Glamping near Pittsburg, Kansas offers diverse lakeside and forest accommodations within a 60-mile radius of the city. The region features moderate climate year-round with summer temperatures typically ranging 75-95°F and winter lows between 20-40°F. Sites typically sit at elevations between 850-950 feet above sea level, creating rolling terrain with both wooded and open camping areas.
What to do
Fishing at Lake Parsons: Only 30 miles from Pittsburg, the lake provides excellent shore fishing opportunities with concrete pad sites positioned directly on the water. "Me and my wife and grand kids love camping here every weekend," notes Mark K., highlighting the family-friendly fishing environment. The lake allows boat-in camping access for those wanting to combine water recreation with overnight stays.
Hiking at Gunn Park: The park's extensive trail system offers day hiking options through varied woodland terrain. "This place is a small park that has lots of hiking trails. It is five dollars for tents, $10 for RVs with electric," explains Jason T. During winter months, the park features special decorations as Jason adds, "they had a super decorated for Christmas."
Park recreation at Beagle Bay RV Haven Campground: Located 45 minutes from Pittsburg, this campground offers multiple outdoor activities within its grounds. Alex B. reports, "Nice playground for younger kids and you can't beat the atmosphere and the birds. We are in a tent on the back lawn by a small fishing lake." The campground provides amenities for full-day recreation including a fishing pond and play areas.
What campers like
Peaceful atmospheres: Many glamping options provide quiet settings despite highway proximity. At Beagle Bay, Alex B. notes, "Great spot that most people might pass up because it's right next to the highway, but honestly you can barely tell aside from the hum of trucks. The place is quiet and seems like a lot of people here are long term residents."
Clean, modern facilities: The region's campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. "Bathrooms are beautiful and clean, 2 toilets, 2 showers and a sauna in each," says Alex B. about Beagle Bay RV Haven. For those passing through, one camper notes Joplin KOA has "VERY clean, easy access, fair price for the propane they sell."
Lakefront sites: Water access ranks high among camper preferences. At Lake Parsons, Kayla J. shares, "We were parked right on the water. They have concrete slabs with a great picnic table for each site." While industrial fans are visible from some areas, the overall experience remains highly rated with Kristen describing it as having "calm vibes" and being a "simple place, naturistic."
What you should know
Site reservation policies vary: Many campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served systems. At Gunn Park, Meghan B. advises, "Self-register at the camping area entrance and then hang your tag on your rearview mirror. There weren't any posts to hang your portion of the receipt tag to mark our site if you were to leave and head into town." Alternatively, some locations like Crossroads RVs and Cabins require advance bookings.
Amenity limitations: Some campgrounds lack full hookups or certain facilities. Neil S. shares about Gunn Park: "Most of the sites are 30 amp and no dump station. Water and electric only." Similarly, tent campers at Beagle Bay should note that "no campfire for tent camp sites, but bring a camp stove and you'll be fine."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate with limited seasons. Lake Parsons operates from April 1 to November 1, while Gunn Park maintains a May to September season. Joplin KOA remains open year-round, providing winter glamping options when other facilities close.
Tips for camping with families
Free entertainment options: Beagle Bay RV Haven provides multiple no-cost activities for children. Alex B. shares, "Kim came by and took my son and 2 other kids on a golf cart ride on the trail behind the lake and they had a blast." Austin H. adds that "they have everything you could want! Arcade, swimming pool, kids playground and a pond to fish."
Budget-friendly options: Several parks offer affordable family camping near Pittsburg. At Gunn Park, Jason T. explains "for five dollars you can fish and you can have a campfire permit. Pretty much anything you wanna do you can purchase by the day here for about five dollars each item."
Safety considerations: Family campers appreciate secure environments. At Gunn Park, one camper notes: "The park itself was beautiful, felt safe, and had lots of people recreating and enjoying themselves." The M. adds, "It usually has few campers but a lot of activities and so close to town it feels very safe day or night."
Tips from RVers
Level site availability: RVers emphasize the importance of level sites in this region. At Joplin KOA, Mike H. reports "sites are very level with crushed stone pads. Good water pressure. Lots of grass. Patio sites are available." This contrasts with Gunn Park where Neil S. cautions that "sites are not level and need either more gravel or concrete."
Big rig accessibility: Larger RVs face challenges at some locations. Neil S. warns about Gunn Park: "Big rigs at some of the sites will have a problem. Remember this is an old campground." The newer Crossroads RVs and Cabins specifically advertises big-rig friendly sites with Ryan H. noting "there are new pedestals and hookups for RVs."
Hookup specifications: Electrical service varies significantly between campgrounds. Kayla J. shares about Lake Parsons: "There is no sewer and 50 amp service is only on one side." For glamping near Pittsburg in luxury RVs requiring full hookups, Crossroads RVs and Cabins offers the most modern connections with Ryan noting they've been "working on upgrades" to their facilities.
