Tent campsites around Scranton, Kansas include several established options with varying levels of amenities and privacy. Woodridge Park, rated highly by visitors, offers both car camping in a gravel loop area and hike-in primitive sites along a 4.5-mile trail system. The campground provides a combination of accessible drive-in spots and more secluded walk-in tent sites that follow the trail network toward Clinton Lake.
Tent camping areas near Scranton feature basic facilities with some limitations. Woodridge Park provides vault toilets described as "clean" and "well-maintained" by visitors, plus potable water access at the main camping area. Most tent sites include established fire rings, though campers should verify current fire restrictions before visiting. Sites along the trail at Woodridge are well-spaced, offering privacy even during busier periods. The primitive tent camping areas require no reservations and operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with no camping fees reported by users.
Backcountry tent camping opportunities at Woodridge Park receive consistently positive feedback for their seclusion. The designated primitive sites along the trail network provide tent campers with significantly more privacy than the main camping area. Several sites offer lake views, particularly Site 4, which users note has "a beautiful view of the sunrise." For tent-only campers seeking solitude, the trail sites rarely fill completely except during holiday weekends. The trail difficulty ranges from easy to moderate, with some sections becoming problematic after rainfall. A camper noted, "We very rarely run into anyone else while camping on the trail." Shawnee State Fishing Lake offers another option for primitive tent camping, featuring dispersed sites identified by fire rings scattered around the eastern shore.
"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 Scranton, Kansas offers a mix of secluded lakeside opportunities and family-friendly outdoor recreation. The region's rolling hills and proximity to several reservoirs create multiple options for overnight stays within a 35-mile radius. Camping areas range from free primitive sites with minimal facilities to established campgrounds with basic amenities and lake access.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Council Grove Lake provides productive fishing opportunities for tent campers. "We had lots of success with fishing and the kids really enjoyed some of the hiking trails," notes a visitor to Kansas View - Council Grove Lake.
Trail exploration: The trail system at Woodridge Park offers routes for hikers of various skill levels. "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. from Woodridge Park.
Nature viewing: Early risers can catch impressive lake views at specific sites. Site 4 at Woodridge Park offers particularly good sunrise viewing opportunities. According to Alexandra J., "Site 4 is right on the lake and had a beautiful view of the sunrise."
Privacy between sites: Campers consistently mention site spacing as a major benefit. "Camping spots along trail are really spread out and even if every spot is full you still feel secluded," reports Zach C. about Shawnee State Fishing Lake.
Solitude for tent campers: Many primitive sites receive minimal traffic, especially on weekdays. One camper at Woodridge Park noted, "Woodridge is never over crowded unless it's a holiday, so more often than not you could camp the whole weekend and potentially not see another person."
Clean facilities: Basic but well-maintained amenities receive positive feedback. James H. mentions, "Awesome spot for weekend camping. Lots of fire rings available. Well maintained in the main camping area, as well as on the trail."
Seasonal insect activity: Some areas experience significant insect presence during summer months. "We went mid-June, and there had apparently been some type of butterfly hatching. They were small but quite aggressive, constantly swarming us," reports a camper at Adam's Grove.
Trail conditions vary with weather: Trail quality can deteriorate rapidly after rain. According to one camper, "Keep in mind though that the trail gets very muddy if it has just rained!"
Limited reservation options: Most primitive tent sites operate on first-come basis. Josh M. notes about Woodridge, "First come / first serve, plenty of space, potable water, nice toilets, tons of trails..."
Site availability: While holiday weekends bring more visitors, most areas have capacity during normal periods. "I was here over Labor Day weekend and didn't see a single other person on the the 1/2-ish mile hike to Primitive Site 4," reports one camper.
Gear planning for hike-in sites: Primitive sites require additional planning with children. "It our first time hiking in to a site (lots of work with our regular gear for a family of four, but worth it!)," shares a family that visited Kansas View.
Safe swimming areas: Council Grove Lake provides accessible shore areas for supervised water play. Joey H. mentions, "The lake was my favrote part. Depending on where you went there were nice fields to play frisbee in."
Campsite selection: Families report certain sites work better for groups with children. One parent mentions, "This place is definitely a weekend destination for my little family and I. The trail is probably easy to moderate and there are an endless number of areas to explore."
Limited hookup options: While tent camping predominates, some areas accommodate small RVs without hookups. According to a camper, "Way out there..although there were quite a few folks here Sunday evening…fishing and just relaxing..almost everyone left after sundown. I was camping and had the place to myself. Dry camping."
Boat access considerations: Some campgrounds provide convenient boat ramp access for water recreation. One visitor to Adam's Grove notes, "Adam's Grove does provide the closet boat ramp if you plan on picking up passengers off the beach near the dam."
Size restrictions: Large rigs face limitations at most area campgrounds. Sue V. explains that at Shawnee State Fishing Lake you'll find "Camping spots on the east side of lake …identified by firerings scattered here and there. Very pretty. Very quiet. Very primitive camping."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Scranton, KS?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Scranton, KS is Woodridge Park with a 4.6-star rating from 14 reviews.
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