Best Tent Camping near Pleasanton, KS
State parks and public lands surrounding Pleasanton, Kansas offer several primitive tent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Prairie State Park Campground, located in Liberal, Missouri, about 30 miles southeast of Pleasanton, provides year-round tent camping with both drive-in and walk-in tent sites. Rabbit Ridge Primitive Campground in Hillsdale State Park and the tent-only sites at Marysville are additional options within driving distance. Crawford State Park, approximately 25 miles south, features both Cherokee Landing and Osage Bluff Primitive Campground with designated tent campsites.
Tent camping facilities in the region range from basic to primitive. Prairie State Park Campground contains only four primitive tent sites with no electricity or water hookups at the campsites themselves. Two sites feature paved pads while the others are gravel or dirt surfaces. All sites include picnic tables and fire rings, with a vault toilet serving the campground. Water is available at a maintenance area uphill from the camping area. Access can be challenging during wet weather as vehicles must cross a stream to reach the campground. Tick protection is essential when tent camping in this area, particularly during warmer months, as multiple campers have reported significant tick presence.
The backcountry tent camping experience near Pleasanton offers unique wildlife encounters. According to reviews, Prairie State Park provides opportunities to observe free-roaming bison herds and listen to coyotes howling at night. One visitor noted that "the bison roam free here, although the small campground area has fences and/or cow grates to keep them out." Another camper reported that despite the primitive conditions, "you will likely have the place to yourself." The park includes approximately 14 miles of hiking trails, with one backcountry tent site located about 3.5 miles down an easy trail. Walk-in tent sites throughout the region provide greater seclusion and connection to natural surroundings than developed campgrounds, though campers should be prepared for minimal amenities and self-sufficient tent camping.
