Primitive camping near Stilwell, Kansas provides access to several minimally developed sites within a 100-mile radius. The eastern Kansas landscape features rolling hills and open prairies, with seasonal temperatures ranging from below freezing in winter to humid 90°F days in summer. Most dispersed camping options offer basic amenities with varying levels of accessibility depending on recent weather conditions.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Leavenworth Kansas State Fishing Lake offers 160 acres of water surface for anglers. According to Reagan G., "This site was easy to find and had a beautiful view of the lake! There is a brochure available online to help find the designated camping areas!"
Wildlife viewing: The conservation areas attract diverse wildlife throughout the seasons. At Montrose Missouri Conservation Area, campers report frequent sightings. One visitor noted, "There is loads of wildlife to see and aren't much scared of humans, raccoons, beavers, crane, squirrels, deer, owls and much more. There's also blackberries in the fall."
Artifact hunting: Local areas have historical significance with potential for unique finds. A camper at Montrose shared, "One of the locals stopped by my site to look for arrowheads. Apparently, she has found a lot in the area so that's a good activity if the kids are bored."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Poague Campsite #5 receives high marks for seclusion. Logan M. commented, "This is great secluded spot, right off the highway. Perfect for what I was looking for to car camp."
Night sky viewing: The minimal light pollution creates excellent star-gazing conditions. One Montrose camper enthusiastically shared, "The stars were beautiful, the 'sites' were spacious and well spread out, and there is lots of shade."
Easy lake access: Many sites provide convenient water access for recreation. At Leavenworth Kansas State Fishing Lake, Kevin C. reported, "Many slept in their cars and left at first light. I assume they went fishing at the lake."
What you should know
Bathroom conditions vary: Toilet facilities at dispersed sites receive mixed reviews regarding maintenance. At Leavenworth, one camper mentioned, "The pit toilet is not well maintained. Not suitable for larger vehicles." Another noted, "Poop on the toilet seat in the pit toilet so we waited until we got to a gas station in the morning."
Seasonal restrictions: Several conservation areas close to camping during hunting seasons. As one Montrose Missouri Conservation Area camper warned, "There is no camping allowed after October 15 due to hunting season. This was not on the website and was not seeable in dust when arriving late on a small sign in the bushes."
Stay duration limits: Kansas state facilities enforce shorter stays than might be expected. Rick M. noted about Leavenworth, "I'm starting to think that Kansas has a 7-day limit instead of a 14 because this is the second time that a Kansas park official came to the door and said we need to leave."
Tips for camping with families
Bring entertainment: The open areas provide room for activities but little structured recreation. Mark D. described Montrose as having a "Large grass area available for tents or campers. No specific camp locations. No fire rings or picnic tables."
Pack drinking water: No potable water exists at most primitive sites. One camper at Leavenworth mentioned, "Everything is as great as it can be, aside from missing trash cans, and ideally water and grey dump, but that's usually rare to find water and a grey dump at a free site."
Prepare for wildlife encounters: Local fauna can become camping companions. At Montrose Missouri Conservation Area, Andi P. shared a unique experience: "There is a super sweet local cat who befriended me here and made my visit so much better. I had some mechanical issues with my car and Kampground Kittah tried to help."
Tips from RVers
Site accessibility: Most areas offer simple access without difficult terrain. One visitor noted about Montrose, "You could definitely get a big rig in and out of here on the looped gravel roads."
Limited hookups: All dispersed camping near Stilwell lacks electrical, water and sewer connections. Ron P. summarized his Montrose stay: "Nice city park campground. Location was nice and quiet with beautiful views of lake. Bathrooms were terrible. Verizon service was good. No other amenities."
Self-contained facilities recommended: With basic or poorly maintained toilet facilities, having onboard amenities improves comfort. John G. described Leavenworth as having "gravel pull off areas and a lakeside gravel road. The pit toilet is not well maintained."
