Best Tent Camping near Scott City, KS

Historic Lake Scott State Park offers several tent camping options near Scott City, Kansas. Timber Canyon Campground provides primitive tent sites with picnic tables and fire rings in sheltered locations that block wind and offer privacy. Additional tent camping areas include Horsethief Campground, Boat Ramp Campsites, and Bullcanyon, all located within the state park boundaries. These walk-in tent locations provide varying levels of amenities and access to the park's natural features.

Tent sites at Historic Lake Scott State Park typically include basic amenities such as picnic tables and fire rings. Most campgrounds offer access to drinking water, showers, and toilet facilities, though primitive areas may have more limited services. Timber Canyon's primitive spaces are situated farther from bathrooms and dumpsters than other camping areas in the park. Fire is permitted in designated rings, and pets are allowed throughout the camping areas. Most sites are drive-in accessible, making them convenient for tent campers seeking places to camp near Scott City.

The tent camping experience at Historic Lake Scott State Park offers scenic surroundings and relative privacy. Timber Canyon provides more secluded camping spots that feel private compared to other areas of the park. Sites are often situated in natural "coves" that create individual camping spaces. The park features a lake that provides fishing opportunities and natural beauty. A recent review noted, "These spaces are blocked from the wind and feel more private than the Lakeview campground." Another camper shared, "I stayed for one night on the site with the covered shelter, and it worked out wonderfully because we had a huge lightning storm in the middle of the night." During storms, sites with shelters provide valuable protection for tent campers.

Best Tent Sites Near Scott City, Kansas (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Scott City, KS

1 Photos of 6 Scott City Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Scott City, KS

47 Reviews of 6 Scott City Campgrounds


  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 26, 2021

    Beymer Water Recreation Park

    Plain and simple flat chunk of dirt, cheap. With electric!

    Evrything in the other reviews is accurate except for the water. That review was in August. I am here now in very late November. The water is turned off. But electricity and a flat spot of dirt for 10 bucks is a great deal. The only downside is there is really no view. The land is flat in all directions. There are three ponds in the area which are marked membership only. It looks like they are very low, One is dry. There are four pairs of flat campsites on sandy dirt and a little grass. Each pair share an electric pedestal with 2 30 W outlets. Likewise each pair of sites share a pair of picnic tables under a weather shelter. Outside of town. You can hardly hear the highway

  • S
    Aug. 4, 2018

    Elm Grove — Historic Lake Scott State Park

    Kansas Oasis

    There is not a lot to see on the flat western plains of Kansas and you would not see this state park either if you didn’t know it was there. This lake is like a sunken oasis of trees and water. The area itself was great! There’s even a few histoical sites to visit and it is close to Monument Rocks, which is what bought us to Kansas.

    The campground, however, is just ok. Perhaps it would’ve been better if they had rain to green up the grass, but it was mostly brown in June when we camped there. They have a large selection of sites and on a Monday night in June, we had many choices available for tent camping. It appeared that most who camp here have an rv and those spaces looked about full. Thankfully, those are two different areas of the campground because they were packed into a parking lot style campground. The tent area probably would’ve looked packed in too since the sites are small, but with only a handful of tents, we had some space.

    One thing that did limit our choice of sites was a LARGE herd of geese that covered all of the lakeside sites as well as the next row in. I didn’t want to set up in bird poop in the dry grass so the sites with a decent view were out. We did luck out and find site 2 of the Flatland area which was up above the water line so the geese couldn’t swim up and walk in. Site 2 had a great view of the lake and was set apart from the other sites along with site 1. Site 1 would’ve been the better site but it was occupied by a tent that appeared to have been abandoned. Site 2 was not level by any means, in fact it sloped quite a bit compared to the rest of the sites. There was no tent pads, which would’ve helped a lot for this site. We just set up so our heads would be at the high end and it worked. It was too nice of a view to let a bumpy sloping site stop us!

    The campground has a host and everyone was quiet for the night. We slept pretty well, other than the high humidity of Kansas.

