Tent campers visiting Osage City, Kansas have several primitive camping options in the surrounding area. Woodridge Park offers free tent camping with both car-accessible sites and walk-in tent locations along a trail loop. The park sits near Clinton Lake, providing water access approximately 30 miles east of Osage City. Adam's Grove offers 30 basic tent sites with a $6 fee per site and provides boat ramp access at Pomona Lake.
Most tent sites in the region feature minimal improvements, with dirt or gravel surfaces and basic amenities. Woodridge Park provides potable water access and vault toilets but no showers or electric hookups. Fire rings are available at several sites, particularly at Woodridge Park, though campers should verify current fire regulations during dry periods. Sites are typically first-come, first-served with no reservation system. Walk-in tent locations at Woodridge require hiking gear approximately half a mile from the parking area, with primitive sites spaced along a moderate trail system.
Walk-in tent sites at Woodridge Park offer particular seclusion compared to the main camping area. The hiking trail leads to numbered primitive tent sites with site #4 positioned directly on the lake with sunrise views. Many tent campers appreciate the spacing between walk-in sites, enhancing privacy even during busier periods. The trail system provides opportunities for hiking and lake access beyond the camping experience. A camper noted that "even if every spot is full you still feel secluded" at the walk-in tent locations. During weekdays outside holiday periods, tent campers frequently enjoy complete solitude at primitive sites, though weekend visitation increases, particularly during summer months. Kansas View at Council Grove Lake, approximately 30 miles west of Osage City, provides additional tent camping with water access and fishing opportunities.
"We recently took our scout troop to Woodridge and had ample space for the group. The 4.5 mile trail was a nice activity for the scouts during the morning. "
"There’s a gravel loop with some picnic tables and a couple hike-in sites dispersed along a trail."
"The lake was my favrote part. Depending on where you went there were nice fields to play frisbee in."
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $12 - $30 / night
"Spend three nights with the cub scouts on this lake. We had lots of success with fishing and the kids really enjoyed some of the hiking trails."
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
ScoutI have stayed 2 times. The first was by the river. The site was beautiful, on the river, and had electricity. The second time I stayed near the front of the park, which offered electricity and water. The dump station is accessible, and the price is only $10 a night for any spot. You cannot book ahead. It is first come, first served.
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.
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.
Tent camping near Osage City, Kansas provides access to several water bodies within a 30-mile radius. The area sits at approximately 1,100 feet elevation with hot summers where temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through August. Winter camping presents challenges with nighttime temperatures often dropping below freezing from November through March, requiring proper cold-weather gear for off-season visits.
Fishing opportunities: Council Grove Lake offers productive fishing grounds with multiple access points. "We had lots of success with fishing and the kids really enjoyed some of the hiking trails," reports Adam M. after spending time at Kansas View - Council Grove Lake.
Trail exploration: The extensive trail network at Woodridge Park provides varying difficulty levels through wooded terrain. "We also love hiking the trail through the woods and by the lake even when we aren't camping—best trail I've been on in Lawrence," shares Harmony H. about the Woodridge Park system.
Lake activities: Multiple reservoirs surround Osage City, including Clinton Lake, Pomona Lake, and Melvern Lake. "The lake was my favorite part. Depending on where you went there were nice fields to play frisbee in," notes Joey H. about the recreation areas at Kansas View on Council Grove Lake.
Seclusion factor: The primitive sites at Woodridge Park offer notable privacy. "Camping spots along trail are really spread out," explains Zach C., who appreciates how the design creates isolation even during busy periods.
Sunrise views: Select lakeside sites provide memorable morning vistas. "Site 4 is right on the lake and had a beautiful view of the sunrise," notes Alexandra J. about her experience at Woodridge Park, highlighting specific site advantages for photographers and early risers.
Boat access: Pomona Lake provides convenient boat launching facilities for water recreation. "Adam's Grove does provide the closest boat ramp if you plan on picking up passengers off the beach near the dam," explains JC C. about the facilities at Adam's Grove recreation area.
Seasonal considerations: Butterfly hatching periods can create unexpected challenges for campers. "We went mid-June, and there had apparently been some type of butterfly hatching. They were small but quite aggressive (who knew!?), constantly swarming us," warns Harmony H. about her otherwise positive experience.
Trail conditions: Woodridge Park trails become particularly difficult after rainfall. "Keep in mind though that the trail gets very muddy if it has just rained!" cautions Carly H., suggesting waterproof footwear for accessing the walk-in sites during wet periods.
Site selection: Some campgrounds have closed permanently in recent years. "We stayed here several years ago and it was a quiet little camp site that nobody really went to. They closed this campground in 2018 however," reports Nikki S. about 110 Mile Park, emphasizing the importance of verifying current status before planning a trip.
Pack minimally: Walk-in sites require carrying all gear from parking areas. "It was our first time hiking in to a site (lots of work with our regular gear for a family of four, but worth it!)," explains Harmony H., suggesting families traveling with children should consolidate equipment for primitive camping.
Weekday advantages: Non-holiday weekdays offer the most secluded experiences for family camping. "We very rarely run into anyone else while camping on the trail. We have myself, husband, son, and dog," shares Nikki S. about maintaining privacy while camping with children at Woodridge Park.
Maintenance awareness: Some areas require caution due to inconsistent user cleanup. "Only downside is I wish people would clean up better after themselves," notes a regular visitor, suggesting families bring extra trash bags to maintain site cleanliness.
Limited hookup options: Most tent camping areas near Osage City lack substantial RV infrastructure. "Awesome spot for weekend camping. Lots of fire rings available. Well maintained in the main camping area, as well as on the trail," notes James H. about Overlook Park, which offers some electric hookups despite primarily serving tent campers.
Size restrictions: Many access roads and camping areas cannot accommodate larger recreational vehicles. Clay W. appreciates that Woodridge Park camping areas remain "very well groomed, lots of amenities," but notes the primitive nature requires smaller RVs or tent camping for most visitors.
Seasonal access: RV campers should verify road conditions during wet seasons, as many access points become difficult for larger vehicles after rainfall. Josh M. calls Woodridge "one of my favorite campgrounds" with "plenty of space," but access challenges can arise during inclement weather.
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