal and only open a few hours in the evening. Access to the water is easy so bring watercraft and swimming attire. The lake is almost 7,000 acres so our kayak exploring only covered a small portion.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 29, 2025

    Kansas City West-Lawrence KOA

    A great little KOA campground with lots of amenities.

    The staff is very nice, the camp is clean the bathrooms are clean the laundry is clean the pool is clean overall a very pleasant little camp. Please see attached video and pictures for more details.

    The only two negatives are one there are probably not enough shade trees and two there is a train that comes by every couple of hours.

  • Ray L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 20, 2025

    Osage State Fishing Lake

    Very nice clean waterfront spot

    It seems that every spots are waterfront, it's a very nice and clean place, I love it

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 16, 2025

    Leavenworth Kansas State Fishing Lake

    7-day limit. No trash cans or water, but it's free.

    There's sun by the bathrooms, and there's shade in the forested campground. Everything is as great as it can be, aside from missing trash cans, and ideally water and grey dump, but that's usually rare to find water and a grey dump at a free site.

    I'm starting to think that Kansas has a 7-day limit instead of a 14 because this is the second time that a Kansas park official came to the door and said we need to leave. So I'm going to treat all Kansas places as a 7-day limit.

  • Jeremy S.
    Jul. 13, 2025

    Pomona State Park Campground

    Quiet and clean

    Beautiful area to camp, and cheap. Our camp was in burning heart, it was very quiet and very clean. Even being full, it felt secluded. Absolutely will be back to camp again!


Guide to Osage City

Osage City, Kansas offers several camping spots within 10-30 miles of town, providing access to multiple reservoirs and state fishing lakes. Located in the rolling hills of east-central Kansas at around 1,100 feet elevation, the region experiences hot summers and mild spring and fall camping seasons. Winter camping options remain available at select locations, with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing between November and March.

What to do

Kayaking on Melvern Lake: Explore the 6,900-acre reservoir at Outlet Park Campground Melvern Lake COE. "The lake has a marina with everything you need to get out on the water as well as a kitchen where they serve hamburgers and other food items," mentions Teresa D.

Bike trails: Pedal along maintained paths at Melvern Lake recreation areas. "Clean facilities, quiet camping, great fishing lake, and nice bike paths," notes Jeff from Melvern Lake Campground.

Archery practice: Eisenhower State Park Campground provides designated archery facilities. "Swimming, boating, fishing, horses, archery, wide open spaces," lists Nancy C. in her review of activities available at the park.

Stargazing opportunities: Clear night skies offer excellent celestial viewing, especially at more remote campgrounds. "Close enough to town for convenience but far enough away you get to see a lot of stars," reports one camper about camping options near Osage City.

What campers like

Spacious waterfront sites: Turkey Point offers well-spaced lakeside camping spots. "The sites along the water are spacious, most offer shade and trees for hammocking, and water access is awesome! We heard owls, saw bats and fireflies," shares Juliana H.

Well-maintained facilities: Campers consistently mention the clean amenities at Pomona State Park Campground. "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 and right of us," explains Dan & Penny F.

Wildlife viewing: Many camping areas near Osage City provide chances to observe local wildlife. "We camp with our 3 dogs each time and never put them on a leash. Rangers informed us as long as they stay in your site, they're not strict about it," shares Joshua M. about Pomona State Park.

Tree coverage: Several campgrounds offer shaded sites that provide relief from summer heat. "The campground here is covered in trees, Awesome. We're in a Montana high country 384br, 41' fifth wheel. Its a beautiful park, right on Pomona lake," writes Ty A.

What you should know

First-come camping options: Not all campgrounds near Osage City require reservations. "Easy to drive in and find pretty private sites, and some fire rings," notes Evan B. about Osage State Fishing Lake.

Seasonal openings: Some campgrounds operate on limited schedules. Carbolyn Park is only "open from 1 May until 30 September," according to JC C., limiting camping options during other months.

Free camping availability: Budget-conscious campers can find no-fee options. "So glad we chose this dispersed camping location as an overnight stay. Beautiful area, campfire rings in several locations," shares Brenda Y. about Osage State Fishing Lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is fishing allowed at Osage City Lake?

Yes, fishing is allowed at Osage City Lake and nearby fishing lakes. Chase State Fishing Lake offers excellent fishing opportunities with campsites positioned right on the water, including some with small jetties for optimal fishing access. Many campers report watching fish splash in the evenings. Similarly, COE John Redmond Reservoir Riverside East provides fishing access along the Neosho River just below the dam. Kansas fishing licenses are required, and different lakes may have specific regulations regarding catch limits and permitted fishing methods.

Where are the best camping spots in Osage City?

The Osage City area offers several excellent camping options. Osage State Fishing Lake provides free camping with toilet facilities and multiple access points including drive-in and walk-in sites. For those seeking more amenities, Turkey Point near Osage City features reservable sites with water and toilet facilities, and is big-rig friendly. Both locations offer beautiful views of the Kansas landscape and provide good bases for exploring the region. The nearby Flint Hills region also hosts several noteworthy camping areas within a reasonable drive from Osage City.

What amenities are available at Osage City campgrounds?

Campgrounds around Osage City offer varying levels of amenities. COE Perry Lake Slough Creek Park provides clean facilities with both electrical hookups and dry camping options on level, gravel sites. For a more rustic experience, Mill Creek Campground offers a charming setting with basic amenities. Most area campgrounds feature fire rings, picnic tables, and restroom facilities. Some locations like Crossroads RV Park provide full hookups for RVs. The amenities available typically correspond to whether you're at a developed state park, Corps of Engineers site, or primitive camping area, with prices varying accordingly.