    The bathhouse left a lot to be desired. A good cleaning to remove dead bugs would’ve went a long way. A fresh coat of paint would make it inviting. It looked like nobody had checked on its’ condition for many years. We were hoping to use the showers, but they were no cleaner and had an odd design with no doors or shower curtains. The lighting was very dim as well, making it all look a little too creepy for a shower there. A fresh coat of paint, brighter lighting, some shower curtains, and a good scrub down would make this facility SO much better! We also checked the other batthouse on the opposite side of the lake and it was the same way...only creepier because there was one lone rv camped near it.

    Overall, I would not camp here again unless I read some reviews indicating the the bathhouse has been improved. It’s not a dealbreaker to not have a shower, but if this campground had been fuller, the geese all over the sites may have been. If you have an rv and pay for full hookups, you might like this campground. If you are tent camping, keep looking.

  • Katie L.
    Jul. 2, 2024

    Timber Canyon Campground — Historic Lake Scott State Park

    One night in Timber Canyon

    These spaces are blocked from the wind and feel more private than the Lakeview campground, but you are a bit further from bathrooms/dumpsters. Primitive spaces had a picnic table and fire ring, and you’ll likely find a little “cove” all to yourself. Most people seemed to be RV camping in the sites that provided hookups and water.

  • Bob M.
    Aug. 17, 2021

    Elm Grove — Historic Lake Scott State Park

    Scenic, quiet place

    We enjoyed our 2 night stay in the Circle Loop. Only negative was no fire pits in this loop, but all the tent sites had fire pits. Strange.

    Lots of positives, mainly the scenery and peace & quiet. Amazing sites nearby...Jerusalem Badlands & Monument Rocks about 15-20 minutes north off of US 83. 

    Scott City, 15 miles south has a great grocery store and eateries,gas stations.

  • Vania Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 11, 2020

    Lakebank Drive Campground — Historic Lake Scott State Park

    Simple grassy spot

    Simply picked the first loops on the lake. if you want to swim I would suggest camping on the other side. I picked this spot because no one else was around I had the whole loop to myself. Which is what I was looking for. The other side had a lot more people. Maybe not the best place for tents a lot of geese around and their droppings but there was plenty of grass and soft ground. I am not use to seeing a campground not full. I was surprised how easy it was to find open spots must be a Kansas thing. Beautiful sunset and sunrise in early July.

  • wayne H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2025

    Apache Campground — Historic Lake Scott State Park

    Laid back and great for kids

    We wanted to try some parks in Western kansas. Heard some good things about them. This park is pretty good. It was a nice quiet location just north of Scott City and south of colby. The general store that's very small is only open on Friday Saturday and Sunday.

  • Phil B.
    Jun. 23, 2019

    Beymer Water Recreation Park

    Great water sport stop.

    If you play on the water, then this might just work for you. There were no water hook ups. There is power available but every site is shared so no privacy. They are under trees so shade was good. Sites are unimproved and very soft when wet. Folks are generally nice.

  • Phil B.
    Jun. 23, 2019

    Beymer Water Recreation Park

    Very minimal.

    In the middle of seemingly no where... Great one night stop. A few electronic & water hook ups. No dump station that I've found. Dogs should be on leash, but no one here and no one to bother.

  • Ashley M.
    May. 11, 2021

    Beymer Water Recreation Park

    Great overnight stay

    Nice quiet place with covered picnic tables (a bit weathered) , pretty level grassy spots. ~8 - 30 amp (no 50 amp) w water... and some more primitive camp spots as well. We were the only ones there so it was a great stop for $10! Stayed May 2021 - was dry when we arrived, rained that night - no problems leaving. We went in the entrance off the main road and had to weave around to the site but believe there is an entrance off the dirt road right before the park.. (refer to a satellite view vs GPS)


Guide to Scott City

Historic Lake Scott State Park spans 1,020 acres in western Kansas at an elevation of 2,970 feet. The park surrounds a 100-acre spring-fed lake with canyon walls rising 100 feet above the water surface. Summer temperatures typically reach 90-100°F during July and August, with cooler evenings in the 60s.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: Timber Canyon Campground provides access to Lake Scott's fishing areas where anglers catch channel catfish, largemouth bass, and rainbow trout. The lake is regularly stocked by the Kansas Department of Wildlife. "Cozy and friendly Beach house workers and Great Fishing and Camping grounds," notes camper Caryn G. who visited Timber Canyon.

