Perry Lake sits within the rolling Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas, surrounded by hardwood forests and open prairie. The 11,600-acre reservoir features 160 miles of shoreline with fishing access, boat ramps, and swimming areas. Cabin camping options near Perry Lake provide shelter from the region's variable weather conditions, which can range from hot summer days to cool, windy evenings.
What to do
Outdoor archery range: Clinton State Park offers a dedicated archery range for target practice. According to Amber A., the park has "more unusual things like archery" among its recreational facilities, making it stand out from other area parks.
Disc golf course: Clinton State Park provides an established disc golf course among its amenities. Charles F. notes, "Visiting in non peak is as easy as driving in, finding a spot and paying your fees. Full bath houses, disc golf, archery range, and an abundance of hiking all around the camps."
Boat rentals: Eisenhower State Park offers kayak and canoe rentals from their general store. Cindy K. writes, "The general store is super helpful, as they sell firewood and ice, and have kayak and canoe rentals. There are a few swim beaches, and plenty of sand to sit in and relax."
Fishing opportunities: Mill Creek Campground features several stocked ponds for fishing. As Tori G. notes, "Basswood provides amenities that are great for entertaining children, including a swimming pool and splash park, two playgrounds, a basketball goal, and fishing."
What campers like
Private hammock sites: Perry State Park Campground offers designated hammock sites for those who prefer suspended sleeping. One visitor mentions, "We had a wonderful stay! Wonderful pull through spots, great views, and closer to the boat ramp!"
Clean bathhouse facilities: Topeka / Capital City KOA maintains well-kept bathroom facilities. According to Jane U., "The facilities were nice and clean. The main building is a refurbished old barn which was very cool!"
Lakeside cabin options: Eisenhower State Park offers cabins with water views. Nancy C. shares, "Most sites are on the water or have a water view. Spectacular sunsets."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Clinton State Park provides habitat for numerous bird and animal species. Kent F. reported, "Saw eagles, turkey vultures, and possible osprey" during their stay at the park.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Perry Lake experience train noise throughout the night. Regarding Mill Creek Campground, one camper noted, "Although the site we got was gravel and pull-through, there are sites without power by the creek, in case you want to tent camp or just don't need hookups."
Weather considerations: The Flint Hills region experiences significant wind, especially near the lakes. Christina H. writes about Eisenhower State Park, "It was super duper windy off of the lake for us, so be ready for wind."
Reservation timing: Pomona State Park can fill quickly during peak seasons. Jeremy S. recommends, "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."
Cabin availability: Cabins near Perry Lake often book months in advance during summer. Some parks like Eisenhower State Park require 48-hour advance booking through their online system. Nancy C. advises, "Online reservations must be made 48 hrs in advance, otherwise, it's day by day."
Tips for camping with families
Swimming beaches: Eisenhower State Park offers multiple designated swim beaches with sandy shoreline. According to Cindy K., "There are a few swim beaches, and plenty of sand to sit in and relax."
Playground access: Lewis and Clark State Park offers a centrally located playground visible from most campsites. Jason C. observes, "Great Place for kids you can see them anywhere in the campground especially when they are playing with other kids in the playground located in the middle."
Weekend activities: Several campgrounds organize special weekend events for children. At Basswood Country RV Resort, Tori G. explains, "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."
Cabin size options: Family cabins around Perry Lake offer various configurations. John G. notes about Eisenhower, "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."
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Perry State Park's utility camping areas have relatively tight spacing between sites. Wendy C. observes, "Utility camping is a little close together for my liking. Still decent overall."
Electrical service quality: Pomona State Park maintains reliable electrical service. Dan & Penny F. reported, "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."
Pull-through availability: Mill Creek Campground offers pull-through sites for larger rigs. As noted by Jo H., "We had full hook up, pretty level gravel site. Bathroom shower houses are OK did well for what we wanted."
Dump station access: Most parks in the area feature dump stations, though finding one with full sewer hookups requires planning. Doug H. points out, "Like most state parks no sewer hookups but easy access to dump station."