Historical sites: Camp near the El Cuartelejo Pueblo ruins, located within park boundaries. This National Historic Landmark contains remains of the northernmost pueblo structure in the United States, dating to the 1600s. The ruins are accessible via a 0.25-mile interpretative trail from the main parking area.

Swimming beach: During summer months, the designated swimming area at Boat Ramp Campsites provides a sandy beach with roped-off swimming zones. The beach area includes picnic tables and grills nearby for day use. No lifeguards are on duty, so swimming is at your own risk.

What campers like

Natural wind protection: The canyon layout at Timber Canyon Campground creates natural shelters for tent camping. "Primitive spaces had a picnic table and fire ring, and you'll likely find a little 'cove' all to yourself," reports Katie L., highlighting the terrain advantages for tent campers seeking protection from Kansas winds.

Covered shelters: Some tent sites include covered structures that provide additional protection during inclement weather. "I stayed for one night on the site with the covered shelter, and it worked out wonderfully because we had a huge lightning storm in the middle of the night," explains Megan C., noting the practical advantage during storms.

Quiet camping areas: Horsethief Campground offers more secluded tent camping than the main campground areas. Sites here are spaced further apart, with fewer RVs, creating a quieter atmosphere for tent campers who prioritize solitude over proximity to facilities.

What you should know

Facility distances: Primitive tent sites at Timber Canyon require longer walks to restrooms. "This particular site would be difficult for family with young children because it is far away from the pit toilet," advises camper Megan C., suggesting families consider site selection carefully based on bathroom proximity.

Limited cell service: Most campgrounds within Historic Lake Scott State Park have spotty cell coverage. Verizon shows the strongest signal, while T-Mobile and AT&T users report limited or no service in canyon areas. Download maps and information before arrival.

Seasonal considerations: Summer weekends (Memorial Day through Labor Day) typically reach capacity. Reservations are strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday nights. Spring and fall camping offers milder temperatures and fewer crowds, with daytime highs in the 70s-80s instead of 90s-100s.

Tips for camping with families

Best family sites: Flatland Campground offers the most family-friendly tent camping sites with shorter walks to modern restroom facilities and showers. These sites have level ground for easier tent setup and are within 100-200 feet of bathrooms.

Wildlife viewing: Morning hours (6-8am) and evening (7-9pm) provide optimal wildlife viewing opportunities. Common sightings include white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and various bird species. Bring binoculars and wildlife identification guides for children.

Water safety: Lake Scott has several shallow entry points suitable for younger children, but the lake bottom can be muddy. Water shoes are recommended for all swimmers. No designated wading areas exist, so parental supervision is essential.

Tips from RVers

Limited hookup sites: Bullcanyon and primitive areas have no electric or water hookups. Tent campers seeking more amenities should choose Timber Canyon, where "most people seemed to be RV camping in the sites that provided hookups and water," according to Katie L.

Generator restrictions: The park enforces quiet hours from 10pm to 6am when generators cannot be operated. Tent campers should select sites away from RV areas if sensitive to generator noise during daytime hours.

Water fill stations: Potable water is available at centralized locations rather than at individual sites. Campers should bring containers to transport water from fill stations to tent sites, particularly at primitive campgrounds where water sources may be 200+ yards from camping areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Scott City, KS?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Scott City, KS is Timber Canyon Campground — Historic Lake Scott State Park with a 4.3-star rating from 3 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Scott City, KS?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Scott City, KS, with real photos and reviews from campers.